This grammar exercise tests your ability to use direct and indirect speech correctly.
Fill in the blanks.
1Ramesh said that he ............... his homework.
Wrong!
In reported speech, present perfect often changes to past perfect, so "had finished" is correct.
2The boy asked his mother ............... he could watch TV.
Wrong!
A reported yes/no question is introduced by "if".
3The man asked the passerby if he ............... help him.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "will" usually changes to "would".
4The girl said that I ............... on her seat.
Wrong!
In reported speech, present continuous often changes to past continuous, so "was sitting" is correct.
5The man asked the boy where ...............
Wrong!
A reported wh-question uses statement word order, so "he was going" is correct.
6The girl asked who ............... her pen.
Wrong!
In reported speech, present perfect often changes to past perfect, so "had taken" is correct.
7The teacher advised the students ............... hard.
Wrong!
After "advised" with an object, the infinitive "to work" is correct.
8The mother told the boy ............... there.
Wrong!
After "told" with an object, the infinitive "to wait" is correct.
9The manager asked the clerk ............... that file to the secretary.
Wrong!
After "asked" with an object in a request, the infinitive "to take" is correct.
10The old man asked me if I ............... help him.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "will" usually changes to "would".
11Ramesh said that he ............... John the previous day.
Wrong!
In reported speech, past simple often changes to past perfect, so "had seen" is correct.
Answers
- Ramesh said that he had finished his homework.
- The boy asked his mother if he could watch TV.
- The man asked the passerby if he would help him.
- The girl said that I was sitting on her seat.
- The man asked the boy where he was going
- The girl asked who had taken her pen.
- The teacher advised the students to work hard.
- The mother told the boy to wait there.
- The manager asked the clerk to take that file to the secretary.
- The old man asked me if I would help him.
- Ramesh said that he had seen John the previous day.