Reported Speech Exercises
Report what others said with proper tense shifts
Reported Statements
Reported Statements exercises covering present tense backshift, past and perfect tense backshift, modal verb changes, time and place expression shifts, special cases with no backshift, and comprehensive mixed practice.
Reported Questions
Reported Questions exercises covering yes/no questions with if, wh-questions and word order changes, tense backshift in questions, modal verbs and time expression shifts, if vs whether and embedded questions, and comprehensive mixed practice.
Reported Commands & Requests
Reported Commands & Requests exercises covering basic commands with tell, requests with ask and polite forms, negative commands with pronoun and demonstrative shifts, advanced reporting verbs (order, warn, advise, remind, beg, forbid, encourage, invite, urge), and comprehensive mixed practice with statement/question/command comparison.
Reporting Verbs
Reporting Verbs exercises covering the say vs tell core distinction, the four-way contrast between say/tell/speak/talk, advanced reporting verb patterns (verb + to-infinitive, verb + -ing, verb + that-clause), comprehensive mixed practice, and C1-level subjunctive patterns, academic reporting verbs, and complex verb + preposition structures.
Mixed Reported Speech
Practise reported speech exercises online with multiple choice and worksheet modes — all with answers and detailed explanations. These mixed exercises cover all types of direct and indirect speech: reported statements, reported questions, commands and requests, and reporting verbs. Apply tense backshift rules, choose the correct introductory verbs, and convert direct speech to indirect speech in real-world contexts.
About These Exercises
Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is how we tell someone what another person said — without using their exact words. Instead of quoting directly ("I love coffee"), we shift the tense and adjust pronouns and time expressions (She said she loved coffee). It sounds simple, but the rules stack up quickly: tense backshift, pronoun changes, word-order shifts in questions, infinitive patterns for commands, and dozens of reporting verbs each with their own grammar.
This section takes you from the basics to full mastery. You'll start with reported statements and the core backshift rules, then move on to reported questions (where word order catches most learners out), commands and requests (using the infinitive pattern), and a rich set of reporting verbs like suggest, deny, warn, and refuse. The final mixed exercises bring everything together so you can handle any direct-to-indirect conversion confidently.
Whether you're preparing for Cambridge B2 First, IELTS, or just want to retell conversations accurately, these exercises give you the structured practice you need.
Quick Reference
| Type | Structure | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported Statements | Subject + said (that) + clause (with tense backshift) | Reporting what someone stated or declared | "I like tea." → She said (that) she liked tea. |
| Reported Questions | Subject + asked + if/wh-word + clause (statement word order) | Reporting what someone asked | "Where do you live?" → He asked where I lived. |
| Reported Commands & Requests | Subject + told/asked + object + (not) to + infinitive | Reporting orders, instructions, and polite requests | "Close the door!" → She told me to close the door. |
| Reporting Verbs | Verb + that-clause / to-infinitive / -ing (pattern varies) | Choosing the right introductory verb and its grammar | He promised to help. / She suggested going out. |
| Mixed Reported Speech | All patterns combined | Converting any direct speech to indirect speech | Identify the sentence type, apply the correct rule, and transform. |