reported speech discussion questions

Reported speech activities

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Grammar - reported speech

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson with reported speech activities are to:

• practise reported speech in various situations;
• explore reported speech with audio recordings and film clips;
• encourage creative thinking in conversations.

With this lesson plan, students watch film clips to practise reported statements and questions . They listen to a recording and discuss professions based on what the people said. Students also work on reported speech and reporting verbs by playing a quest game . In addition, they read situations and use reporting verbs to explain what caused them and continue conversations using different reporting verbs.

WHAT DID THEY SAY?

In this activity, students practise reported statements and questions . They watch film clips and complete sentences to report what the actors said (e.g. They aren’t my friends. — He said they weren’t his friends. ). You can also ask them to guess details about the situations by answering some questions (e.g. Why did the people say the things? ).  

GUESS THE PROFESSION

As part of the lesson on reported speech activities, students listen to a recording in which people talk about their professions. They discuss what profession each person has and use reported statements to give reasons for their answers based on what the people said.

WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?

In this task, students get cards with questions . Student A asks the question from the card but instead of reading the word in brackets, they say “beep” (e.g. I’m taking the car. Have you seen my (keys)? ). Student B guesses the word in brackets by reporting the question which includes the answer (e.g. I think you asked me if I’d seen your car. ). Then, they swap roles . 

In this exercise, students practise reporting verbs (e.g. inform, convince, promise , etc.) by playing a quest game . It consists of making choices based on a situation presented on a card. First, students complete gaps using the words in brackets. Then, they read a situation and decide what to do next. Students can play the game a few times choosing different scenarios. 

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED

Students work on reporting verbs as part of reported speech activities. They read different situations and use verbs (e.g. accuse, remind, deny , etc.) to report what someone might have said to cause them (e.g. The police officer was furious after talking to the main suspect. – The suspect denied being involved and said he had an alibi. ). 

CONVERSATIONS

Students work with a partner in this activity. They choose one statement and continue the conversation for as long as they can using reporting verbs (e.g. promise, refuse, suggest , etc.). Students don’t have to be too serious . When they are out of ideas, they pick another statement to start a new conversation .

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ESL Speaking

Games + Activities to Try Out Today!

in Activities for Adults · Activities for Kids

Tell your Story | ESL Speaking Activity to Practice Reported Speech

If you’re looking for a reported speech speaking activity, look no further than tell your story . It’s a fun reported speech activity to try out with your higher-level ESL or EFL students. Keep on reading for all the details you need to know about teaching indirect speech!

Speaking Activity to Practice Reported Speech

You can often find a unit on reported speech in most intermediate-level English textbooks. But, it’s not that easy to design some ESL activities to practice this. Not to worry. Keep on reading for one of the best reported speech activities to try out with your students.

Check out one of my favourites: “Tell a Story.” It’s fun, and engaging, and creates some great opportunities for students to practice this important skill. Reported speech activities don’t have to be terrible any longer! Have some fun with reported speech ESL.

Reported Speech ESL Speaking Activity

Skills: Writing/reading/speaking/listening Time: 15-30 minutes Level: Intermediate to Advanced Materials Required: Nothing

Have students write something interesting. Some examples are the most embarrassing moment, the scariest thing you’ve ever done, your dream for the future, future predictions , etc. Base it on whatever topic you are studying in class that day. Make it clear to the students that it should be something they’re willing to share with the entire class so as not to write something very private.

Then, distribute the stories to other people in the class. Then the students have to go around the class, finding the person whose story they have by asking questions. Once they find that person, they have to ask them three interesting questions about the story. And the person who originally wrote the story has to answer them of course.

I like this part of it because it gets students up and out of their seats, moving around and talking to different people. It gets boring sitting down all the time and talking to only 1 person! It’s ideal for those sleepy classes that you might have on Friday afternoon or those ones who are just waking up on Monday morning.

Reported speech ESL activities

Teaching Tips for Tell Your Story:

Emphasize to students that they are to practice asking good questions. For example, “USA?” is not a good question, while, “Did you study abroad in the USA?” is much better. Full sentences are the key here.

Also, emphasize that students should think of interesting follow-up questions that expand upon their knowledge about that situation. This involves reading carefully so they can avoid asking about things that are already mentioned.

You can give your students a couple of minutes before the activity starts to write down a few questions based on the paper they received to help facilitate this. Based on the topic you’ve assigned for the story, there should be some obvious ones that they’d want to ask.

This activity provides an excellent opportunity for your students to work on reported speech. This is something that high-level students are often surprisingly weak at. If you have a small class (less than 10), students can report what they learned about their partner to everyone.

If larger, students can tell their seating partner what they learned. For example, students might say something like, “I talked to Min-Ji. She told me that she got in a car accident last year. She said that it was really scary, but thankfully nobody got injured seriously.”

Procedure for this Reported Speech Activity:

• Have students write an interesting story based on a certain topic. Adjust for length and difficulty depending on your students.
• Collect stories and redistribute them–one per student, making sure a student does not get their own story.
• Students go around the class asking people if that is their story. For example, “Did you get in a car accident when you were little?”
• When they find the person, they must ask them three interesting follow-up questions about it.
• Do the optional variation of having students tell other people what they learned about their classmate in order to practice using reported speech.
• Follow-up with a worksheet, other activity or homework assignment.

Do You Like this Reported Speech ESL Speaking Activity?

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Bolen, Jackie (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 148 Pages - 03/09/2016 (Publication Date)

If you like this ESL speaking activity to help your students practice reported speech, then you’re going to love this book: 101 ESL Activities: For Teenagers and Adults . It’s lesson planning made easy, guaranteed. The key to better English classes is a wide variety of engaging and interactive games and activities and this book will help you get there in style.

There are dozens of top-quality ESL games and activities for teenagers and adults that are organized into various categories: reading, writing, speaking, writing, warm-ups, and 4-skills. You’re sure to find something that will work for any level of students or topic.

You can get the book on Amazon in both print and digital formats. The (cheaper!) digital copy can be read on any device by downloading the free Kindle reading app. It’s super easy to have fun, engaging ESL activities with you anywhere you go.

Or, buy the book and keep it as a handy reference on your bookshelf, or teacher supply room. You can check out 101 ESL Activities for yourself over on Amazon:

Teaching Reported Speech FAQs

There are a number of common questions that people have about reported speech games and activities for English learners. Here are the answers to some of the most popular ones.

What is reported speech in English?

Reported speech is when we talk about or repeat what someone else has said using our own words.

Why do we use reported speech?

We use reported speech to share information, statements, or questions that someone else has said.

What changes occur when turning direct speech into indirect speech?

Pronouns, tense, and time expressions often change for indirect speech.

Can you give an example of direct speech changing to reported speech?

Direct: She said, “I am going to the store.” Reported: She said that she was going to the store.

What happens to the pronouns in reported speech?

Pronouns usually change to match the perspective of the speaker in reported speech.

How do you shift tenses in reported speech?

Generally, you shift the tense back one step. For example, present simple becomes past simple.

Do all time expressions remain the same in indirect speech?

No, time expressions usually change, e.g., “now” becomes “then,” “today” becomes “that day.”

What’s the reporting verb?

The verb that introduces indirect speech can be things like, “said,” “told,” “asked.”

Can questions be reported too?

Yes, questions can be reported using reporting verbs like “asked” or “wondered.”

How do you report imperative sentences?

