Mastering Reported Speech: Verbs and Sentence Transformations

1. Reporting Statements, Questions, and Commands

Transform the following direct speech into reported speech using an appropriate introductory verb. The correct reported speech is provided in parentheses.

• Direct: "The exam papers are still being marked, Jane," the teacher said.
  (The teacher informed Jane that the exam papers were still being marked.)
• Direct: "Don't forget to thank your mother," he said to Linda.
  (He reminded Linda to thank her mother.)
• Direct: "You mustn't come here again," she said to the tramp.
  (She forbade the tramp to go there again.)
• Direct: "I didn't hit him," Sarah said.
  (Sarah denied that she had hit him.)
• Direct: "I'll tidy up when I return home, Mum," Tim said.
  (Tim promised to tidy up when he returned home.)
• Direct: "I'm sorry I forgot to do the homework," she said to the teacher.
  (She apologized to the teacher for forgetting to do the homework.)
• Direct: "You may see her for a few minutes," the nurse said to me.
  (The nurse allowed me to see her for a few minutes.)
• Direct: "Get off the grass immediately!" he said to the kids.
  (He ordered the kids to get off the grass immediately.)
• Direct: "You're always forgetting to shut the fridge door," she said to her husband.
  (She complained to her husband about him always forgetting to shut the fridge door.)
• Direct: "Come on! Try it again," he said to me.
  (He encouraged me to try it again.)

2. Completing Sentences with Specific Reporting Verbs

Complete the sentences by transforming the direct speech or reported speech, using the word provided in bold brackets.

• Original: He reminded me to post the letter. [Told]
  (He told me not to forget to post the letter.)
• Original: "Let's try that new Thai restaurant," she said. [Trying]
  (She suggested trying that new Thai restaurant.)
• Original: "Yes, I gave away your secret," she said. [Giving]
  (She admitted giving away my secret.)
• Original: "I'm sorry I lost the book you lent me," she said. [Apologized]
  (She apologized to me for losing the book I had lent her.)
• Original: "Don't go too near the edge of the cliff," they said to us. [Warned]
  (They warned us not to go too near the edge of the cliff.)
• Original: "No, I didn't steal the company's money," the manager said. [Having]
  (The manager denied having stolen the company's money.)
• Original: "You've caused a lot of pain to my family," she said to him. [Of]
  (She accused him of causing a lot of pain to her family.)
• Original: He told the manager he was dissatisfied with the service. [About]
  (He complained to the manager about the service.)
• Original: "You must apply for the teaching post," he said to her. [Go]
  (He insisted that she go for the teaching post.)
• Original: "I'd like you to come to Paris with me," he said to her. [Go]
  (He invited her to go to Paris with him.)
• Original: "Please, please don't give us any homework," they said to the teacher. [Not]
  (They begged the teacher not to give them any homework.)
• Original: "I'll never forget our anniversary again," he said. [Would]
  (He promised that he would never forget their anniversary again.)
• Original: "No, I won't tell you where I was last night," he said to her. [Her]
  (He refused to tell her where he had been the night before.)