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Direct and Indirect Speech: Rules for the Change of Tenses

We have seen that when the reporting verb is in the past tense, all present tenses inside the
quotation marks will change into their corresponding past tenses in indirect speech. Study the
example sentences given below.

Direct: She said, ‘I don’t want to come with you.’

Indirect: She said that she didn’t want to come with me.
Direct: He said, ‘I am writing a letter.’
Indirect: He said that he was writing a letter.
Direct: She said, ‘I have finished the work.’
Indirect: She said that she had finished the work.
Direct: He said, ‘I want some razors.’
Indirect: He said that he wanted some razors.
Direct: John said, ‘I have been living in this city for ten years.’
Indirect: John said that he had been living in that city for ten years.
Direct: He said, ‘I have been waiting here for several hours.’
Indirect: He said that he had been waiting there for several hours.

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, past tenses inside the quotation marks will change
into their corresponding past tenses.

The simple past will change into the past perfect.

The past continuous will change into the past perfect continuous.
The past perfect and past perfect continuous tenses will remain unchanged.

Direct: He said, ‘Burglars broke into my house last night.’

Indirect: He said that burglars had broken into his house the previous night.
Direct: She said to me, ‘I was waiting for my sister.’
Indirect: She told me that she had been waiting for her sister.
Direct: She said, ‘I had never met such people before.’
Indirect: She said that she had never met such people before.
Direct: John said, ‘I had been gardening for two hours.’
Indirect: John said that he had been gardening for two hours.

Note that sometimes we do not change a simple past tense into past perfect tense in the indirect
speech.

Direct: He said, ‘I lived many years in the US.’

Indirect: He said that he lived many years in the US. OR He said that he had lived many years in
the US.
Note that the past perfect tense is used to lay stress on the completion of one past action before
another past action.

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, shall will change into should in indirect speech.
Similarly, will will change into would, can into could and may into might.

Direct: She said, ‘I will work hard.’

Indirect: She said that she would work hard.
Direct: He said, ‘They will be arriving here by the next train.’
Indirect: He said that they would be arriving there by the next train.
Direct: Alice said, ‘I will have finished the work by now.’
Indirect: Alice said that she would have finished the work by then.

www.eGrammar.org
Reported speech rules

Statements

If we want to say what other people said, thought or felt, we can use the direct and indirect speech
(reported speech).

The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped.

The reported speech: He said he liked it. He thought that Irene was late. She hoped she would pass the
exam.

The reported speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind,
reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense.

He said (that) he didn't want it.

She explained that she had been at the seaside.

If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the following:

a) verb tenses and verb forms,

b) pronouns,
c) the adverbs of time and place.

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way:

1. Present - past

"I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me.

"We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained that they were doing exercises.

2. Present perfect - past perfect

"I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window.

"I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been waiting since
the morning.

3. Past - past perfect

"She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome.

"He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a new car.

4. Will - conditional

Will changes into the conditional.

"I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.

Notes

I shall, we shall usually become would.

"I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it.

I should, we should usually changes into would.

"We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad.

May becomes might.

"I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same the following cases.

1. If the reporting verb is in the present tense.

Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday.

Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work.

2. When we report something that is still true.

Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent.

Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.

3. When a sentence is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true.

Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.

4. With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought to, used to.

George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it.

Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come.

Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail.

Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed.

Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car.
5. After wish, would rather, had better, it is time.

Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece.

Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly.

Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go.

Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up.

6. In if-clauses.

Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad
would be happy.

7. In time-clauses.

Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid
he met his best friend.

8. We do not change the past tense in spoken English if it is clear from the situation when the action
happened.

"She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday.

We must change it, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we are
talking about the present or past feelings.

"I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.

9. We do not usually change the modal verbs must and needn't. But must can become had to or would
have to and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't have to if we want to express an obligation.

Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations.

"I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up.

"I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day.

"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June.

If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it.

"We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while.

"You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip.

B) Pronouns

We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence.

"We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students.

"They called us," he said. - He said they had called them.

"I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans.

"I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car.

Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is confusing.

"He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them.

If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had killed them), the new sentence can have a
different meaning - Kevin himself killed them.

