Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

Direct speech: "Close the window, please"

Or: "Could you close the window please?"

Or: "Would you mind closing the window please?"

All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word when we tell another
person about it. We simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':
Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.
Here are a few more examples:
Direct Request

Reported Request

Please help me.

She asked me to help her.

Please don't smoke.

She asked me not to smoke.

Could you bring my book tonight?

She asked me to bring her book that night.

Could you pass the milk, please?

She asked me to pass the milk.

Would you mind coming early tomorrow?

To report a negative request, use 'not':

Direct speech: "Please don't be late."

Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

She asked me to come early the next day.

Reported Orders
And finally, how about if someone doesn't ask so politely? We can call this an 'order' in English, when
someone tells you very directly to do something. For example:
Direct speech: "Sit down!"
In fact, we make this into reported speech in the same way as a request. We just use 'tell' instead of 'ask':

Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

Direct Order

Reported Order

Go to bed!

He told the child to go to bed.

Don't worry!

He told her not to worry.

Be on time!

He told me to be on time.

Don't smoke!

He told us not to smoke.

Tense
present
simple
present
continuous
past simple

Direct Speech
I like ice cream

Reported Speech
She said (that) she liked ice cream.

I am living in London

She said (that) she was living in London.

I bought a car

past
continuous
present
perfect
past
perfect*
will
would*
can

I was walking along the

street
I haven't seen Julie

She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said

(that) she bought a car.
She said (that) she had been walking along the street.

could*
shall
should*
might*
must

I had taken English

lessons before
I'll see you later
I would help, but..
I can speak perfect
English
I could swim when I
was four
I shall come later
I should call my
mother
"I might be late"
"I must study at the
weekend"

She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.

She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
She said (that) she would see me later.
She said (that) she would help but...
She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
She said (that) she would come later.
She said (that) she should call her mother
She said (that) she might be late
She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She
said she had to study at the weekend

Time Expressions with Reported Speech

Sometimes when we change direct speech into reported speech we have to change time expressions too.
We don't always have to do this, however. It depends on when we heard the direct speech and when we
say the reported speech.
For example:
It's Monday. Julie says "I'm leaving today".
If
If
If
If

I
I
I
I

tell
tell
tell
tell

someone
someone
someone
someone

on Monday, I say "Julie said she was leaving today".

on Tuesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving yesterday".
on Wednesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving on Monday".
a month later, I say "Julie said she was leaving that day".

So, there's no easy conversion. You really have to think about when the direct speech was said.
Here's a table of some possible conversions:
now

then / at that time

today

yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June

yesterday

the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of December

last night

the night before, Thursday night

last week

the week before / the previous week

tomorrow

today / the next day / the following day / Friday

Reported Statements
1. He works in a bank
She said ___________________________________________________________
2. We went out last night
She told me ________________________________________________________
3. Im coming!
She said ___________________________________________________________
4. I was waiting for the bus when he arrived
She told me ________________________________________________________
5. Id never been there before
She said ___________________________________________________________
6. I didnt go to the party
She told me ________________________________________________________
7. Lucyll come later
She said ___________________________________________________________
8. He hasnt eaten breakfast
She told me ________________________________________________________
9. I can help you tomorrow
She said ___________________________________________________________
10. You should go to bed early
She told me ________________________________________________________
11. I dont like chocolate
She told me ________________________________________________________
12. I wont see you tomorrow
She said ___________________________________________________________
13. Shes living in Paris for a few months
She said ___________________________________________________________
14. I visited my parents at the weekend
She told me ________________________________________________________
15. She hasnt eaten sushi before
She said ___________________________________________________________
16. I hadnt travelled by underground before I came to London
She said ___________________________________________________________
17. They would help if they could
She said ___________________________________________________________
18. Ill do the washing-up later
She told me ________________________________________________________
19. He could read when he was three
She said ___________________________________________________________
20. I was sleeping when Julie called
She said ___________________________________________________________
Change these direct questions into reported speech:
1. Where is he?

