Reported speech – B1 English Grammar Test

1  Underline the correct tenses in the direct speech.

1   Pat said he would meet us outside the cinema.

      ‘I will meet / meet you outside the cinema,’ Pat said.

2   The actress said she could play this role.

      ‘I am playing / can play this role,’ the actress said.

3   The director announced they were writing the sequel.

      ‘We ’re going to write / ’re writing the sequel,’ the director announced.

4   He said he had never met a better actor.

      ‘I have never met / don’t meet a better actor,’ he said.

5   She said she had acted in the theatre as a child.

      ‘I have acted / acted in the theatre as a child,’ she said.

6   The critic thought it was a great film, but it wouldn’t win an Oscar.

      ‘It isn’t / is a great film, but it won’ts win / hasn’t won an Oscar,’ the critic said.

2  Choose the correct reporting verb.

1   ‘No, really. You have to come!’

      He insisted / suggested that I come.

2   ‘Give me the book now.’

      She announced / demanded that I give her the book.

3   ‘We’re getting married!’

      They announced / explained that they were getting married.

4   ‘The machine’s not working, sorry.’

      He demanded / explained that the machine wasn’t working.

5   ‘Why don’t we watch a film tonight?’

      She suggested / insisted that we watch a film tonight.

3  Complete the indirect speech with the verb in the correct tense.

1   ‘I love being on film sets.’

2   ‘I’ve seen Jaws 20 times.’

3   ‘I’m reading a book about Marilyn Monroe.’

4   ‘I’ll produce but not direct the sequel.’

5   ‘People can stream thousands of films at home.’

6   ‘I saw a great documentary.’

1   She said she ……loved…… being on film sets.

2   He told me he ………………… Jaws 20 times.

3   My friend said she ………………… a book about Marilyn Monroe.

4   Mr Nolan said he ………………… but not direct the sequel.

5   The company said people ………………… thousands of films at home.

6   She told me she ………………… a great documentary.

4  Correct the mistakes in the sentences.

1   Later my cousin say me that he wanted to watch it too.

      ……told me / said to me……

2   He told me he is staying in Athens for a few days last week.

      ………………………………………………..

3   She explained she was late yesterday because there is a strike on the underground.

      ………………………………………………..

4   He didn’t answer the phone because he said he was in a meeting and he can’t speak.

      ………………………………………………..

5   You don’t tell me you got a job. Congratulations!

      ………………………………………………..

6   She didn’t come to to the cinema because she has an exam the next day.

      ………………………………………………..

5  Look at the direct speech of the teacher, Ms Pruitt, and complete the text below using reported speech.

Ms Pruitt:   ‘OK everyone. You’re going to make a short film. It doesn’t matter if you have never made a film before. The important thing is to have fun. You can work in groups if you want to. The best films will be shown on a projector in the school theatre at the end of term.’

Ten days later:

My English teacher, Ms Pruitt, told us last week 1……we were going to make…… a short film. She explained that 2…………………. matter if 3…………………. never a film before, the important thing 4…………………. fun. She said 5…………………. in groups if 6…………………. to, so my friend Natasha and I made a three-minute-long suspense/drama film called The Lighthouse. Ms Pruitt said that the best films 7…………………. on a projector in the school theatre at the end of term. I hope ours gets chosen!