This and these are usually substituted.

"They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year.

"I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book.

"We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers.

C) Time and place

Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday." It
means that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's sentence on Sunday, we have to do the
following:

Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before.

If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not correct, because it means that he came on
Saturday.

The time expressions change as follows.

today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time,
yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the
following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the
previous year

Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave the next day.

Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week.

Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before.

Note

If something is said and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same.

"I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday tomorrow.

"We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had painted the
hall last weekend.

On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time expressions are different in the reported
speech.

Last week Jim said:

"I'm playing next week."

If we say his sentence a week later, we will say:

Jim said he was playing this week.

Here usually becomes there. But sometimes we make different adjustments.

At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock.

In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street.

Questions

Questions become statements. The reporting verb say changes into ask, want to know, wonder ... .

"Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I had been.

"What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what time it had started.

"Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he wouldn't do it.

In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If is more common and whether is more formal.

"Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether I would come.

"Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether he married Sue.

Commands, requests and advice

The commands, requests and advice mostly have the same form in English: verb + object + infinitive
(advise, ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge, warn etc.).

Unlike the direct speech the person addressed must be mentioned in the indirect speech.

"Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up.

"Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to revise for the test.

"Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.

Negative commands, requests and advice are made by verb + object + not + infinitive.

"Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to hesitate.

"Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor warned my father not to smoke.

Tell can introduce statements, commands, requests or advice. The form is different, however.
Statements with tell

"I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving.

Commands, requests or advice with tell

"Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the room.

"Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher told the students not to give up.

Similarly ask is used in reported questions, commands, requests or advice in different forms.

Questions with ask

"Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would make coffee.

Commands, requests or advice with ask

"Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make coffee.

"Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not to park in his place.

TEST 1
"It is too late." - I said .

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"I have replied." - He claimed that .

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"I met you yesterday." - Sam told me .

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"I cannot come." - Mary explained that .

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"I could fall down." - He was afraid .

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"I will pay tomorrow." - He said .

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"The Himalayas are the highest." - He knew that .

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"I may lend you some money." - Bill promised .

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"I have been watching a film." - He replied that .

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"Claire must rest." - The doctor said .

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"I have not done it today." - I explained that .

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"If I was younger, I would accept it." - He thought that .

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"I was with him last week." - Jill admitted that .

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"You needn't change your shoes in our house." - She reminded me that .

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"I am calling my mum." - She said .

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"I will finish this picture tomorrow." - Diana supposed that .

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"I would buy it." - She said .

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"Greg used to be my friend." - He told us .

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TEST 1 Key
"It is too late." - I said .

Right: it was too late

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"I have replied." - He claimed that .

Right: he had replied

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"I met you yesterday." - Sam told me .

Right: he had met me the previous day / he had met me the day before

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"I cannot come." - Mary explained that .

Right: she could not come

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"I could fall down." - He was afraid .

Right: he could fall down

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"I will pay tomorrow." - He said .

Right: he would pay the next day / he would pay the following day

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"The Himalayas are the highest." - He knew that .

Right: the Himalayas are the highest

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I may lend you some money." - Bill promised .

Right: he might lend me some money

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"I have been watching a film." - He replied that .

Right: he had been watching a film

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"Claire must rest." - The doctor said .

Right: Claire must rest / Claire had to rest

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"I have not done it today." - I explained that .

Right: I had not done it that day

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"If I was younger, I would accept it." - He thought that .

Right: if he was younger, he would accept it

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"I was with him last week." - Jill admitted that .

Right: she had been with him the previous week / the week before

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"You needn't change your shoes in our house." - She reminded me that .
Right: I need not change my shoes in their house / I did not have to change my shoes in their
house

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"I am calling my mum." - She said .

Right: she was calling her mum

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"I will finish this picture tomorrow." - Diana supposed that .

Right: she would finish that picture the following day / she would finish that picture the next day

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"I would buy it." - She said .

Right: she would buy it

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"Greg used to be my friend." - He told us .

Right: Greg used to be his friend

TEST 2
"Put it here." - He told me .
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"What do you do?" - She wondered .

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"Do you want it?" - Joe asked me .

