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Exercises
Write the following sentences in indirect speech.
Pay attention to backshift and the changes to pronouns, time, and place.
- Example:
- He said, “I will call tomorrow.”
- → He said that he would call the following day.
- Two weeks ago, he said, “I visited this museum last week.”
→ Two weeks ago, he said that .I → he
simple past → past perfect
this → that
last …→ the … before
- She claimed, “I am the best for this job.”
→ She claimed that .I → she
simple present→ simple past
this→ that
- Last year, the minister said, “The crisis will be overcome next year.”
→ Last year, the minister said that .will → would
next …→ the following …
- My riding teacher said, “Nobody has ever fallen off a horse here.”
→ My riding teacher said that .present perfect → past perfect
here→ there
- Last month, the boss explained, “None of my co-workers has to work overtime now.”
→ Last month, the boss explained that .my → his/her
simple present→ simple past
now→ then
Rewrite the question sentences in indirect speech.
- Example:
- He asked, “Can you speak French?”
- → He asked me if I could speak French.
- She asked, “What did he say?”
→ She asked .The subject comes directly after the question word.
simple past → past perfect
- He asked her, “Do you want to dance?”
→ He asked her .The subject comes directly after whether/if
you → she
simple present → simple past
- I asked him, “How old are you?”
→ I asked him .The subject comes directly after the question word + the corresponding adjective (how old)
you→ he
simple present → simple past
- The tourists asked me, “Can you show us the way?”
→ The tourists asked me .The subject comes directly after whether/if
you→ I
us→ them
- The shop assistant asked the woman, “Which jacket have you already tried on?”
→ The shop assistant asked the woman .The subject comes directly after the question word
you→ she
present perfect → past perfect
Rewrite the demands/requests in indirect speech.
- Example:
- The teacher said, “Please remember the exam on Monday.”
- → The teacher asked the students to remember the exam on Monday.
- The passenger said, “Stop the car.”
→ The passenger asked the taxi driver .to + same wording as in direct speech
- The mother told her son, “Don’t be so loud.”
→ The mother told her son .not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t
- The policeman told us, “Please keep moving.”
→ The policeman told us .to + same wording as in direct speech (please can be left off)
- She told me, “Don’t worry.”
→ She told me .not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t
- The zookeeper told the children, “Don’t feed the animals.”
→ The zookeeper told the children .not to + same wording as in direct speech, but remove don’t