THE REPORTED SPEECH ADVANCED EXERCISES

Ex 1: Circle the correct option:

1. The reporter asked ________.
a. how long is it he prepare for race
b. he prepare how long for the race
c. how long did he prepare for the race
d. how long he had been preparing for the race
2. The runner replied that _______________.
a. I have been running for about five years
b. I was running for about five years
c. he had been running for about five years
d. he is running for about five years
3. Next, the reporter asked him ____________.
a. why he likes to run
c. why do you like to run
4. The runner said ____________.

b. why does he like to run

d. why he liked to run

a. that he is needing to improve his overall health.

b. he needed to improve his overall health
c. that I have needed to improve my overall health
d. I needed to improve my overall health.
5. He added that __________ to get out in the morning and run.
a. I can't wait
b. I couldn't wait
c. he can't wait
6. Next, the reporter asked him ___________

d. he couldn't wait

a. what is your favourite part of a marathon

b. what his favourite part of a marathon is
c. what is his favourite part of a marathon
d. what is it his favourite part of a marathon
7. The marathoner replied ______________to the 20-mile mark in the marathon race.
a. that it is when he gets
c. that it is when he got

b. that it is when I get

d. when he gets

8. He added ___________________.
a. what is his most challenging moment.
b. that was it his most challenging moment.
c. that it is his most challenging moment. d. is it his most challenging moment.
9. The reporter inquired _____________more marathons in the near future.
a. whether he was going to run

b. that are you going to run

c. whether are you going to run

d. you going to run
10. The athlete answered ___________________.
a. that he was looking forward to running one in Seattle in the coming month.
b. that he is looking forward to running one in Seattle next month.
c. that he looks forward to running one in Seattle next month.
d. if he was looking forward to running one in Seattle next month.
11. The reporter asked ________________ about getting back in shape.
a. could he give him some advice
b. whether you could give me some advice
c. that he could give him some advice
d. whether he could give him some advice
12. The athlete advised ___________________.
a. that he eat healthful food and keep moving.
b. that he eats healthful food and keeps moving.
c. that he is eating healthful food and keeping moving.
d. that healthful food he should eat and moving he should keep.
13. The reporter thanked him and _________ his coach as well.
a. told him thank
b. told him that he thank
c. told to him to thank
d. told him to thank
14. The reporter suggested that _______________ some rest.
a. he gets
b. he got
c. he will get
15. The athlete responded ___________________.

d. he get

a. that I am honoured to be here on your show.

b. that he is honoured to be here on your show.
c. that he was honoured to be here on his show.
d. that he was honoured to be there on his show.
Ex 2: Write the reported speech:
1. Your cousin speaks English very well Paul told me.
Paul told me that his cousin speaks English very well.
2. The man broke out of prison yesterday said the policeman.
The policeman said the man had broken out of prison the day before.

3. Ill lend you this book as soon as I finish it Owen said to me.
Owen told me that he would lend me that book as soon as he finish it.
4. I think I forgot to turn off the lights this morning Brenda told Brian.
Brenda told Brian that she had forgotten to turn off the lights that
morning.
5. I work eight hours a day, except when the children are on holiday said Mrs.
Wood.
Mrs. Wood said she works eight hours a day, except when the children were
on holiday.
6. Youve been making good progress this semester Miss Lynn told me.
Miss Lynn told me that she had been making good progress that
semester.
7. If you bought all the tickets, you would win the lottery the man said.
The man said that if I bought all the tickets, I would win the lottery .
8. I like swimming but I dont go very often Jill said to Pam.
Jill told Pam that he likes swimming but he doesnt go very often.
9. I want to buy it, but I havent brought any money said Patrick.
Patrick said that he wanted to buy it but he hadnt brought any money.
10. Im going to visit my aunt in Hue, but Im not sure when said Miley.
Miley said that she was going to visit her aunt in Hue, but she was not sure when
11. Would you like to go to the movies this evening, Jill? said Bob.
Bob asked Jill to go to the movies that evening .
12. Why dont you book a package holiday, Peter? said Frank.
Frank advised Peter to book a package holiday .
13. Dont forget to get up at five tomorrow, Derek Bill said.
Bill reminded Derek to get up at five the next day.
14. Dont go near the water, children, said the mother.

 The mother reminded her children not to go near the water.

15. Ill make you a nice birthday cake Tinas mother said.
Tinas mother said that she would make me a nice birthday cake.
16. Lie down or Ill shoot the robber shouted to everybody.
The robber threatened to shoot if everybody didnt lie down .
17. Get out of my way he told the boy.
He asked the boy to get out of his way.
18. Dont believe everything he says, Bruce said Malcolm.
Malcolm told Bruce not to believe everything they say.
19. Please do as I say She begged him.
She begged him to do as she says.
20. Dont miss your train, Martin said his mother.
Martins mother told him not to miss his train.
21. Dont go there alone, Julia! Meg told her.
Meg told Julia not to go there alone.
22. Youd better take a short holiday, June said Pauline.
Pauline told June that she had better take a short holiday.
23. Dont urge with me the teacher said to the boy.
The teacher told the boy not to urge with her.
24. Do you want to go out for dinner with me, Kate? Felix said.
Felix asked Kate if she wanted to go out for dinner with him .
25. Ill follow you wherever you go Henry told Katie.
Henry told Katie that he would follow her wherever she goes.
26. Ill kill your son if you call the police the kidnapper told them.
The kidnapper threatened to kill their son if they called the police .
27. If I were you, I wouldnt accept his invitation Kim said to Lynn.

