Reported speech key word transformation

Recommended textbook solutions

For the questions below, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given.

1. Julie made mention of the budget when she spoke to the board.

up

Julie ________________________ subject of the budget when she spoke to the board.

1. The CEO said that, as far as she knows, no one else was involved in the insider trading.

best

The CEO said that ______________________________________________________ no one else was involved in the insider trading.

1. Harold said “My family were surprised when they found out that I was an alcoholic”.

came

Harold said that his ______________________________________________ to his family.

1. The salesman said “You don’t have to pay; you can stay for free and decide afterwards”.

obligation

The timeshare salesman said that we ________________________________________ pay and could stay for free and decide afterwards.

1. The broker said “Our analysts are extremely confident that the government can end the recession”.

every

The broker said that their ___________________________________ to end the recession.

1. Their father said “The painting looks nothing like our house”.

resemblance

Their father complained that the painting _________________________________ house.

1. There is a rumour that they have got divorced but haven’t told anyone.

obtained

It __________________________________________________ but haven’t told anyone.

1. The judge told the man “It is only because of your repentance that you have escaped jail”.

his

The judge said that had _______________________________________ have gone to jail.

1. In his acceptance speech, he didn’t mention owing his success to his wife.

reference

He _____________________________ his success to his wife in his acceptance speech.

1. This message clearly says that you can publish the article. .

right

The poster makes _________________________________________ publish the article.

1. “The level of noise makes it difficult to concentrate,” Sue said.

which

Sue explained to me that it ________________________________ it hard to concentrate.

1. We ask passengers not to leave their seats until the aircraft has come to a complete standstill.

remain

Passengers ________________________ until the aircraft comes to a complete standstill.

1. “It’s none of your business who I go out with,” Dilly told her brother.

concern

Dilly informed her brother that who she ______________________________________his.

1. They gave Juan the impression that he would be promoted.

believe

Juan ________________________________________________ he would be promoted.

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Suggested answers

OR means two or more answers are possible. / divides the two points for each question. You must have exactly the words on that side of the / to get that point. If names are included, you must have those names (to actually keep the meaning the same as the original sentence). Note that all answers should be written in just capital letters in the exam.

1. brought/ up the
2. to the best/ of her knowledge
3. came/ as a surprise
4. were under no/ obligation to
5. analysts have OR had every confidence/ in the government’s ability
6. bore no /resemblance/ to their
7. is rumoured (that) they have/ obtained a divorce
8. it not been/ for his repentance, he OR she OR they would
9. made no reference/ to owing
10. it clear that you/ have the right to
11. was the level of noise which/ made
12. are asked/ to remain seated
13. went out with was no/ concern of his
14. was led OR given/ to believe (that)

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PDF for easy saving and printing: CPE reported speech key word sentence transformations

Related pages

Reported speech page

CPE page

Objective Proficiency page

•  
• Direct speech: I like ice cream.
• Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

Tense / Время	Direct Speech / Прямая речь	Reported Speech / Косвенная речь
Present Simple	I like ice cream	She said (that) she liked ice cream.
Present Continuous	I am living in London	She said (that) she was living in London.
Past Simple	I bought a car	She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car.
Past Continuous	I was walking along the street	She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
Present Perfect	I haven’t seen Julie	She said (that) she hadn’t seen Julie.
Past Perfect*	I had taken English lessons before	She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
Will	I’ll see you later	She said (that) she would see me later.
Would*	I would help, but..”	She said (that) she would help but…
Can	I can speak perfect English	She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
Could*	I could swim when I was four	She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
Shall	I shall come later	She said (that) she would come later.
Should*	I should call my mother	She said (that) she should call her mother
Might*	I might be late	She said (that) she might be late
Must	I must study at the weekend	She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she had to study at the weekend

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