Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

REPORTED SPEECH විකෘති කථනය

මෙය වක්‍ර කථනය මෙසද හැඳින්මේ.

DIRECT AND INDIRECT (OR REPORTED) SPEECH. INTRODUCTION

There are two ways of relating what a person has said: direct and indirect.
මකමනක් කියූ මදයක් නැවත කියන විට එය කියන ආකාර මදකක් ඇත. එමහනම් ඔහු මහෝ ඇය කියූ මේ ඒ වචන වලින්ෙ ඒ
ආකාරමයන්ෙ ආකාරමයන්ෙ පැවසීෙ මහෝඑය අපට අවශ්‍ය විදිහට සකසා වාර්තා කිරීෙයි.

In direct speech we repeat the original speaker’s exact words:

ප්‍රකෘර්ති කථනය මහවත් සෘජු කථනමේදී අපි යමෙකු පැවසූ මදය එෙ වචන
වලින් ෙ වලින් ෙ පවසනු ෙැමේ.

He said, “I have lost my umbrella.”

Remarks thus repeated are placed between inverted commas, and a comma is placed immediately before
the remark. Direct speech is found in conversations in books, in plays and in quotations.
In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the speaker’s
exact words:
මකමනක්ව පැවසූ මදයක් එමෙසින් ෙ එමෙසින්ෙ දක්වන විට ඒවා උේධෘත පාඨ වශ්‍මයන් දක්වනු ෙබන අතර , එහි ඇති මත්රුෙ
ෙ ඇතුළත් වන ආකාරයට එෙ වචන ෙ මයොදා මනොමෙන අප විසින් එය වාර්තා කරන විටඋේධෘත පාඨ මයොදා මනොෙන්නා අතර
that යන වචනය ඔහු මෙමසේ පැවසීය යන්නට පසුව මයොදා පැවසූ අදහස ඇතිවන මවනසකින් මතොරව දැක්මවන ආකාරයට අප
විසින් එය පවසනු ෙැමේ.

He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.

There is no comma after say in indirect speech. that can usually be omitted after say and tell + object. But it
should be kept after other verbs: complain, explain, object, point out, protest etc. Indirect speech is
normally used when conversation is reported verbally, though direct speech is sometimes here to give a
more dramatic effect.
When we turn direct speech into indirect, some changes are usually necessary.

මකමනකු පැවසූ මදය එෙ වචන වචන වලින්ෙ වලින් ෙ මනො දක්වා වලින් ෙ මනො දක්වා අප විසින් එය වාර්තා කරන විටයමෙකු
පවසා ඇති මදය එෙ අදහස සහිතවෙ දක්වන නමුදු එමසේ පවසන මදයට අනිවාර්මයන්ෙ සිදු කරන මවනස්කම් කීපයක් පවතී
කීපයක් පවතී.

PRONOUNS AND ADJECTIVES: CHANGES NECESSARY

A. First and second person pronouns and possessive adjectives normally change to the third person
except when the speaker is reporting his own words. (I = he, she; me = him, her; my = his, her; mine
= his, hers; we = they...)

සාොනයමයන් උත්තෙ පුරුෂ සහ ෙධයෙ පුරුෂ සර්ව නාෙ සහ සම්බන්ධ වාචී නාෙ විමශ්‍ේෂණ පද ප්‍රථෙ පුරුෂවෙට මවනස් මේ.

She said, “he’s my son”.  She said that he was her son.
“I’m ill”, she said.  She said that she was ill.
 B. THIS / THESE
This used in time expressions usually becomes that.
කාෙය ඇඟමවන ප්‍රකාශ්‍යක ඇති this , that මෙස මවනස් මේ.

She said, “She’s coming this week”.  She said that she was coming that week.

This and that used as adjectives usually change to the.

He said, “I bought this pearl/these pearls for my mother”.

He said that he had bought the pearl/the pearls for his mother.

This, these used as pronouns can become it, they/them.

This යනුමවන් දැක්මවන සර්ව නාෙ පදය that මහෝ it මෙසත් these යනුමවන් දැක්මවන සර්ව නාෙ පදය they මහෝ them
මෙසත් මවනස් වී මයදිය හැකි ය.

He came back with two knives and said, “I found these beside the king’s bed”.  He
said he had found them beside the king’s bed.
He said, “We will discuss this tomorrow”.  He said that they would discuss it (the
matter) the next day.

EXPRESSIONS OF TIME AND PLACE IN INDIRECT SPEECH

A. Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time change as follows:

ක්‍රියා විමශ්‍ේෂණ සහ ක්‍රියා විමශ්‍ේෂණෙය වාකය ඛණ්ඩ පහත පහත ආකාරයට මවනස්මේ.

