Can you report questions, statements, requests and commands correctly? Test your understanding of direct and indirect speech with this interactive grammar exercise.
1. The girl said that she ............................... unwell.
After a past reporting verb, we normally use a past tense in the reported speech.
2. He said that his master ............................... his dinner.
After a past reporting verb, we normally use a past tense in the reported speech.
3. The boy said that the horse .............................. in the night.
Simple past in the direct speech becomes past perfect in the indirect speech.
4. She told me that she ............................. trust me.
5. He ........................ that he is glad to be here this evening.
We use a present tense in the reported speech only when the reporting verb is in the present tense.
6. The stranger asked where ............................
Do is not used in reported questions.
7. My mother asked me whether I ..................................... a man like him.
Will in the direct speech becomes would in the indirect speech.
8. The visitor requested the girl ............................ a glass of water.
We use to-infinitives to report commands, orders, requests etc.
9. The mother wrote that she ............................... and longing for her son's return.
Present tenses in the direct speech become corresponding past tenses in the indirect speech.
10. I told him that I ............................... his friend for months.
11. He asked me ................................
In reported questions we do not use do. does or did.
12. The speaker said that it ......................... him great pleasure to be there that evening.
Present tenses in the direct speech become corresponding past tenses in the indirect speech.
Answers
1. The girl said that she was unwell.
2. He said that his master was having his dinner.
3. The boy said that the horse had died in the night.
4. She told me that she did not trust me.
5. He says that he is glad to be here this evening.
6. The stranger asked where I lived.
7. My mother asked me whether I would trust a man like him.
8. The visitor requested the girl to bring him a glass of water.
9. The mother wrote that she was waiting and longing for her son’s return.
10. I told him that I had not seen his friend for months.
11. He asked me what I wanted.
12. The speaker said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
