reported speech question form exercises

Click here to view the solution of this exercise

1. Peter asked me if I had gone to the cinema the day before. 2. She asked me if I had ever been to Spain. 3. They were ordered not to be unfriendly. 4. Eve asked him what she could do for him. 5. He asked her if she knew the right way. 6. Ann asked them if they were driving to London that weekend. 7. They asked me what the time was. 8. They were ordered not to drink and drive. 9. He asked who had been looking for the lost Englishmen. 10. We were told to sign the new insurance policy. 11. She asked when Carol had lost her last match. 12. He asked her if she was going to the cinema that week. 13. He told her to give up smoking. 14. The teacher asked them why they were late. 15. She asked him where he had lost his camera.

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Exercise on Reported Speech

Questions - exercise 1.

Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note the change of pronouns and tenses.

• "Where is my umbrella?" she asked. → She asked
• "How are you?" Martin asked us. → Martin asked us
• He asked, "Do I have to do it?" → He asked
• "Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter. → The mother asked her daughter
• "Which dress do you like best?" she asked her boyfriend. → She asked her boyfriend
• "What are they doing?" she asked. → She wanted to know
• "Are you going to the cinema?" he asked me. → He wanted to know
• The teacher asked, "Who speaks English?" → The teacher wanted to know
• "How do you know that?" she asked me. → She asked me
• "Has Caron talked to Kevin?" my friend asked me. → My friend asked me

Reported Speech Quiz

Test your understanding of Reported Speech in English with this Reported Speech Quiz. Reported Speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else said without quoting their exact words. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions to suit the reporting context. For example, direct speech: “ I am learning English, ” becomes in reported speech: “ She said she was learning English. ” This quiz has 15 questions and each question will ask you to change the direct speech into reported speech. Take The Quiz Below!

Not learned about reported speech yet? Then check out this Reported Speech Guide which includes lots of examples to help you master this important part of English grammar.

Reported speech exercises

• English grammar PDF
• PDF worksheets
• Mixed PDF tests
• Present tenses
• Past tenses
• Future tenses
• Present perfect
• Past perfect
• Future perfect
• Irregular verbs
• Modal verbs
• If-conditional
• Passive voice
• Reported speech
• Time clauses
• Relative clauses
• Indirect questions
• Question tags
• Imperative sentence
• Gerund and infinitive
• Direct | indirect object

Rewrite the sentences in the reported speech

Change the tenses, pronouns, expressions of time and place to rewrite the sentences from the direct to reported speech.

Check test Answer key Clear test

Direct and indirect speech Exercises with answers and grammar rules.

Reported speech worksheets PDF exercises with answers.

Reported questions, commands and requests Exercises and grammar rules.

Reported speech - brief summary

In the reported speech we usually change tenses (one tense back), pronouns, time and place.

"I admire you," said Sarah. Sarah said she admired me.

"We came back yesterday," they told me. They told me they had come the day before.

"Peter has put it here," he thought. He thought that Peter had put it there.

"I'm afraid that your parents won't like me," said George. George said he was afraid that my parents wouldn't like him.

How to avoid the shift of tenses:

It is simple to avoid shift of tenses in the reported speech if you use the reporting verb in the present simple tense instead of the past simple tense.

"I admire you," said Sarah. Sarah says she admires me.

"I'm afraid that your parents won't like me," said George. George says that he is afraid that my parents won't like him.

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Reported Speech Questions

Questions with question words, yes/no questions (with helping verb).

Question forms and reported speech

Question forms and reported speech.

1.  Normal word order is used in reported questions, that is, the subject comes before the verb, and it is not necessary to use  ‘do’  or  ‘did’ :

• “Where does Peter live?” —>  She asked him  where Peter lived .

2.  Yes / no questions : This type of question is reported by using  ‘ask’ +  ‘if / whether  + clause :

• “Do you speak English?” —-> He asked me  if I spoke English .
• “Are you British or American?” —-> He asked me  whether I was British or American.
• “Is it raining?” —–> She asked  if it was raining .
• “Have you got a computer?” ——> He wanted to know  whether I had a computer .
• “Can you type?” —–> She asked  if I could type .
• “Did you come by train?” ——> He enquired  whether I had come by train .
• “Have you been to Bristol before?” ——>  She asked   if I had been to Bristol before .

3.  Question words :

This type of question is reported by using ‘ask’ (or another verb like ‘ask’) + question word + clause. The clause contains the question, in normal word order and with the necessary tense change.

• “What is your name?” he asked me. —–> He asked me  what my name was .
• “How old is your mother?”, he asked. ——-> He asked  how old her mother was .
• The policeman said to the boy, “Where do you live?” ——->  The policeman asked the boy  where he lived .
• “What time does the train arrive?” she asked. ——-> She asked  what time the train arrived .
• “When can we have dinner?” she asked. ——>  She asked   when they could have dinner .
• Peter said to John, “Why are you so late?” ——-> Peter asked the John  why he was so late .

Note:  See also  Summary of Reporting Verbs

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Reported Speech Quiz

You can do this grammar quiz online or print it on paper. It tests what you learned on the Reported Speech pages.

