Reported Speech - Statements (1)

Practise statements in reported speech!

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We use reported speech to talk about what someone else has said.
Be careful with the tenses! When you report what someone said in the present simple it changes to past simple, the past simple changes to the past perfect, the present continuous changes to past continuous and present perfect changes to past perfect.

Exceptions:
If the statement was made in past perfect, it doesn't change.
You don't change the tenses with a reporting verb in present, future or present perfect tense. For example: She says, “I like reading books.” - She says that she likes reading books.
If you express a universal truth or a habitual fact, tenses remain unchanged as well. For example: My mum said, “The sun always rises in the east.“ - My mum said that the sun always rises in the east.

Be careful: Use the right pronouns! Statement: Robert: “This is my house.“ - Robert said that that was his house.

April: I go to football training later. She said that she ______ to football training on Sunday.

Solution:
went

Ben: This morning I have walked my dog. He said that that morning he __________ his dog.

Solution:
had walked

We had rehearsed the show for three weeks. They said they ______ rehearsed their show for three weeks.

Solution:
had

Lydia: It is snowing all day. Lydia said that it __________ snowing all day.

Solution:
was

I lived in Berlin for many years. Josh told me he __________ in Berlin for many years.

Solution:
had lived

Louise: I love my position as school newspaper journalist. Louise told me that she ______ her position as school newspaper journalist.

Solution:
loves

Noah: I look forward to my aunt's visit tonight. He said that he looked forward to ______ aunt's visit.

Solution:
his

I have booked our flights! He said that he ______ booked our flights!

Solution:
had

My brother is watching TV all afternoon today. Mira told me that her brother ______ watching TV all afternoon.

Solution:
was

I received a present by post. I told her that I __________ a present by post.

Solution:
had received

Lucy: I ate out last night. She said she had ______ out the night before.

Solution:
eaten

Paula: I am playing on my computer now. Paula told Ben that she ______ playing on her computer.

Solution:
was

I was lying in bed when it started to snow! He told me that he __________ lying in bed when it had started to snow.

Solution:
had been

I meet Sandra on Saturdays. Laura said that she ______ Sandra on Saturdays.

Solution:
meets