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Reported speech: explanation and exercises

B2Updated 2026-09-216 exercises

Reported (indirect) speech tells someone what another person said without quoting the exact words. The verb usually moves one step back in time (backshift), and pronouns, times and places change to fit the new point of view.

How it is formed

Statements

“I am tired.” → She said (that) she was tired.

“I will call.” → He said he would call.

Questions

“Where do you live?” → She asked where I lived.

“Do you like tea?” → He asked if I liked tea.

Commands

“Close the door.” → She told me to close the door.

When to use it

  • Telling a story about a conversation.
  • Reporting news, instructions and opinions.
  • Writing summaries and emails.

Common mistakes

  • Not thisShe asked where did I live.

    Say thisShe asked where I lived.

    Reported questions use statement word order, with no do/does/did.

  • Not thisHe said me he was tired.

    Say thisHe told me he was tired.

    Say has no person object; tell needs one.

  • Not thisHe said that he will call.

    Say thisHe said that he would call.

    Backshift will → would when the reporting verb is past.

Tips for teaching it

  • Do a real chain: students whisper a sentence, then report it. Backshift feels natural when they are reporting something real.
  • Teach the word-order rule for questions separately; it is the most common error at B2.
  • Show the exceptions: if the fact is still true, backshift is optional (She said she lives in Boston).

Practice: reported speech exercises

Try these exercises. Answers are checked in your browser and never sent to us. Teachers can share this page with a class as it is.

1Complete the sentence.

“I am tired,” she said. → She said shetired.

2Complete the sentence.

“Where do you live?” → He asked me where I.

3Complete the sentence.

“I will call you.” → He said hecall me.

4Complete the sentence.

“Open the window.” → She told methe window.

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the correct verb: “He ___ me he was late.”

Frequently asked questions

Do I always have to change the tense?

Not if the reported fact is still true or the reporting verb is present: She says she is tired. Backshift is essential when the reporting verb is in the past.

What are common reporting verbs?

Say, tell and ask are the base set. Higher levels add suggest, promise, warn, explain and admit, each with its own pattern.