Imperative sentences are reported using the verb “to” + infinitive, or with phrases like “ordered” or “told.”

What’s the key to successfully teaching indirect speech to ESL students?

Practice and exposure through various exercises and real-life examples are crucial for understanding indirect speech.

Reported speech games and activities for ESL

Tell your Story English Speaking Activity: Have your Say!

What do you think of this activity to practice ESL reported speech? Is it a good one or do you have another reported speech lesson plan activity that you’d like to recommend? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy teachers, like yourself find this useful resource.

Last update on 2024-08-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 20 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 100 books for English teachers and English learners, including 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults , Great Debates for ESL/EFL , and 1001 English Expressions and Phrases . She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

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5 Tasks for Practicing Reported Speech

Tara Benwell June 12, 2017

Do your students struggle with reported (indirect) speech? One of our subscribers recently said that reported speech is one of the most difficult targets for language students to learn. We agree! Our editor says that reported speech is tricky to learn (and teach) because of the verb tense changes that are sometimes required.

ESL Library's Dialogue-Based Sections

ESL Library has many lessons that are based on dialogues. These are ideal for practicing reported speech because they come with ready-made audio that you can download or stream:

• Everyday Dialogues
• English at Work
• Detective Series 1
• Detective Series 2
• Everyday Idioms 1
• Everyday Idioms 2
• Everyday Idioms 3

Practice Tasks

Below are five practice tasks to try with any of the lessons from the sections above. These tasks can also be used with authentic dialogues and transcripts.

1. Listen & Report

Have your students listen to the dialogue. Pause the audio after each line (or after a tricky line) and ask this question:

What did he/she say?

At first, you might want your students to have the transcript handy. As your students become more familiar with this target, use the audio on its own.

2. Ask Ss for Clarification

This task can be done with the audio or the transcript. Ask your students to paraphrase what was said about a certain subject in the dialogue.

What did Jim say about the employment papers ? Did Jim say to drop off the employment papers  now ? Jim said to drop off the employment papers in the staff room, right ?

3. Practice a Specific Tense or Form

Some tenses are trickier than others when it comes to reported speech. Which ones do your students need to work on? Spot examples of it in the dialogues and ask your students to report on what was said.

What did the detective say the teacher was doing ?

Your students may also need to practice other types of indirect speech, such as questions and requests. When you see or hear an example in a dialogue, ask your students to practice.

What did he ask first? Then what request did he make?

4. Spot the Reported Speech

In some cases, reported speech will be used by the characters in the dialogue. Ask your students to spot instances of reported speech used by the speakers.

Where does one of the characters use reported speech?

5. Summarize the Conversation

When summarizing a conversation, it is natural to use reported speech. After listening to and reading a dialogue, ask students to practice summarizing it. This type of task can be done orally or in writing.

Summarize how Clarissa broke the ice with the detective.

Teaching Reported Speech

If your students are unfamiliar with reported (indirect) speech, you will need to teach them the rules and do some practice work before you can try the tasks above. Here are some useful materials to use:

1. Grammar Practice Worksheets: Direct & Reported Speech

In this lesson, students review the verb tense and punctuation rules used in direct and reported speech. They practice changing sentences from direct to reported speech and vice versa.

2. Grammar & Usage: Reported Speech

This handy chart and tips will help students remember common verb tense and modal changes in reported speech. We also encourage you to read our editor's tips for teaching Reported Speech .

The Most Difficult Target to Learn/Teach

In your opinion, what is the most difficult language target for English learners? What is the most difficult thing to teach?

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Reported Speech: Clarifying Questions (ESL)

ESL Level : Upper-intermediate+

Class Time : 25-35 minutes

Language Focus : clarifying questions, reported speech

Worksheet Download :  reported-speech-clarifying-questions.docx

Activity Description

Before doing this simple activity, you should teach your students the backshifting required in reported speech.

Afterwards, go over the expressions for clarifying questions below. Have them practice with some simple WH questions and Yes/No questions. Afterwards, have them write out some questions below. I didn't give my students a context , i.e. I let them ask each other questions on anything. You could, however, have them ask job interview questions or something specific.

Once the students have written their questions, they should mingle and ask them to each other. The person who is asked the question should first clarify the question. Once the question has been confirmed, s/he should answer it.

Worksheet Web Preview

Expressions for clarifying questions.

Direct Question : “What's your job title?”

I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you well. Did you ask me what my job title was ?

Direct Question : “How did you get your job?”

Just so I understand your question...  you asked me  how I  had gotten  my job?

Part 1 : You are going to have a conversation with your classmates. First, look at the questions below. Add three more questions you'd like to ask (try to make them interesting).

Part 2: Begin a conversation with someone. After you ask your question, your partner should use one of the above phrases for clarifying . Your question should also be changed to reported speech (the verb tenses should be moved back a level). See below.

• A: Hello, Jenny. Are you free this Saturday?
• B: I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you well. Did you ask me if I was free this Saturday?
• A: Yes, exactly.
• B: Okay. (Then you answer the question…)

Possible Questions

• Are you going to return next session?
• Does the weather sometimes affect your mood?
• What's your opinion of Toronto so far?
• Have you ever been arrested?

See related pages:

• Reported Speech Bingo
• Reported Speech: The Marriage Counselor
• Clarifying Questions with Gerunds and Infinitives

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Reported Speech: Important Grammar Rules and Examples

Reported speech is a very common aspect of the English language. You use it nearly every day, both in conversations and in writing. This reference covers key sections about reported speech, including what it is, examples, rules, and verb tense changes. You’ll also learn about modal verbs, changes in time and place, and different reporting verbs.

Reported Speech

What Is Reported Speech?

Reported speech is simply when you tell somebody what someone else said. You can do this in your writing, or in speech. Reported speech is very different from  direct speech , which is when you show what somebody said  in the exact way that they said it . In reported speech though, you do not need to quote somebody directly.

Instead, you use a reporting verb, such as ‘say’ or ‘ask’. These reporting verbs are used to report the speech to someone else. There are many different reporting verbs that can be used.

In short, reported speech is the linguistic technique that you use to tell somebody what someone else’s  direct speech  was. In reported speech though, you may need to make certain changes to the grammar to make the sentence make sense. Some examples below highlight what needs to be changed.

Reported Speech Examples

When using reported speech, you are usually talking about the past. The verbs, therefore, usually have to be in the past too.

For example :

• Direct speech:  I’ve lost my umbrella .
• Reported speech:  He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.

Another example :

• Direct speech:  She is doing her homework .
• Reported speech:  He said (that) she was doing her homework.

Table of Changes :

Reported Speech Rules

Verb tense changes in reported speech.

When the reporting verb is in the present tense, only small changes are needed.

• Direct speech:  I like dogs.
• Reported speech:  She  says  she likes dogs.

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, you need to change the tense of both the reporting verb and the main verb.

• Reported speech:  She  said  she  liked  dogs.

The tenses generally move backward as follows:

For sentences about the future, you also need to change the future verbs.

• Direct speech:  I shall leave in a moment.
• Reported speech:  She said that she would leave in a moment.

Here are the changes for future tenses:

Modal Verbs and Reported Speech

Modal verbs also change when used in reported speech.

• Direct speech:  Will I see you later?
• Reported speech:  He asked if he  would  see me later.

Some modal verbs do not need to change tense because they fit naturally.

• Direct speech:  I should go to the park.
• Reported speech:  He told me he  should  go to the park.

