Reported Speech

Reported Speech

By Claudia Peña

We use reported speech when we want to tell someone what someone said. We usually use a reporting verb (e.g. say, tell, ask, etc.) and then change the tense of what was actually said in direct speech.

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​USE

'I travel a lot in my job.'

• Jamila said that she travelled a lot in her job.

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​When we report the present simple changes to past simple

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'We lived in China for five years.'

• She told me they had lived in China for five years.

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​When we report the past simple usually changes to past perfect simple

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​PAST PERFECT

​had

Choose if the following sentences are written in direct speech or reported speech

Multiple Choice

I live with my sister and my cat

• Direct Speech

• Reported Speech

Multiple Choice

Mary told me that she lived with her sister and cat

• Direct Speech

• Reported Speech

Multiple Choice

He asked me if I had turned off the lights

• Direct Speech

• Reported Speech

Multiple Choice

John went to Brazil last year

• Direct Speech

• Reported Speech

Multiple Choice

The teacher asked me if I had done my homework

• Direct Speech

• Reported Speech

Choose the correct form of the sentences in reported speech form.

Present Simple to Past Simple

Multiple Choice

Jane works as an architect.

• He said that Jane worked as an architect

• He said that Jane working as an architect

Multiple Choice

The dog eats too much food

• They said the dog was eating too much food

• They said the dog ate too much food

Multiple Choice

Benjamín is a very good student

• The teacher said that Benjamín had been a very good student

• The teacher said that Benjamín was a very good student

Multiple Choice

The students are on a field trip.

• The principal asked if the students were on a field trip

• The principal asked if the students was on a field trip

Multiple Choice

José reads 3 books a month

• He said José read 3 books a month

• He said José reading 3 books a month

Choose the correct form of the sentences in reported speech form.

​Past Simple to Past Perfect

Multiple Choice

I was at school yesterday

• He said that I had being at school yesterday

• He said that I had been at school yesterday

Multiple Choice

My boss spoke to him

• He said my boss had spoken to him

• He said my boss was speaking to him

Multiple Choice

They were best friends

• She said they had been best friends

• She said they had being best friends

Multiple Choice

I lived in Mexico for 3 years

• I said that I has living in Mexico for 3 years

• I said that I had lived in Mexico for 3 years

Multiple Choice

The dog slept on the couch

• My mom said that the dog was sleeping on the couch

• My mom said that the dog had slept on the couch