Exercise 3. Turn the following questions into reported speech.

EXERCISES ON REPORTED SPEECH

Exercise 1. Complete the following sentences with either “say” or “tell” in the correct form.

1. They ______ to us that they would come to visit in two weeks’ time.

2. She ______ that she would be a little late for the meeting.

3. He ______ me that he was broke but I knew he was lying.

4. “I ______ good morning to you three times today and you didn’t answer”, he _____.

5. “Sorry, I can’t _____ you the way to the bus station because I’m a stranger here myself”.

6. My Granny always ______ prayers before she goes to sleep.

7. She didn’t want to ______ him the truth about what had happened that night.

8. He ______ he’d be back the next week, but I never saw him again.

9. “Do you have anything to ______?” the judge asked the accused man.

10. “If you knew you were going to be late, why didn’t you ______ me?”

11. The offer was so good that I couldn’t ______ no.

12. My grandmother used to ______ us exciting stories before we went to bed.

13. The two sisters look so much alike that you can hardly ______ the difference between them.

14. He rose to his feet, ______ a few words and sat down again.

15. “I wish you’d listen to what I’m ______ you”, Mum ______ to me.

16. I wasn’t sure what had happened so I ______ nothing to either of them.

17. “You ______ me you liked Julia.” “I never ______ that!”

18. How do you ______ your name in Japanese?

19. “Every time I ask you to do something, you always ______ you’re too busy”, Mum ______ me.

20. I think we should ______ him – what do you ______?

Exercise 2. Turn the following statements into reported speech.

1. “I’m glad you are here now, Jane”, he said.

2. “There’s still time for us to get to the cinema before the film starts”, she said to her children.

3. “I’ll call you back as soon as I’ve settled the children for the night”, Kate told me.

4. “It’s time he left home and found a house of his own”, John said.

5. The chairman told the audience: “We’ve overrun our time, so I think we should stop now.”

6. “I’m busy tomorrow, but I’ve got nothing on the day after”, he told his wife.

7. “It’s amazing nobody was injured because the two buses collided head on”, the policeman said to the newspaper reporter.

8. “I must be getting old – those few steps have left me out of breath”, the old man said.

9. “It’s no colder today than it was yesterday but it’s no warmer either”, my husband said.

10. “We’ve had no news of them since they left for Australia”, our neighbours told us.

11. “I hope you’re not planning to borrow my car tonight”, Father said to me.

12. “One day I hope I’ll be able to do as much for you, Paul, as you’ve done for me”, Tom said.

13. “We’ve bought a new house, but it’ll need a lot of work before we can move into it”, they told him.

14. “I feel that learning English will help my chances of promotion at work”, my friend said.

15. “It’s good you checked the door, dear – I forgot to lock it”, she said to her daughter.

16. “If I can get out of going to the meeting tonight, I will”, Lisa told me.

17. “I can give you an explanation for why I’m late”, Joe told the teacher.

18. “I really need a break, so I’m counting on getting away for a few days next week”, she told her husband.

19. “If my eyesight falls, I’ll have to stop doing this job”, Dad said.

20. “I’m sorry, Phillip, but I think you’re wrong when you say she did it deliberately”, he said.

Exercise 3. Turn the following questions into reported speech.

1. “What do you like most about your new job, Sally?” Molly asked.

2. “Do you think you’ll be able to get here tomorrow?” I asked my friend.

3. “Shall we go straight to the party or stop off at a pub first?” he asked his friends.

4. “Why is Helen training to be a teacher when she doesn’t even like children?” Cathy asked me.

5. “Have you got your test results yet?” my parents asked me.

6. “Which of your many outfits are you wearing tonight?” I asked Christine.

7. “Is there anything in your past life that you regret, Granny?” Tom asked.

8. “Can you recall what happened last night, sir?” the interrogator asked the man.

9. “When you said we should eat out, did you have a particular restaurant in mind?” my wife asked me.

10. “Are there any good films on at the cinema this week?” Mother asked me.

11. “What do you think Fred will say the next time that happens?” I asked my husband.

12. “Is there any way that I can help, madam?” the man asked.

13. “What will you do if you don’t go away for the weekend, Fred?” I asked.

14. “Did you hear that I’ve started smoking again?” Tim asked Jack.

15. “How did she react when you told her you were leaving, Paul?” Sam asked.

16. “Is there a direct train to Edinburgh or do we have to change?” my friend asked me.

17. “Why does nobody ever laugh at my jokes?” Father asked us.

18. “Can I take your order now or would you like to have a drink first?” the waiter asked us.

19. “What do you think you’ll be doing this time next year, Liz?” my classmate asked me.

20. “Do you know how many people are coming to the party?” Sue asked her boyfriend.