🔁 Grammar: Reported Speech – Part 2 (said, asked & told)
1ère Bac Sciences et Technologies Mécaniques STM
📌 Introduction
In Reported Speech Part 2, we focus on using said, asked, and told correctly. These verbs change how we report statements, questions, and commands.
Direct: “I’m tired.” → Reported: He said he was tired.
Direct: “Are you ready?” → Reported: She asked if I was ready.
Direct: “Close the door.” → Reported: He told me to close the door.
📚 Key Rules: said, asked, told
- Said: reports statements. No object needed.
→ “I’m busy.” → He said he was busy. - Asked: reports questions. Use if/whether for yes/no questions.
→ “Are you coming?” → She asked if I was coming. - Told: reports commands or advice. Always needs an object (person).
→ “Sit down.” → He told me to sit down.
Tip: “Told” = told + person + to + verb. “Said” and “asked” don’t always need a person.
✅ Exercise 1: Choose “said”, “asked”, or “told”
1. “I’m late.” → He ___ he was late.
2. “Are you ready?” → She ___ if I was ready.
3. “Sit down.” → He ___ me to sit down.
4. “We won!” → They ___ they had won.
5. “Can you help?” → He ___ if I could help.
✅ Exercise 2: Complete with “said” or “told”
1. He ___ he was tired.
2. She ___ me she was busy.
3. They ___ us the news.
4. He ___ that he would come.
5. She ___ her friend about the party.
✅ Exercise 3: Choose “asked” or “said”
1. “Is it raining?” → She ___ if it was raining.
2. “I like science.” → He ___ he liked science.
3. “Do you know the answer?” → She ___ if I knew the answer.
4. “We will win.” → They ___ they would win.
5. “Can I go?” → He ___ if he could go.
✅ Exercise 4: Use “told” + person
1. “Open the window.” → He ___ me ___ open the window.
2. “Be quiet.” → She ___ us ___ be quiet.
3. “Wait here.” → He ___ them ___ wait there.
4. “Help me.” → She ___ her brother ___ help her.
5. “Don’t be late.” → He ___ us ___ not be late.
✅ Exercise 5: Choose the Correct Reporting Verb
1. “I’m going home.” → He ___ he was going home.
2. “Where is the lab?” → She ___ where the lab was.
3. “Please close the door.” → He ___ me to close the door.
4. “We passed the exam!” → They ___ they had passed.
5. “Can you wait?” → He ___ if I could wait.
✅ Exercise 6: Fill in the Blank
1. She ___ me that she was tired.
2. He ___ if I had finished.
3. They ___ us to be quiet.
4. I ___ I would come.
5. She ___ her mom about the test.
✅ Exercise 7: Correct the Mistake
1. He said me he was tired. →
2. She told that she was busy. →
3. He asked me to can help. →
4. They said us to wait. →
5. She said if I was ready. →
✅ Exercise 8: School Context
1. “Hand in your homework.” → The teacher ___ us ___ hand in our homework.
2. “I need help.” → He ___ he needed help.
3. “Can I go to the lab?” → She ___ if she could go to the lab.
4. “Be careful with the chemicals.” → He ___ us ___ be careful.
5. “We will do the experiment tomorrow.” → They ___ they would do it the next day.
✅ Exercise 9: Real-Life Situation
1. Your friend says: “I’m hungry.” → He ___ he was hungry.
2. Your teacher asks: “Did you do the homework?” → She ___ if I had done the homework.
3. Your mom says: “Clean your room.” → She ___ me ___ clean my room.
4. Your brother says: “I lost my phone.” → He ___ he had lost his phone.
5. Your friend asks: “Can we go now?” → He ___ if we could go then.
✅ Exercise 10: Write the Reported Sentence
Convert to reported speech:
1. “I’m tired.” →
2. “Are you ready?” →
3. “Close the door.” →
4. “We won!” →
5. “Can you help me?” →