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"Don't forget!"- He reminded me .

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"Where did you live?" - He wanted to know .

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"Park your car behind the house, please." - He asked me .

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"Do not hesitate." - He told me .

TEST 2 Key

"Put it here." - He told me .

Right: to put it there

"What do you do?" - She wondered .

Right: what I did

"Do you want it?" - Joe asked me .

Right: if I wanted it / whether I wanted it

"Don't forget!"- He reminded me .

Right: not to forget

"Where did you live?" - He wanted to know .

Right: where I lived

"Park your car behind the house, please." - He asked me .

Right: to park my car behind the house

"Do not hesitate." - He told me .

Right: not to hesitate

Test 3

He admitted that he had never met us. -

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They told us they would start the following day. -

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We called them that we were walking in the park. -

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She said she worked for Ford. -

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I replied that I had been trying to mend it since the morning. -

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He said that at one o'clock he had been doing nothing. -

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They explained that they had closed down the previous year. -

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Neil said he wished he could be independent. -

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She told us we had better accept it. -

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He claimed that while he was sleeping someone screamed in the garden. -

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Moira admitted that she would rather stay. -

TEST 3 Key

He admitted that he had never met us. -

Right: I have never met you.

They told us they would start the following day. -

Right: We will start tomorrow.

We called them that we were walking in the park. -

Right: We are walking in the park.

She said she worked for Ford. -

Right: I work for Ford.

I replied that I had been trying to mend it since the morning. -

Right: I have been trying to mend it since the morning.

He said that at one o'clock he had been doing nothing. -

Right: At one o'clock I was doing nothing.

They explained that they had closed down the previous year. -
Right: We closed down last year.
Neil said he wished he could be independent. -
Right: I wish I could be independent.

She told us we had better accept it. -

Right: You had better accept it.

He claimed that while he was sleeping someone screamed in the garden. -

Right: While I was sleeping someone screamed in the garden.

Moira admitted that she would rather stay. -

Right: I would rather stay.

TEST 4

Direct and indirect (reported)

Read the dialogue and report it.

Example: Mike: "What are you doing here, Liz? I haven't seen you since June."
Liz: "I've just come back from my holiday in Ireland."
Mike: "Did you enjoy it?"
Liz: "I love Ireland. And the Irish people were so friendly."
Mike: "Did you go to the Wicklow Mountains?"
Liz: "It was my first trip. I can show you some pictures. Are you doing anything tomorrow?"
Mike: "I must arrange a couple of things. But I am free tonight."
Liz: "You might come to my place. What time shall we meet?"
Mike: "I'll be there at eight. Is it all right?"

clearshowcheck

Mike asked Liz . And he said .

Liz explained that .

Mike wondered .
Liz told him that and that .

Mike wanted to know .

Liz said that and that she .

And then she asked him if .

Mike explained that .

But he added that .

Liz suggested that and asked him .

Mike said .

And then he asked .

KEY
Mike asked Liz . And he said .
Right: what she was doing there / he had not seen her since June

Liz explained that .

Right: she had just come back from her holiday in Ireland

Mike wondered .
Right: if she had enjoyed it / whether she had enjoyed it

Liz told him that and that .

Right: she loved Ireland / the Irish people had been so friendly

Mike wanted to know .

Right: if she had gone to the Wicklow Mountains / whether she had gone to the Wicklow
Mountains
Liz said that and that she .
Right: it had been her first trip / could show him some pictures

And then she asked him if .

Right: he was doing something the next day / he was doing something the following day

Mike explained that .

Right: he must arrange a couple of things / he had to arrange a couple of things

But he added that .

Right: he was free at night

Liz suggested that and asked him .

Right: he might come to her place / what time they would meet

Mike said .
Right: he would be there at eight

And then he asked .

Right: if it was all right / whether it was all right

TEST 5
"Where are you?" - He asked me .

"What will you choose?" - He asked me .

"Please, get in touch with them today." - He asked me .

"Don't leave your luggage unattended." - He asked me .

"Are you flying soon?" - He asked me .

"May I ask you a question?" - He asked me .

"Jump in!" - He asked me .

