Reported Speech Transformation and Noun Suffix Practice

Posted on Oct 9, 2025 in English

Mastering Indirect Speech Transformations

Reported Speech: Transforming Questions

Rewrite the following direct questions into reported speech, making necessary tense and pronoun changes.

“Where did you get this skirt?” Tammy asked me.
Answer: Tammy asked me where I had got that skirt.
“Can I get you anything else?” the server asked.
Answer: The server asked if / whether he could get me / us anything else.
“Which bus are we going to take?” Elliot wanted to know.
Answer: Elliot wanted to know which bus we / they were going to take.
“Have the boys had enough to eat?” Dad asked.
Answer: Dad asked if / whether the boys had had enough to eat.
“How did your sports shoes get onto the top shelf?” Mum wondered.
Answer: Mum wondered how my sports shoes had got onto the top shelf.
“Will Daisy be at the party tonight?” Tom wanted to know.
Answer: Tom wanted to know if / whether Daisy would be at the party that night.
“Are you wearing a dress for the party tonight?” Sam asked me.
Answer: Sam asked me if / whether I would be wearing a dress for the party that night.
“What flavour ice cream do you want?” the waiter asked.
Answer: The waiter asked what flavour ice cream I / we wanted.

Reported Speech: Statements and Commands

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech, using a suitable reporting verb (e.g., announced, suggested, complained, mentioned, told, insisted, shouted).

“This train will leave in an hour,” said the ticket collector.
Answer: The ticket collector announced that that train would leave in an hour.
“Your luggage has been found,” said the clerk.
Answer: The clerk announced that my / our luggage had been found.
“Try to put just one main idea in each paragraph,” the teacher said.
Answer: The teacher suggested that I / we put / suggested putting one main idea in each paragraph.
“You’re not playing the game according to the rules!” Anna said.
Answer: Anna complained that I wasn’t / we weren’t playing the game according to the rules.
“The teacher didn’t put the homework assignment on the school website,” Kerry said.
Answer: Kerry mentioned that the teacher hadn’t put the homework assignment on the school website.
“Our group hasn’t finished yet,” Peter said to the teacher.
Answer: Peter told the teacher that their group hadn’t finished yet.
“You must have an employee ID in order to enter,” the guard said.
Answer: The guard insisted that I had to have an employee ID in order to enter.
“Don’t swim so far from the shore!” the lifeguard said.
Answer: The lifeguard shouted not to swim so far from the shore.

Vocabulary and Word Formation Practice

Word Formation: Noun Suffix Practice (Set 1)

Complete the sentences with the correct word formed by adding a suitable suffix. (Note: There are more base words available than needed.)

We need to raise the public’s awareness about recycling.
The mayor is trying to reduce the level of violence in our neighbourhood.
Haven’t you made a decision yet? Just pick one!
He doesn’t understand the importance of good manners.
Marco will compete in the computer games championship.
After a year of rehabilitation, Tim was able to walk again.
The prime minister is part of the national government.
After the examination, the doctor told Helene to drink plenty of water.

Vocabulary in Context: Choosing the Correct Continuation

Choose the correct continuation (a or b) to show that you have understood the meaning of the words in bold.

He worked round the clock because …… .
- a. he didn’t notice the time
- b. he wanted to complete the job
The news story was broadcast …… .
- a. in the newspaper
- b. on the radio
The students cheered when the teacher announced that …… .
- a. they could go home early
- b. the exam would be on Tuesday
A state-of-the-art computer …… .
- a. is especially useful for artists
- b. has got the latest technology
Give us time and we’ll come up with …… .
- a. a plan
- b. an error
That area is restricted. It’s for …… .
- a. the general public
- b. employees only
This machine is faulty, so …… .
- a. don’t use it
- b. don’t break it

Technology Vocabulary: Replacing Words and Phrases

Replace the words and phrases in the sentences with the appropriate single word or phrase provided (e.g., user friendly, latest, reliable, screen, device, charge, No wonder).

My new laptop is very easy to use.
Replacement: user friendly
I bought the most recent model.
Replacement: latest
It’s very unlikely to break down and never needs repairs.
Replacement: reliable
I can use it by touching the display in addition to using the mouse.
Replacement: screen
It’s a very impressive piece of equipment.
Replacement: device
The only problem is that it takes a long time to add power to the battery.
Replacement: charge
It’s no surprise that shops are running out of this laptop in record time!
Replacement: No wonder

Word Formation: Noun Suffix Practice (Set 2)

Complete the following sentences by adding a suffix to the words in brackets to form nouns.

The filmmaker received an award for lifetime achievement. (achieve)
She needs help to fight her addiction to online gaming. (addict)
Children see too much violence on television. (violent)
Attendance in the lesson was high. (attend)
I didn’t agree with the boss’ decision, but I didn’t complain. (decide)
To stop using drugs, Perry went to a rehabilitation centre. (rehabilitate)
His hard work paid off and Sam finally won the tennis championship. (champion)
There still isn’t enough awareness amongst teens that texting while driving can be deadly. (aware)
His ability to crack codes has astonished everyone. (able)
The newly elected government has decided to do something about the high rate of unemployment. (govern)

Advanced Vocabulary: Synonyms and Phrasal Verbs

Replace the words and phrases in bold with a suitable single word or phrase.

William can’t get a good job because he’s unable to read: illiterate
Going to school is very important. If you leave permanently, it will be difficult to find a good job: drop out
Speak to Justine. She always thinks of solutions: figures out
If you thought the decision was unfair, why didn’t you defend yourself?: stand up for
You don’t have to take that subject. It’s not obligatory: compulsory
The firefighter showed no fear when he entered the burning building: courage
Do they plan to go to the meeting on Thursday?: attend
I’m going to review the material we learned so far in this subject: revise