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Interactive Grammar: Reported Speech in News Reporting quiz

Use reported speech in journalistic writing — attribution, reporting verbs, and the conventions of news-style indirect speech.

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Duration

~31 min

Questions

Level

Upper Intermediate

Overview

Journalistic reported speech uses attribution patterns: The minister said (that)…, According to the report…, The company claimed…, It was reported that…. News English often omits 'that', uses passive attribution (It is said that…), and may not always apply backshift for directness and space.

Journalism Reporting Style

News reporting uses precise attribution verbs and often places the reporting verb after the quote.
Inverted'The results are positive,' said the minister.
AttributedThe president confirmed that negotiations were ongoing.
PassiveIt was reported that the building had collapsed.

News Reporting Verbs

announceThe company announced record profits.
revealDocuments revealed the extent of the damage.
confirmOfficials confirmed two arrests had been made.
denyThe spokesperson denied the allegations.

Attribution Patterns

according toAccording to sources, the deal has collapsed.
it is saidIt is said that the CEO will resign.
reportedlyThe company is reportedly planning job cuts.

When to use

News articles

The minister confirmed that taxes would rise.

Online media

According to sources, the merger has been approved.

Broadcast

Authorities said the situation was under control.

Press releases

The company announced it had exceeded its targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this lesson on reported Speech in News Reporting cover?

Use reported speech in journalistic writing — attribution, reporting verbs, and the conventions of news-style indirect speech.

Which CEFR level is this lesson designed for?

This lesson is designed for Upper Intermediate (B2) learners and forms part of the Direct and Indirect Speech section on Grammartier.

What is the best approach for studying reported Speech in News Reporting?

Start with the definition above, then work through the examples to see how reported Speech in News Reporting behaves in context. Since this is a Upper Intermediate (B2) topic within direct and indirect speech, focus on using the structure accurately in context and noticing the mistakes learners typically make with it — this is the level where small errors start to matter for fluency. Finish with the quiz below to check what's actually sticking.

How does reported Speech in News Reporting relate to the rest of direct and indirect speech?

Reported Speech in News Reporting is one of the Upper Intermediate–level topics grouped under Direct and Indirect Speech on Grammartier. Understanding it well makes the related lessons in the same category easier to follow — use the related-lessons links on this page to keep building on it once you've completed this quiz.