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

today that day
yesterday the day before
the day before yesterday two days before
tomorrow the next day/the following day
the day after tomorrow in two day’s time
next week/year etc. the following week/year etc.
last week/year etc. the previous week/year etc.
a year etc. ago a year before/the previous year

“I saw her the day before yesterday”, he said.  He said he’d seen her two days before.
“I’ll do it tomorrow”, he promised.  He promised that he would do it the next day.
She said, “My father died a year ago”.  She said that her father had died a year
before/the previous year.
B. But if the speech is made and reported on the same day these time changes are not necessary:
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

නමුත් යමෙකු පැවසූ මදය එෙ දවමසේ දී ෙ වාර්තා කරන්මන් නම් මෙෙ මවනස් කිරීම් අවශ්‍ය මනොමේ.
At breakfast this morning he said, “I’ll be very busy today”.  At breakfast this morning he said that
he would be very busy today.

C. here can become there but only when it is clear what place is meant:
‘here’ යන වචනය ‘there’ යනුමවන් මවනස් විය හැකි ය. නමුත් එමසේ වන්මන් එෙගින් අදහස් වන ස්ථානය කුෙක් ද
යන බව නිශ්‍්චිත නම් පෙණි.

At the station he said, “I’ll be here again tomorrow”.  He said that he’d be there
again the next day.
Usually here has to be replaced by some phrase:
සාොනයමයන් ‘here’ යන වචනය මවනුවට කිසියම් වාකය ඛණ්ඩයක් මයමේ.
She said, “You can sit here, Tom”.  She told Tom that he could sit beside her.

STATEMENTS IN INDIRECT SPEECH: TENSE CHANGES NECESSARY

වක්‍ර කථනමේ දී මයොදාෙැමනන ප්‍රකාශ්‍වෙ කාෙ මේදය මවනස් වීෙක් සිදුමේ.
A. Indirect speech can be introduced by a verb in a present tense: He says that ... This is usual when we
are:
a. reporting a conversation that is still going on
b. reading a letter and reporting what it says
c. reading instructions and reporting them
d. reporting a statement that someone makes very often, e.g. Tom says that he’ll never get
married.
When the introductory verb is in a present, present perfect or future tense we can report the direct
speech without any change of tense:
PAUL (phoning from the station): I’m trying to get a taxi.
ANN (to Mary, who is standing beside her): Paul says he is trying to get a taxi.
B. But indirect speech is usually introduced by a verb in the past tense. Verbs in the direct speech have
then to be changed into a corresponding past tense. The changes are shown in the following table.

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

Simple Present Simple Past
“I never eat meat”, he explained. = He explained (that) he never ate meat.
Present Continuous Past Continuous
“I’m waiting for Ann”, he said. = He said (that) he was waiting for Ann.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
“I have found a flat”, he said. = He said (that) he had found a flat.
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
He said, “I’ve been waiting for ages”. = He said (that) he had been waiting for ages.
Simple Past Past Perfect
“I took it home with me”, she said. = She said (that) he had taken it home with her.
Future Conditional
He said, “I will/shall be in Paris on Monday”. = He said (that) he would be in Paris on Monday.
 Future Continuous Conditional Continuous
“I will/shall be using the car myself on the 24h”, = She said (that) she’d been using the car herself
she said. on the 24th.
Conditional Conditional
I said, “I would like to see it”. = I said (that) I would like to see it.

All those changes represent the distancing effect of the reported speech. Common sense, together
with the time aspect from the speaker’s point of view, are more important than the rules when
making the usual changes.
ඉහත දැක්මවන සියලු මවනස්වීම් ෙගින් අදහස් වන්මන් මුලින්ෙ කතා කළ මකනා සහ එය වාර්තා කරන මකනා අතර
ඇති කාෙය ෙගින් මහෝ ස්ථානය ෙගින් සිදුවන පරතරයයි. මෙහි දී වඩා වැදෙත් වන්මන් මෙෙ රීතිවෙට වඩා වාර්තා කරන
මකනා සතු ව පවතින අවස්ථාවට ෙැෙමපන අවමබෝධය යි.

QUESTIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct question: He said, “Where is she going?”
Indirect question: He asked where she was going.
A. When we turn direct questions into indirect speech, the following changes are necessary:
a. tenses, pronouns and possessive adjectives, and adverbs of time and place change as in
statements.
ප්‍රකෘති කථනය ඇති වාකය විකෘති කථනයට හැරවීමම් දී සාොනය ප්‍රකාශ්‍යක ආකාරයට ෙ ාාෙය, සර්වනාෙය
,අයිතිය අඟවන නාෙ විමශ්‍ේෂණය, ක්‍රියා විමශ්‍ේෂණය, ස්ථානය, කාෙය ආදිය ද මවනස් මවයි.

b. the interrogative form of the verb changes to the affirmative form.

ක්‍රියා පදයක ප්‍රශ්‍්නාර්ථ ස්වරූපය 'ඇත' අර්ථමේ ස්වරූපයට මවනස් මේ.

c. the question mark is omitted in indirect questions.

ප්‍රශ්‍්නාර්ථ සෙකුණ ඉවත් මේ.

B. If the introductory verb is say, it must be changed to a verb of inquiry, e.g. ask, wonder, want to
know etc.
හඳුන්වාදීමම් ක්‍රියා පදය 'say'මෙස පවතී නම්, එය ඇසුවා, මදගිඩියාමවන් සිටිනවා, උවෙනා කරනවා, දන්නවා ආදී මෙස
මවනස් විය යුතු ය.
He said, “Where is the station?”  He asked where the station was. C.
ask can be followed by the person addressed (indirect object):
He asked, “What have you got in your bag?”  He asked (me) what I had got in my bag.
But wonder and want to know cannot take an indirect object, so if we wish to report a question
where the person addressed is mentioned, we must use ask.
He said, ”Mary, when is the next train?”  He asked Mary when the next train was.
D. If the direct question begins with a question word (when, where, who, how, why etc.) the question
word is repeated in the indirect question:
He said, “Why didn’t you put on the brake?”  He asked (her) why she hadn’t put on
the brake.
She said, “What do you want?”  She asked (them) what they wanted. E.
If there is no question word, if or whether must be used:
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

සෘජු කථනය ෙගින් ඇති වාකයය ප්‍රශ්‍්නාර්ථ වාචක වචනයකින් ආරම්භ මනොවන එකක් නම් ('wh' question words) if/whether
යන වචන මදමකන් එකක් මයදිය යුතු ය.

“Is anyone there?” he asked  He asked if/whether anyone was there.

COMMANDS, REQUESTS, ADVICE IN INDIRECT SPEECH Direct

command: He said, “Lie down, Tom”.
Indirect command: He told Tom to lie down.
Indirect commands, requests, advice are usually expressed by a verb of command/request/advice + object
+ infinitive.
A. The following verbs can be used: advise, ask, beg, command, order, remind, tell, warn etc.
He said, “Get your coat, Tom!”  He told Tom to get his coat.
B. Negative commands, requests etc. are usually reported by not + infinitive:
“Don’t swim out too far, boys”, I said  I warned/told the boys not to swim out too far.

EXCLAMATIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH

Exclamations usually become statements in indirect speech. The exclamation mark disappears.
a. Exclamations beginning What (a) ... or How ... can be reported by:
- exclaim/say that:
He said, “What a dreadful idea!” or “How dreadful!”  He exclaimed that it
was a dreadful idea/was dreadful.
- give an exclamation of delight/disgust/horror/relief/surprise etc.
- if the exclamation is followed by an action we can use the construction with an
exclamation of delight/disgust etc. + he/she etc. + verb.
b. Other types of exclamation such as Good! Marvellous! Splendid! Heavens! Oh! Ugh! etc. can be
reported as in (b) or (c) above:
“Good!” he exclaimed.  He gave an exclamation of pleasure/satisfaction.
“Ugh!” she exclaimed, and turned the programme off.  With an exclamation of
disgust she turned the programme off.
c. Note also:
He said, “Thank you!”  He thanked me.
He said, “Good luck!”  He wished me luck.
He said, “Happy Christmas!”  He wished me a happy Christmas.
He said, “Congratulations!”  He congratulated me.
He said, “Liar!”  He called me a liar.
He said, “Damn!” etc.  He swore.
The notice said: WELCOME TO WALES!  The notice welcomed visitors to Wales.

YES AND NO IN INDIRECT SPEECH yes and no are expressed in indirect speech by
subject + appropriate auxiliary verb.
He said, “Can you swim?” and I said “No”  He asked (me) if I could swim and I said I
couldn’t.
He said, “Will you have time to do it?” and I said “Yes”  He asked if I would have time
to do it and I said that I would.
OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH A.
OFFERS
“Shall I bring you some tea?” could be reported He offered to bring me some tea.
B. SUGGESTIONS
“Shall we meet at the theatre? could be reported He suggested meeting at the theatre.