"Have you set your alarm clock?" - He asked me .

"Is Prague the capital?" - He asked me .

"You mustn't touch the screen!" - He asked me .

"Would you rather dance?" - He asked me .

"How long have you been standing here?" - He asked me .

"Stop laughing!" - He asked me .

KEY

"Where are you?" - He asked me .

Right: where I was

"What will you choose?" - He asked me .

Right: what I would choose

"Please, get in touch with them today." - He asked me .

Right: to get in touch with them that day

"Don't leave your luggage unattended." - He asked me .

Right: not to leave my luggage unattended

"Are you flying soon?" - He asked me .

Right: if I was flying soon / whether I was flying soon

"May I ask you a question?" - He asked me .

Right: if he might ask me a question / whether he might ask me a question

"Jump in!" - He asked me .

Right: to jump in
"Have you set your alarm clock?" - He asked me .
Right: if I had set my alarm clock / whether I had set my alarm clock

"Is Prague the capital?" - He asked me .

Right: if Prague is the capital / whether Prague is the capital

"You mustn't touch the screen!" - He asked me .

Right: not to touch the screen

"Would you rather dance?" - He asked me .

Right: if I would rather dance / whether I would rather dance

"How long have you been standing here?" - He asked me .

Right: how long I had been standing there

"Stop laughing!" - He asked me .

Right: to stop laughing

TEST 6

Correct the mistakes In the reported speech

"I am not going to tolerate this any more," said Sarah.
Sarah said she was not going to tolerate this any more. - Sarah said .

"You have always been my friend," said Joe.

Joe said I was always his friend. - Joe said .

"We never eat meat," claimed Bill.

Bill claimed that they had never eaten meat. - Bill claimed that .

"I will talk to Sam soon," she told me on Sunday.

She told me on Sunday she will talk to Sam soon. - She told me on Sunday .

"Mary used to exercise every day," he said.

He said Mary had used to exercise every day. - He said .
"I wish I was twenty years younger," said Linda.
Linda said she wished she had been twenty years younger. - Linda said .

"Answer the phone!" he told me.

He told me I answered the phone. - He told me .

"Where is Alex?" she asked me.

She asked me where was Alex. - She asked me .

KEY
"I am not going to tolerate this any more," said Sarah.
Sarah said she was not going to tolerate this any more. - Sarah said .
Right: she was not going to tolerate that any more

"You have always been my friend," said Joe.

Joe said I was always his friend. - Joe said .
Right: I had always been his friend

"We never eat meat," claimed Bill.

Bill claimed that they had never eaten meat. - Bill claimed that .
Right: they never ate meat

"I will talk to Sam soon," she told me on Sunday.

She told me on Sunday she will talk to Sam soon. - She told me on Sunday .
Right: she would talk to Sam soon

"Mary used to exercise every day," he said.

He said Mary had used to exercise every day. - He said .
Right: Mary used to exercise every day

"I wish I was twenty years younger," said Linda.

Linda said she wished she had been twenty years younger. - Linda said .
Right: she wished she was twenty years younger

"Answer the phone!" he told me.

He told me I answered the phone. - He told me .
Right: to answer the phone
"Where is Alex?" she asked me.
She asked me where was Alex. - She asked me .
Right: where Alex was

TEST 7
Rewrite the reported commands and questions in the direct speech.

Example: He asked me to stand up. - Stand up!

He asked me if I was sleepy. - Are you sleepy?

clearshowcheck

He asked me what I wanted from him. ?

Sam wondered if they had arrived on time. ?

I advised them not to go out at night. !

He wanted to know why I was crying. ?

He asked me whether I would marry him the following year. ?

He asked me not to interrupt him. !

He wanted to know if he should lock the door. ?

She wondered whether she might use my laptop. ?

Nicol asked me to join her. !

Lily told me not to eat so much. !

He wondered if I had received his message. ?

Ezra asked us what we had been doing so long. ?

KEY
He asked me what I wanted from him. ?
Right: What do you want from me

Sam wondered if they had arrived on time. ?

Right: Did they arrive on time

I advised them not to go out at night. !

Right: Do not go out at night

He wanted to know why I was crying. ?

