SPaG Depth Set 5
SPaG Depth Set 5 covers converting between direct speech, the exact words spoken inside speech marks, and reported or indirect speech, along with the changes in tense, pronoun and time expression this conversion requires. It is a favourite 11+ SPaG task, since it tests punctuation, grammar and careful attention to meaning all at once.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- In direct speech, identify the exact words spoken, placed inside speech marks, with the first word usually capitalised and correct punctuation placed inside the closing speech mark.
- To convert direct speech into reported speech, remove the speech marks entirely, since the exact wording is no longer being quoted.
- Shift the verb tense back one step into the past where the original was in the present or past tense, so 'I am tired' becomes 'she said she was tired', and 'I went' becomes 'she said she had gone'.
- Change first- and second-person pronouns to match who is now being spoken about, since 'I' often becomes 'he' or 'she', and 'you' often becomes 'I' or the relevant name.
- Change time and place words that depend on when something is being said, so 'today' becomes 'that day', 'here' becomes 'there', and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day'.
- Introduce the reported speech with a reporting verb and 'that', which can often be omitted, such as 'she said (that) she was tired', rather than a colon or speech marks.
- When converting reported speech back into direct speech, reverse each of these steps: restore the original tense, pronouns and time words, and add speech marks with correct punctuation.
Worked example
Convert this direct speech into reported speech: Tom said, 'I am going to the shop tomorrow.'
- Identify the exact spoken words inside the speech marks: 'I am going to the shop tomorrow.'
- Remove the speech marks, since the wording will no longer be quoted directly.
- Shift the tense back one step: the present continuous 'am going' becomes the past continuous 'was going'.
- Change the pronoun: 'I', Tom speaking about himself, becomes 'he', since the sentence is now describing Tom rather than quoting him.
- Change the time word: 'tomorrow' depends on when it was said, so in reported speech it becomes 'the next day'.
- Combine the parts with a reporting verb and check the whole sentence makes sense.
- Final answer: Tom said that he was going to the shop the next day.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Convert to reported speech: Maria said, 'I feel unwell today.'Show answer
Answer: Maria said that she felt unwell that day.
Q2Convert to reported speech: 'We will finish the project tomorrow,' said the team.Show answer
Answer: The team said that they would finish the project the next day.
Q3Convert to direct speech: David said that he had lost his keys the day before.Show answer
Answer: David said, 'I lost my keys yesterday.'
Q4Convert to reported speech: 'I am standing right here,' shouted Jack.Show answer
Answer: Jack shouted that he was standing right there.
Q5Explain why the pronoun 'I' in direct speech usually needs to change when converting to reported speech.Show answer
Answer: Because 'I' refers to whoever is speaking; once the words are reported by someone else describing what that person said, the pronoun must change, usually to he, she, or the person's name, so the sentence still makes sense from the new point of view.
Q6Convert to reported speech: 'Where are you going?' Sarah asked her brother.Show answer
Answer: Sarah asked her brother where he was going. A reported question drops the question mark and speech marks, and follows normal statement word order rather than question word order.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Convert the following direct speech into reported speech, making all necessary changes to tense, pronouns and time words: 'I will call you tomorrow morning,' Ben promised his sister. (4 marks)
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Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Explain, using an example of your own, why a reported question does not use a question mark, even though the original direct question did. (3 marks)
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Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
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A pupil converted 'I am here now,' she said into reported speech as: 'She said that I am here now.' Identify two errors in this attempt and correct them. (3 marks)
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Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the spag depth set 5 worksheet pack - 14 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 8 of 11+ English Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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