Reported speech
say and tell patterns; tense backshift and when it is optional; changes to time references; reported wh-questions; reported yes/no questions with if or whether.
1. Choose the correct report of 'The network is down.'
Multiple Choice20sAShe told me that the network was down.✓BShe said me that the network was down.CShe told that the network was down me.DShe said me the network is down.💡 Tell is followed by an indirect object, while say is not followed directly by one.
2. Reported questions use statement word order, with the subject before the verb.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 A reported question is phrased as where he lived, not where did he live.
3. Report the statement: 'I finished the analysis.' Omar said that he _____ the analysis.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedhad finished💡 A past simple verb usually backshifts to past perfect after a past reporting verb.
4. Sarah says, 'I'm working from home today.' Which report is natural at the same time?
Multiple Choice20sASarah says that she's working from home today.✓BSarah says that she had worked from home the previous day.CSarah told that she works from home today.DSarah says me that she was working from home.💡 A present reporting verb does not normally trigger backshift.
5. Match each direct form to its usual backshift after a past reporting verb.
Matching30sam/is→wasare→wereworked→had workedhave finished→had finishedwill→wouldcan→could💡 The reported verb generally moves one tense or modal step back after a past reporting verb.
6. Report the yes/no question: 'Are you available?' She asked me _____ I was available.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedif · whether💡 If or whether introduces a reported yes/no question.
7. Put the chunks in order to report a future arrangement from a past viewpoint.
Put in Order30s- 1.Mina
- 2.told us
- 3.that she
- 4.would arrive
- 5.the following day.
💡 Tell takes an object; will backshifts to would and tomorrow can become the following day.
8. Which time expression normally replaces tomorrow when reporting later?
Multiple Choice20sAthe following day✓Bthe day beforeCthat morning beforeDthe previous week💡 Tomorrow commonly changes to the next day or the following day.
9. Say and tell follow the same pattern, so 'He said me the result' is correct.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 Tell can take a person directly; say cannot.
10. Report the question: 'Where is the station?' She asked me _____.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwhere the station was💡 A reported wh-question keeps the question word but uses statement order and backshift.
11. Lena said, 'Water freezes at 0°C.' Which report is acceptable because the fact remains true?
Multiple Choice20sALena said that water freezes at 0°C.✓BLena told that water froze at 0°C.CLena asked if water has frozen at 0°C.DLena said me that water would freeze at 0°C.💡 A still-true fact can retain its original present tense.
12. Match each direct utterance to its accurate report.
Matching30s'I'll email you.'→He said he would email me.'Can you help?'→She asked if I could help.'Where do they live?'→He wanted to know where they lived.'I saw Jo yesterday.'→She said she had seen Jo the day before.'The shop is still open.'→He says the shop is still open.💡 The reports use appropriate objects, word order, backshift and time references.
13. 'We've been waiting for an hour.' They told us that they _____ for an hour.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedhad been waiting💡 Present perfect continuous normally backshifts to past perfect continuous.
14. That can often be omitted after a reporting verb in a reported statement.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 Both he said he was tired and he said that he was tired are possible.
15. Which reported question is correctly formed?
Multiple Choice20sAI asked him what he wanted.✓BI asked him what did he want.CI asked what him wanted.DI asked him what wanted he.💡 Reported questions use statement order and do not use auxiliary do.
16. Reorder the chunks to make a reported wh-question.
Put in Order30s- 1.The interviewer
- 2.wanted to know
- 3.how long
- 4.I had worked
- 5.there.
💡 Want to know is followed by the question word and statement word order.
17. 'I can meet you later.' Amir told me that he _____ meet me later.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedcould💡 Can usually backshifts to could after a past reporting verb.
18. Which reporting verb normally appears without an indirect object in this pattern?
Multiple Choice20sAwondered✓Basked meCtold usDinformed them💡 Wonder is generally followed directly by the reported question, without a person object.
19. A reported yes/no question begins with what or why.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 Question words such as what and why report information questions, not yes/no questions.
20. 'I spoke to Maya yesterday.' He said that he had spoken to Maya _____.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedthe previous day · the day before💡 Yesterday commonly changes to the previous day or the day before.