[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":435},["ShallowReactive",2],{"en-game-reported-speech-game":3},{"slug":4,"type":5,"mechanic":6,"topic":7,"published":8,"updated_at":9,"related_exercise":10,"levels":11,"seo":13,"settings":18,"questions":22,"content":335,"related_games":391,"available_locales":392,"course":394},"reported-speech-game","grammar-game","speed-round","reported-speech",true,"2026-10-09","\u002Fgrammar\u002Freported-speech-exercises",[12],"B1",{"title":14,"meta_description":15,"h1":16,"subtitle":17},"Reported Speech Game | FluencyRoad","Play a free reported speech game. Practise said, told, tense backshift and reported questions with instant corrections.","Reported Speech Game","Tell the story again, keeping the meaning clear.",{"questions_per_round":19,"lives":20,"seconds_per_question":21},12,3,15,[23,35,43,48,55,64,71,75,85,92,97,104,111,115,124,129,133,143,151,156,161,168,176,180,189,194,198,208,216,221,228,233,237,247,253,257,262,272,277,282,289,294,298,307,313,317,326,331],{"id":24,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":27,"options":28,"answer":29,"rule":33,"tag":34},"rs-001","easy","multiple-choice","Mia said, “I am tired.” Report it with the usual backshift: Mia said she ___.",[29,30,31,32],"was tired","were tired","had tired","was tire","Am usually backshifts to was after said in the past.","be-backshift",{"id":36,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":38,"answer":39,"rule":41,"tag":42},"rs-002","gap-fill","Tom said, “I work here.” Report this from another place, using backshift: Tom said he ___ there.",[40],"worked","Present simple work backshifts to worked; here becomes there when the reporter is elsewhere.","present-past",{"id":44,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":46,"answer":8,"rule":47,"tag":34},"rs-003","right-or-wrong","Ella said that she was hungry. (Earlier: “I am hungry.”)","Am backshifts to was, and I changes to she.",{"id":49,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":50,"answer":51,"correction":52,"rule":53,"tag":54},"rs-004","He told that he was late.",false,"He said that he was late.","Told needs a person; without one, use said.","said-told",{"id":56,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":57,"options":58,"answer":59,"rule":63,"tag":54},"rs-005","Rosa ___ me that the shop was closed.",[59,60,61,62],"told","said","spoke","talked","Use told directly before the person me.",{"id":65,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":66,"answer":67,"rule":69,"tag":70},"rs-006","Leo said, “I can swim.” Later: Leo said he ___ swim.",[68],"could","Can often changes to could when reported later.","can-could",{"id":72,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":73,"answer":8,"rule":74,"tag":54},"rs-007","Nora told me that she needed help.","Told is followed by a person: me.",{"id":76,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":77,"options":78,"answer":79,"rule":83,"tag":84},"rs-008","Ben said, “I will call.” Report it with backshift: Ben said he ___ call.",[79,80,81,82],"would","woulds","did","had","Will usually changes to would in past reporting.","will-would",{"id":86,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":87,"answer":88,"rule":90,"tag":91},"rs-009","Ava said, “I am studying.” Later: Ava said she ___ studying.",[89],"was","Am studying backshifts to was studying.","continuous",{"id":93,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":94,"answer":51,"correction":95,"rule":96,"tag":54},"rs-010","She said me that the bus was late.","She told me that the bus was late.","Use told me, not said me.",{"id":98,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":99,"options":100,"answer":101,"rule":103,"tag":34},"rs-011","“We are ready,” they said. Later: They said they ___ ready.",[101,89,102,82],"were","are","Plural they takes were after are backshifts.",{"id":105,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":106,"answer":107,"rule":109,"tag":110},"rs-012","Sam said, “I live here.” Report this from another place: Sam said he lived ___.",[108],"there","Here becomes there when the reporter is elsewhere.","place-change",{"id":112,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":113,"answer":8,"rule":114,"tag":84},"rs-013","He said that he would visit us. (Earlier: “I will visit you.”)","Will