English Grammar and Vocabulary Exercises: Reported Speech, Modals, and More

Posted on Aug 31, 2024 in English

English Grammar and Vocabulary Exercises

Reported Speech

1. Convert to Reported Speech:

  1. “I’m sorry I lost your watch,” said Care -> Care apologized for losing my watch.
  2. “You ought to go on a diet,” Jaime told me -> Jaime advised me to go on a diet.
  3. “Wear a life jacket,” said Juan to the tourist -> Juan ordered the tourist to wear a life jacket.
  4. “Don’t spend any money,” said Philip -> Philip advised me not to spend any money.
  5. “I’ll buy you a ticket,” said Tom -> Tom offered to buy me a ticket.

2. Convert to Direct Speech:

  1. John asked Carol if she had enjoyed the party the day before -> “Did you enjoy the party yesterday?” asked John.
  2. Tom said to Mary he met her at the park -> “I met you at the park,” said Tom to Mary.
  3. He told us to go -> “Go!” he said.
  4. He asked me to open the door -> “Can you open the door?” he asked.
  5. She suggested going to the beach -> “Let’s go to the beach,” she said.
  6. He refused to do it -> “I won’t do it,” he said.
  7. She offered to help me -> “Can I help you?” she offered.

Modals

  1. It was possible the burglars had entered through the kitchen door -> The burglars could have entered through the kitchen door.
  2. He could speak French when he was 4 -> He was able to speak French when he was 4.
  3. I was sure he wasn’t at the party -> He can’t have been at the party.
  4. I am sure he is at home -> He must be at home.
  5. It was obligatory to carry a helmet -> You had to carry a helmet.

Passive Voice

1. Convert to Passive Voice:

  1. Do you send petitions to local councils every month? -> Are petitions sent to local councils every month?
  2. Are you saving many species of animals nowadays? -> Are many species of animals being saved nowadays?
  3. Haven’t they cleaned the polluted river? -> Hasn’t the polluted river been cleaned?
  4. Will investigators use fewer chemicals in the future? -> Will fewer chemicals be used by investigators in the future?
  5. Did she tell you the truth? -> Were you told the truth?

2. Convert to Active Voice:

  1. The instructions have been changed -> They have changed the instructions.
  2. She will have to be taught -> Someone will have to teach her.
  3. This car was manufactured in Japan by Toyota -> Toyota manufactured this car in Japan.
  4. Why aren’t the exercises being finished on time? -> Why aren’t they finishing the exercises on time?
  5. Last year 2000 new units had been produced by the time we introduced the new design -> We had produced 2000 new units by the time we introduced the new design last year.

Have/Get + Object + Past Participle

  1. The hairdresser is cutting John’s hair -> John is having his hair cut.
  2. The workmen are painting my living room -> I am having my living room painted.
  3. Someone has fixed my computer -> I have had my computer fixed.
  4. The dentist is going to check my teeth tomorrow -> I am going to have my teeth checked tomorrow.
  5. A beautician did my nails yesterday -> I had my nails done yesterday.

Text with Verb Tense Correction

We have been staying at a campsite since Tuesday, and we have loved every minute of our holiday. We didn’t expect it to be so nice when we booked it last month. It’s 30 minutes from the sea and Karen and I have walked to the coast three times this week. In fact, we have just been swimming in the sea. We were a bit disappointed when we got there because we had forgotten to bring our snorkels. We have always enjoyed snorkeling… (8). is studying

Reported Speech Exercises

1. Convert to Reported Speech:

  1. “Have you two been waiting here long?” -> Donna asked them if they had been waiting there long.
  2. “The children came home late last night.” -> Rowana said that the children had come home late the previous night.
  3. “Where did she leave our car?” -> Garant asked where she had left their car.
  4. “I am going to work harder next month.” -> Henry said that he was going to work harder the following month.
  5. “I can’t swim very well.” -> Felicity said that she couldn’t swim very well.
  6. “Do Sophie’s parents know where she is?” -> Phil asked if Sophie’s parents knew where she was.
  7. “I was here last night.” -> Paul said that he had been there the previous night.
  8. “I hope you will enjoy the party tomorrow.” -> Anna said that she hoped I would enjoy the party the next day.
  9. “Don’t go swimming tomorrow night.” -> Olive told me not to go swimming the following night.

2. Convert to Direct Speech:

  1. Sarah said she wouldn’t go to my party that evening -> “I won’t go to your party this evening,” said Sarah.
  2. John said that I had to wear a suit the following Saturday -> “You have to wear a suit next Saturday,” said John.
  3. Dani asked us if we had found his wallet -> “Did you find my wallet?” asked Dani.
  4. Paula said she hadn’t seen her sister the day before -> “I didn’t see my sister yesterday,” said Paula.

Vocabulary

  1. A book with information about a place: guidebook
  2. A lot of holiday sightseers come to our resort.
  3. It’s hard to choose between the red one or the blue one.
  4. What’s the difference between euros and dollars?
  5. I’ll pay for these.
  6. I love being in the sun by the sea on a cruise.
  7. Honest and reliable: trustworthy
  8. Flexible and good at changing to fit circumstances: adaptable
  9. Emotional and easily hurt: sensitive
  10. Get paid to do your job: salary
  11. Fail to catch the bus: miss