Reported Speech: Renting a Flat

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B2 | Grammar | 12 min

Reported Speech & Reporting Verbs: Renting a Flat

*Note: This lesson uses the standard backshift rule (moving the tense back) when reporting something from a point in the past (for example, the next day).

1. Tense changes (when the reporting verb is in the past):

Present forms move back to the matching past forms. For example: is → was, will → would.

Example: "The flat is ready now." → The landlord said the flat was ready then.

2. Time and place changes:

tomorrow → the next day / the following day, here → there, now → then.

Example: "I will sign the lease tomorrow." → He said he would sign the lease the next day.

3. Reporting verbs + V-ing / to V (special reporting verbs):

suggest + V-ing (give an idea), promise + to V (say you will do something), admit / deny + V-ing (say yes / no to something you did).

Example: "I will repair the heating." → The owner promised to repair the heating.

4. Say vs Tell & Reported Questions:

say (that) vs tell + object (that). For Yes/No questions, use asked + if / whether (with normal statement word order).

Example: "Do you have pets?" → He asked me if I had pets.

A rabbit relays a kitten landlord's message about an apartment tap to a fox by phone. — The landlord said it. My flatmate heard the remix.
APIE · AI doodle

Conversation Report: Meeting the Landlord

Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb or reporting verb in brackets to report what was said the previous day.

When Mark met Mr. Henderson yesterday to view the studio flat, the landlord ____ (1. tell) him that the heating ____ (2. work; direct words: "The heating works perfectly.") perfectly. Mark then asked if he ____ (3. can) replace the old curtains, and Mr. Henderson ____ (4. agree / promise) to pay half the cost. However, the landlord firmly ____ (5. deny) hiding any damp problems in the bathroom. Mark liked the bright living room but wanted to check every condition carefully before making a final decision. Before leaving, Mr. Henderson ____ (6. suggest) signing the contract the next day, and Mark ____ (7. promise) to transfer the security deposit that evening.

Question 1: Tense changes

Direct: "I am painting the bedroom walls today," the landlord said.
Reported: The landlord said that he ___ the bedroom walls that day.

____ a. is painting____ b. was painting____ c. painted

Question 2: Modal tense changes

Direct: "You will receive the keys tomorrow morning," Mr. Henderson told Sarah.
Reported: Mr. Henderson told Sarah that she ___ the keys the following morning.

____ a. will receive____ b. can receive____ c. would receive

Question 3: Reporting verbs

Direct: "I didn't break the shower door," the previous tenant said.
Reported: The previous tenant denied ___ the shower door.

____ a. to break____ b. breaking____ c. that he breaks

Question 4: Reported questions

Direct: "Is internet access included in the monthly rent?" Mark asked.
Reported: Mark asked the landlord ___ in the monthly rent.

____ a. if internet access was included____ b. whether was internet access included____ c. that internet access is included

Rewrite 1: Reporting verb with to-infinitive

Complete only the missing to-infinitive. Use the later reporting viewpoint and the time expression already supplied.

Direct: "I will install a new washing machine next week," said the landlord.

The landlord promised ____ (...) a new washing machine the following week.

Rewrite 2: Reporting verb with -ing

Complete the missing -ing verb only. The reported time expression is already supplied.

Direct: "Why don't we inspect the balcony right now?" the landlord said to me.

The landlord suggested ____ (...) the balcony right then.

Rewrite 3: Reported Question

Complete only the missing verb phrase. Use the Past Perfect for the reported question under this exercise's backshift convention.

Direct: "Have you rented a flat in this neighborhood before?" the landlord asked me.

The landlord asked me whether I ____ (...) a flat in that neighborhood before.

Reported Speech & Reporting Verbs: Renting a Flat

Conversation Report: Meeting the Landlord

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