::

Doing reported speech exercises can be a great way to practice converting direct speech into reported speech. Here’s a step-by-step guide you can follow:

1. Understand the Basics

Direct Speech: Exact words spoken by someone, usually in quotation marks.

Example: She said, “I am going to the store.”

Reported Speech: Paraphrasing what someone said without quotation marks.

Example: She said (that) she was going to the store.

2. Identify Key Changes

Be aware of the changes that typically occur:

Pronouns: Change according to the context.

Tense Changes: Shift the tense back (e.g., present to past).

Time Expressions: Change words like “now” to “then,” “today” to “that day,” etc.

3. Practice Conversion

Take sentences in direct speech and convert them:

Direct: He said, “I will call you later.”

Reported: He said (that) he would call me later.

4. Use Exercises

Find exercises online or in textbooks that provide direct speech sentences for you to convert. Here’s a sample exercise:

Convert the following sentences to reported speech:

“I love this book,” she said.

“We are going to the park,” they announced.

“Can you help me?” he asked.

“I finished my homework,” John mentioned.

Answers:

She said (that) she loved that book.

They announced (that) they were going to the park.

He asked if I could help him.

John mentioned (that) he had finished his homework.

5. Check Your Work

Review your conversions to ensure the tense, pronouns, and time expressions are correct.

6. Practice Regularly

Practice with different types of sentences, varying the reported speech structures and contexts to improve your skills.

By consistently working through these steps, you’ll become more comfortable with reported speech!