English Grammar Exercises: Reported speech 1 (He said that ___ )

Exercise 1 

Yesterday you met a friend of yours, Steve. You hadn't seen him for a long time. Here are some of the things Steve said to you:

1  I'm living in London.

7  I haven't seen A recently.

2  father isn't very well.

8  I'm not enjoying job very much.

3  Rachel and Mark are getting married next month.

9  You can come and stay at place if you're ever in London.

4  sister has had a baby.

10  car was stolen a few days ago.

5  I don't know what Joe is doing.

11  I want to go on holiday, but I can't afford it.

6  I saw Helen at a party in June and she seemed fine.

12  I'll tell Chris I saw you.


Later that day you tell another friend what Steve said. Use reported speech.

1) Steve said that he was living in London.

2) He said that ________

3) He ________

4) _____

5) _____

6) _____

7) _____

8) _____

9) _____

10) _____

11) _____

12) _____

Show answers

1)

2   He said (that) his father wasn't very well.

3   He said (that) Rachel and Mark were getting married next month.

4   He said (that) his sister had had a baby.

5   He said (that) he didn't know what Joe was doing.

6   He said (that) he'd seen / he had seen Helen at a party in June and she'd seemed / she had seemed fine. or He said (that) he saw Helen … and she seemed …

7   He said (that) he hadn't seen A recently.

8   He said (that) he wasn't enjoying his job very much.

9   He said (that) I could come and stay at his place if I was ever in London.

10   He said (that) his car had been stolen a few days ago. or … his car was stolen a few days ago.

11   He said (that) he wanted to go on holiday, but (he) couldn't afford it.

12   He said (that) he'd tell I he would tell Chris he'd seen I he had seen me. or … he saw me.

Exercise 2 

Somebody says something to you which is not what you expected. Use your own ideas to complete your answers.

1) A: It's quite a long way from the hotel to the station.

     B: Is it? The man on the reception desk said ________

2) A: Sue is coming to the party tonight.

     B: Is she? I saw her a few days ago and she said she ________

3) A: Sarah gets on fine with Paul.

     B: Does she? Last week you said ________ each other.

4) A: Joe knows lots of people.

     B: That's not what he told me. He said ________ anyone.

5) A: jane will be here next week.

     B: Oh, really? When I spoke to her, she said ________ away.

6) A: I'm going out tonight.

     B: Are you? I thought you said ________ home.

7) A: John speaks French quite well.

     B: Does he? He told me ________ any other languages.

8) A: I haven't seen Ben recently.

     B: That's strange. He told me ________ last weekend.

Show answers

2)

1   it was only five minutes’ walk.

2   she wasn't coming / she was going somewhere else / she couldn't come

3   they didn't like each other / they didn't get on with each other / they couldn't stand each other

4   he didn't know anyone

5   she would be away / she was going away

6   you were staying at home

7   he couldn't speak / he didn't speak any other languages

8   he'd seen you / he saw you last weekend

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