changes to would; pronouns change with the speaker.",{"id":116,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":117,"options":118,"answer":119,"rule":123,"tag":54},"rs-014","Which verb normally needs a person immediately after it?",[119,120,121,122],"tell","say","speak","announce","Tell someone something: told me, told her, told us.",{"id":125,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":126,"answer":127,"rule":128,"tag":54},"rs-015","Nina ___ us that the room was full. Use the past form of tell.",[59],"Told takes the listener us directly.",{"id":130,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":131,"answer":8,"rule":132,"tag":54},"rs-016","The teacher said that the class was ready.","Said can introduce a that-clause without naming a listener.",{"id":134,"difficulty":135,"format":26,"prompt":136,"options":137,"answer":138,"rule":142,"tag":91},"rs-017","medium","Yesterday Ana said, “I am waiting now.” Today: Ana said she ___ then.",[138,139,140,141],"was waiting","is waiting","were waiting","had waiting","Am waiting backshifts to was waiting; now may become then.",{"id":144,"difficulty":135,"format":37,"prompt":145,"answer":146,"rule":149,"tag":150},"rs-018","“I will leave tomorrow.” Reported a week later: She said she would leave ___.",[147,148],"the next day","the following day","Tomorrow becomes the next or following day from the original speech.","time-change",{"id":152,"difficulty":135,"format":45,"prompt":153,"answer":8,"rule":154,"tag":155},"rs-019","He asked where I lived. (Earlier: “Where do you live?”)","A reported question uses statement order and backshifts live to lived.","reported-question",{"id":157,"difficulty":135,"format":45,"prompt":158,"answer":51,"correction":159,"rule":160,"tag":155},"rs-020","She asked where did I live.","She asked where I lived.","A reported question uses subject before verb, without did.",{"id":162,"difficulty":135,"format":26,"prompt":163,"options":164,"answer":68,"rule":167,"tag":70},"rs-021","“Can you help?” Report the question with backshift: He asked if I ___ help.",[68,165,81,166],"coulded","could have","Can backshifts to could in this reported yes\u002Fno question.",{"id":169,"difficulty":135,"format":37,"prompt":170,"answer":171,"rule":174,"tag":175},"rs-022","“Is the library open?” Later: She asked ___ the library was open.",[172,173],"if","whether","Use if or whether to introduce a reported yes\u002Fno question.","yes-no-question",{"id":177,"difficulty":135,"format":45,"prompt":178,"answer":8,"rule":179,"tag":54},"rs-023","Tom told Sara that he was busy.","Told Sara correctly names the listener before the that-clause.",{"id":181,"difficulty":135,"format":26,"prompt":182,"options":183,"answer":184,"rule":188,"tag":155},"rs-024","“What time does it start?” Later: She asked what time it ___.",[184,185,186,187],"started","did start","starts?","was start","Use statement order and backshift does start to started.",{"id":190,"difficulty":135,"format":37,"prompt":191,"answer":192,"rule":193,"tag":91},"rs-025","“We are working.” Later: They said they ___ working.",[101],"Are working becomes were working.",{"id":195,"difficulty":135,"format":45,"prompt":196,"answer":8,"rule":197,"tag":70},"rs-026","Maya said that she could come. (Earlier: “I can come.”)","Can backshifts to could, and I becomes she.",{"id":199,"difficulty":135,"format":26,"prompt":200,"options":201,"answer":202,"rule":206,"tag":207},"rs-027","“I visited the museum,” I said. Later: I said I ___ the museum.",[202,203,204,205],"had visited","have visited","visiting","had visit","Past simple often moves to past perfect when reported later.","past-perfect",{"id":209,"difficulty":135,"format":37,"prompt":210,"answer":211,"rule":215,"tag":150},"rs-028","“I am at home today.” Reported tomorrow: He said he was at home ___.",[212,213,214],"that day","the day before","the previous day","In a later report, today can become that day, the day before or the previous day.",{"id":217,"difficulty":135,"format":45,"prompt":218,"answer":51,"correction":219,"rule":220,"tag":175},"rs-029","She asked if was the shop open.","She asked if the shop was open.","After if, use subject then verb: the shop was.",{"id":222,"difficulty":135,"format":26,"prompt":223,"options":224,"answer":108,"rule":227,"tag":110},"rs-030","“I live here,” Eva said. Later from another