Right: Why are you crying

He asked me whether I would marry him the following year. ?

Right: Will you marry me next year

He asked me not to interrupt him. !

Right: Do not interrupt me

He wanted to know if he should lock the door. ?

Right: Shall I lock the door / Should I lock the door

She wondered whether she might use my laptop. ?

Right: May I use your laptop

Nicol asked me to join her. !

Right: Join me / Will you join me

Lily told me not to eat so much. !

Right: Do not eat so much

He wondered if I had received his message. ?

Right: Have you received my message

Ezra asked us what we had been doing so long. ?

Right: What have you been doing so long

Active and passive voice exercises with answers

Active voice | passive

Form
Present simple: The car is repaired.

Present continuous: The car is being repaired.

Past simple: The car was repaired.

Past continuous: The car was being repaired.

Present perfect: The car has just been repaired.

Past perfect: The car had been repaired.

Future simple: The car will be repaired.

Present conditional : The car would be repaired.

Perfect conditional: The car would have been repaired.

The passive voice in English is formed with the verb to be and the past participle, which
is different for regular verbs (translated, mended) and irregular verbs (taken, thrown).

Statement: The letter is written. This shop has been opened.

Question: Is the letter written? Has the shop been opened?

Negative: The letter is not written. The shop has not been opened.

The continuous forms are as follows. (Other continuous tenses are normally used in the
active voice, but not in the passive.)

Present: A new house is being built in our street.

Past: A new house was being built in our street.

In all the examples above the agent is not mentioned. We do not know it.

Similarly: Flowers were planted in the garden. (We do not know who did it).

If we want to say who planted the flowers we mention the agent at the end of the
sentence and use the preposition by.

The flowers were planted by my mother.

But: The window was smashed with a stone. (The stone is not the agent. We do not
know who smashed the window. We only know how he or she did it).

Direct and indirect objects

If there are both direct and indirect objects in the active voice, the indirect object
becomes the subject in the passive voice.

Active: My friend sent me a letter.

Passive: I was sent a letter by my friend. (Not: A letter was sent to me by my friend. This
sentence does not sound natural in English.)

Similarly: They offer Trevor a place. - Trevor is offered a place.

The infinitive without to

In the active voice some verbs are followed by the infinitive without to. In the passive we
use most such verbs with the infinitive with to.

Active: We saw them come. She made him do it.

Passive: They were seen to come. He was made to do it.

But: They let us go. - We were let go.

Use

The passive is used:

1. If the action is more important then the agent.

A demonstration has been held. This theatre was built in 1868.

The important thing is what happened, not who did it.

2. If the agent is not known.

He was offered a job. (someone offered him the job)

They are supposed to be good students. (some teachers suppose that)

The difference in meaning between the simple and continuous

A new house is built in our street. (The house is finished.)

A new house is being built in our street. (They are building it these days, it is not
finished.)

I was being introduced to Mrs. Jones when her husband arrived. (Her husband arrived
in the middle of the introduction.)
When her husband arrived I was introduced to Mrs. Jones. (Her husband arrived first
and then she introduced me.)

Notes

This form is typical of an impersonal and formal style, that is why you can often find it in
public notices, announcements, instructions or scientific articles.

English is spoken in this shop. Visitors are not allowed to smoke. The seal must be
removed.

In a less formal style the active voice is more usual.

English is spoken in this shop. - We speak English in this shop.

He was seen in Dover. - They saw him in Dover.

The seal must be removed. - You must remove the seal.

In the English language this form is more frequent than in many other languages.
Moreover, you can find some stuctures in English which are not possible in some
languages.

I am told that you are going to have a baby. It is thought that the crises will end soon.

Change the following sentences into the active voice.

