Special Reported Sentences: Formula, Classification and Exercises

In both English exams and everyday conversations, reported speech plays a critical role in helping you accurately and flexibly convey what someone else said. Understanding these special forms is essential, especially for those aiming for a high band score in the IELTS test.

So, what exactly is special reported speech? How is it formed, and when should you use it? Let’s dive in with IDP.

In many situations, the structure of a reported sentence needs to be adapted based on the context and purpose. This is when special forms of reported speech are used.

Definition: Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is used to report what someone else has said, without quoting their exact words.

Example:

• Direct speech: "I love to eat pizza," she said.

• Reported speech: She said that she loved to eat pizza.

Mastering reported speech—especially its special forms—helps you express ideas clearly and naturally. In the IELTS Speaking test, using reported speech effectively can enhance your fluency and coherence.

2.1 To-Infinitive Structure

The to-infinitive form is commonly used in the following cases:

Reporting commands:

S + told + O + (not) to V

→ "Close the door," he said. → He told me to close the door.

Reporting requests:

S + asked + O + (not) to V

→ "Please close the door," she said. → She asked me to close the door.

With modal verbs like will, would, can, could:

→ "Can you help me?" she asked. → She asked him to help her.

Reporting advice:

S + advised + O + (not) to V

→ "You should see a doctor," she said. → She advised me to see a doctor.

Reporting promises:

S + promised + (not) to V

→ "I won't tell anyone," she said. → She promised not to tell anyone.

Reporting threats:

S + threatened + O + to V

→ "Give me your phone," he said. → He threatened me to give him the phone.

Reporting warnings:

S + warned + O + (not) to V

→ "Don't touch the stove," she said. → She warned her child not to touch the stove.

Reporting invitations:

S + invited + O + to V

→ "Would you like to come?" she said. → She invited me to come to her party.

Reporting reminders:

S + reminded + O + to V

→ "Don’t forget to lock the door," she said. → She reminded me to lock the door.

Reporting encouragement:

S + encouraged + O + to V

→ "You should apply for this job," she said. → She encouraged me to apply for that job.

Reporting begging: S + begged + O + (not) to V

→ "Please don’t tell anyone," she said. → She begged me not to tell anyone.

Reporting offers: S + offered + to V

→ "I can give you a ride," she said. → She offered to give him a ride.

Reporting agreement: S + agreed + to V

→ "I’ll go with you," he said. → He agreed to go with me.

2.2 Gerund (V-ing) Structure

Accusation:

S + accused + O + of + V-ing

→ "You stole my money," she said. → She accused him of stealing her money.

Admission:

S + admitted + V-ing/having V3

→ "I broke the vase," he said. → He admitted breaking the vase.

Denial:

S + denied + V-ing/having V3

→ "I didn’t cheat," he said. → He denied cheating on the exam.

Apology:

S + apologized for + V-ing

→ "I’m sorry for breaking it," he said. → He apologized for breaking the mug.

Congratulations:

S + congratulated + O + on + V-ing

→ "Congrats on winning," she said. → She congratulated him on winning the race.

Insistence:

S + insisted on + V-ing

→ "I must leave now," he said. → He insisted on leaving immediately.

Thanking:

S + thanked + O + for + V-ing

→ "Thanks for helping me," she said. → She thanked him for helping her.

2.3 Direct Sentences with "Let"

Command with “let”:

→ "My father doesn’t let me go out," she said. → Her father said she should not go out at night.

Suggestion with “let”:

→ "I don’t let you eat candy," mom said. → Mom said I should not eat any candy at night.

2.4 Conditional Sentences

First conditional: → "If you study, you will pass," he said. → He said if I studied, I would pass.

Second and third conditionals:

→ "If I had money, I would buy a house," he said. → He said if he had money, he would buy a house.

→ "If I had studied, I would have passed," he said. → He said if he had studied, he would have passed.

2.5 Sentences with “Must”

“Must” as a command → use “would have to”

→ "You must submit this by Thursday," said the manager.

→ The manager said I would have to submit it by Thursday.

“Must” as advice → no change to “must”

→ "You must finish your homework," mom said.

→ Mom said I must finish my homework.

2.6 Sentences with “Needn’t”

“Needn’t” becomes “didn’t have to”

→ "You needn’t buy flowers," she said. → She said I didn’t have to buy flowers.

2.7 Exclamatory Sentences

Structure:

S + exclaimed that + S + V (past)

→ "How hot it is today!" he said. → He exclaimed that it was too hot that day.

2.8 Sentences with “Wish”

Structure:

S + wished + O

→ "Happy birthday!" she said. → She wished me a happy birthday.

Exercise 1: Change the following direct speech to reported speech.

1. "I’m going to the mall," he said. → He told me that he was going to the mall.

2. "Open the door!" he shouted. → He shouted at me to open the door.

3. "If I had 10 million dollars, I would buy a supercar," he said. → He said that if he had had 10 million dollars, he would have bought a supercar.

4. "I wish I were pretty," she said. → She said she wished she had been pretty.

5. My grandmother shouted: "Go away!" → My grandmother shouted that I should go away.

Exercise 2: Write the direct speech based on the reported sentences.

1. The teacher told me that I had to study hard. → The teacher said to me: “You have to study hard.”

2. She asked me to help her. → She asked me: “Could you please help me?”

3. He suggested that we go to the beach. → “Let’s go to the beach,” he said.

4. My mother said I had to go to school then. → My mother said: “You have to go to school now.”

5. He said that he was going to the store. → “I’m going to the store,” he said.

Exercise 3: Complete the reported speech

1. “Don’t forget to cook dinner,” my mom told me. → My mom reminded me to cook dinner.

2. “You’d better do morning exercises,” I said to my friend. → I advised my friend to do morning exercises.

3. “Would you like to hang out with us?” Michael said. → Michael invited me to hang out with them.

4. “Please turn off the TV,” said Tony. → Tony begged me to turn off the TV.

5. “Don’t move or I’ll shoot you,” the thief said. → The thief threatened to shoot me if I moved.

Master Special Reported Speech with IDP

We hope this guide helps you better understand special reported speech structures and how to use them effectively in different contexts. Mastery of this grammar point is especially helpful for IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks.

To practice more, explore our free IELTS computer-based practice tests and downloadable materials provided by IDP.

Looking to improve your IELTS results? Try IELTS One Skill Retake, which allows you to retake one specific skill — Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking.

Register for your IELTS test with IDP today!