Test your understanding of direct and indirect speech with this grammar exercise.
1"Do you like tea?" he said.
Wrong!
In reported yes/no questions, use ask + object + if/whether and backshift the verb, so the correct answer is "He asked me if I liked tea."
2The teacher said, "What are you looking for?"
Wrong!
In reported wh-questions, use statement word order and backshift the verb, so the correct answer is "The teacher asked me what I was looking for."
3"Have you bought enough nails?" mother said.
Wrong!
The present perfect question changes to past perfect in reported speech, so the correct answer is "Mother asked me if I had bought enough nails."
4He asked his daughter ............... she had finished her homework.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
A reported yes/no question can use "whether" or "if" before the subject and verb.
5Which direct speech sentence matches this report? I asked him whether he would keep quiet.
Wrong!
The modal "will" normally changes to "would" in reported speech, so the correct answer is "I asked him," Will you keep quiet? "".
6The teacher asked the students ............... they had seen the exhibition.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
A reported yes/no question can use "if" or "whether" before the subject and verb.
Answers
- “Do you like tea?” he said. — He asked me if I liked tea.
- The teacher said, “What are you looking for?” — The teacher asked me what I was looking for.
- “Have you bought enough nails?” mother said. — Mother asked me if I had bought enough nails.
- He asked his daughter whether / if she had finished her homework.
- Which direct speech sentence matches this report? I asked him whether he would keep quiet. — I asked him, “Will you keep quiet?”
- The teacher asked the students if / whether they had seen the exhibition.
