3.3 Quoted vs Reported

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

Mrs. Jackson said, “I have taught at this school for 15 years.”

• 1. Mrs. Jackson said (that) she have taught at this school for 15 years.

• 1. Mrs. Jackson said (that) she had taught at this school for 15 years.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.
He said, “My cell phone isn’t working.”

• He said (that) his cell phone isn't working.

• 1. He said (that) his cell phone wasn’t working.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

The teacher asked John, “Why are you late?”

• 1. The teacher asked John why he was late.

• 1. The teacher asked John why he is late.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

My brother said, “I think I’m going to grow a beard.”

• 1. My brother said (that) he thought he was going to grow a beard.

• 1. My brother said (that) he thought he is going to grow a beard.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

They said, “We don’t want to go out tonight.”

• 1. They said (that) they want to go out tonight.

• They said (that) they didn’t want to go out tonight.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

My sister promised, “I’ll tell you my secret later.”

• 1. My sister promised (that) she tell you her secret later.

• 3My sister promised (that) she would tell you her secret later.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

Peter said, “There’s a brilliant lecturer speaking tonight.”

• 1. Peter said (that) there was a brilliant lecturer speaking tonight.

• 1. Peter said (that) there is a brilliant lecturer speaking tonight.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

We said, “We’ll help them move into their new apartment.”

• 1. We said (that) we will help them move in to their new apartment.

• We said (that) we would help them move in to their new apartment.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

The waiter said, “There will be a 20-minute wait for a table.”

• 1. The waiter said (that) there would/will be a 20-minute wait for a table.

• The waiter said (that) there is a 20-minute wait for a table.

Change the quoted speech to reported speech.

Pedro said,“ I was watching TV when the earthquake began.”

• Pedro said (that) he was watching TV when the earthquake began.

• Pedro said (that) he will watching TV when the earthquake began.