town: Eva said she lived ___.",[108,225,212,226],"here","then","Here normally changes to there when the reporter is elsewhere.",{"id":229,"difficulty":135,"format":37,"prompt":230,"answer":231,"rule":232,"tag":84},"rs-031","“We will return,” they said. Later: They said they ___ return.",[79],"Will usually backshifts to would.",{"id":234,"difficulty":135,"format":45,"prompt":235,"answer":8,"rule":236,"tag":175},"rs-032","He asked if I could come. (Earlier: “Can you come?”)","If introduces the reported yes\u002Fno question; could reports can.",{"id":238,"difficulty":239,"format":26,"prompt":240,"options":241,"answer":242,"rule":246,"tag":207},"rs-033","hard","“I have lost my keys,” she said. Report it with backshift: She said she ___ her keys.",[242,243,244,245],"had lost","had lose","was lose","had losing","Present perfect often moves to past perfect in past reporting.",{"id":248,"difficulty":239,"format":37,"prompt":249,"answer":250,"rule":252,"tag":207},"rs-034","“I was tired,” he said. Later: He said he ___ tired.",[251,89],"had been","Past was may backshift to had been; was can remain when the time is clear.",{"id":254,"difficulty":239,"format":45,"prompt":255,"answer":8,"rule":256,"tag":155},"rs-035","She asked me what time the train left.","A reported question uses statement order: the train left.",{"id":258,"difficulty":239,"format":45,"prompt":259,"answer":51,"correction":260,"rule":261,"tag":175},"rs-036","He asked whether could we wait.","He asked whether we could wait.","After whether, use we could, not question order.",{"id":263,"difficulty":239,"format":26,"prompt":264,"options":265,"answer":266,"rule":270,"tag":271},"rs-037","“I can't stay here tonight.” Later: He said he ___ there that night.",[266,267,268,269],"couldn't stay","can't stay","wouldn't stayed","didn't can stay","Can't becomes couldn't; here and tonight can shift to there and that night.","mixed-change",{"id":273,"difficulty":239,"format":37,"prompt":274,"answer":275,"rule":276,"tag":175},"rs-038","“Do they know?” Later: She asked ___ they knew.",[172,173],"Use if or whether and statement order in reported yes\u002Fno questions.",{"id":278,"difficulty":239,"format":45,"prompt":279,"answer":51,"correction":280,"rule":281,"tag":54},"rs-039","She told to me that she would call.","She told me that she would call.","Tell takes the listener directly, without to.",{"id":283,"difficulty":239,"format":26,"prompt":284,"options":285,"answer":89,"rule":288,"tag":155},"rs-040","“Where is the meeting?” Later: He asked where the meeting ___.",[89,286,287,101],"was it","is it","The reported question has statement order and is backshifts to was.",{"id":290,"difficulty":239,"format":37,"prompt":291,"answer":292,"rule":293,"tag":271},"rs-041","“I will call tomorrow,” she said. Later: She said she ___ call the next day.",[79],"Will becomes would while tomorrow becomes the next day.",{"id":295,"difficulty":239,"format":45,"prompt":296,"answer":51,"correction":297,"rule":96,"tag":54},"rs-042","He said me that he had finished.","He told me that he had finished.",{"id":299,"difficulty":239,"format":26,"prompt":300,"options":301,"answer":302,"rule":306,"tag":91},"rs-043","“We are leaving now,” they said. Later: They said they ___ then.",[302,303,304,305],"were leaving","are leaving","had leaving","would leaving","Present continuous becomes past continuous; now becomes then.",{"id":308,"difficulty":239,"format":37,"prompt":309,"answer":310,"rule":312,"tag":207},"rs-044","“I have written the report,” Mia said. Later: Mia said she ___ the report.",[311],"had written","Have written backshifts to had written.",{"id":314,"difficulty":239,"format":45,"prompt":315,"answer":8,"rule":316,"tag":207},"rs-045","She asked if the train had left. (Earlier: “Has the train left?”)","Present perfect can backshift to past perfect in a reported yes\u002Fno question.",{"id":318,"difficulty":239,"format":26,"prompt":319,"options":320,"answer":321,"rule":325,"tag":155},"rs-046","“Why did you leave?” Later: He asked why I ___.",[321,322,323,324],"had left","did I leave","have leave","had leave","A past question can backshift to had left in a later report, using statement order.",{"id":327,"difficulty":239,"format":37,"prompt":328,"answer":329,"rule":330,"tag":271},"rs-047","“Can she join us tomorrow?” Reported by someone outside the original