REPORTED SPEECH

Put the sentences into reported speech.

1. Mr Brown said (that) he had been watching TV the night before.
2. Sandy explained (that) she had seen the accident at the corner of High Street.
3. Bob said (that) they had had a wonderful time at Peter’s party.
4. The farmer said (that) he hadn’t seen her.
5. Will and Tim said (that) they were very happy about the present.
6. Mr Jones said (that) he had collected stickers as a young boy.
7. Peter reported (that) they had played a lot of tennis the previous year.
8. Mother said (that) she had a headache.
9. The Clarks told us (that) they had driven right down to Athens the previous summer.
10. Helen said (that) she was watching the late-night show.
11. Peter said (that) they were interested in other countries.
12. Mr Cooper said (that) he took his medicine regularly.
13. Mrs Miller said (that) she didn’t feel better then.
14. Sarah said (that) her father took her to school every day.
15. He said to the reporters (that) he was a farmer in Cornwall.

2. Put the sentences into reported speech.

1. Mrs Jones told us (that) her sister worked in Manchester.
2. Paul said (that) he felt terrible.
3. Sally said to the policeman (that) they didn’t know the way to the police station.
4. Mrs Green said (that) she heard strange noises in her garden every night.
5. Tom told me (that) he met his friend on the way to school.
6. Mrs White said (that) her children liked fish and chips.
7. Helen said (that) the tickets for the show were very expensive.
8. The lady told me (that) Mr O’Connor sold the best meat around there.
9. The children said (that) they could watch TV every Saturday night.
10. Helen told me (that) she had to help her mother in the kitchen every evening.
11. He told me (that) he was looking for his key.
12. Mark said (that) she liked something to drink.
13. They told us (that) their car made such a noise.
14. My sister told me (that) she was visiting her the following Monday. (or next Monday depending on the context)
15. Carol told me (that) he didn’t invite her to the party.

3. Put the sentences into reported speech.

1. Mary said (that) she liked ice cream.
2. The Browns said (that) they were on time.
3. Sue said (that) he was sitting on the table.
4. Mother said (that) Bill always went to bed early.
5. Mrs Smith said (that) she often drove to London.
6. Bill said (that) he was going to answer the phone. (or Bill said he’d answer the phone)
7. The girl said (that) she wasn’t doing her homework then. (or The girl said she wasn’t doing her homework at that moment)
8. The gardener said (that) he always sold all his flowers.
9. Mother said (that) you could help her with the dishes.
10. He said (that) he met him every Friday.
11. Jim told me (that) he was leaving that night.
12. He said (that) he was watching TV.
13. She told them (that) she liked roast beef.
14. Our neighbours said (that) they bought a newspaper every day.
15. They told me (that) they were flying to New York.