INDIRECT SPEECH: MIXED TYPES

Direct speech may consist of statement + question, question + command, command + statement, or all three
together. Normally each requires its own introductory verb.
“I don’t know the way. Do you?” he asked.  He said he didn’t know the way and asked her
if she did/if she knew it.
He said, “Someone is coming. Get behind the screen.”  He said that someone was coming
and told me to get behind the screen.

REPORTED SPEECH: OTHER POINTS

A. MUST: after a past reporting verb, must does not usually change:
He said, “It must be pretty late, I really must go”.  He said that it must be pretty late and he
really must go. had to is also possible in reported speech, but this is really the past of have to, not
must.
He said, “I have to go. I have an appointment in half an hour”  He said that he had to go
because he had an appointment in half an hour.
B. MODAL VERBS: Past modal verbs (could, might, ought to, should, used to, etc. ) do not normally
change in reported speech.
He said, “I might come”.  He said that he might come.
He said, “I would help him if I could”.  He said
that he would help him if he could.
He said, “You needn’t wait”.  He said that I needn’t wait.

C. CONDITIONALS: Conditional sentences type two remain unchanged.

He said, “If my children were older I would emigrate”.  He
said that if his children were older he would emigrate.

SAY AND TELL AS INTRODUCTORY VERBS A.

say and tell with direct speech.
1. say can introduce a statement or follow it.
Tom said, “I’ve just heard the news”. or “I’ve just heard the news”,Tom said.
Inversion of say and noun subject is possible when say follows the statement. “I’ve just heard
the news”, said Tom. say + to + person addressed is possible, but this phrase must follow the
direct statement; it cannot introduce it.
“I’m leaving at once”, Tom said to me. Inversion
is not possible here.
2. tell requires the person addressed.
Tell me. He told us. I’ll tell Tom.
Except with tell lies/stories/the truth/the time, when the person addressed need not to be
mentioned.
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

He told (me) lies. I’ll tell (you) a story.

Tell used with direct speech must be placed after the direct statement:
“I’m leaving at once”, Tom told me. Inversion is not possible with tell. B. say and
tell with indirect speech
Indirect statements are normally introduced by say, or tell + object. Say + to + object is possible but
less usual than tell + object.
He said he’d just heard the news.
He told me that he’d just heard the news.
Note also tell ... how/about:
He told us how he had crossed the mountains.
He told us about crossing the mountains. He
told us about his journeys.

EXERCISES
STATEMENTS
1. These people are saying these things. Report them, using says that.
a. Paul: “Atlanta is a wonderful city.”
____________________________________________________
b. Ruth: “I go jogging every morning.”
___________________________________________________
c. Anna: “Jenny isn’t studying for her exams.”
_____________________________________________
d. Andrew: “I used to be very fat.”
_______________________________________________________
e. e.- Jim: “I can’t swim.”
______________________________________________________________
2. People made these statements. Report them, using said.
a. “Mary works in a bank”, Jane said.
____________________________________________________
b. “I’m staying with some friends”, Jim said.
_______________________________________________
c. “I’ve never been to Russia”, Mike said.
_________________________________________________
d. “Tom can’t use a computer”, Ella said.
_________________________________________________
e. “Everybody must try to do their best”, Jill said.
__________________________________________
f. “Jane may move to a new flat”, Rachel said.
____________________________________________
g. “I’ll stay at home on Sunday”, Bill said.
_________________________________________________
3. Report what the guests said at a wedding last Sunday.
a. Miss Moore: “They’ll make a lovely couple.”
_____________________________________________
b. Mr Smith: “They’re going to live in Brighton.”
____________________________________________
c. Mrs Jones: “The bride and the groom are very nice young people.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. Mr Roberts: “The bride is wearing a beautiful wedding dress.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. Mr Clarke: “The couple’s parents look happy.”
___________________________________________
f. Miss Mayall: “The bride’s father has bought them a big flat.”
_________________________________________________________________________________

4. Change the following statements into the reported speech.

a. “I have something to show you”, I said to her.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. “I’m going away tomorrow”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. “I’ve been in London for a month but I haven’t had time to visit the Tower”, said Rupert.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. “I’ll come with you as soon as I’m ready”, she replied.
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. “We have a lift but very often it doesn’t work”, they said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “I must go to the dentist tomorrow”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. “I found an old Roman coin in the garden yesterday and I am going to take it to the museum this
afternoon”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________