1. Our neighbor's car had been vandalized by thugs.

2. Kamala was told the bad news as soon as she arrived.

 3. A Shakespearean play will be staged by Plus One Productions in a month's time.

4. They were shown to the table by the restaurant manager himself.

5. She is thought of as the most popular actress nowadays.

6. The boy was asked to carry twenty kilograms of rice.

7. The painting would have been stolen if he hadn't helped.

8. Ravind was ordered out of the classroom for disrupting the class.

9. He was caught for littering in the streets and fined.

10. Many types of fish were being sold at the market every day.

11. The book is to be given to my sister after this.

12. Please see that the room is swept and mopped before I return.

Answers

1. Thugs vandalized our neighbor's car.

2. Someone told Kamala the bad news as soon as she arrived.
3. Plus One Productions will stage a Shakespearean play in a month's time.
4. The restaurant manager showed them to the table himself.
5. People think she is the most popular actress nowadays.
6. Someone asked the boy to carry twenty kilograms of rice.
7. Someone would have stolen the painting if he hadn't helped.
8. The teacher ordered Ravind out of the classroom for disrupting the class.
9. The police caught him littering in the streets and fined him.
10. They sell many types of fish at the market every day.
11. You are to give the book to my sister after this.
12. Please see that somebody sweeps and mops the room before I return.

. Active : The ants are biting me.

 Passive : ____________

(A) I am being bitten by the ants.

(B) I am being bit by the ants.
(C) I am bitten by the ants.
(D) I was being bitten by the ants.

2. Active : They are bringing in the luggage.

Passive : ____________

(A) The luggage are bringing in.

(B) The luggage is brought in.
(C) The luggage are brought in.
(D) The luggage is being brought in.

3. Active : She rears ducks on the farm.

Passive : ____________

(A) On the farm are reared ducks.

(B) Ducks will be reared on the farm.
(C) Ducks is reared on the farm.
(D) Ducks are reared on the farm.

4. Active : He broke all the equipment.

Passive : ____________

(A) All the equipment broke.

(B) All the equipment was broken.
(C) All the equipment were broken.
(D) All the equipment was broke.

5. Active : Farah was tearing the old newspapers.

Passive : ____________

(A) The old newspapers was tearing.

(B) The old newspapers were torn.
(C) The old newspapers were being torn.
(D) The old newspapers was being torn.

6. Active : I will meet my friend at the airport.

 Passive : ____________

(A) My friend will be meet at the airport.

(B) My friend will be met at the airport.
(C) My friend will being met at the airport.
(D) My friend will have been met at the airport.

7. Active : The laborers have cut down the tree.

Passive : ____________

(A) The tree has been cut down.

(B) The tree has cut down.
(C) The tree have been cut down.
(D) The tree has been cutting down.

8. Active : Someone had sung the song before.

Passive : ____________

(A) The song had sung before.

(B) The song had been sang before.
(C) The song had been sung before.
(D) The song had being sung before.

9. Active : I will have sold the video game to Harris.

Passive : ____________

(A) Harris will have sold the video game.

(B) I will have sold to Harris the video game.
(C) The video game will have sold to Harris.
(D) The video game will have been sold to Harris.

10. Active : We should choose a monitor quickly.

Passive : ____________

(A) A monitor should be chose quickly

(B) A monitor should be quickly chosen.
(C) A monitor should choose quickly.
(D) A monitor should quickly chosen.

Answers
 1A 2D 3D 4B 5C 6B 7A 8C 9D 10B

Change the Voices of the Verbs in

the following Sentences :

1. Who did the job ?

2. Can you break the door ?

3. Will she sing a song ?

4. Is he speaking English ?

5. Are you eating a banana ?

6. Why are you washing the car ?

7. When will he give the money ?

8. Where will he meet you ?

9. How do you make a cake ?

10. Whom did you tell the story ?

11. He was truck by lightning.

Answers

1. By whom was the job done ?

2. Can the door be broken by you ?
3. Will a song be sung by her ?
4. Is English being spoken by him ?
5. Is a banana being eaten by you ?
6. Why is the car being washed by you ?
7. When will the money be given by him ?
8. Where will you be met by him ?
 9. How is a cake made by you ?
10. To whom was the story told by you ?
11. Lightning struck him.

Change the following into the

Passive Voice.

1. He is catching fish.
2. She was cooking vegetables.
3. They are drinking water.
4. We have seen the accident.
5. They buy fish every day.
6. She gave us the news.
7. He wrote me a letter.
8. She made us some tea.
9. Do you know the answer ?
10. Can you speak Japanese ?
11. I see her every day ?
12. Ask him to leave.
13. Do this at once.
14. Bring it to me this instant.
15. I have nothing say.

