Test your understanding of indirect speech with this grammar exercise.
1I asked how old you ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, both "are" and "were" are possible when the information may still be true.
2She told me that she ............... to my father.
Wrong!
Present perfect usually backshifts to "had just spoken" in reported speech after a past reporting verb.
3I asked him what ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "what", both "was the matter" and "the matter was" can be correct in this reported question.
4She asked which ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "which seat was hers" and "which was her seat" are correct: in each one the question word is the subject, so no inversion or "did" is needed.
5The ancient Greeks and Romans thought that the sun ............... around the earth.
Wrong!
After the past verb "thought", use "went". The present tense can be kept only when the reported idea is still true, and this belief is not.
6I want to know if I ............... be needed tomorrow.
Wrong!
With the present reporting phrase "want to know", the future form "will" is correct.
7He said that he ............... to go home.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "said", the present form backshifts to "wanted".
8I asked where ............... staying.
Wrong!
Reported questions use statement word order, so the correct answer is "the minister was".
9I knew how ...............
Wrong!
Reported questions use statement word order without "did", so the correct answer is "she felt".
10He suggested ............... quit.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "suggested", both "that I should" and "that I" are correct before the base verb "quit".
11The doctor said ............... smoking.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "said", both "that I must quit" and "that I had to quit" correctly introduce the reported clause.
12He said that he ............... Maria at the club a few days before.
Wrong!
A past action before the reporting time usually backshifts to "had seen" in reported speech.
Answers
- I asked how old you are / were.
- She told me that she had just spoken to my father.
- I asked him what was the matter / the matter was.
- She asked which seat was hers / was her seat.
- The ancient Greeks and Romans thought that the sun went around the earth.
- I want to know if I will be needed tomorrow.
- He said that he wanted to go home.
- I asked where the minister was staying.
- I knew how she felt.
- He suggested that I should / that I quit.
- The doctor said that I must quit / that I had to quit smoking.
- He said that he had seen Maria at the club a few days before.