Vocabulary practice for the Cambridge PET exam
When you report what somebody says, (turning direct into indirect speech), some changes are often made. Look at the following pairs of sentence. Can you see what needs to change when reporting statements?
B: Kim said she was going to the cinema that evening.Now try the quiz below to check your ideas.
Decide if the position of the adverbs in the following sentences is correct or incorrect:
For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the
same as the first.
Use no more than three words.
1. "I've left some food in the pot", said Sue.
Sue said she ........................................ some food in
the pot.
2. "I'll ask Andrew to give me a lift", said Fiona.
Fiona said she ........................................ Andrew to
give her a lift.
3. "I finish work early today", said Anna.
Anna said she finished work early .........................................
4. "I booked the tickets this morning" said Claire.
Claire said she ........................................ the tickets
that morning.
5. "I'll try to be there on time", said Louisa.
Louisa said she ........................................ to be there
on time.
6. "The car has broken down", said Steve.
Steve said the car ........................................ down.
To practise reported speech look through your favourite magazine
and find an interview with a celebrity you admire. Turn some of
the simple statements he or she makes into reported speech. For
example:
'I try to eat healthy food'.
She said she tried to eat healthy food.
'I met my wife at college'.
He said he'd met his wife at college.