Here are both correct and incorrect examples of reported speech for clarity:

• Reported speech:  He told  me  he should go to the park.
• Reported speech:  He said he should go to the park.
• Incorrect reported speech:  He told he should go to the park.
• Incorrect reported speech:  He said me he should go to the park.

To correct these:

• Add ‘me’: He told  me  he should go to the park.
• Remove ‘me’ or add ‘to’: He said he should go to the park or He said  to  me he should go to the park.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Changes in time and place in reported speech.

References to  time  and  place often need to change when you use indirect speech. Here is a useful guide to these changes:

No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

In some cases,  verb tenses  do not change when you report speech indirectly. Here are the key instances:

• When the introductory verb is in the present , present perfect , or future .
• When the reported sentence deals with a  fact  or  general truth .
• When the reported sentence contains a  time clause .
• If the verb of the sentence is in the  unreal past  (the  second  or the  third conditional ).
• The  subjunctive  stays unchanged in the  subordinate clause .
• Had better ,  could ,  would ,  used to ,  should ,  might ,  ought to , and  mustn’t  remain unchanged.
• If the speaker reports  something immediately  or  soon after it was said .

Reporting Verbs in Indirect Speech

Reporting verbs are crucial in indirect speech. Here is a list categorized by their usage:

• Basic Verbs : Tell, say, ask
• Verb + that + clause : Complain, deny, explain, exclaim, remark, promise, boast, inform somebody, claim, agree, suggest
• Verb + to + infinitive : Agree, offer, refuse, demand, threaten, promise, claim
• Verb + indirect object + to + infinitive : Advise, allow, beg, command, encourage, forbid, invite, want, instruct, permit, urge, order, remind, warn
• Verb + “ing” form : Admit (to), accuse somebody of, apologize for, boast about/of, complain to somebody of, deny, insist on, suggest
• Verb + how : Explain to somebody

Reported Questions

When converting questions from direct to indirect speech, you follow rules similar to those for statements.  Verbs  used include inquire, wonder, want to know, ask.

Reported Commands and Requests

Commands and requests  in Indirect Speech are formed using the  to-infinitive  and  not to-infinitive . Common reporting verbs include order, shout, demand, warn, beg, command, tell, insist, beseech , threaten, implore, ask, propose, forbid.

Pronoun and tense changes  are needed when shifting from direct to indirect speech.

Reported Speech Video

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Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, Exceptions

👉 Quiz 1 / Quiz 2

Advanced Grammar Course

What is reported speech?

“Reported speech” is when we talk about what somebody else said – for example:

• Direct Speech: “I’ve been to London three times.”
• Reported Speech: She said she’d been to London three times.

There are a lot of tricky little details to remember, but don’t worry, I’ll explain them and we’ll see lots of examples. The lesson will have three parts – we’ll start by looking at statements in reported speech, and then we’ll learn about some exceptions to the rules, and finally we’ll cover reported questions, requests, and commands.

So much of English grammar – like this topic, reported speech – can be confusing, hard to understand, and even harder to use correctly. I can help you learn grammar easily and use it confidently inside my Advanced English Grammar Course.

In this course, I will make even the most difficult parts of English grammar clear to you – and there are lots of opportunities for you to practice!

Backshift of Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

When we use reported speech, we often change the verb tense backwards in time. This can be called “backshift.”

Here are some examples in different verb tenses:

Reported Speech (Part 1) Quiz

Exceptions to Backshift in Reported Speech

Now that you know some of the reported speech rules about backshift, let’s learn some exceptions.

There are two situations in which we do NOT need to change the verb tense.

No backshift needed when the situation is still true

For example, if someone says “I have three children” (direct speech) then we would say “He said he has three children” because the situation continues to be true.

If I tell you “I live in the United States” (direct speech) then you could tell someone else “She said she lives in the United States” (that’s reported speech) because it is still true.

When the situation is still true, then we don’t need to backshift the verb.

But when the situation is NOT still true, then we DO need to backshift the verb.

Imagine your friend says, “I have a headache.”

• If you immediately go and talk to another friend, you could say, “She said she has a headache,” because the situation is still true
• If you’re talking about that conversation a month after it happened, then you would say, “She said she had a headache,” because it’s no longer true.

No backshift needed when the situation is still in the future

We also don’t need to backshift to the verb when somebody said something about the future, and the event is still in the future.

Here’s an example:

• On Monday, my friend said, “I ‘ll call you on Friday .”
• “She said she ‘ll call me on Friday”, because Friday is still in the future from now.
• It is also possible to say, “She said she ‘d (she would) call me on Friday.”
• Both of them are correct, so the backshift in this case is optional.

Let’s look at a different situation:

• On Monday, my friend said, “I ‘ll call you on Tuesday .”
• “She said she ‘d  call me on Tuesday.” I must backshift because the event is NOT still in the future.

Review: Reported Speech, Backshift, & Exceptions

Quick review:

• Normally in reported speech we backshift the verb, we put it in a verb tense that’s a little bit further in the past.
• when the situation is still true
• when the situation is still in the future

Reported Requests, Orders, and Questions

Those were the rules for reported statements, just regular sentences.

What about reported speech for questions, requests, and orders?

For reported requests, we use “asked (someone) to do something”:

• “Please make a copy of this report.” (direct speech)
• She asked me to make a copy of the report. (reported speech)

For reported orders, we use “told (someone) to do something:”

• “Go to the bank.” (direct speech)
• “He told me to go to the bank.” (reported speech)

The main verb stays in the infinitive with “to”:

• She asked me to make a copy of the report. She asked me  make  a copy of the report.
• He told me to go to the bank. He told me  go  to the bank.

For yes/no questions, we use “asked if” and “wanted to know if” in reported speech.

• “Are you coming to the party?” (direct)
• He asked if I was coming to the party. (reported)
• “Did you turn off the TV?” (direct)
• She wanted to know if I had turned off the TV.” (reported)

The main verb changes and back shifts according to the rules and exceptions we learned earlier.

Notice that we don’t use do/does/did in the reported question:

• She wanted to know did I turn off the TV.
• She wanted to know if I had turned off the TV.

For other questions that are not yes/no questions, we use asked/wanted to know (without “if”):

• “When was the company founded?” (direct)
• She asked when the company was founded.” (reported)
• “What kind of car do you drive?” (direct)
• He wanted to know what kind of car I drive. (reported)

Again, notice that we don’t use do/does/did in reported questions:

• “Where does he work?”
• She wanted to know  where does he work.
• She wanted to know where he works.

Also, in questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:

• “Where were you born?” ([to be] + subject)
• He asked where I was born. (subject + [to be])
• He asked where was I born.

Reported Speech (Part 2) Quiz

Learn more about reported speech:

• Reported speech: Perfect English Grammar
• Reported speech: BJYU’s

If you want to take your English grammar to the next level, then my Advanced English Grammar Course is for you! It will help you master the details of the English language, with clear explanations of essential grammar topics, and lots of practice. I hope to see you inside!

I’ve got one last little exercise for you, and that is to write sentences using reported speech. Think about a conversation you’ve had in the past, and write about it – let’s see you put this into practice right away.

Master the details of English grammar:

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Hi, I’m Shayna. I create courses helping English as a Second Language learners become more fluent in just a few minutes a day – so they can speak English naturally and confidently in work and daily life.

Guided discovery is when you allow students to discover rules on their own rather than telling them the rules. Use the following worksheet to allow students to discover the rules for reported speech on their own before putting it into action.

