WORKSHEET 26 / SUBJECT : Reported Speech
A) Change the following sentences from DIRECT to INDIRECT SPEECH:
- He said, “I will be here at noon.”
He said that he would be here at noon.
- Mary said, “The train will probably arrive on time.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
- He said, “I have to finish this report by five o’clock.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
- The doctor said, “Mr. Smith will improve quickly.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
- William said to me, “I am leaving in the morning.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
- The teacher said, “Everyone has to write a composition.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
- John said, “I saw that movie on Wednesday.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Helen said, “I have read that book.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Mary said to John, “I cannot go to the movie with you.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
- John said, “I have finished studying my lesson.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
B) REPORT what the guests said at a wedding last Saturday:
- Miss Moore: “They’ll make a lovely couple.”
Miss Moore said (that) they would make a lovely couple.
- Mr. Smith: “They’re going to live in Brighton.”
………………………………………………………………………………………
- Mrs.Jones: “The bride and the groom are very nice young people.”
………………………………………………………………………………………
- Mr. Roberts: “The bride is wearing a beautiful wedding dress.”
………………………………………………………………………………………
- Mr. Clarke: “The couple’s parents look happy.”
………………………………………………………………………………………
C) Write sentences about Jane’s trip to Paris:
- We’re taking the nine o’clock plane.
Jane told me they were taking the nine o’clock plane.
- I’ll have to get up early.
She said ……………………………………………………………………………
- I don’t really like traveling by air.
She told me ………………………………………………………………………..
- But it’s the easiest way to travel.
But she decided ……………………………………………………………………
- We’re going to spend a week in Paris.
She told me ………………………………………………………………………..
D) REPORT the police-officer’s questions to the shop owner:
- What’s your name?
The police-officer asked him what was his name was.
- Did you see the robbers?
………………………………………………………………………………………
- What were they wearing?
………………………………………………………………………………………
- How do you think they got in?
………………………………………………………………………………………
- What did they take?
………………………………………………………………………………………
D) Turn the following dialogue into REPORTED SPEECH:
Sally: Have you applied for the job? Sally asked Diane if she had applied for the job
Diane: Yes, I had an interview yesterday. Diane told her…………………………………….
Sally: How did it go? …………………………………………………….
Diane: Fine, but I’m wondering if I want …………………………………………………….
the job because I will have to move …………………………………………………….
to Manchester. …………………………………………………….
Sally: What will you do then? ……………………………………………………
Diane: If they offer me the job, I can’t ……………………………………………………
accept it. …………………………………………………….
E) Write what the family said at the dinner table:
- Mother: “Does anyone want some more potatoes?”
Mother asked if anyone wanted some more potatoes.
- Father: “Pass me the wine, Beth.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
- Beth: “The chicken is very nice.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
- Grandfather: “I’m going to start my diet tomorrow.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
- Grandmother: “Don’t eat with your mouth open, Sam!”
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F) Gavin has worked for Bisco Supermarkets for thirty years. He can still remember his
job interview after leaving school and he can remember the questions that the interview
asked him:
Example: “Where do you live?” She asked him where he lived.
“Have you worked before?” She asked him if he had worked before.
- “Why do you want the job?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
- “How did you hear about it?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
- “Are you fit?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
- “Can you work on Saturdays?”
She asked him …………………………………………………………………………..
- “How will you travel to work?”
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
G) What does the policeman want to know?
- What’s your name?
The policeman wants to know what my name is.
- What’s your job?
………………………………………………………………………..
- Where do you work?
………………………………………………………………………..
- Where do you live?
………………………………………………………………………..
- Where were you yesterday?
………………………………………………………………………..
H) Tell your family what the doctor said:
- “You really ought to stay in bed.”
He said I ought to stay in bed.
- “But you can get up for half an hour.”
……………………………………………………………………….
- “You can leave here on Thursday.”
……………………………………………………………………….
- “You ought to take some exercise.”
……………………………………………………………………….
- “But you shouldn’t walk too much.”
……………………………………………………………………….
- “You mustn’t run at all.”
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