Exercises B2 : direct and indirect speech in English (answers)

These exercises are based on the course on direct and indirect speech in English. Practice converting reported speech by applying tense backshift, pronoun changes, and time expression transformations.

→ See the course : Direct and indirect speech in English : complete course

Exercice 1 — Tense Backshift in Indirect Speech

Fill in the blank with the correct verb form to complete the indirect speech sentence.

1. Direct: 'I am working on the report.' → Indirect: She said that she ___ (work) on the report.
2. Direct: 'We have finished the project.' → Indirect: They told us that they ___ (finish) the project.
3. Direct: 'I will call you tomorrow.' → Indirect: He said that he ___ (call) me the next day.
4. Direct: 'She can speak three languages.' → Indirect: He mentioned that she ___ (speak) three languages.

Correction

1. She said that she was working on the report.
2. They told us that they had finished the project.
3. He said that he would call me the next day.
4. He mentioned that she could speak three languages.

Exercice 2 — Converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Rewrite each sentence in indirect speech, applying the correct tense backshift, pronoun changes, and time expression transformations.

1. 'I saw my teacher here yesterday,' said Maria.
2. 'We are going to travel to Paris next week,' they said.
3. 'I don't understand this exercise now,' said the student.
4. 'My parents have just arrived,' she told me.

Correction

1. Maria said that she had seen her teacher there the day before.
2. They said that they were going to travel to Paris the following week.
3. The student said that he didn't understand that exercise then.
4. She told me that her parents had just arrived.

Exercice 3 — Spot and Correct the Errors in Indirect Speech

Each sentence contains one error related to tense backshift, pronoun use, or time expression. Identify and rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. He said that he will finish the task the next day.
2. She told me that she saw him here two days before.
3. They said that they are planning a trip to Spain tomorrow.
4. He mentioned that I had already submitted my application.

Correction

1. He said that he would finish the task the next day.
2. She told me that she had seen him there two days before.
3. They said that they were planning a trip to Spain the following day.
4. He mentioned that he had already submitted his application.