group: He asked if she ___ join them the next day.",[68],"Can becomes could; tomorrow becomes the next day; us can become them when the reporter is outside the original group.",{"id":332,"difficulty":239,"format":45,"prompt":333,"answer":8,"rule":334,"tag":150},"rs-048","He asked if the meeting was the next day. (Earlier: “Is the meeting tomorrow?”)","Was gives backshift, and tomorrow becomes the next day when the question is reported later.",{"how_to_play":336,"rule_intro":340,"rule_sections":341,"faq":371,"related_exercise_label":390},[337,338,339],"Choose Practice for an untimed round, or Challenge for twelve timed questions and three lives.","Practice lets you choose a difficulty; Challenge mixes all three levels.","Read the correction after each answer, then continue with the related exercise.","Reported speech passes earlier words to another listener. After past said or told, a tense often moves back; pronouns and time expressions may change too.",[342,352,362],{"heading":343,"body":344,"examples":345},"Said and told","Use said without a direct listener. Use told with the listener immediately after it.",[346,349],{"sentence":347,"note":348},"She said that she was tired.","No listener after said.",{"sentence":350,"note":351},"She told me that she was tired.","Me names the listener after told.",{"heading":353,"body":354,"examples":355},"Backshift and time","Present simple often becomes past simple, present continuous becomes past continuous, will becomes would, and can becomes could. Adjust time and place when the reporting point changes.",[356,359],{"sentence":357,"note":358},"He said he was studying.","Am studying becomes was studying.",{"sentence":360,"note":361},"She said she would return the next day.","Will and tomorrow changed.",{"heading":363,"body":364,"examples":365},"Reported questions","Use if or whether for yes\u002Fno questions. Keep statement word order after the question word, if or whether.",[366,368],{"sentence":159,"note":367},"No do and no question order.",{"sentence":369,"note":370},"He asked if the shop was open.","Subject the shop comes before was.",[372,375,378,381,384,387],{"question":373,"answer":374},"Is this reported speech game free?","Yes. Both Practice and Challenge are free without an account.",{"question":376,"answer":377},"When do I use told instead of said?","Use told when you name the listener directly, as in told me.",{"question":379,"answer":380},"Does every verb always backshift?","No. Backshift is common when reporting later, but a still-true fact can keep its original tense.",{"question":382,"answer":383},"How do I report a yes\u002Fno question?","Use asked if or asked whether, then statement word order.",{"question":385,"answer":386},"Can I use this game in class?","Yes. Have learners explain the change in speaker, time and tense before revealing the answer.",{"question":388,"answer":389},"Is my score saved?","Your best Challenge score is saved in this browser, not your account.","Reported Speech Exercises",[],{"es":393},"\u002Fes\u002Fjuegos\u002Fjuego-de-estilo-indirecto",{"unit":395,"units_total":399,"hub_url":400,"prev":401,"next":406,"steps":410},{"id":396,"number":397,"title":398},"she-said",26,"She said…",30,"\u002Fcourse",{"type":402,"slug":403,"title":390,"url":10,"question_count":404,"kind":405},"exercise","reported-speech-exercises",18,null,{"type":402,"slug":407,"title":408,"url":409,"question_count":404,"kind":405},"say-tell-exercises","Say and Tell Exercises","\u002Fgrammar\u002Fsay-tell-exercises",[411,412,415,416,420,425,430],{"type":402,"slug":403,"title":390,"url":10,"kind":405},{"type":413,"slug":4,"title":16,"url":414},"game","\u002Fgames\u002Freported-speech-game",{"type":402,"slug":407,"title":408,"url":409,"kind":405},{"type":413,"slug":417,"title":418,"url":419},"say-tell-game","Say vs Tell Game","\u002Fgames\u002Fsay-tell-game",{"type":421,"slug":422,"title":423,"url":424,"kind":405},"vocabulary","news-and-media","News and Media in English","\u002Fvocabulary\u002Fnews-and-media",{"type":426,"slug":427,"title":428,"url":429,"kind":405},"reading","the-missing-painting","The Missing Painting","\u002Freading\u002Fthe-missing-painting",{"type":431,"slug":432,"title":433,"url":434,"kind":405},"listening","local-radio-news","News on the Local Radio","\u002Flistening\u002Flocal-radio-news",1791764848295]