1. Allow students to answer the first three pages of the worksheet on their own or in small groups.

Do not do the practice page until you have checked their answers for the guided discovery .

2. Check their answers together as a class using the PDF or PPTX presentation.

When students have answered all the guided discovery questions, you can show them the rules/answers using the following presentation.

3. Give students a chance to practice reported speech using the fourth page of the worksheet.

When you have finished learning all of the rules, try answering the practice questions. (You can find this practice on the last page of the PDF worksheet.)

Directions: Change the sentences from direct speech to reported speech.

• He asked her, “Do you like pizza?”
• “I am going,” she said.
• “Where is he?” they asked.
• “I ate at the shopping mall,” Tim said.
• “We can read a book,” he said.
• “I will visit you next week,” Anita told George.
• “That dinosaur is so cute,” said the child.
• “What are we waiting for?” she asked.
• “Did they finish their homework?” asked the teacher.
• She asked her, “Have you ever tried sushi?”

4. Let students use the discussion question to practice reported speech.

After students have had some practice, try answering these discussion questions , which are also in the reported speech PPTX/PDF.

And it’s as simple as that!

By allowing the students to discover the rules slowly on their own, it’ll make it easier to remember and head off a lot of the confusion that comes with harder topics like reported speech.

I hope this lesson helped you and your students!

If you want more advanced lessons, try this one hour lesson that encourages students to discuss radical work ideas.

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Reported Speech Discussion Questions

A lesson plan for english language teachers.

Conversation questions for free speaking practice of indirect speech, including both personal questions and opinion questions.

Lesson Plan Content:

Reported speech discussion questions.

Work in twos or threes. Take turns asking questions from below, for three or four minutes each time. Is there is more than one question on a line that you choose, only use the other questions on that line after your partner answers the first question, and only if they don’t mention that thing in their first answer. In your answers, try to rephrase words in the question as much as you can (when possible). Your teacher will tell you if you should try to use reporting verbs, or if you can just respond naturally.

• Are there any dangers in your country that you would tell foreign visitors about?
• Are there any folk remedies for colds in your country? Do such folk remedies work?
• Are there any quotes or proverbs which you particularly like?
• Are you good at remembering quotations, movie dialogue, etc?
• Are you resistant to salesmanship, would you say?
• Can you give some examples of bad communication in the workplace?
• Did you ever fight with your parents when you were younger? What about?
• Did you ever speak to your school’s headteacher? What about?
• Did you learn anything at school that turned out to be wrong? How did you find out?
• Did your parents push your hard to achieve? What makes you say that?
• Do people ever have difficulties with your name?
• Do you have any tips for smooth communication on the telephone?
• Do you regular performance reviews at work are useful? What makes you say that?
• Do you think it is true that politicians are more dishonest than normal people?
• Does anyone in your family have a favourite anecdote?
• Have you attended a course which didn’t meet your expectations? What did you do?
• Have you ever broken a promise?
• Have you ever changed your mind about a political topic? What were your views?
• Have you ever had a disagreement with anyone at work or college?
• Have you ever had an ambition that you later gave up on? Why?
• Have you ever had to give a presentation or speech? What did you say?
• Have you ever received emails from scammers? Can you give an example?
• Have you ever refused to do anything that a boss or teacher asked you to do?
• Have you ever spoken to the police? What about?
• Have your family ever shown pride in your achievements?
• How can a good coach motivate a team?
• How can you boost someone’s self-confidence?
• How common is fake news in your country? Can you give an example?
• How do you feel about celebrity gossip?
• How do you usually react to negative feedback?
• How do you usually respond to bad service?
• How do you usually work out how to use new technology?
• How easy is it for you to remember what you need to buy in the supermarket?
• How easy is it to change people’s opinions through debate and discussion?
• How good are you at giving instructions?
• How important is a good memory in modern education?
• How loud is your voice, would you say?
• How often do comedians cause controversies in your country?
• How often do you talk about current affairs with people you know? Why?
• How should schools recognise high achievers, do you think?
• How strict were your parents about good manners inside and outside the home?
• How strict would you be about sticking to the agenda if you were chairing a meeting?
• How well do you remember your schools’ mottos, songs, etc?
• How would people describe you, do you think?
• How would you feel about taking part in a debating society? What topics could you debate? What position would you like to take?
• If you could give a speech on public television, what would you say?
• Is it always good to be humble, would you say?
• Is it easy to translate from your language into English? Why?
• Is it generally better to be direct or indirect?
• It is said that honesty is the best policy. Do you agree?
• Were there any rules at your school which you would have liked to change?
• What advice would you give to someone visiting this city for the first time?
• What are your weak points? How did you find out about those things?
• What did you want to do for a living when you were younger?
• What do you know about your ancestors? How did you find out?
• What do you like to know about a place before visiting? How do you find that out?
• What do you normally do when you do something you feel proud of?
• What do people think about your cooking? How do you know?
• What do you think about careers advisors? Do you have experience of using one?
• What do you think about futurologists?
• What do you think about speaking to yourself in the mirror?
• What do you think about this country’s economy? What do you base that idea on?
• What do you think about your country’s national anthem?
• What do you usually talk with your friends about?
• What do your family think about your choice of studies and/ or job?
• What is the best speech you have ever heard?
• What is the best way to get someone to come out on a date?
• What is the best way to share bad news, do you think?
• What issues could there be referenda on in your country?
• What kinds of topics can be taboo in your country?
• What one thing would you like to tell your country’s prime minister or president?
• What should companies do about office romances?
• When did you last complain about a product or service? What happened?
• When did you start using email? What did you usually email about at that time?
• Where do you get inspiration from?
• Where did you last go on holiday? How did you decide on that place?
• Which famous person would you most like to meet? What would you say to them?
• Would you accept a transfer to a different location? What would that depend on?
• Would you make a good leader, do you think? What makes you say that?

Ask about any questions above that you don’t understand, are not sure that you answered well, etc, working together to make suitable answers each time.

Brainstorm verbs like “request” and “tell” that you could have used in your answers.

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Reported Speech Quiz

Test your understanding of Reported Speech in English with this Reported Speech Quiz. Reported Speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else said without quoting their exact words. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions to suit the reporting context. For example, direct speech: “ I am learning English, ” becomes in reported speech: “ She said she was learning English. ” This quiz has 15 questions and each question will ask you to change the direct speech into reported speech. Take The Quiz Below!

Not learned about reported speech yet? Then check out this Reported Speech Guide which includes lots of examples to help you master this important part of English grammar.

• English ESL Video Lessons
• Grammar Practice
• General grammar practice
• Reported speech: reported questions (indirect questions)

Reported Speech - The Best of 73 Questions

The Reported Speech

Table of Contents

What is reported speech, direct speech vs reported speech.

Different types of reported speech

When you use reported speech, you either report:

A. Reporting statements

1- pronouns.

Do not change the tense if the introductory clause (i.e., the reporting verb) is in the present tense (e. g. He says ). Note, however, that you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).

3. Modal verbs

4- Place, demonstratives, and time expressions

B. Reporting Questions

C. Reporting requests/commands

D. Other transformations

Main clauses connected with and/but, punctuation rules of the reported speech, can we omit that in the reported speech, list of reporting verbs.

Search Eslbase

How to use reported questions.

Learn about how to report questions in English grammar. Clear and simple explanation of meaning and use, with examples.