5. Write these sentences in indirect speech.

b. “I’m very tired”, she said.
____________________________________________________________
c. “I’ll see them soon”, he said.
_________________________________________________________
d. “I’m going to the cinema”, she said.
___________________________________________________
e. “I see the children quite often”, he said.
________________________________________________
f. “I’m having a bath”, she said.
_________________________________________________________
g. “I’ve already met their parents”, she said.
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

_______________________________________________
h. “I stayed in a hotel for a few weeks”, she said.
___________________________________________
i. “I must go home to make dinner”, he said.
______________________________________________
j. “I haven’t been waiting long”, she said.
_________________________________________________
k. “I’m listening to the radio”, he said.
____________________________________________________
l. “I’ll tell them the news on Saturday”, she said.
___________________________________________
m. “I like swimming, dancing and playing tennis”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
n. “I can drive”, she said.
______________________________________________________________
o. “I walked home after the party”, he said.
_______________________________________________
p. “I’m going to be sick”, she said.
_______________________________________________________
q. “I must go out to post a letter”, he said.
________________________________________________
r. “I spoke to Jane last week”, she said.
___________________________________________________
s. “I’m trying to listen to the music”, he said.
______________________________________________
t. “I’ll phone the office from the airport”, she said.
_________________________________________
u. “I can’t speak any foreign languages”, he said.
_________________________________________

6. Write these sentences in indirect speech, changing words where necessary.

v. “I’ll see you tomorrow”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. “I saw her today”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. “I don’t like this film”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. She said, “We went swimming today.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. “I met her about three months ago”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “I’ll see Mary on Sunday”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. “Pete and Sue are getting married tomorrow”, she said.
 _________________________________________________________________________________
h. “Stephen’s bringing some records to the party tomorrow”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
i. “I really like this furniture”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
j. “My parents are arriving tomorrow”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
k. “We visited her this morning” they said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
l. “We’ll see her next summer” they said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
m. “They were here three months ago”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
n. “I’m meeting them at four o’clock today”, he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
o. “I can see you tomorrow”, she said.
_________________________________________________________________________________

QUESTIONS
7. Report the police-officer’s questions to the shop owner.
a. What’s your name? _________________________________________________________________
b. Did you see the robbers? ____________________________________________________________
c. What were they wearing? ___________________________________________________________
d. How do you think they got in? ________________________________________________________
e. What did they take? ________________________________________________________________
f. Has this ever happened before? ______________________________________________________

8. Write these sentences as reported questions using the words given.

a. “What’s your name?”, he asked. (wanted to know)
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. “Do you like Marlon Brandon?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. “How old are you?”, she said. (asked)
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. “When does the train leave?”, I asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. “Are you enjoying yourself?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “How are you?”, he said. (asked)
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. “Does your father work here?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. “Do you live near your father?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
i. “Who did you see at the meeting?”, my mother asked.
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

_________________________________________________________________________________
j. “Why did you take my wallet?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
k. “How did you get to school?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
l. “Are you a foreigner?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
m. “Where do you live?”, the boy asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
n. “Have you met Danny before?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
o. “Are you hungry?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
p. “Why wasn’t Judy at the party?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
q. “Why didn’t you telephone?”, my father asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
r. “Did you borrow my dictionary?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
s. “Why are you so late?”, the teacher asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
t. “Have you finished your exams?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
u. “Did you invite Judy and Mitch?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
v. “Does your brother live in London?”, she asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
w. “Why didn’t the police report the crime?”, the judge asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
x. “Do you know who broke the window?”, he asked.
_________________________________________________________________________________
y. “Why you won’t let me in?”, he shouted.
_________________________________________________________________________________

COMMANDS, REQUESTS AND ADVICE

9. Rewrite these sentences in reported speech.
a. “Make some coffee, Bob”, Carol said.(ask)
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. “You must do the homework soon, Jane”, she said.(tell)
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. “Remember to buy a map, Ann” he said.(remind)
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. “You should see a doctor, Mrs Clark”, he said.(advise)
 _________________________________________________________________________________
e. “Keep all the windows closed, Bill” they said.(warn)
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “Go home, Paul”, Francis said.(tell)
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. “Please stay for supper, Bob”, he said.(try to persuade)
_________________________________________________________________________________

10. Report the following sentences.

a. “Don’t try to be funny.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. “Wait here till I come.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. “Go to bed and don’t get up till you’re called.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. “Be a good girl and sit quietly for five minutes.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. “Watch the milk and don’t let it boil over.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “Don’t take your coat off.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
g. “Don’t forget to thank Mrs Jones when you’re saying good bye to her.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. “Stop that dog.”
_________________________________________________________________________________