Answers

1. Fish is being caught by him.

2. Vegetables are being cooked by her.
3. Water is being drunk by them.
4. The accident has been seen by us.
5. Fish is bought by them every day.
6. The news was given us by her.
7. A letter was written me by him.
8. Some tea was made us by her.
9. Is the answer known by you ?
10. Can Japanese be spoken by you ?
11. She is seen by me every day.
12. Let him be asked to leave.
13. Let his be done at once.
14. Let it be bought to me this instant.
15. Nothing is had by me to say. OR Nothing
to say is had by me.

1. A party ______ to celebrate their victory.

(A) had held

(B) holds
(C) was held
(D) was to hold

2. What questions _____ you _____ at the interview ?

(A) were ... asking

(B) were ... asked
(C) are ... being asked
(D) have ... ask

3. A book on archaeology _____ by the famous professor.

(A) wrote
(B) has written
(C) was written
(D) writes

4. You ______ to the manager's office.

(A) have taken

(B) will take
(C) will be taking
(D) will be taken

5. I _____ an invitation to a party.

(A) am giving
(B) have been given
(C) have given
(D) will give

6. _____ the room _____ yet ?

 (A) Is ... cleaning
(B) Has ... cleaned
(C) Has ... been cleaned
(D) Was ... cleans

7. These curtains and cushion covers ______ by my mother.

(A) have sewn

(B) is sewing
(C) had been sewn
(D) can sew

8. All the figures and calculations ______ thoroughly.

(A) should check

(B) should be checking
(C) should have checked
(D) should be checked

9. A joke ______ seriously.

(A) is not taken

(B) is not to take
(C) is not to be taken
(D) is not taking

10. These books ______ to us by the teacher.

(A) recommended
(B) were recommended
(C) have recommended
(D) was being recommended

Answers : 1C 2B 3C 4D 5B 6C 7C 8D 9C 10B
Active - Passive Voice
Subject in Active In Passive

I, We by me, by us,
You by You.
He, She, It by him, by her, by it.
They by them.
@ by @

VERBS IN ACTIVE IN PASSIVE

1. take, takes 1. is, am, are + taken

2. took 2. was, were + taken.
3. will, shall + take 3. will, shall + be + taken.
4. is, am. are + taking 4. is, am, are + being + taken.
5.was, were + taking 5. was,were + being + taken.
6. will, shall + be + taking 6. will, shall + be + begin + taken.
7.has, have + taken 7. has, have + been + taken.
8. had + taken 8. had + been + taken.
9. will, shall + have + taken 9.will, shall + have + been + taken.
10. may, might, can, could 10. may, might, can, could
11. should, would + take 11. should, would, + be + taken

Examples: Active Passive

1. I eat a mango. 1. A mango is eaten by me.

2. She had visited Bombay. 2. Bombay had been visited by

her.

3. Boys were learning a poem. 3. A poem was being learnt by

boys.

Some more example for Active - Passive

1. He brings our letters. (Active)

1. Our letters are brought by him. (Passive)
2. She is writing a letter. (Active)
2. A letter is being written by her. (Passive)
3. He has stolen my pen. (Active)
3. My pen has been stolen by him. (Passive)
4. I saw a dog. (Active)
4. A dog was seen by me. (Passive)
5. Ramesh was calling her. (Active)
5. She was being called by Ramesh. (Passive)
6. I had seen it. (Active)
6.It had been seen by me. (Passive)
7. They will grow Vegetables. (Active)
 7. Vegetables will be grown by them. (Passive)
8. They will be printing a book. (Active)
8. A book will be being printed by them.
9. He will have finished his work. (Active)
9. His work will have been finished by him. (Passive)

Exercise - 1

Chang the voice: -

1. They bring news. 2. Children like mangoes. 3. They break it into pieces. 4. Radha
sings film - songs. 5. She tells stories. 6. He teachers English. 7. She asks good
questions. 8. He makes clay - images. 9. He helps his friends. 10. Meena throws
stones in the water.