Forming reported questions

These general rules for reported speech also apply.

• Direct speech: “Where are you going?” Reported speech: He asked me where I was going .
• Direct speech: “Why is he shouting?” Reported speech: He asked me why he was shouting .
• Direct speech: “What do you want?” Reported speech: She asked me what I wanted .
• Direct speech: “Who doesn’t like cheese?” Reported speech: She asked me who didn’t like cheese.
• Direct speech: “Do you want me to come?” Reported speech: I asked him if he wanted me to come.
• Direct speech: “Have you fed the dog?” Reported speech: She asked me whether I had fed the dog.
• Direct speech: “Who is the champion?” Reported speech: She asked me who the champion was / She asked me who was the champion.
• Direct speech: “What is your favourite colour?” Reported speech: She asked me what my favourite colour was / She asked me what was my favourite colour.

Related grammar points

Reported Speech Reporting Verbs Say and Tell

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Keith Taylor

Keith is the co-founder of Eslbase and School of TEFL . He's been a teacher and teacher trainer for over 20 years, in Indonesia, Australia, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Poland, France and now in the UK.

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14 comments

It’s very informative… It helped me a lot… Thank you

can you convert this? the student said, “would that my results were different”

Hi , in my book there is exercise that want change sentence from Reported question sentence to direct question My question is ( in past perfect sentence ) how I know that this sentence change to past simple or present perfect. Because both of them in direct speech change to past perfect .

Hi, can you write here the sentence that you need to change?

Hi I have a question, my English teacher said we never inverted the subjects in the reported questions. But in your work I saw that you are inverted the subjects in that reported question. Can you tell me why you do this?

please can you tell me what is the reported speech of “what was the last book you read? “….please it is very important

AHMED KOHARI

he/she asked me what the last book I read was?

He asked what book I read last

Sara Willson

can someone cover this please:

“When do the shops close?” I asked.

I asked when the shops closed.

Can you change the word order with other verbs that are not “to be”? Example: Where have you been? He asked me where had I been.

Hi – no, you would have to say: “He asked me where I had been.”

Hi Yazan She asked me what the last book I read was.

Here’s an example, without the subject and auxiliary inverted first, and then with them inverted:

1. He asked me where was I going. 2. He asked me where I was going.

The second example, with the inversion, is correct for reported speech.

However, you could say the first one like this: 1. He asked me: “Where was I going?”

This is in quite common use in spoken English, and anything which is in common use is acceptable. It’s really a mix of direct and reported speech. With kind of use we would expect just direct speech: 1. He asked me: “Where are you going?”

But as I say, anything which is in common use is acceptable, but may not be “correct” in written English or in tests and exams.

Hope this helps.

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Reported Speech

Reported Speech – Our ESL resources are free for everyone. We have collected the best ESL grammar practice handouts for all levels. The handouts and activities are online-friendly and flexible to meet all of your needs.

Reported Speech Lesson

This handout can be used to introduce and practice making “he said she said” statements.

Time: 30 -45 minutes

Level: Intermediate

Grammar Worksheet – Reported speech

This handout is provided by allthingsgrammar.com .

Reporting speech quiz

Time: 20 – 30 minutes

Level: Pre-intermediate/Intermediate

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Reported speech discussion questions.

ESL students will learn Reported Speech Discussion Questions.

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Reported Speech

Perfect english grammar.

Reported Statements

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

• Direct speech: I like ice cream.
• Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'. (As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But , if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

• Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

* doesn't change.

• Direct speech: The sky is blue.
• Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements. Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?

• Direct speech: Where do you live?
• Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.
• Direct speech: Where is Julie?
• Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.

• Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?
• Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions. Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions. Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

• Direct speech: Close the window, please
• Or: Could you close the window please?
• Or: Would you mind closing the window please?
• Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

• Direct speech: Please don't be late.
• Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders

• Direct speech: Sit down!
• Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

• Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.

• Click here for an exercise about using 'say' and 'tell'.
• Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

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• Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10

Reported speech is an important part of learning English, especially in Class 10. It involves telling someone what another person has said, but without quoting their exact words . For example, instead of saying, "She said, 'I am going to the market,'" the reported speech would be, "She said that she was going to the market."

Practising Reported Speech Exercises For Class 10 helps students understand how to convey information accurately and clearly. In this article, there are different exercises prepared to test and improve your skills in reported speech. Each exercise comes with answers, students can check their work and learn from any mistakes. By working through these exercises, students will improve their ability to use reported speech correctly in different situations.

Reported Speech Exercises with Answers for Class 10

Try these Reported Speech exercises with answers for Class 10 to practise changing direct quotes into reported speech. Check your answers to see how well you understand the topic, and watch the Reported speech video for a clear explanation and more examples .

Reported Speech Dialogue Exercises for Class 10 CBSE with Answers

Exercise 1: Transform the following sentences into reported speech.

"I am going to the market," said Rahul.

"Are you coming to the party?" asked Riya.

"I will finish my homework later," said Tina.

"We have never been to Paris," they said.

"Did you see the new movie?" he asked.

"She can speak three languages," said Mr. Sharma.

"Please, close the door," she said.

"Why are you late?" asked the teacher.

"I don’t like spicy food," said Raj.

"You should take your medicine ," the doctor said.

"Where have you been?" she asked.

"I need a new pair of shoes," he said.

"Will you help me with this project?" she asked.

"I can’t find my keys," said John.

"I have completed my assignment," he said.

"Are they coming to the meeting?" she asked.

"We visited the museum yesterday," they said.

"Why didn’t you answer my call?" she asked.

"I am reading an interesting book," he said.

"Let’s go for a walk," she suggested.

"You must finish this work by tomorrow," he said.

"Did you enjoy the concert?" she asked.

"I don’t understand this chapter," said Ravi.

"Where is the nearest bus stop?" he asked.

"She will call you later," said Mr. Gupta.

"Can you lend me a pen?" he asked.

"I am not feeling well," she said.

"When does the train arrive?" he asked.

"Do you know where she went?" they asked.

"We are planning a surprise party," they said.

"I have a meeting at 5 PM," she said.

"Will it rain tomorrow?" he asked.

"I need to talk to you," she said.

"Did you hear the news?" he asked.

"I will be there on time ," she assured.

"Where can I find a taxi?" he asked.

"She is coming to the party," they said.

"Can you help me with this?" he asked.

"I have to leave now," she said.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked.

"I will call you later," he said.

"She told me that she was busy," he said.

"Did you see that movie?" she asked.

"I can’t come to the meeting," he said.

"Where did you put my book?" she asked.

"I am looking for my wallet," he said.

"Can you meet me tomorrow?" she asked.

"They are watching a movie," she said.

"Do you know his address?" he asked.

"I have been waiting for an hour," she said.

Rahul said that he was going to the market.

Riya asked if I was coming to the party.

Tina said that she would finish her homework later.

They said that they had never been to Paris.

He asked if I had seen the new movie.

Mr. Sharma said that she could speak three languages.

She requested to close the door.

The teacher asked why I was late.

Raj said that he didn’t like spicy food.

The doctor advised that I should take my medicine.

She asked where I had been.

He said that he needed a new pair of shoes.

She asked if I would help her with the project.

John said that he couldn’t find his keys.

He said that he had completed his assignment.

She asked if they were coming to the meeting.

They said that they had visited the museum the day before.

She asked why I hadn’t answered her call.

He said that he was reading an interesting book.