She asked me ______________________________________________________

2. What are you doing?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
3. Why did you go out last night?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
4. Who was that beautiful woman?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
5. How is your mother?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
6. What are you going to do at the weekend?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
7. Where will you live after graduation?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
8. What were you doing when I saw you?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
9. How was the journey?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
10. How often do you go to the cinema?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
11. Do you live in London?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
12. Did he arrive on time?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
13. Have you been to Paris?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
14. Can you help me?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
15. Are you working tonight?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
16. Will you come later?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
17. Do you like coffee?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
18. Is this the road to the station?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
19. Did you do your homework?
She asked me ______________________________________________________
20. Have you studied reported speech before?
She asked me ______________________________________________________

Change the Orders and Requests direct speech into reported speech:
1. Please help me carry this
She asked me ______________________________________________________
2. Please come early

She ______________________________________________________________
3. Please buy some milk
She ______________________________________________________________
4. Could you please open the window?
She ______________________________________________________________
5. Could you bring the book tonight?
She ______________________________________________________________
6. Can you help me with my homework, please?
She ______________________________________________________________
7. Would you bring me a cup of coffee, please?
She ______________________________________________________________
8. Would you mind passing the salt?
She ______________________________________________________________
9. Would you mind lending me a pencil?
She ______________________________________________________________
10. I was wondering if you could possibly tell me the time?
She ______________________________________________________________
11. Do your homework!
She told me ________________________________________________________
12. Go to bed!
She ______________________________________________________________
13. Dont be late!
She ______________________________________________________________
14. Dont smoke!
She ______________________________________________________________
15. Tidy your room!
She ______________________________________________________________
16. Wait here!
She ______________________________________________________________
17. Dont do that!
She ______________________________________________________________
18. Eat your dinner!
She ______________________________________________________________
19. Dont make a mess!
She ______________________________________________________________
20. Do the washing-up!
She ______________________________________________________________

Change the direct speech into reported speech. Choose the past simple of ask, say
or tell:
1. Dont do it!
She ______________________________________________________________
2. Im leaving tomorrow

She ______________________________________________________________
3. Please get me a cup of tea
She ______________________________________________________________
4. She got married last year
She ______________________________________________________________
5. Be quick!
She ______________________________________________________________
6. Could you explain number four, please?
She ______________________________________________________________
7. Where do you live?
She ______________________________________________________________
8. We went to the cinema and then to a Chinese restaurant
She ______________________________________________________________
9. Ill come and help you at twelve
She ______________________________________________________________
10. What are you doing tomorrow?
She ______________________________________________________________
11. Dont go!
She ______________________________________________________________
12. Do you work in London?
She ______________________________________________________________
13. Could you tell me where the post office is?
She ______________________________________________________________
14. Come here!
She ______________________________________________________________
15. Ive never been to Wales
She ______________________________________________________________
16. Have you ever seen Lord of the Rings?
She ______________________________________________________________
17. I don't like mushrooms
She ______________________________________________________________
18. Don't be silly!
She ______________________________________________________________
19. Would you mind waiting a moment please?
She ______________________________________________________________
20. How often do you play sport?
She ______________________________________________________________

Change the direct speech into reported speech. Choose the past simple of ask, say
or tell:
1. Come quickly!
She ______________________________________________________________
2. Did you arrive before seven?
She ______________________________________________________________
3. How was your holiday?
She ______________________________________________________________

4. I would have visited the hospital, if I had known you were sick
She ______________________________________________________________
5. Don't touch!
She ______________________________________________________________
6. Do you usually cook at home?
She ______________________________________________________________
7. They had never been to Scotland until last year
She ______________________________________________________________
8. Make sure you arrive early!
She ______________________________________________________________
9. I should have studied harder for the exam
She ______________________________________________________________
10. Would you mind telling me how to get to the art gallery, please?
She ______________________________________________________________
11. Please dont forget my book
She ______________________________________________________________
12. Make sure you arrive at six!
She ______________________________________________________________
13. Remember to study hard!
She ______________________________________________________________
14. Where do you want to eat tonight?
She ______________________________________________________________
15. I usually drink coffee in the mornings
She ______________________________________________________________
16. Do you like studying English?
She ______________________________________________________________
17. Ill come and help you on Saturday
She ______________________________________________________________
18. Please buy some bread on your way home
She ______________________________________________________________
19. Please give this to John
She ______________________________________________________________
20. Could you give me the glass on the table, please?
She ______________________________________________________________

Reported statements: Answers

1. She said (that) he worked in a bank.
2. She told me (that) they went (had gone) out last night (the night before).
3. She said (that) she was coming.
4. She told me (that) she had been waiting for the bus when he arrived.
5. She said (that) she had never been there before.
6. She told me (that) she didn't go (hadn't gone) to the party.
7. She said (that) Lucy would come later.
8. She told me (that) he hadn't eaten breakfast.
9. She said (that) she could help me tomorrow.
10. She told me (that) I should go to bed early.
11. She told me (that) she didn't like chocolate.

