Read Reported Speech (Part 1) to learn how to make reported statements.
In Part 2, we will focus on requests, orders, and questions.
DIRECT SPEECH | REPORTED SPEECH | EXAMPLE |
Requests/orders | Asked (me/him/her) to… Told (me/him/her) to… |
“Please make 10 copies of this report.” She asked me to make 10 copies of the report.“Go to the bank.” He told me to go to the bank. |
Yes/no questions | Asked if… Wanted to know if… |
“Are you coming to the party?” He asked if I was coming to the party.“Has John seen the new movie?” She asked if John had seen the new movie. |
Other questions | Asked… Wanted to know… |
“When was the company founded?” She asked when the company was founded.“What kind of car do you drive?” He wanted to know what kind of car I drive. |
1. Requests/orders
- “Asked me to” is used for requests.
- “Told me to” is stronger; it is used for orders/commands.
- The main verb stays in the infinitive:
She asked me to make copies.
He told me to go to the bank.
2. Yes/no questions
- “Asked if” and “wanted to know if” are equal.
- The main verb changes according to the rules for reported statements:
“Did you turn off the TV?” (past simple)
She asked if I had turned off the TV (past perfect) - We don’t use the auxiliary verbs “do/does/did” in the reported question.
3. Other questions
- “Asked” and “wanted to know” are equal.
- We don’t use the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” in the reported question:
“Where does he work?”
She wanted to know where he works. - In questions with the verb “to be,” the word order changes in the reported question:
“Where were you born?” (Question word + [to be] + subject)
He asked where I was born (Question word + subject + [to be])
He asked where was I born
Reported Speech (Part 2) Quiz
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Question 1 |
"Please don't walk on the grass."
He asked if he could walk on the grass. | |
He asked us if we'd walked on the grass. | |
He asked us not to walk on the grass. |
Question 2 |
"Have you met my sister?"
She wanted to know if I will meet her sister. | |
She wanted to know if I'd met her sister. | |
She told me to meet her sister. |
Question 3 |
"Can you swim?"
He asked if I could swim. | |
He asked me to swim. | |
He asked me if I'd swim. |
Question 4 |
"How much does it cost to rent a car?"
He wanted to know how much it costs to rent a car. | |
He asked if it costs money to rent a car. | |
He told me he wanted to rent a car. |
Question 5 |
"Look up these words in the dictionary."
The teacher told us to look up the words in the dictionary. | |
The teacher wanted to know how to look up the words in the dictionary. | |
The teacher asked us if we'd looked up the words in the dictionary. |
Question 6 |
"Finish the report by tomorrow, or else you're fired."
My boss told me to finish the report by the next day, or else you are fired. | |
My boss told me to finish the report by the next day, or else I'd be fired. | |
My boss told me he'd finished the report for the next day, or else I was fired. |
Question 7 |
"Will you help me?"
She asked if you would help her. | |
She asked if she would help me. | |
She asked if I would help her. |
Question 8 |
"Where does your family usually go on vacation?"
.He asked if my family usually goes on vacation. | |
He asked where does my family usually go on vacation. | |
He asked where my family usually goes on vacation |
Question 9 |
"What time is it?"
My friend told me what time it was. | |
My friend asked me what time it was. | |
My friend wanted to know what time is it. |
Question 10 |
"What's her last name?"
He asked what was her last name. | |
He asked what her last name was. | |
He asked if she had a last name. |
Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect.
There are 10 questions to complete.