Transform these direct quotes into reported speech. Use the reporting verb given.
1."This film is the most visually stunning work I have ever created." Director Christopher Nolan said ...
→ Director Christopher Nolan said (that) that film was the most visually stunning work he had ever created.
2."I will never write a sequel to this novel." The author promised ...
→ The author promised (that) he/she would never write a sequel to that novel.
3."We have already adapted three of her short stories for the stage." The theatre company announced ...
→ The theatre company announced (that) they had already adapted three of her short stories for the stage.
4."I didn't steal the idea from anyone; it came to me in a dream." The screenwriter insisted ...
→ The screenwriter insisted (that) he/she hadn't stolen the idea from anyone; it had come to him/her in a dream.
❓ Exercise 2 · Questions → Reported Questions
Turn these direct questions into reported questions (yes/no or wh-).
1."Did you enjoy the premiere of the new fantasy trilogy?" The journalist asked the actress ...
→ The journalist asked the actress if/whether she had enjoyed the premiere of the new fantasy trilogy.
2."Why do you think romance novels are so popular in today's market?" The interviewer wanted to know ...
→ The interviewer wanted to know why I/we/the reader thought romance novels were so popular in that day's market / in today's market (no change if still true).
3."Can we film the final scene here tomorrow?" The producer asked the location manager ...
→ The producer asked the location manager if/whether they could film the final scene there the next day / the following day.
4."Who painted this magnificent mural in the gallery?" The tour guide asked us ...
→ The tour guide asked us who had painted that magnificent mural in the gallery.
🔀 Exercise 3 · Mixed Reporting Verbs
Complete the reported sentences with a suitable reporting verb from the box. Change the tense if needed.
🗣️ admit · warn · explain · deny · suggest
1. "I made a mistake in the casting choices," the director said. The director __________ (that) he had made a mistake in the casting choices.
→ The director admitted (that) he had made a mistake in the casting choices.
2. "Don't read the last chapter first – it will ruin the suspense!" the author said. The author __________ readers not to read the last chapter first because it would ruin the suspense.
→ The author warned readers not to read the last chapter first because it would ruin the suspense.
3. "I didn't copy the style of any other artist," the painter said. The painter __________ copying the style of any other artist.
→ The painter denied copying the style of any other artist. / denied having copied ...
4. "This cinematography technique creates a feeling of isolation," the lecturer said. The lecturer __________ that that cinematography technique created a feeling of isolation.
→ The lecturer explained that that cinematography technique created a feeling of isolation.
5. "Let's watch the foreign film with subtitles instead of dubbing," the teacher said. The teacher __________ watching the foreign film with subtitles instead of dubbing.
→ The teacher suggested watching the foreign film with subtitles instead of dubbing. / suggested that we watch ...
✅ Exercise 4 · Multiple Choice
Choose the correct reported version of each direct sentence.
1."I am writing a new screenplay about the Renaissance." She said ...
a) she is writing a new screenplay about the Renaissance.
b) she was writing a new screenplay about the Renaissance.
c) she wrote a new screenplay about the Renaissance.
→b) she was writing a new screenplay about the Renaissance. (backshift: present continuous → past continuous)
2."Have you ever performed in a Shakespearean play?" The drama coach asked me ...
a) if I have ever performed in a Shakespearean play.
b) if had I ever performed in a Shakespearean play.
c) if I had ever performed in a Shakespearean play.
→c) if I had ever performed in a Shakespearean play. (correct word order and backshift)
3."I will not reveal the ending of the book." The novelist promised ...
a) not to reveal the ending of the book.
b) to not reveal the ending of the book.
c) that he won't reveal the ending.
→a) not to reveal the ending of the book. (promise + infinitive; 'not' goes before 'to')
4."Why did the critics dislike the film so much?" My friend wondered ...
a) why did the critics dislike the film so much.
b) why the critics had disliked the film so much.
c) why the critics disliked the film so much.
→b) why the critics had disliked the film so much. (past simple → past perfect in reported questions)
📝 Exercise 5 · Rewrite the Paragraph
Read this interview excerpt. Then rewrite the whole conversation in reported speech, using a variety of reporting verbs.
Interviewer: "Where did you find the inspiration for your latest graphic novel?" Artist: "I found it in old black-and-white photographs of 1920s Paris." Interviewer: "Will you continue with this style in your future work?" Artist: "I'm not sure yet. I might experiment with digital techniques." Interviewer: "Can you give our readers a small hint about your next project?" Artist: "It will be a science-fiction story, but I don't want to say more!"
Write your version here (or say it aloud), then check the suggested answer below.
→ Suggested answer:
The interviewer asked the artist where he/she had found the inspiration for his/her latest graphic novel. The artist explained that he/she had found it in old black-and-white photographs of 1920s Paris. Then the interviewer asked if he/she would continue with that style in his/her future work. The artist admitted that he/she wasn't sure yet and added that he/she might experiment with digital techniques. The interviewer then asked if he/she could give their readers a small hint about his/her next project. The artist replied that it would be a science-fiction story but refused to say more.