Indirect Speech Practice

Practice indirect speech with an introductory verb in the past. Reveal answers or start over at any time!

1. Time Shift of Verbs

A. Change the direct speech into indirect speech. Watch the time shift of the verb!
  1. He said, "I am tired." → He said that he tired.
  2. She said, "I have finished my homework." → She said that she her homework.
  3. Tom said, "I will go to the party." → Tom said that he to the party.
  4. They said, "We are watching TV." → They said that they TV.
  5. Anna said, "I can help you." → Anna said that she help me.
  6. He said, "I saw the movie." → He said that he the movie.
  7. She said, "I am going to call you." → She said that she to call me.
  8. They said, "We have been here for an hour." → They said that they there for an hour.
  9. He said, "I must leave now." → He said that he leave then.
  10. She said, "I like chocolate." → She said that she chocolate.
  1. was
  2. had finished
  3. would go
  4. were watching
  5. could
  6. had seen
  7. was going
  8. had been
  9. had to
  10. liked

2. Indirect Questions

A. Change the direct question into an indirect question (use: He/She asked ...)
  1. "Where do you live?" →
  2. "What are you doing?" →
  3. "Did you see the film?" →
  4. "Can you help me?" →
  5. "Why are you late?" →
  6. "When will you arrive?" →
  7. "Who is your teacher?" →
  8. "How did you do that?" →
  9. "What time does the train leave?" →
  10. "Where have you been?" →
  1. He asked where I lived.
  2. She asked what I was doing.
  3. He asked if/whether I had seen the film.
  4. She asked if/whether I could help her.
  5. He asked why I was late.
  6. She asked when I would arrive.
  7. He asked who my teacher was.
  8. She asked how I had done that.
  9. He asked what time the train left.
  10. She asked where I had been.

3. Time and Place Expressions

A. Change the direct speech into indirect speech. Change the time/place expression!
  1. He said, "I will do it today." → He said that he would do it .
  2. She said, "I am leaving tomorrow." → She said that she was leaving .
  3. They said, "We met him yesterday." → They said that they had met him .
  4. He said, "I need it now." → He said that he needed it .
  5. She said, "I am staying here." → She said that she was staying .
  6. He said, "I will finish it this week." → He said that he would finish it .
  7. She said, "I visited Paris last year." → She said that she had visited Paris .
  8. He said, "I will travel next month." → He said that he would travel .
  9. She said, "We are meeting tonight." → She said that they were meeting .
  10. He said, "I saw her two days ago." → He said that he had seen her two days .
  1. that day
  2. the next day / the following day
  3. the day before / the previous day
  4. then
  5. there
  6. that week
  7. the year before / the previous year
  8. the next month / the following month
  9. that night
  10. before