 Kim told Lynn that if she was Lynn, she wouldnt accept his invitation.
28. Remember to put your dirty clothes in this basket, boy said the mother.
The mother reminded the boy to put his dirty clothes in that basket.
29. Follow that car the detective said to the taxi-driver.
The detective asked the taxi-driver to follow that car.
30. Go on, send your short story to the magazine Pamela said to Paul.
Pamela told Paul to send his short story to the magazine.
Ex 3: Complete the sentences with appropriate forms of SAY or TELL:
1. She __says__ we were to wait here for her.
2. Has anyone ___told____ you where we're meant to be meeting.
3. I got __tell_____ off for lying on the grass.
4. I never __said ____ that learning a language was easy.
5. She __told___ him to leave her alone, so he did.
6. She ____said____ she wanted to be alone, so I left.
7. I was ___tell____ to John only yesterday that he ought to ask her out.
8. Do you think he was ___said__ the truth when he said that?
9. Can you ___tell____ me the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
10. I'm totally useless at ____say__________ jokes.
11. Has he __said____ what time he's coming?
12. Every night she used to __tell__ us a story.
13. They ____say_____ that this is a very good restaurant.
14. I've heard __said____ that Janie is having a party. Have you been invited?
15. You won't __tell____ anyone else, will you?
16. You should have seen his face. It ___says___ it all really.
17. The poster ___says__ the concert started at eight.
18. As far as I can ___say____, we're nearly there.

19. With Johnny there's no ___says__ what he'll do next.

20. It is often ___say___ that a change is as good as a rest.
Ex 4: Write the reported speech using words from the box below:
admitted
promised

encouraged
recommended

insisted
reminded

invited
suggested

persuaded
warned

1. Come on, it's just another kilometre, you can do it.

He encouraged me to do it
2. Come on, you'd love it. You know you want to come really.
He persuaded me to come
3. I'll definitely do it for you this weekend.
She promised to do it for me that weekend
4. OK, it was me who took the last cake.
She admitted taking the last cake
5. No arguing. I'm paying for the drinks
She insisted on paying for the drinks

6. Don't forget to water the plants.

He reminded to water the plants
7. Why don't we go to the cinema this evening?
He suggested going to the cinema that evening
8. Would you like to come to dinner on Saturday?
They invited us to come to dinner on Saturday
9. Careful! This coffee is really hot.
He warned me that coffee is really hot
10. It's a beautiful island. I'm sure you'd have a great time there.
Theyrecommended that it is a beautiful island

Ex 5: Complete the sentences with the correct prepositions: ABOUT

FOR OF ON TO WITH:
1. She blamed me ________for______ losing the contract.
2. The police officer accused me _____of_________ not stopping at a red light.
3. He convinced me _____of_________ the importance of studying hard.
4. He asked me ___about___________ my holiday.
5. He criticised her _________for_____ always being so lazy.
6. He told her all ___of___________ his trip to Italy.
7. She alerted me _____to_________ the dangers of swimming in that part of the
river.
8. He was threatened __about____________ the sack if he kept coming in to work
late.
9. She asked him _____about_________ some more time to think about it.
10. She warned him __of____________ coming into work late.
11. He apologised profusely _____for_________ his behaviour.
12. She insisted _______on_______ paying for her own drinks.
Ex 6: Write the reported speech using words from the box below:
accused
denied

advised
offered

agreed
refused

1. Give me your money or else!

He threatened to give him my money.
2. It wasn't me. I didn't do it.
She denied doing it.
3. Yes, you're absolutely right.
He agreed with me .
4. He stole my wallet. I saw him do it.
He accused of stealing.

apologised
regretted

decided
threatened

5. I wish I hadn't done that.

She regretted to do that .
6. We're really sorry we're late.
They apologized for being late
7. Right, I've made my mind up. I'm going to have a pizza.
He decided to have a pizza.
8. No, I'm not going to do it, and that's final.
Sherefused to do it .
9. Here, let me help you with that.
She offered to help me with that.
10. If I were you, I'd look for a better job.
He advised me to look for a better job.
Ex 7: Use one of the verbs in the box in each of the pairs of
sentences. In the first sentence of each pair use a THAT clause, in
the second, use infinitive or gerund:

admit

agree

decide

deny

hope

promise

regret

threaten

1. "I'm going to buy the red one.",

She _said that she was going to buy___ the red one.
She _decided to buy____ the red one.
2. "I wish I hadn't said that to him"
She _said that she wished she hadnt said ____ that to him.
She _regretted to said_________ that to him.
3. "I'll do it tomorrow. Honest.",
She _said that she would do _____ it the following day.

She _hoped to do _____ it the following day

4. "OK, it was me who spilt the milk",
He __said that he had spilt__ the milk.
He admitted spilling ____ the milk.
5. "OK, I'll help them move the furniture.",
He _said that he would help___ them move the furniture.
He _agreed to help___ them move the furniture.
6. "I'll tell the teacher what you said",
She _said that she would tell__ the teacher what I'd said.
She _threatened to tell_____ the teacher what I'd said.
7. "It wasn't me who did it."
He __said that he hadnt done______ it.
He __denied doing _____ it.
8. "With any luck I'll be with you before dark",
She __said that she would be_____ with us before dark.
She ___promised to be____ with us before dark.