11. Write the sentences in reported speech using the words given.
a. “Sit down, Mary.” (he told)
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. “Would you pass my suitcase?” (he asked)
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. “Don’t go near the sea, children.” (the children’s mother warned)
_________________________________________________________________________________
d. “Don’t be late, Tim.” (Tim’s father told)
_________________________________________________________________________________
e. “Be quiet, children.” (the librarian told)
_________________________________________________________________________________
f. “Have your tickets ready, please.” (the inspector told us)
_________________________________________________________________________________

SAY AND TELL

12. Use the correct form of SAY and TELL in these sentences.
a. She _______________________ me she didn’t agree.
b. He _______________________ , “Have we met before?”
c. I _______________________ them I wasn’t happy with their work.
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

d. She smiled and _______________________ to me, “I’m very pleased to meet you.”
e. She _______________________ me a story about her parents.
f. He _______________________, “Are you feeling OK?”
g. I didn’t hear. What did he _______________________?
h. Could you _______________________ me the time, please?
i. They _______________________ me they were going to a meeting.
j. I _______________________ the police my address.
k. I _______________________ I wanted to buy a magazine.
l. He _______________________ he wasn’t interested in politics.
m. Could you _______________________ me your name again?
n. Do you think he is _______________________ the truth?
o. Would you _______________________ him to come early tomorrow?
p. If he _______________________ that again there’ll be trouble.
q. I _______________________ them it was dangerous to swim here.
r. Did you _______________________ anything to him about your problem at work?
s. _______________________ me what happened.
t. I think he is _______________________ lies.
u. The policeman _______________________ the man was lying.
v. Philip _______________________ it would probably rain tomorrow.
w. Susan _______________________, “Let’s go out for dinner tonight.”
x. Jim _______________________ me about the party last night.
y. Our teacher _______________________ he was pleased with our work.
z. Stop _______________________ lies!

OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS

13. Rewrite the sentences with the gerund or the infinitive and the in reported speech.
a. “I’ll bring my CDs to the party.”
He promised to bring his CDs to the party.
b. “Let’s go to the cinema tonight, shall we?
She suggested _____________________________________________________________________
c. “Yes, I stole the wallet.”
He admitted ______________________________________________________________________
d. “Be careful! The water is boiling.”
She warned us _____________________________________________________________________
e. “You must apologise to your teacher.”
My father insisted (on) ______________________________________________________________
f. “All right! I’ll share the expenses with you.”
My friend agreed ___________________________________________________________________

Reported Statements
Change this direct speech into reported speech:
1. “He works in a bank”
She said ___________________________________________________________
2. “We went out last night”
She told me________________________________________________________
3. “I’m coming!”
She said ___________________________________________________________
4. “I was waiting for the bus when he arrived”
She toldme ________________________________________________________
5. “ I’d never been there before”
She said ___________________________________________________________
6. “I didn’t go to the party”
She told me ________________________________________________________
7. “Lucy’ll come later”
She said ___________________________________________________________
8. “He hasn’t eaten breakfast”
She told me ________________________________________________________
9. “I can help you tomorrow”
She said ___________________________________________________________
10. “You should go to bed early”
She told me ________________________________________________________
11. “I don’t like chocolate”
She told me ________________________________________________________
12. “I won’t see you tomorrow”
She said ___________________________________________________________
13. “She’s living in Paris for a few months”
She said ___________________________________________________________
14. “I visited my parents at the weekend”
She told me ________________________________________________________
15. “She hasn’t eaten sushi before”
She said ___________________________________________________________
16. “I hadn’t travelled by underground before I came to London”
She said ___________________________________________________________
17. “They would help if they could”
She said ___________________________________________________________
18. “I’ll do the washing-up later”
She told me ________________________________________________________
19. “He could read when he was three”
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

She said ___________________________________________________________

20. “I was sleeping when Julie called”
She said ___________________________________________________________

Reported statements: Answers

1. She said (that) he worked in a bank.
2. She told me (that) they went (had gone) out last night (the night before).
3. She said (that) she was coming.
4. She told me (that) she was waiting for the bus whenhe arrived.
5. She said (that) she hadnever been there before.
6. She told me (that) she didn't go (hadn't gone) to the party.
7.She said (that) Lucy wouldcome later.
8. She told me (that) he hadn't eaten breakfast.
9. She said (that) she could help me tomorrow.
10. She told me (that) I should go to bed early.
11. She told me (that) she didn't like chocolate.
12. She said (that) she wouldn't see me tomorrow.
13. She said (that) she is living in Paris for a few months.
14. She told me (that) she visited (had visited) her parents at the weekend.
15. She said (that) she hadn't eaten sushi before.
16. She said (that) she hadn't travelled by underground before she came to London.
17. She said (that) they would help if they could.
18. She told me (that) she would do the washing-up later.
19. She said (that) he could read when he was three.
20. She said (that) she had been sleeping when Julie called.

