Reported Speech Mixed Advanced Exercises
B2-C1 Level
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Practise changing a range of advanced statements and questions into reported speech.
Review the grammar firstAll 20 questions
Change the direct speech into reported speech. These exercises include complex structures, passive voice, and special reporting verbs.
"The package was delivered yesterday."
He confirmed
"Let's meet at 8 o'clock tonight."
She suggested
"Your application is being processed."
They informed me
"If I had known earlier, I would have helped."
She said
"You should have been told about this."
He complained
"It is said that he is very wealthy."
She mentioned
"Why don't we postpone the meeting until tomorrow?"
He suggested
"Had I known, I wouldn't have come here today."
She said
"The decision will have been made by the time you arrive."
He assured me
"I wish I hadn't said that yesterday."
He said
"It's time you told me the truth."
She said
"Suppose we had met earlier, would things have been different?"
She wondered
"Not only did he lie, but he also stole money."
She claimed
"Were you to accept the offer, you would start next month."
The manager said
"Rarely have I seen such dedication."
The professor remarked
"The more you practise, the better you'll become."
She advised me
"It's being investigated whether funds were misused."
The auditor reported
"Should you need any assistance, don't hesitate to contact me."
He told me
"What would have happened if we hadn't met here that day?"
She often wondered
"Never before had the company faced such challenges, nor would it again."
The CEO stated
Grammar review
Conditional structures require careful handling at this level: "If I were you, I would reconsider" can become "She advised me to reconsider," replacing the entire conditional with a simpler reporting verb pattern. Inverted structures return to normal word order: "Never have I seen such beauty" becomes "She said she had never seen such beauty." Special reporting verbs like deny + -ing ("He denied taking it") and admit + -ing ("She admitted making a mistake") add further challenge. This exercise is ideal preparation for Cambridge B2 First key word transformations and C1 Advanced Use of English tasks.
Quick Rule
Passive backshift | Conditional → advice pattern | Inversion → normal order | deny / admit + -ing
- 1."The report was sent." → He said the report had been sent. (passive)
- 2."If I were you, I'd apply." → She advised me to apply. (conditional)
- 3."Never have I seen this." → They said they had never seen that. (inversion)
- 4."I didn't take it." → She denied taking it. (special verb)
- 5."Yes, I broke the vase." → He admitted breaking the vase. (special verb)
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