When

When the
the introductory
introductory verb
verb in
in quoted
quoted

In
In the
the reported
reported speech,
speech, John
John complained
complained that
that his
his

speech
speech (direct
(direct speech)
speech) is
is in
in the
the past
past tense,
tense,

brother
brother was
was a
a nuisance.
nuisance.

then
then we
we need
need to
to change
change the
the tense
tense of
of the
the

Examples:
Examples:

verb
verb in
in the
the speech
speech within
within inverted
inverted commas
commas

I
I am
am lost,
lost, said
said the
the little
little girl.
girl.

to
to past
past tense.
tense.

The
The little
little girl
girl said
said that
that she
she was
was lost.
lost.

David
David said,
said, II am
am going
going to
to sleep.
sleep.

Examples:
Examples:
John
John complained,
complained, my
my brother
brother is
is a
a

David
David said
said that
that he
he was
was going
going to
to sleep.
sleep.

nuisance.
nuisance.

1. I am going to
the beach, said
Henry. Henry said
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________

2. Mr. Manson
told his son, Do
your homework.
Mr. Manson told
his son
____________________
____________________
____________________

3. The policeman
asked him, where
are you going? The
policeman asked
him
_______________________
_______________________
____________________

4. I have no
money left, said
Jason. Jason said
_________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________

5. The eggs are not

fresh, complained the
customer. The
customer complained
____________________
__________________

6. Who is at the
door? Mrs Jones
asked. Mrs Jones
asked _____________
____________________
____________________
____________________

7. This house is
haunted, the old
man told the
boys. The old man
told the boys
______________
____________________
____________________

8. Mr Dickens said,
I have been a
lawyer for thirty
years. Mr Dickens
said _________
_______________________
_______________________
_____________________

9. Your mother is
looking for you,
Mr Smith told
me. Mr Smith told
me ______
____________________
____________________
____________________

10. Do you like

bananas? she
asked him. She
asked him
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________

11. I have lost my way,

the boy told the
policeman. The boy
told the policeman
____________________
__________________

12. Timothy said,

the match is
called off due to
the heavy rain.
Timothy said
____________________
____________________
____________________

13. Lily said, I said

visit the zoo
tomorrow. Lily said
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
___________________

14. My grandmother
told me, I cannot see
clearly anymore. My
grandmother told me
___________________
____________________
__________________

15. The dentist

told Peter, one
of your teeth has
decayed. The
dentist told Peter
____________________
____________________
____________________

Answers
1. That he was going to the beach.
2. To do his homework.
3. Where he was going.
4. That he had no money left.
5. That the eggs were not fresh.
6. Who was at the door.
7. That house was haunted.
8. That he had seen a lawyer for thirty years.
9. That my mother was looking for me.
10. Whether he liked bananas.
11. That he has lost his way.
12. That the match was called off due to the heavy rain
13. That she would visit the zoo the next day.
14. That he could not see clearly anymore.
15. That one of his teeth has decayed.