She suggested going for a walk.

He said that I had to finish the work by the next day.

She asked if I had enjoyed the concert.

Ravi said that he didn’t understand the chapter.

He asked where the nearest bus stop was.

Mr. Gupta said that she would call me later.

He asked if I could lend him a pen.

She said that she was not feeling well.

He asked when the train arrived.

They asked if I knew where she had gone.

They said that they were planning a surprise party.

She said that she had a meeting at 5 PM.

He asked if it would rain the next day.

She said that she needed to talk to me.

He asked if I had heard the news.

She assured me that she would be there on time.

He asked where he could find a taxi.

They said that she was coming to the party.

He asked if I could help him with that.

She said that she had to leave then.

He asked if I was sure about it.

He said that he would call me later.

He said that she had told him that she was busy.

She asked if I had seen that movie.

He said that he couldn’t come to the meeting.

She asked where I had put her book.

He said that he was looking for his wallet.

She asked if I could meet her the next day.

She said that they were watching a movie.

He asked if I knew his address.

She said that she had been waiting for an hour.

Exercise 2: Convert the following reported speech sentences back into direct speech .

She said that she was going to the store.

He asked if I had finished my homework.

The teacher mentioned that the exam was on Friday.

They said that they would be arriving late.

She warned me that the water was too hot.

He asked if she was coming to the party.

The manager said that the meeting was scheduled for 3 PM.

She told me that she had seen that movie before.

He said that he would help me with the project.

The doctor advised that I should get more rest.

She mentioned that she had lost her keys.

They asked if we could join them for dinner.

He said that he was not feeling well.

The professor explained that the assignment was due next week.

She said that they were planning a surprise party.

He informed me that he would be traveling abroad.

The guide said that the tour would start at noon.

She asked if I wanted to come with her.

He said that he had been working on the report all night.

They complained that the service was too slow.

The student said that he had forgotten his book.

She explained that she had a family emergency.

He mentioned that the flight was delayed.

They said that they had enjoyed the concert.

The chef suggested that we try the special dish.

She told me that she had won a prize.

He asked if I could help him with the assignment.

The coach said that practice would start at 5 PM.

She said that she was excited about the new job.

He stated that he had completed the project.

The police officer asked if I had seen anything suspicious.

She mentioned that she would be moving to a new city.

He informed me that the event was canceled.

The librarian said that the book was overdue.

She told him that she would call him later.

He said that he had missed the bus.

The employee mentioned that the system was down.

She asked if I could pick her up from the airport.

He said that they were going on vacation next month .

They complained that the hotel room was not clean.

The artist said that she had finished her painting.

She told me that they had already eaten dinner.

He asked if I had read the latest book in the series.

The teacher mentioned that the project was due soon.

She said that she would be arriving late.

He informed me that the deadline was extended.

The chef said that the food was almost ready.

She asked if we had seen her sunglasses.

He said that he would call me when he arrived.

The guide mentioned that the museum was closed on Mondays.

She said, "I am going to the store."

He asked, "Have you finished your homework?"

The teacher mentioned, "The exam is on Friday."

They said, "We will be arriving late."

She warned, "The water is too hot."

He asked, "Is she coming to the party?"

The manager said, "The meeting is scheduled for 3 PM."

She told me, "I have seen that movie before."

He said, "I will help you with the project."

The doctor advised, "You should get more rest."

She mentioned, "I have lost my keys."

They asked, "Can we join you for dinner?"

He said, "I am not feeling well."

The professor explained, "The assignment is due next week."

She said, "We are planning a surprise party."

He informed me, "I will be traveling abroad."

The guide said, "The tour will start at noon."

She asked, "Do you want to come with me?"

He said, "I have been working on the report all night."

They complained, "The service is too slow."

The student said, "I have forgotten my book."

She explained, "I have a family emergency."

He mentioned, "The flight is delayed."

They said, "We enjoyed the concert."

The chef suggested, "Try the special dish."

She told me, "I have won a prize."

He asked, "Can you help me with the assignment?"

The coach said, "Practice will start at 5 PM."

She said, "I am excited about the new job."

He stated, "I have completed the project."

The police officer asked, "Have you seen anything suspicious?"

She mentioned, "I will be moving to a new city."

He informed me, "The event is canceled."

The librarian said, "The book is overdue."

She told him, "I will call you later."

He said, "I missed the bus."

The employee mentioned, "The system is down."

She asked, "Can you pick me up from the airport?"

He said, "We are going on vacation next month."

They complained, "The hotel room is not clean."

The artist said, "I have finished my painting."

She told me, "We have already eaten dinner."

He asked, "Have you read the latest book in the series?"

The teacher mentioned, "The project is due soon."

She said, "I will be arriving late."

He informed me, "The deadline has been extended."

The chef said, "The food is almost ready."

She asked, "Have you seen my sunglasses?"

He said, "I will call you when I arrive."

The guide mentioned, "The museum is closed on Mondays."

Exercise 3: Reported Speech dialogue exercises for Class 10 CBSE with Answers

A: "I will meet you at the café at 3 PM," she said.

B: "I’ll be there," he replied.

A: "Please call me when you arrive," he said.

B: "I will definitely call," she promised.

A: "Can you help me with this project?" she asked.

B: "Of course, I’ll help you," he responded.

A: "I am planning to visit my parents next weekend," she said.

B: "That sounds nice," he replied.

A: "We need to finish this report by tomorrow," he said.

B: "I’ll get it done," she promised.

A: "Do you want to join us for lunch?" they asked.

B: "Yes, I’d love to join," she answered.

A: "The weather is going to be great this weekend," he said.

B: "I hope so," she replied.

A: "I have never been to Australia," she said.

B: "Neither have I," he replied.

A: "Please make sure to lock the door," he said.

B: "I will lock it," she assured.

A: "I am excited about the new movie," she said.

B: "Me too," he replied.

A: "We should start the meeting now," he suggested.

B: "I agree, let's begin," she said.

A: "Can you finish this by 5 PM?" he asked.

B: "I will try my best," she replied.

A: "I’m thinking of buying a new car," she said.

B: "That sounds like a good idea," he replied.

A: "Have you finished your assignment?" he asked.

B: "Not yet, but I’m working on it," she replied.

A: "I’ll be attending the conference next month," she said.

B: "I look forward to hearing about it," he replied.

A: "Please be on time for the meeting," he said.

B: "I will be punctual," she promised.

A: "I’m not sure if I can make it to the party," she said.

B: "I hope you can come," he replied.

A: "The train leaves at 8 AM," he said.

B: "I’ll make sure to be there early," she promised.

A: "Did you enjoy the book?" he asked.

B: "Yes, it was fantastic," she replied.

A: "I’ll send you the details later," she said.

B: "Thank you, I’ll wait for them," he replied.

A: "We have to submit the form by Friday," he said.

B: "I’ll get it done by then," she promised.

A: "Can you pass the salt, please?" she asked.

B: "Sure, here you go," he replied.

A: "I’m planning to take a vacation next month," she said.

B: "That sounds wonderful," he replied.

A: "Don’t forget to call me," he said.

B: "I won’t forget," she assured.

A: "I’ve never seen such a beautiful sunset," she said.

A: "Can you help me move this weekend?" he asked.

B: "I’m available to help," she replied.

A: "I have a dentist appointment tomorrow," she said.

B: "I hope it goes well," he replied.

A: "Please submit your reports by Monday," he said.