1. Which is a reporting verb?

2. He said that it was cold outside. Which word is optional?

3. "I bought a car last week." Last week he said he had bought a car

4. "Where is it?" said Mary. She

5. Which of these is usually required with reported YES/NO questions?

6. Ram asked me where I worked. His original words were

7. "Don't yell!" is a

8. "Please wipe your feet." I asked them to wipe

9. She always asks me not to burn the cookies. She always says

10. Which structure is not used for reported orders?

Your score is:

Correct answers:

Reported questions in English

Reported questions.

If you use a question in Reported Speech, follow the steps described on our page Reported Speech – Summary (changing of the person, backshift of tenses, shifting of expressions of time/place).

In Reported speech the question becomes a statement. Mind the word order: subject – verb

1. The introductory sentence in Reported Questions

1.1. the introductory sentence is in the simple present.

If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Present, there is no backshift of tenses.

• Direct Speech → Susan, “ Do es Mary work in an office?”
• Reported Speech → Susan asks if/whether Mary work s in an office.

The introductory sentence: Susan asks ... → is in the Simple Present . There is no backshift of tenses. The auxiliary do is dropped in the Reported speech.

1.2. The introductory sentence in the Simple Past

If the introductory sentence is in the Simple Past, there is usually backshift of tenses.

• Reported Speech → Susan asked if/whether Mary work ed in an office.

The introductory sentence: Susan asked ... → is in the Simple Past . There is backshift of tenses.

1.3. Types of introductory sentences

The word ask in introductory sentences in Reported Questions can be substituted with other words, e.g.

• want to know

2. Questions with and without question words

Questions can be formed with or without question words.

If there is a question without a question word in Direct Speech, use whether or if in Reported Speech .

• Peter, “Do you play football?” → Peter asked me whether (if) I play ed football.

If there is a question with a question word in Direct Speech, use this question word in Reported Speech .

• Peter, “ When do you play football?” → Peter asked me when I play ed football.
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Reported speech - 1

Reported speech - 2

Reported speech - 3

Worksheets - handouts

Exercises: indirect speech

• Reported speech - present
• Reported speech - past
• Reported speech - questions
• Reported questions - write
• Reported speech - imperatives
• Reported speech - modals
• Indirect speech - tenses 1
• Indirect speech - tenses 2
• Indirect speech - write 1
• Indirect speech - write 2
• Indirect speech - quiz
• Reported speech - tenses
• Indirect speech – reported speech
• Reported speech – indirect speech

Ukraine-Russia war latest: US warns North Korea against sending troops to Ukraine - as NATO appoints new chief

NATO has appointed a new secretary general - while the US has warned North Korea against sending troops to fight in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Evan Gershkovich has been seen before the start of his behind-closed-doors trial in Russia.

Wednesday 26 June 2024 13:56, UK

• NATO appoints new chief
• Russia working on 'big treaty' with Iran
• US warns North Korea against sending troops to Ukraine
• US journalist seen ahead of trial in Russia
• North Korea missile explodes mid-air after launch
• Your questions answered : Has Western media been honest about Ukrainian military failures?
• Big picture : What you need to know this week
• Listen to the Daily above and tap here to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel 

Ask a question or make a comment

NATO has appointed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its next secretary general.

The outgoing leader of the Netherlands will take charge of the world's biggest security organisation at a critical time for European security.

Mr Rutte's appointment was sealed by NATO ambassadors during a meeting at the 32-nation alliance's headquarters in Brussels.

Joe Biden and his counterparts will formally welcome him to their table at a summit in Washington from 9 -11 July.

The Dutch premier will then take over from the current secretary general, Norway's Jens Stoltenberg, on 1 October.

Congratulating his appointment, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was "confident" Mr Rutte would continue Mr Stoltenberg's "outstanding work in keeping NATO strong and united".

European Union countries have agreed a sanctions package against Belarus today, in an effort to close off a route to avoiding restrictions on Russia.

EU diplomats and Belgium announced the development, as the bloc adopted its 14th package of sanctions to punish Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The new measures included clauses that increased responsibility on EU companies exporting via non-EU countries.

"This package will strengthen our measures in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including combating circumvention of sanctions," Belgium, which holds the EU presidency until the end of June, said on X.

"With this package, we just closed the biggest loophole of our sanctions regime," the EU presidency said in a separate statement.

Efforts to close loopholes have intensified since last year and diplomats say Belarus amounted to one of the biggest.

The EU has been working since early last year to align sanctions already imposed on Belarus before Russia's invasion of Ukraine with measures in response to the war, but the country's major potash exports were one of the stumbling blocks.

One diplomat specified the text aligns measures on dual-use goods such as chips found in basic appliances as well as advanced technology and military wares.

The package dropped a provision some countries sought that would have allowed Belarusian potash and other agricultural goods to be exported via Europe in the event of price spikes.

Moscow is looking to strengthen ties with Tehran as the Kremlin works on a "big treaty" with Iran, according to a senior Russian foreign office official.

