Mastering Reported Speech

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

• Direct speech is used only in written form, while indirect speech is used only in spoken form.

• Direct speech uses quotation marks to present exact words, while indirect speech paraphrases without quotes.

• Direct speech is always in the past tense, while indirect speech is in the present tense.

• Indirect speech uses quotation marks to present exact words, while direct speech paraphrases without quotes.

Convert the direct speech: 'I am going to the store' into indirect speech.

• He/She said that he/she was going to a restaurant.

• He/She said that he/she will go to the store.

• He/She said that he/she was going to the store.

• He/She said that he/she is going to the store.

Change the following sentence to reported speech: 'She said, "I will help you."'

• She said that she helped me.

• She said that she will help you.

• She said, 'I will help you.'

• She said that she would help me.

What tense is used in reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past?

• The past perfect tense is used in reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past.

• The future tense is used in reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past.

• The present tense is used in reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past.

• The past tense is used in reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past.

How do you report a question? Give an example.

• They inquired about the location of the event.

• She asked if the report was finished.

• He asked what time the meeting was.

• He wanted to know where the office is.

Convert the command: 'Close the door!' into reported speech.

• He/She told to close the door.

• He/She said to closing the door.

• He/She asked to close the door.

• He/She requested to shut the door.

List three common reporting verbs used in English.

• inform

• say, tell, report

• advise

• ask

What is the reported speech of: 'He asked, "Are you coming?"'?

• He asked whether I will come.

• He asked if I was coming.

• He asked if you were coming.

• He asked if I am coming.

Change the following to reported speech: 'They said, "We are happy."'

• They said, 'We were happy.'

• They said that they were happy.

• They said that they are happy.

• They said that they will be happy.

What happens to the present continuous tense in reported speech?

• The present continuous tense changes to the past continuous tense in reported speech.

• The present continuous tense changes to the simple present tense in reported speech.

• The present continuous tense changes to the future continuous tense in reported speech.

• The present continuous tense remains unchanged in reported speech.