B: "I will submit them on Monday," she promised.

A: "We’re going to a concert tonight," she said.

B: "That sounds fun," he replied.

A: "I’m not feeling well today," he said.

B: "I hope you get better soon," she replied.

A: "I will finish my work before lunch," she said.

B: "Great, I’ll see you then," he replied.

A: "Can you give me a ride to the airport?" he asked.

B: "Yes, I can," she replied.

A: "I’ve completed the assignment," she said.

B: "That’s good to hear," he replied.

A: "Please let me know if you need any help," he said.

B: "Thank you, I will," she promised.

A: "I’m excited for the holiday season ," she said.

A: "I’ll be back by 10 PM," he said.

B: "Okay, I’ll see you then," she replied.

A: "Don’t forget to turn off the lights," she said.

B: "I’ll make sure to do that," he promised.

A: "The deadline for the project is next week," he said.

B: "I’ll work on it," she assured.

A: "Can you give me some feedback on my presentation?" she asked.

B: "Sure, I’ll review it," he replied.

A: "I’ll call you as soon as I arrive," he said.

B: "I’ll be waiting for your call," she replied.

A: "We need to discuss this further," she said.

B: "Let’s talk about it later," he replied.

A: "I’m planning a surprise party for her," she said.

B: "That’s exciting," he replied.

A: "Have you completed the budget report?" he asked.

B: "Yes, I finished it last night," she replied.

A: "I’ll get the tickets for the concert," he said.

B: "Thank you," she replied.

A: "I’ve booked a table for two," she said.

B: "Perfect, I’ll see you there," he replied.

A: "Can you meet me at the station?" he asked.

B: "I’ll be there on time," she assured.

A: "I’ve lost my wallet," he said.

B: "Let me help you find it," she offered.

A: "Please remember to bring your ID," she said.

B: "I won’t forget," he promised.

A: "I’m excited about the new project," he said.

B: "Me too," she replied.

A: "Can you check my email for me?" she asked.

B: "Sure, I’ll do that now," he replied.

Speaker A: She said that she would meet him at the café at 3 PM.

Speaker B: He replied that he would be there.

Speaker A: He said to call him when she arrived.

Speaker B: She promised that she would definitely call.

Speaker A: She asked if he could help her with the project.

Speaker B: He responded that he would help her.

Speaker A: She said that she was planning to visit her parents the following weekend.

Speaker B: He replied that it sounded nice.

Speaker A: He said that they needed to finish the report by the next day.

Speaker B: She promised that she would get it done.

Speaker A: They asked if she wanted to join them for lunch.

Speaker B: She answered that she would love to join.

Speaker A: He said that the weather was going to be great that weekend.

Speaker B: She replied that she hoped so.

Speaker A: She said that she had never been to Australia.

Speaker B: He replied that he had not been either.

Speaker A: He said to make sure to lock the door.

Speaker B: She assured him that she would lock it.

Speaker A: She said that she was excited about the new movie.

Speaker B: He replied that he was excited too.

Speaker A: He suggested that they should start the meeting then.

Speaker B: She agreed and said they should begin.

Speaker A: He asked if she could finish it by 5 PM.

Speaker B: She replied that she would try her best.

Speaker A: She said that she was thinking of buying a new car.

Speaker B: He replied that it sounded like a good idea.

Speaker A: He asked if she had finished her assignment.

Speaker B: She replied that she had not yet finished but was working on it.

Speaker A: She said that she would be attending the conference the following month.

Speaker B: He replied that he looked forward to hearing about it.

Speaker A: He said to be on time for the meeting.

Speaker B: She promised that she would be punctual.

Speaker A: She said that she was not sure if she could make it to the party.

Speaker B: He replied that he hoped she could come.

Speaker A: He said that the train left at 8 AM.

Speaker B: She promised that she would make sure to be there early.

Speaker A: He asked if she had enjoyed the book.

Speaker B: She replied that it was fantastic.

Speaker A: She said that she would send him the details later.

Speaker B: He replied that he would wait for them.

Speaker A: He said that they had to submit the form by Friday.

Speaker B: She promised that she would get it done by then.

Speaker A: She asked if he could pass the salt.

Speaker B: He replied that he would pass it.

Speaker A: She said that she was planning a vacation the following month.

Speaker B: He replied that it sounded wonderful.

Speaker A: He said not to forget to call him.

Speaker B: She assured him that she would not forget.

Speaker A: She said that she had never seen such a beautiful sunset.

Speaker B: He replied that he had not seen one either.

Speaker A: He asked if she could help him move that weekend.

Speaker B: She replied that she was available to help.

Speaker A: She said that she had a dentist appointment the next day.

Speaker B: He replied that he hoped it went well.

Speaker A: He said to submit the reports by Monday.

Speaker B: She promised that she would submit them on Monday.

Speaker A: She said that they were going to a concert that night.

Speaker B: He replied that it sounded fun.

Speaker A: He said that he was not feeling well that day.

Speaker B: She replied that she hoped he would get better soon.

Speaker A: She said that she would finish her work before lunch.

Speaker B: He replied that he would see her then.

Speaker A: He asked if she could give him a ride to the airport.

Speaker B: She replied that she could.

Speaker A: She said that she had completed the assignment.

Speaker B: He replied that it was good to hear.

Speaker A: He said to let him know if she needed any help.

Speaker B: She promised that she would.

Speaker A: She said that she was excited about the holiday season.

Speaker A: He said that he would be back by 10 PM.

Speaker B: She replied that she would see him then.

Speaker A: She said not to forget to turn off the lights.

Speaker B: He promised that he would make sure to do that.

Speaker A: He said that the deadline for the project was the following week.

Speaker B: She assured him that she would work on it.

Speaker A: She asked if he could give her some feedback on her presentation.

Speaker B: He replied that he would review it.

Speaker A: He said that he would call her as soon as he arrived.

Speaker B: She replied that she would be waiting for his call.

Speaker A: She said that they needed to discuss it further.

Speaker B: He replied that they should talk about it later.

Speaker A: She said that she was planning a surprise party for her.

Speaker B: He replied that it was exciting.

Speaker A: He asked if she had completed the budget report.

Speaker B: She replied that she had finished it the previous night.

Speaker A: He said that he would get the tickets for the concert.

Speaker B: She replied that she was thankful.

Speaker A: She said that she had booked a table for two.

Speaker B: He replied that he would see her there.

Speaker A: He asked if she could meet him at the station.

Speaker B: She assured him that she would be there on time.

Speaker A: He said that he had lost his wallet.

Speaker B: She offered to help him find it.

Speaker A: She said to remember to bring his ID.

Speaker B: He promised that he would not forget.

Speaker A: He said that he was excited about the new project.

Speaker B: She replied that she was excited too.

Speaker A: She asked if he could check her email for her.

Speaker B: He replied that he would do that then.

Still finding it difficult to answer these questions, Watch Common Mistakes in Reported Speech and improve your performance.

Test your Knowledge of Reported Speech

Task 1: Convert Direct Speech to Reported Speech

"I have been working here for five years," he said.

"Are you coming to the picnic tomorrow?" she asked.

"The package will arrive by Friday," the delivery man said.

"I forgot to bring my lunch," he admitted.

"We are moving to a new house next month," they said.

"Please finish your homework before dinner," the mother said.

"You should try the new restaurant," he suggested.

"I will help you with your maths problems," she promised.

