Special reporting verbs

      1.      Direct = “Why don't we go to the cinema?” he said.

            Indirect = He suggested going to the cinema.

      2.      Direct = “Watch out! The bull looks dangerous,” they said

            Indirect = They warned us against the dangerous bull.

      3.      Direct = “Daddy, I'm going out with John,” she said.

              Indirect = Sue confessed that she was going with John.

      4.      Direct = “What a pity I didn't see the ceremony,” he said.

             Indirect = He regretted not seeing the ceremony.

      5.      Direct = “You are right. it was a mistake to get up so early,” Chris said.

            Indirect = Chris admitted getting up early was a mistake.

      6.      Direct = “Thank you very much indeed,” he said.

            Indirect = He thanked Susan.

      7.      Direct = “Robert, welcome to our city!” the Lord Mayor said.

            Indirect = The Lord Mayor greeted Robert.

      8.      Direct = “Look, he is a thief!” the greengrocer said.

            Indirect = The greengrocer accused him of being a thief.

      9.      Direct = “I will help you, Tom, for sure,” the teacher said.

            Indirect = The teacher promised to help Tom.

      10.  Direct = “Stay with us until tomorrow, OK. ?

            Indirect = The uncle insisted on our staying with them for the night.

      11.  Direct = “How about having a swim?”  they said.

            Indirect = They suggested having a swim.

      12.  Direct = “Mummy, buy me that toy, please, please,” the kid said.

            Indirect = The kid begged her Mum to buy him a toy.

      13.  Direct = “It's a pity we didn't meet the president,” they said.

      Indirect = They regretted not meeting the president.

14.  Direct = “Look out! Timber!” the foreman said.

            Indirect = The foreman warned the other workers against the falling tree.

15.  Direct = “You'd better start learning for the exam, Roger,” the biology teacher said.

            Indirect = The biology teacher advised Roger to start learning for the exam.

Reported Speech Exercises

1.   "I didn't do it," she said.

She denied doing it.

2.  "You should have lessons," she said.

She advised me to have lessons.

3.  "I hope Andy phones tonight," said Clare.

Clare hoped Andy would phone that night.

4.  "Don't fly kites near electric overhead cables," said my father.

My father warned me not to fly kites near electric overhead cables.

5.  "I won't do it," he said.

He refused to do it.

6.  "We really must go with you," they said.

They insisted on going with me.

7.  "I promise I'll take you to Prague," said Mary.

Mary promised to take me to Prague.

8.  "Don't forget to phone Granny," said Mum.

Mum reminded me to phone Granny.

9.  "Please, please don't tell anyone!" he said.

He begged me not to tell anyone.

10. "Have lunch with me," she said.

She invited me to have lunch with her.

11."If you wear my T-shirt again, I'll pinch you very hard," said Maggy.

Maggie threatened to pinch me very hard if I wore her T-shirt again.

12. "Why don't you buy one?" said Tom.

Tom suggested I buy one.

Reporting verbs gapfill exercise

1.       "It was your fault."

The cyclist blamed the bus driver for  causing the accident.

2.       "You caused it."

The cyclist accused the bus driver of  causing the accident.

3.       "It's a really good idea. You'll meet lots of people."

New students are always encouraged to join social clubs when they first go to university.

4.       "It's not true."

The politician denied having an affair with his research assistant – they were just working late.

5.       "Why don't we go to Italy?"

I suggested going to Italy for our holidays, but everyone else wanted to go to Portugal.

6.       "Well done!"

Students generally congratulate each other on  passing their exams.

7.       "We're getting engaged."

Christine and Harry announced at the party that they were getting engaged.

8.       "You should see a solicitor."

The landlord of my neighbour's flat wanted to double the rent, so I advised her to see a solicitor.

9.       "You won't see him alive again."

The kidnapper threatened to kill their son if they informed the police.

10.   "OK."

The union agreed to call off the strike if safety measures were introduced.