Reported Questions
Change these direct questions into reported speech:
1. “Where is he?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
2. “What are you doing?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
3. “Why did you go out last night?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
4.
“Who was that beautiful woman?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
5. “How is your mother?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
6. “What are you going to do at the weekend?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
7. “Where will you live after graduation?”
She asked me______________________________________________________
8. “What were you doing when I saw you?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
9. “How was the journey?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
10. “How often do you go to the cinema?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
11. “Do you live in London?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
12. “Did he arrive on time?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
13. “Have you been to Paris?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
14. “Can you help me?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
15. “Are you working tonight?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
16. “Will you come later?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
17. “Do you like coffee?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
18. “Is this the road to the station?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
19. “Did you do your homework?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
20. “Have you studied reported speech before?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

Reported Questions – Answers:

1. She asked me where hewas.
2. She asked me what I was doing.
3. She asked me why I went (had gone) out last night.
4. She asked me who that beautiful woman was.
5. She asked me how my mother was.
6. She asked me what I was going to do at the weekend.
7. She asked me where I would live after graduation.
8. She asked me what I had been doing when she saw (had seen) me.
9. She asked me how the journey was (had been).
10. She asked me how often I went to the cinema.
11. She asked me if I lived in London.
12. She asked me if he arrived (had arrived) on time.
13. She asked me if I had been to Paris.
14. She asked me if I could help her.
15. She asked me if I was working tonight (that night).
16. She asked me if I would come later.
17. She asked me if I liked coffee.
18. She asked me if this was the road to the station.
19. She asked me if I did (had done) my homework.
20. She asked me if I had studied.

Reported Requests and Orders

Change the direct speech into reported speech:
1. “Please help me carry this”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
2. “Please come early”
She ______________________________________________________________
3. “Please buy some milk”
She ______________________________________________________________
4. “Could you please open the window?”
She ______________________________________________________________
5. “Could you bring the book tonight?”
She ______________________________________________________________
6. “Can you help me with my homework, please?”
She ______________________________________________________________
7. “Would you bring me a cup of coffee, please?”
She ______________________________________________________________
8. “Would you mind passing the salt?”
She ______________________________________________________________
9. “Would you mind lending me a pencil?”
She
______________________________________________________________
10. “I was wondering if you could possibly tell me the time?”
She ______________________________________________________________
11. “Do your homework!”
She told me ________________________________________________________
12. “Go to bed!”
She ______________________________________________________________
13. “Don’t be late!”
She ______________________________________________________________
14. “Don’t smoke!”
She ______________________________________________________________
15. “Tidy your room!”
She ______________________________________________________________
16. “Wait here!”
She ______________________________________________________________
17. “Don’t do that!”
She ______________________________________________________________
18. “Eat your dinner!”
She ______________________________________________________________
19. “Don’t make a mess!”
She ______________________________________________________________
20. “Do the washing-up!”
She ______________________________________________________________

Reported Orders and Requests – Answers:

1. She asked me to help her carry that.
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

2. She asked me to come early.

3. She asked me to buy some milk.
4. She asked me to open the window.
5. She asked me to bring the book tonight (that night).
6. She asked me to help her with her homework.
7. She asked me to bring her a cup of coffee.
8. She asked me to pass the salt.
9. She asked me to lend her a pencil.
10. She asked me to tell her the time.
11. She told me to do my homework.
12. She told me to go to bed.
13. She told me not to be late.
14. She told me not to smoke.
15. She told me to tidy my room.
16. She told me to wait here (there).
17. She told me not to do that.
18. She told me to eat my dinner.
19. She told me not to make a mess.
20. She told me to do the washing-up.
Mixed Reported Speech 1 (Statements, Questions,
Requests and Orders)
Change the direct speech into reported speech. Choose the past simple of ‘ask’, ‘say’ or ‘tell’:
1. “Don’t do it!”
She ______________________________________________________________
2. “I’m leaving tomorrow”
She ______________________________________________________________
3. “Please get me a cup of tea”
She ______________________________________________________________
4. “She got married last year”
She ______________________________________________________________
5. “Be quick!”
She ______________________________________________________________
6. “Could you explain number four, please?”
She ______________________________________________________________
7. “Where do you live?”
She ______________________________________________________________
8. “We went to the cinema and then to a Chinese restaurant”
She
______________________________________________________________
9. “I’ll come and help you at twelve”
She ______________________________________________________________
10. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
She ______________________________________________________________
11. “Don’t go!”
She ______________________________________________________________
12. “Do you work in London?”
She ______________________________________________________________
13. “Could you tell me where the post office is?”
She ______________________________________________________________
14. “Come here!”
She ______________________________________________________________
15. “I’ve never been to Wales”
She ______________________________________________________________
16. “Have you ever seen ‘Lord of the Rings’?”
She ______________________________________________________________
17. “I don't like mushrooms”
She ______________________________________________________________
18. “Don't be silly!”
She ______________________________________________________________
19. “Would you mind waiting a moment please?”
She ______________________________________________________________
20. “How often do you play sport?”
She ______________________________________________________________

