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Activities: “Reported speech: How to say what someone said in English?”

By: Stacey Shim Christensen

Activity 1: Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill had a short conversation, as shown in the box below.

Report the conversation:

Now it is a week later and I want to tell my friend Tom about what I heard. Click the correct expression in each set to help me tell the story:

Jack asked Jill [ / / ] she was going. Jill [ / / ] Jack that she had a test [ / / ]. Jack asked Jill [ / / ] she was going to Sue’s party. Jill said to Jack [ / / ] she [ / ] see him the next day at the party. Jack [ / / ] Jill good luck with her test.

Activity 2: Make it indirect

Read the following sentences using direct speech carefully, then select the best option from each set to indirectly report the speech.

Sue said to me, “I like your shoes.” → Sue said to me that [ / / ] liked [ / / ] shoes. “I have been studying English for two years,” said Thomas. → Thomas [ / / ] that he [ / / ] studying English for two years. The teacher said, “Be on time for class.” → The teacher said [ / / ] be on time for class. The teacher said, “Don’t use your cell phones during class.” → The teacher asked us [ / / ] use our cell phones during class. “They are going to McDonald's,” said Sue. → Sue said that [ / / ] were going to McDonald’s. Sue asked me, “Have you met Tom?” → Sue asked me [ / / ] I [ / / ] Tom. I asked Sue, “Where does Tom live?” → I asked Sue [ / / ]. Sue said to me, “How long have you known Tom?” → Sue wondered [ / / ] I [ / / ] Tom.