Direct Indirect Speech English Worksheet 01 — STP Books - Free Printable

Let's solve each of these sentences by converting direct speech into indirect (reported) speech. The key rules to remember are:

1. Change the pronouns to match the subject of the reporting clause.
2. Adjust verb tenses (usually back one step in time).
3. Remove quotation marks and use a reporting verb (e.g., said, stated, observed).
4. Adjust time expressions if necessary.

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1. "I believe in ghosts," stated Jonathan.

- Direct: I believe → Indirect: He believed
- Pronoun change: "I" → "he"
- Verb tense: present → past

✔ Jonathan stated that he believed in ghosts.

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2. "It is becoming warmer," Theo observed.

- "It is becoming" → "it was becoming"
- Present continuous → Past continuous

✔ Theo observed that it was becoming warmer.

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3. Jane said, "I have worked in New York for three months."

- "I have worked" → "she had worked"
- Present perfect → Past perfect
- Pronoun: "I" → "she"

✔ Jane said that she had worked in New York for three months.

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4. Rosa complained, "I spent ages cleaning the oven."

- "I spent" → "she had spent"
- Simple past → Past perfect (because the action happened before the time of speaking)
- But note: If the original statement refers to a completed action at a specific past time, we often keep simple past unless context suggests otherwise.

However, since this is reported speech and the complaint is about something already done, we can keep simple past unless the timeline requires past perfect.

But in standard conversion:
- Simple past → Simple past (no change needed here)

✔ Rosa complained that she had spent ages cleaning the oven.

> ✔ *Note:* We use had spent because the act of spending time occurred before the moment of speaking.

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5. "We have been waiting for two hours," the customers told the manager.

- "We have been waiting" → "they had been waiting"
- Present perfect continuous → Past perfect continuous
- Pronoun: "we" → "they"

✔ The customers told the manager that they had been waiting for two hours.

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6. Miss Chang noted, "Tom has been late twice."

- "has been" → "had been"
- Present perfect → Past perfect
- Tom remains "Tom" (third person)

✔ Miss Chang noted that Tom had been late twice.

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7. Greta said, "They have cancelled the performance."

- "have cancelled" → "had cancelled"
- Present perfect → Past perfect
- "They" → "they" (no change)

✔ Greta said that they had cancelled the performance.

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8. "My sandwich tastes strange," complained Joseph.

- "tastes" → "tasted"
- Present simple → Past simple
- "My" → "his" (Joseph’s sandwich)

✔ Joseph complained that his sandwich tasted strange.

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9. "My grandfather fought in the war," the soldier informed me.

- "fought" → "had fought"
- Simple past → Past perfect (since the event occurred before the time of speaking)
- "My" → "his" (soldier’s grandfather)

✔ The soldier informed me that his grandfather had fought in the war.

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10. "Your conduct was unforgivable," the judge solemnly told the man.

- "was" → "had been"
- Simple past → Past perfect (to reflect past time from the perspective of reporting)
- "Your" → "the man’s" or "his"
- But in indirect speech, we usually keep "your" if referring to the listener.

Actually, "your" becomes "his" because the judge is talking about the man's conduct.

So:
- "Your conduct was unforgivable" → "His conduct had been unforgivable"

✔ The judge solemnly told the man that his conduct had been unforgivable.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. Jonathan stated that he believed in ghosts.
2. Theo observed that it was becoming warmer.
3. Jane said that she had worked in New York for three months.
4. Rosa complained that she had spent ages cleaning the oven.
5. The customers told the manager that they had been waiting for two hours.
6. Miss Chang noted that Tom had been late twice.
7. Greta said that they had cancelled the performance.
8. Joseph complained that his sandwich tasted strange.
9. The soldier informed me that his grandfather had fought in the war.
10. The judge solemnly told the man that his conduct had been unforgivable.

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

- Tense shifts: Present → Past; Present Perfect → Past Perfect; Past → Past Perfect (if earlier than reporting time).
- Pronouns: Adjusted to reflect speaker or listener.
- Reporting verbs: Used appropriately (stated, observed, complained, etc.).
- Time/Reference: Words like “my” → “his”, “your” → “his” depending on context.

This worksheet helps practice correct grammar in reported speech, which is essential for formal writing and understanding narrative structure.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation of any rule!