"The movie starts at 8 PM," the ticket seller said.

"I have never been to Italy," she said.

Task 2: Convert Reported Speech to Direct Speech

He said that he was going to visit his parents the following week.

She asked if I could lend her my book.

The teacher mentioned that the test was postponed until next Friday.

They said that they had completed the project on time.

He explained that he had been studying for the exam all night.

The guide said that the museum would open at 10 AM.

She said that she had never seen such a beautiful garden.

He asked if we were interested in joining the new club.

The manager told us that the deadline had been extended.

They mentioned that they would be arriving late.

Task 3: Identify the Error

She said that she will meet us at the café.

He asked if I would help him with his project next week.

The teacher mentioned that the assignment was due yesterday.

They told me that they are going to the concert last night.

She said that she would have finished her work by now.

He asked if I have seen his keys.

The chef explained that the dish will be ready soon.

She said that she had forgot her phone at home.

They mentioned that the flight would have landed already.

He informed me that he would be arriving tomorrow.

Task 4: Complete the Reported Speech

"I am visiting my grandmother this weekend," she said. → She said that ______.

"Will you be at the meeting?" he asked. → He asked if ______.

"I have never tried sushi before," he said. → He said that ______.

"I will get the groceries later," she promised. → She promised that ______.

"Do not forget to lock the door," he said. → He said not to ______.

"I have already completed the task," she said. → She said that ______.

"We will go hiking if the weather is good," they said. → They said that ______.

"Please bring your notes to the class," the teacher said. → The teacher asked to ______.

"I cannot attend the event due to a prior commitment," she said. → She said that ______.

"The concert tickets are sold out," he said. → He said that ______.

Task 5: Transform the Dialogue

A: "I will meet you at the restaurant at 7 PM," she said.

B: "I will be there on time," he replied.

Reported Speech:

Speaker A: She said that ______.

Speaker B: He replied that ______.

A: "Please send me the details by email," he said.

B: "I will send them to you this evening," she promised.

Speaker A: He said that ______.

Speaker B: She promised that ______.

A: "We need to finish this project before the deadline," he said.

B: "I agree. Let's work on it together," she replied.

Speaker B: She replied that ______.

A: "Can you help me with this task?" he asked.

B: "Sure, I will assist you," she responded.

Speaker A: He asked if ______.

Speaker B: She responded that ______.

A: "I am excited about the vacation," she said.

B: "So am I," he replied.

Find out if you got them all right from the answers below.

She said that she had been working there for five years.

She asked if I was coming to the picnic the next day.

The delivery man said that the package would arrive by Friday.

He admitted that he had forgotten to bring his lunch.

They said that they were moving to a new house the following month.

The mother said to finish our homework before dinner.

He suggested trying the new restaurant.

She promised that she would help me with my math problems.

The ticket seller said that the movie started at 8 PM.

She said that she had never been to Italy.

He said, "I am going to visit my parents next week."

She asked, "Can you lend me your book?"

The teacher mentioned, "The test is postponed until next Friday."

They said, "We completed the project on time."

He explained, "I was studying for the exam all night."

The guide said, "The museum will open at 10 AM."

She said, "I have never seen such a beautiful garden."

He asked, "Are you interested in joining the new club?"

The manager told us, "The deadline has been extended."

They mentioned, "We will be arriving late."

Corrected: She said that she would meet us at the café.

Corrected: He asked if I would help him with his project the following week.

Corrected: The teacher mentioned that the assignment had been due yesterday.

Corrected: They told me that they were going to the concert the previous night.

Corrected: She said that she would have finished her work by now.

Corrected: He asked if I had seen his keys.

Corrected: The chef explained that the dish would be ready soon.

Corrected: She said that she had forgotten her phone at home.

Corrected: They mentioned that the flight would have already landed.

Corrected: He informed me that he would be arriving the next day.

She said that she was visiting her grandmother that weekend.

He asked if I would be at the meeting.

He said that he had never tried sushi before.

She promised that she would get the groceries later.

He said not to forget to lock the door.

She said that she had already completed the task.

They said that they would go hiking if the weather was good.

The teacher asked to bring our notes to the class.

She said that she could not attend the event due to a prior commitment.

He said that the concert tickets were sold out.

Speaker A: She said that she would meet me at the restaurant at 7 PM.

Speaker B: He replied that he would be there on time.

Speaker A: He said that he wanted the details sent by email.

Speaker B: She promised that she would send them that evening.

Speaker A: He said that they needed to finish the project before the deadline.

Speaker B: She replied that she agreed and suggested working on it together.

Speaker A: He asked if she could help him with the task.

Speaker B: She responded that she would assist him.

Speaker A: She said that she was excited about the vacation.

Takeaways from this Page

Practising reported speech helps you learn how to convey what others have said in a different way. Key points to remember are changing the verb tenses, adjusting pronouns, and keeping the meaning intact. For example, if someone says, "I am going," in reported speech it becomes, "She said she was going." It's also important to use reporting verbs like "said," "asked," and "promised" to show how the information is shared. Getting these elements right makes sure you communicate clearly and accurately, both in writing and speaking.

FAQs on Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers

1. What is reported speech?

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of conveying what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of saying exactly what was spoken, you summarize or paraphrase it. For example, "He said, 'I am tired'" becomes "He said that he was tired."

2. How do you change tenses in reported speech?

In reported speech, the tense usually shifts one step back from the original. For example:

Present simple becomes past simple (e.g., "She says, 'I work hard'" becomes "She said that she worked hard").

Present continuous becomes past continuous (e.g., "They are playing" becomes "They were playing").

3. Do you need to change pronouns in reported speech?

Yes, pronouns should be adjusted to match the perspective of the reporter. For example:

"I" changes to "he" or "she" (e.g., "I will come" becomes "He said that he would come").

4. What happens to the word order in reported speech?

The word order generally changes to fit the structure of the reporting sentence. For instance, "She said, 'I will go to the market'" changes to "She said that she would go to the market."

5. How do you report questions?

To report questions, you use reporting verbs like "asked" or "inquired" and change the question format into a statement. For example:

Direct: "Are you coming?"

Reported: "He asked if I was coming."

6. How can Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers help improve grammar skills?

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 10 with Answers help improve grammar by teaching students how to change tenses and pronouns when reporting what someone else said. These exercises show how to use verbs like "said" and "asked" correctly, and help students practice turning direct speech into reported speech. By working through these exercises and checking their answers, students can spot and fix common mistakes, which makes their grammar more accurate. Regular practice helps students become better at using correct grammar in writing and speaking, leading to clearer and more effective communication.

7. Do you need to use 'that' in reported speech?

Using "that" is optional but helps clarify the connection between the reporting verb and the reported speech. For example:

"She said, 'I am leaving'" can be reported as "She said that she was leaving" or simply "She said she was leaving."

8. How do you handle time expressions in reported speech?

Time expressions often need to be adjusted to fit the new context. For example:

"Today" changes to "that day," "tomorrow" becomes "the next day," and "yesterday" changes to "the day before."

9. Can you give an example of reporting a statement with a modal verb?

Yes. For instance, if someone says, "I can swim," it becomes "He said that he could swim" in reported speech.

10. Are there exceptions to changing tenses in reported speech?

Yes, if the reporting verb is in the present, or if the information remains true regardless of time, the tense might not change. For example:

"She says, 'I am tired'" remains, "She says that she is tired" in reported speech because the reporting verb is in the present.