Reported speech

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech.
Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech.
The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.

Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

• Tenses (backshift): "Marco lives in the South", she told me. = She told me (that) Marco lived in the South.
• Pronouns. "I like chocolate", she said. = SHE said she liked chocolate.
• Place and time expressions: "We will wait for you here, tomorrow", they said. = They said they would wait for me there, the following day.
  

More info about reported statements: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/statements


Questions
When transforming questions, remeber that you have to:

• Transform the question into an indirect question: “Why do you study English?" = He asked me why I studied English.
• Use the interrogative (wh- word) or in case of yes/ no questions use if / whether: “Do you speak English?” = He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

Exercises on reported statements:

http://a4esl.org/q/h/9901/tm-reported1.html

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?03

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?04

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_reported1.htm

http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/reported1.htm

http://www.english-zone.com/verbs/indirect1.html

Exercises on reported questions:

http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.repqu.i.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?05

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/exercises?06

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/reported_speech/questions.htm

More practice:
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/absolutenglish-972/notes/pandorabot/askmybot.html

A native speaker of English, however, will often use reporting verbs other than just say, tell and ask. Compare the following:

"I didn't do it!"
He said that he hadn't done it.
He denied that he had done it OR He denied doing it.

"I'll bring the book back tomorrow."
She said that she would bring the book back the following day.
She promised to bring the book back the following day.

"Please will you think about it some more?"
He asked me if I would think about it some more.
He begged me to think about it some more.

"First you should put the money in the slot and then you should press the button."
She said that I should first put the money in the slot and then press the button.
She explained what I should do.


DIFFERENT VERBS TO REPORT
We use reporting verbs to report what someone said more accurately than using 'say' and 'tell'.

verb + infinitive
agree
decide
offer
promise
refuse
threaten

They agreed to meet on Friday.
He refused to take his coat off.

verb + (^.^) + infinitive
advise
encourage
invite
remind
warn

Tom advised me to go home early.
She reminded me to telephone my mother.

verb + gerund
deny
recommend
suggest
They recommended taking the bus.
She suggested meeting a little earlier.

verb + (^.^) + preposition (+ gerund)
accuse someone of
blame someone for
congratulate someone on

He accused me of taking the money.
They congratulated me on passing all my exams.
My brother blamed me for the accident.

verb + preposition + gerund
apologize for
insist on

They apologized for not coming.
He insisted on having dinner.

verb + (that SVC)
admit
agree
decide
deny
explain
insist
promise
recommend
suggest

Sarah decided (that) the house needed cleaning.
They recommended (that) we take the bus.

Exercises on reporting verbs:
http://www.us.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway/intermediate/a_grammar/unit12/hwy_int_unit12_2/
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.report3.i.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.report2.p.htm

More practice:
http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/reported_speech_quiz_1.shtml