This grammar exercise tests your ability to use direct and indirect speech. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1The boy said that he ............... very busy then.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, "was" is the correct backshifted form of "is".
2The mother asked the girl where ............... going.
Wrong!
In a reported question after a past reporting verb, use statement word order and backshift to "she was".
3The teacher asked the students if they ............... their homework.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, the present perfect usually backshifts to "had done".
4She said that she ............... her job.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, the present perfect usually backshifts to "had finished".
5He said that his father ............... working in the garage.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, the present continuous usually backshifts, so "was" is correct before "working".
6I said that I ............... the examination.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, the present perfect usually backshifts to "had passed".
7The man said that the horse ............... in the night.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, the present perfect usually backshifts to "had died".
8He told me that he ............... me.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, the present simple usually backshifts to "didn't believe".
9I told him that I ............... believe him.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, "don't" usually backshifts to "didn't".
10He says that he ............... glad to be here this evening.
Wrong!
With the present reporting verb "says," the present form "is" is natural here.
11The teacher says that the earth ............... round the sun.
Wrong!
A general truth is reported naturally with the present simple form "moves".
12The report says that global temperatures ...............
Wrong!
With the present reporting verb "says," the present continuous form "are rising" is correct.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The boy said that he was very busy then.
- The mother asked the girl where she was going.
- The teacher asked the students if they had done their homework.
- She said that she had finished her job.
- He said that his father was working in the garage.
- I said that I had passed the examination.
- The man said that the horse had died in the night.
- He told me that he didn’t believe me.
- I told him that I didn’t believe him.
- He says that he is glad to be here this evening.
- The teacher says that the earth moves round the sun.
- The report says that global temperatures are rising