12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She

said (that) she wouldn't see me tomorrow.

said (that) she was living in Paris for a few months.
told me (that) she visited (had visited) her parents at the weekend.
said (that) she hadn't eaten sushi before.
said (that) she hadn't travelled by underground before she came to London.
said (that) they would help if they could.
told me (that) she would do the washing-up later.
said (that) he could read when he was three.
said (that) she had been sleeping when Julie called.

Reported Questions Answers:

21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.

She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She
She

asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked
asked

me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me
me

where he was.
what I was doing.
why I went (had gone) out last night.
who that beautiful woman was.
how my mother was.
what I was going to do at the weekend.
where I would live after graduation.
what I had been doing when she saw (had seen) me.
how the journey was (had been).
how often I went to the cinema.
if I lived in London.
if he arrived (had arrived) on time.
if I had been to Paris.
if I could help her.
if I was working tonight (that night).
if I would come later.
if I liked coffee.
if this was the road to the station.
if I did (had done) my homework.
if I had studied reported speech before.

Reported Orders and Requests Answers:

1. She asked me to help her carry this.
2. She asked me to come early.
3. She asked me to buy some milk.
4. She asked me to open the window.
5. She asked me to bring the book tonight (that night).
6. She asked me to help her with her homework.
7. She asked me to bring her a cup of coffee.
8. She asked me to pass the salt.
9. She asked me to lend her a pencil.
10. She asked me to tell her the time.
11. She told me to do my homework.
12. She told me to go to bed.
13. She told me not to be late.
14. She told me not to smoke.

15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

She
She
She
She
She
She

told
told
told
told
told
told

me
me
me
me
me
me

to tidy my room.
to wait here (there).
not to do that.
to eat my dinner.
not to make a mess.
to do the washing-up.

Answers: Mixed Reported Speech 1

(When I used said you can also use told me)
1. She told me not to do it.
2. She said (that) she was leaving tomorrow (the next day).
3. She asked me to get her a cup of tea.
4. She said (that) she got married last year.
5. She told me to be quick.
6. She asked me to explain number four.
7. She asked me where I lived.
8. She said (that) they went (had been) to the cinema and then to a Chinese
restaurant.
9. She said (that) she would come and help me at twelve.
10. She asked me what I was doing tomorrow (the day after).
11. She told me not to go.
12. She asked me if I worked in London.
13. She asked me to tell her where the post office was.
(or: she asked me if I could tell her where the post office was).
14. She told me to come here (there).
15. She said (that) she had never been to Wales.
16. She asked me if I had ever seen The Lord of the Rings.
17. She said (that) she didn't like mushrooms.
18. She told me not to be silly.
19. She asked me to wait a moment.
(or: she asked me if I would mind waiting a moment).
20. She asked me how often I played sport.

Answers: Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 2

When I used said you can also use told me)
1. She told me to come quickly.
2. She asked me if I arrived (had arrived) before seven.
3. She asked me how my holiday was (had been).
4. She said (that) she would have visited the hospital, if she had known I was
sick.
5. She told me not to touch.
6. She asked me if I usually cooked at home.
7. She said (that) they had never been to Scotland until last year.
8. She told me to arrive early.
9. She said (that) she should have studied harder for the exam.
10. She asked me how to get to the art gallery.
(or: she asked me if I would mind telling her how to get to the art
gallery).
11. She asked me not to forget her book.
12. She told me to arrive at six.
13. She told me to remember to study hard.

14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

She
She
She
She
She
She
She

asked me where I wanted tonight / that night.

said that she usually drank coffee in the mornings.
asked me if I liked studying English.
said that she would come and help me on Saturday.
asked me to buy some bread on my way home.
asked me to give this to John.
asked me to give her the glass on the table.