Reported Speech Test 3

Don't have to (no obligation) becomes didn't have to in reported speech. I becomes he, you becomes me and are becomes were: they were his present to me. Not needn't have to, because needn't and have to cannot be used together.

Must you really leave so soon? is not a real question about obligation. Margo is complaining that the speaker is leaving too early, so we report it with objected to my leaving. The reason it's only three o'clock becomes it was only three o'clock.

A yes/no question is reported with asked if, and can becomes could: They asked her if she could type. The short answer Yes is reported as she said she could. Not They asked her to type, because that reports a request, not a question.

The reported sentence gives two facts: Olivia had a plan, and they (the other people) changed their minds. I was going to the circus with them but they changed their minds keeps both. Not ...but I changed my mind, because Olivia did not change her mind; the others did.

In reported speech the tense moves one step back. Had been living (past perfect continuous) comes from have been living (present perfect continuous): I have been living in New York for 10 years. Not He has been living..., because Andrew is speaking about himself, so the direct speech must use I.

Would be coming in reported speech comes from will be coming/going (future continuous), and if we had comes from if you have. So Clara said: I will be going with you if you have enough room for me in the car. Not She will come..., because Clara is speaking about herself and would say I.

The last time I went to the zoo was three years ago means the same as It has been three years since I went to the zoo. Both say that she has not been to the zoo for three years. Not The last time I went to the zoo was three, because it is incomplete: three what?

Will be free to means will be able to, and in reported speech this becomes would be able to. The day after tomorrow means in two days. Not tomorrow, because that changes the day.

Oscar felt he should help his mother. I ought to give Mom a hand in the kitchen says the same thing: ought to = should, and give someone a hand = help someone. Not I feel that he should help..., because Oscar is talking about himself, not about another person.

Used to does not change in reported speech: They used to live next door stays they used to live next door. Only the pronoun changes: us becomes them. Not would live, because that sounds like the future, not a past habit.

Gary said two things: they were allowed to play in the yard, and they were not allowed to play in the street. Only we could play in the yard, but we weren't allowed to play in the street keeps both parts. Most other options say they could also play in the street. The option about the mother saying they should play in the yard gives advice, not permission, so it does not report Gary's words.

Could you hand me...? is a polite request for something. We report it with ask someone for something: She asked me for a towel. Not She asked me to use the towel, because she wanted the towel herself.

Yes/no questions are reported with if or whether, using normal word order, and the tense moves back: Is Mia your sister? becomes if Mia was my sister. Not if Mia wasn't my sister, because the original question is not negative.

A yes/no question is reported with if, using normal word order: if it was my book. Is becomes was, and yours becomes my book because the question was asked to me. Not whose book this was, because Jerry asked a yes/no question, not Whose book is this?

Will you...? is reported as asked if I would, and the answer No is reported with refused. I haven't finished becomes I had not yet finished (present perfect becomes past perfect). This is the only option that reports both the question and the reason for saying no.

In reported speech now becomes at that time, and you becomes me. So Helen's words were: It would be appropriate for you to go in and apologise to him now. Not It is a good time to apologise now, because that leaves out go in and changes the meaning.

Shall I...? used to offer help is reported with offer to + infinitive: Diana offered to look after the children. While you are cleaning becomes while I was cleaning. Not offered to clean the house, because that swaps the two jobs.

This is not a real question but an accusation: the speaker is sure John ate the pie. We report it with accuse someone of + -ing: John was accused of eating the pie. Not John was asked if he had eaten the pie, because the exclamation shows the speaker is not really asking.

Had seen (past perfect) in reported speech comes from have seen (present perfect), and he was originally I. So the original words were: I have seen this same movie at least 15 times on television. Not I have seen at least 15 movies, because he saw one movie many times.

Let him do... is advice, so it can be reported with said that we should allow him to. Wants becomes wanted and will becomes would. Not said that to let him..., because said that must be followed by a full clause, not to + verb.

Yes, I will be happy to come answers an invitation, so we report it with accepted the invitation. Your house becomes my house, and next week becomes the week after. Not opposed or objected, because these mean she said no.

A yes/no question is reported with asked if, and would stays would: I was asked if I would be able to give the teenagers advice. Not I was asked to be able to give advice, because the speaker asked a question; they did not give an order.