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, speaking at a news conference earlier today, referenced a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement that is being negotiated between the two countries.

No further details have been shared. 

Back in January, Russia's foreign ministry said that a new interstate treaty reflecting the "unprecedented upswing" in Russia-Iran ties was in the final stages of being agreed.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov are "absurd", the Kremlin has said.

Speaking to reporters today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We do not recognise the jurisdiction of this court.

"We are not members of the relevant statutes.

"Accordingly, we do not recognise these orders. Moreover, we consider it quite absurd, like the last two warrants that concerned the head of state and our children's ombudsman."

For context : Yesterday, the ICC Issued arrest warrants for Sergei Shoigu, the former Russian defence minister, and leading Russian general Valery Gerasimov for alleged crimes committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It brought to eight the number of arrest warrants issued against senior Russian suspects since the invasion. They include Vladimir Putin, who faces charges over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

The Hague-based court said Mr Shoigu and Mr Gerasimov were suspected of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity for directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects in Ukraine.

Judges had found there were "reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects bear responsibility for missile strikes carried out by the Russian forces against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure".

Mr Shoigu is now secretary of Russia's Security Council and Mr Gerasimov is chief of the Russian army's general staff.

The US embassy in Russia has said that Moscow has failed to provide any evidence to support espionage charges against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

In a statement on the first day of Mr Gershkovich's closed trial on spying charges, the embassy said the case was about the Kremlin using US citizens to achieve its political objectives.

"Russian authorities have failed to provide any evidence supporting the charges against him, failed to justify his continued detention, and failed to explain why Evan's work as a journalist constitutes a crime," the embassy said.

Earlier, Mr Gershkovich was seen standing in a glass box, with a shaved head, ahead of the trial.

The 32-year-old reporter, who has already spent nearly 15 months behind bars in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo jail, faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

Russian courts convict more than 99% of the defendants who come before them, and prosecutors can appeal sentences they regard as too lenient, and can even appeal acquittals.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited troops in the eastern frontline Donetsk region today with his top military leadership.

In a statement on Telegram , Mr Zelenskyy said he held a detailed meeting on security with military leaders and addressed many issues.

"There will be a separate conversation in Kyiv, particularly with officials who must be here and in other areas near the frontline - in difficult communities where people need immediate solutions. Solutions that simply cannot be seen from Kyiv," he said.

Mr Zelenskyy said he was "surprised" to learn that some relevant officials have not been in the region "for six months or more".

"There will be a serious conversation, and I will draw appropriate conclusions regarding them," he added.

What do we know about the Donetsk region?

The eastern region forms part of the Donbas - along with Luhansk - and fighting here is relentless.

The region was once known for its coal and steel manufacturing but it is now part of the Kremlin's ongoing invasion, with Vladimir Putin intent on seizing the entire territory.

Parts of the Donbas are occupied by Russian proxy governments.

A Russian official has suggested publicly whipping disobedient Russians.

In a translated clip shared by columnist at The Daily Beast Julia Davis, State Duma deputy Andrey Svintsov discussed his thoughts on those who spoke out against the Kremlin.

"Those who repent should publicly apologise and publicly receive 20 lashes with a whip in Red Square," he said.

"After that, they could continue their entrepreneurship but with a new tax rate."

He went on to say that if people spoke out against the country they needed to be punished "officially".

"It's mandatory, whipping them is mandatory," he said.

"We have to bring back physical punishment."

If North Korean troops were sent to Ukraine to help the Russian army they would become "cannon fodder", Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said.

In a briefing yesterday evening, Mr Ryder was asked about the possibility of North Korean forces being sent to Ukraine as the country advances its military partnerships with Russia.

Mr Ryder did not say there was any indication of North Korean troops actually being sent into combat, but he cautioned the North against that potential development.

"That's certainly something to keep an eye on," he said.

"I think that if I were North Korean military personnel management, I would be questioning my choices on sending my forces to be cannon fodder in an illegal war against Ukraine."

During a summit in Pyongyang last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin signed a deal requiring each country to provide aid if attacked. They also vowed to boost other cooperation. 

Observers say the accord represents the strongest connection between the two countries since the end of the Cold War.

Ukrainian shelling destroyed a radiation control post in Velyka Znamyanka in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russia's management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine reports.

"Specialists carried out a number of compensatory measures to control the radiation situation in the area," the management said.

Radiation levels, the management added, do not exceed safe levels.

For context :  Russian troops seized the Zaporizhzhia plant in the early days of Moscow's invasion on Ukraine in 2022.

Moscow and Kyiv have since routinely accused each other of endangering safety around it.

Evan Gershkovich has been seen before the start of his behind-closed-doors trial in Russia.

Reporters were allowed to briefly film the US journalist today before the start of his trial in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage that he denies.

Mr Gershkovich was seen standing in a glass box, with a shaved head.

The Wall Street Journal reporter was first arrested on espionage charges in March 2023 after Russia claimed he had been "gathering secret information" on orders from the CIA.

Mr Gershkovich faces 20 years in prison if convicted and he has spent over a year in Moscow's Lefortovo prison.

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