We use reported speech to reproduce the exact same words that someone has said, linking both

sentences with THAT. We have to change everything: subject, verb tense, objects and complements.
DIRECT SPEECH
VERB

EXAMPLE

INDIRECT SPEECH
VERB

Present simple

I am tired, She said

Present continuous

We
are
doing
homework, they said

Present perfect

EXAMPLE

Past simple

She said that she was tired

Past continuous

They said that they were

doing their homework

She has just found the

key, he said
You were there, I said
The weather was bad to
travel, I said

Past perfect

Past continuous /
perfect continuous
Past perfect

May

She was listening to

music, she said
The film had already
started, they said
I will close the window,
he said
I am going to travel
abroad, she said
I can play the piano, he
said
We shall go to the
doctor, they said
It may rain, they said

He said that she had just

find the key
I said that he had been
there
I said that the weather
was bad to travel
She said that she had been
listening to music
They said that they had
already started
He said that he would close
the window
She said that she was going
to travel abroad
He said that he could play
the piano
They said that they should
go to the doctor
They said it might rain

Must

We must go, they said

Had to

Have to

I have to go
dentist, she said

Past simple

Past continuous
Past perfect
Future simple (will)
Is / are going to
Can
Shall

to

our

the

Past simple / Past perfect

Past

Conditional simple (would)

Was / were going to
Could
Should
Might

Had to

They said that they had to

go
She said that she had to go
to the dentist

DIRECT SPEECH

INDIRECT SPEECH

Now
Today
Tonight
Yesterday

Then
That day
That night
The previous day, the
day before
The following day, the
next day
That week

Tomorrow
This week
Last week
Next week
Three weeks ago

The previous week, the

week before
The following week
Three days before

1. My mum told me to stay at home last

Here said.
there
night, Mariah
Come
2. I saw the
thief last night, theGo
policeman
These / Those
said. This / That
3. I finished my essay on environment, said
Karl.
4. You need to work harder! The teacher told
me
5. We have already eaten, but we will have
something to drink, they said
6. "I will have finished this report by
tomorrow", She said.
7. "When will I see you again?" Gina asked me.
8. "I won't lend you any money tonight." Carla
said
9. "Have you tidied up your room?" The mother
asked her daughter.
10. Im going to Paris next month. He said.
11. We havent spoken to our parents for one
week, they said
12. If there is any problem I will call you. The
manager told me
13. The postman hasnt come yet, My father
said
14. Stay in bed for 2 days. The doctor
ordered
15. I found the book I lost morning, the boy
said.
16. I may go out with Jenny tomorrow, Paul
said.
17. I havent seen my family for a long time
because Im studying abroad, Laura said.
18. I visited some friends in Rome, she told
me.
19. Im teaching English at school, he said

REPORTING COMMANDS
Dont shout, he
ordered me
Tell me!, she said

He ordered me not to
shout
She said to me to tell her

REPORTING YES/NO QUESTIONS

Do you want
something else?, she
asked

She asked us if we
wanted something else

REPORTING WH- QUESTIONS

When are you going
home?, they asked

They asked when we were

going home.

26. Whose book is this? Peter asked

27. What
When
areis they
to serve
time
it?, Igoing
I asked
whatlunch?
time it was
Michael asked
asked
28.Were these three busts exactly the same?
Holmes asked.
29. I saw the thief last night. Mr. Harker said.
30. Morse Hudson was very angry this
morning. Lestrade said.
31. My mum told me to stay at home last
night. John said.
32. "I will have finished this paper by
tomorrow." He said.
33. "When will we meet again?" She asked me.
34. "Have you tidied up your room?" The
mother asked the twins.
35. Im going to London next week. John
said.
36. We havent spoken to our parents for six
says. They said
37. If I find out anything I will call you.
Lestrade said
38. Dont touch that bust! Holmes ordered
39. "I won't lend you any money tomorrow."
John said
40. I found the dead man here this morning
Mr Harker said
41. I may go out with you tomorrow. Susan
said
42. You need to study harder! The teacher
told me
43. Dont go out with that man tomorrow!
She advised me
44. Dont blame me for the disaster! Paul
told
45. Where were you yesterday? My mother