English Grammar Drills

Indirect Quotation 261
Present progressive ⇒ past progressive
Direct:
He said, “I am leaving soon.”
Indirect:
He said that he was leaving soon.
Present perfect ⇒ past perfect
Direct:
He said, “We have been gone a long time.”
Indirect:
He said that they had been gone a long time.
Present modal ⇒ past modal
Direct:
They said, “We will see him tomorrow.”
Indirect:
They said that they would see him tomorrow.
Exercise 15.1
Convert the following direct quotations to indirect quotations. Be sure to use that in the indirect
quotations.
Jim said, “The computer paper is stored in the bottom drawer.”
Jim said that the computer paper was stored in the bottom drawer.
1. Alice said, “The company hosts the annual meeting in Las Vegas this year.”
2. Tom said, “Francine has decided to move to Chicago.”
3. I said, “Tom will meet us as soon as possible.”
4. Ralph said, “Everyone has enjoyed the visit.”
5. The TV said, “The storm may move up the coastline.”
6. My mom said, “Everyone is looking forward to meeting Barbara.”
7. Bill said, “The keys are kept next to the backdoor.”