Exercise - 2

Chang the voice: -

1. They are inviting us. 2. They are making a show. 3. Boys are calling the man. 4. He
is carrying a heavy burden. 5. He is driving a bus. 6. Students are answering
questions. 7. They are driving him out. 8. She is beating the child. 9. Boys are calling
me. 10. I am bringing in bicycles.

Exercise - 3.

Chang the voice: -

1. He has seen Bombay. 2. We have bought it. 3. They have given me their
photographs. 4. I have drawn a picture. 5. He has taken my pen. 6. They have sent me
a letter. 7. He has brought all the things. 8. Girls have eaten the mangoes. 9. She has
passed the S.S.C Examination. 10. I have given them a test.

Exercise - 4

Chang the voice: -

1. Akbar loved Birbal. 2. They brought her back. 3. Dilip sang songs. 4. The driver
drove off the car. 5. Narsing lost his father. 6. I broke my leg. 7. She teased me. 8. She
killed all of them. 9. I lent him 1oo Rupees. 10. We gave you the book.

Exercise: - 5
Chang the voice: -

1. They were writing their answers. 2. He was eating an apple. 3. She was taking her
book .4. The wind was wasting our time. 5. Raman was making a box. 6. He was
looking at her. 7. He was drawing a picture. 8. He was showing his shirt. 9. They were
cutting a tree. 10. He was looking for his lost pen.

Exercise - 6

Chang the voice: -

1. I had eaten a mango. 2. They had brought their bags. 3. She had called me. 4. They
had broken the chair. 5. We had given you that book. 6. She has told a good story. 7.
He had made this. 8. They had finished their work. 9. The bird had eaten worms. 10.
He had won many prizes.

Exercise -7

Chang the voice: -

1. I shall eat a mango. 2. We shall bring our instruments. 3. Diwakar Will throw a
bomb. 4. We shall read that lesson. 5. India will make all weapons. 6. He will call his
friends. 7. The cat will drink milk. 8. They will bring the machine. 9. He will give me
ten Rupees. 10. She will leave her study.

Exercise - 8

Chang the voice: -

1. She will be sewing clothes. 2. Your dog will be eating bread. 3. The principle will
be giving a lecture. 4. We shall be celebrating Diwali. 5. Girls will be singing songs.
6. He will be drawing a picture. 7. They will be waving their hands. 8. My mother will
be knitting socks. 9. They will be killing goats. 10. I shall be teaching them.

Exercise - 9
Chang the voice: -

I shall have bought a pen. 2. You will have delivered a lecture. 3. They will have
destroyed the city. 4. They will have shut the doors. 5. I shall have finished my work.
6. She will have published that book. 7. The teacher will have corrected the answer
books. 8. Mr. Singh will have taught this poem. 9. They will have given my share. 10.
She will have hidden your shoes.
Study the following examples:

Active - Have you read that book?

You have read that book.

That book has been read by you.

Passive- Has that book been read by you? Answer

Active- Is he writing a letter ?

He is writing a letter.

A letter is beign written by him.

Passive- Is a letter being written by him? Answer

Exercise- 10

Chang the voice: -

1. Was he eating a mango? 2. Were they touching flowers? 3. Did he give you ten
Rupees? 4. Could Ravan defeat Ram? 5. Will he help you? 6.will you have written
that exercise? 7. Did she love you? 8. Had he left his village? 9. Was she visiting all
the places? 10. Did he sing a song?

Study the following examples:

Active - He is not writing a letter.

He is writing a letter.

A letter is being written by him.

Passive- A letter is not being written by him. Answer

Active- Hasn’t she brought it?

She hasn’t brought it.

 She has brought it.

It has been brought by her.

It hasn’t been brought by her.

Passive - Hasn’t it been brought by her? Answer

Exercise - 11.
Chang the voice: -

1. I don’t want this book. 2. She isn’t telling a story. 3. They had not made it. 4.
People have not paid the tax. 5. She has not visited America. 6. We have never
seen such monkeys. 7. Haven’t they brought her back? 8. Didn’ t he help you?
9. He had not repaired the machine. 10. They have not printed the book.