1. Choose the correct answer.
1 My brother said that he was / is mending the chair leg.
2 They told us they have / had chosen the new wallpaper.
3 She told me that she bought / had bought an oil painting.
4 Dave told me that he can’t / couldn’t find the ashtray.
5 We said we will / would tidy the bookcase.
6 I told them that I don’t / didn’t need a new table lamp.
Answer
1 was 2 had 3 had bought 4 couldn’t
5 would 6 didn’t
2. Complete the conversation between two sisters with said or told. Then rewrite the direct speech as reported speech.
‘I can’t find my hairbrush,’ Gemma 1…said…….
‘I borrowed it his morning,’ Rosie 2………………… her.
‘It isn’t in the bathroom,’ Gemma 3………………… to her.
‘I left in on your windowsill,’ Rosie 4………………… .
‘I don’t like people taking my things,’ Gemma 5………………… to her
‘I won’t use your hairbrush again,’ Rosie 6………………… her.
1 Gemma said that she couldn’t find her hairbrush.
2 Rosie ………………….…………………. .
3 Gemma ………………….…………………. .
4 Rosie ………………….…………………. .
5 Gemma ………………….…………………. .
6 Rosie ………………….…………………. .
Answer
2 told 3 said 4 said 5 said 6 told
2 told her that she had borrowed it that morning.
3 said that it wasn’t in the bathroom.
4 said that she had left it on her windowsill.
5 said that she didn’t like people taking her things.
6 told her that she wouldn’t use her hairbrush again.
3. Rewrite the sentences as reported speech. Use subject and object pronouns.
1 ‘I didn’t rob the bank last week,’ (the suspect / the policewoman).
He told her that he hadn’t robbed the bank the week before.
2 ‘I was on holiday until yesterday,’ (the suspect).
………………………………………
3 ‘You’ll have to stay in jail tonight,’ (the policewoman / the suspect).
………………………………………
4 ‘I want to speak to my lawyer,’ (the suspect / the policewoman).
………………………………………
5 ‘You can see him tomorrow,’ (the policewoman).
………………………………………
6 ‘I’m not staying in jail without seeing my lawyer,’ (the suspect).
………………………………………
Answer
2 He said that he had been on holiday until the day before / the previous day.
3 She told him that he would have to stay in jail that night.
4 He told her that he wanted to speak to his lawyer.
5 She said that he could see him the next day.
6 He said that he wasn’t staying in jail without seeing his lawyer.
4. George C. Parker was an American conman who sold the Brooklyn Bridge several times to tourists. Read the reported conversation between Parker and a tourist and write the direct speech.
A bridge too far?
Parker told the tourist that the Brooklyn Bridge was his. He told him that the people crossing the bridge paid him a fee. He said that he had made a lot of money that year. He told the tourist that he needed to build some new bridges. He said that he could sell him the bridge. He said that visitors would continue to pay to cross. He told him that he was offering him an incredible bargain. He told him that he would reduce the price, if necessary.
1 ‘The Brooklyn Bridge is mine.’
2 …………………………………………
3 …………………………………………
4 …………………………………………
5 …………………………………………
6 …………………………………………
7 …………………………………………
8 …………………………………………
Answer
2 ‘The people crossing the bridge pay me a fare.’
3 ‘I’ve / have made a lot of money this year.’
4 ‘I need to build some new bridges.’
5 ‘I can sell you the bridge.’
6 ‘Visitors will continue to pay to cross.’
7 ‘I’m / am offering you an incredible bargain.’
8 ‘I’ll / will reduce the price, if necessary.’
Challenge!
When was the last time you used your mobile phone?
Report part of the conversation you had.
I phoned ……………………………… . I said …………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
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