Answers: Mixed Reported Speech 1

(When I used ‘said’ you can also use ‘told me’)
1. She told me to do it.
2. She said (that) she was leaving tomorrow (the next day).
3. She asked me to get her a cup of tea.
4. She said (that) she got married last year.
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

5. She told me to be quick.

6. She asked me to explain number four.
7. She asked me where I lived.
8. She said (that) they went (had been) to the cinema and then to a Chinese restaurant.
9. She said (that) she would come and help me at twelve.
10. She asked me what I was doing tomorrow (the day after).
11. She told me not to go.
12. She asked me if I worked in London.
13. She asked me to tell her where the post office was. (or: she asked me if I could tell her where the post
office was).
14. She told me to come here (there).
15. She said (that) she had never been to Wales.
16. She asked me if I had ever seen “The Lord of the Rings’.
17. She said (that) she didn't like mushrooms.
18. She told me not to be silly.
19. She asked me to wait a moment.
(or: she asked me if I would mind waiting a moment).
20. She asked me how often I played sport.
Mixed Reported Speech 2 (Statements, Questions,
Requests and Orders)
Change the direct speech into reported speech.
Choose the past simple of ‘ask’, ‘say’ or ‘tell’:
1. “Come quickly!”
She ______________________________________________________________
2. “Did you arrive before seven?”
She ______________________________________________________________
3. “How was your holiday?”
She ______________________________________________________________
4. “I would have visited the hospital, if I had known you were sick”
She ______________________________________________________________
5. “Don't touch!”
She ______________________________________________________________
6. “Do you usually cook at home?”
She ______________________________________________________________
7. “They had never been to Scotland until last year”
She ______________________________________________________________
8. “Make sure you arrive early!”
She ______________________________________________________________
9. “I should have studied harder for the exam”
She ______________________________________________________________
10. “Would you mind telling me how to get to the art gallery, please?”
She ______________________________________________________________
11. “Please don’t forget my book”
She ______________________________________________________________
12. “Make sure you arrive at six!”
She ______________________________________________________________
13. “Remember to study hard!”
She ______________________________________________________________
14. “Where do you want to eat tonight?”
She ______________________________________________________________
15. “I usually drink coffee in the mornings”
She ______________________________________________________________
16. “Do you like studying English?”
She ______________________________________________________________
17. “I’ll come and help you on Saturday”
She ______________________________________________________________
18. “Please buy some bread on your way home”
She ______________________________________________________________
19. “Please give this to John”
She ______________________________________________________________
20. “Could you give me the glass on the table, please?”
She ______________________________________________________________
Answers: Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 2
1. She told me to come quickly.
2. She asked me if I arrived (had arrived) before seven.
3. She asked me how my holiday was (had been).
4. She said (that) she would have visited the hospital, if she had known I was sick.
5. She told me not to touch.
6. She asked me if I usually cooked at home.
7. She said (that) they had never been to Scotland until ast year.
Shantha Attanayake – 0777-665817

8. She told me to arrive early.

9. She said (that) she should have studied harder for the exam.
10. She asked me how to get to the art gallery. (or: she asked me if I would mind telling her how to get to
the art gallery).
11. She asked me not to forget her book.
12. She told me to arrive at six.
13. She told me to remember to study hard.
14. She asked me where I wanted tonight / that night.
15. She said that she usually drank coffee in the mornings.
16. She asked me if I liked studying English.
17. She said that she would come and help me on Saturday.
18. She asked me to buy some bread on my way home.
19. She asked me to give this to John.
20. She asked me to give her the glass on the table.

2010 OL question
2019 OL Question