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Indirect Speech Exercise

November 18, 2021 - B1pdf

Sentences are given in the direct speech. Change them into indirect speech.

Progress 0 of 12 answered
1James said, "I may leave tomorrow." / James said that he ............... leave the next day.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "may" usually changes to "might" after a past reporting verb.
2Rahul said, "I am busy now." / Rahul said that he ............... busy then.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "am" changes to "was" after a past reporting verb.
3The manager said to me, "You are sacked." / The manager told me that I ............... sacked.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "are" changes to "was" when the reported subject is "I".
4He asked me, "What are you doing there?" / He asked me what ............... doing there.
Wrong!
A reported question uses statement word order, so the correct form is "I was".
5I said to him, "You are a great mentor." / I told him that he ............... a great mentor.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "are" changes to "was" when the reported subject is "he".
6She said, "We might go camping next week." / She told me that ............... might go camping the following week.
Wrong!
When reporting someone else's "we", the pronoun often changes to "they".
7She said, "I am leaving." / She told me that she ............... .
Wrong!
In reported speech, "am leaving" changes to "was leaving" after a past reporting verb.
8The watchman asked me, "Who are you?" / The watchman asked me who ............... .
Wrong!
A reported question uses statement word order, so the correct form is "I was".
9The tourist guide said, "The exhibition ended yesterday." / The tourist guide told me that the exhibition ............... the previous day.
Wrong!
In reported speech, the simple past "ended" often changes to the past perfect "had ended".
10He said, "Let's go for a walk." / He said that they ............... for a walk.
Wrong!
A suggestion with "Let's" can be reported with "should go" in this sentence.
11He said to me, "Close the door." / He ordered me ............... the door.
Wrong!
An order is commonly reported with a to-infinitive, so the correct form is "to close".
12She said to me, "Be careful." / She advised me ............... careful.
Wrong!
Advice is commonly reported with object + to-infinitive, so the correct form is "to be".
Done.
Score: 0/12
Share your score!

Answers

  1. James said, “I may leave tomorrow.” / James said that he might leave the next day.
  2. Rahul said, “I am busy now.” / Rahul said that he was busy then.
  3. The manager said to me, “You are sacked.” / The manager told me that I was sacked.
  4. He asked me, “What are you doing there?” / He asked me what I was doing there.
  5. I said to him, “You are a great mentor.” / I told him that he was a great mentor.
  6. She said, “We might go camping next week.” / She told me that they might go camping the following week.
  7. She said, “I am leaving.” / She told me that she was leaving .
  8. The watchman asked me, “Who are you?” / The watchman asked me who I was .
  9. The tourist guide said, “The exhibition ended yesterday.” / The tourist guide told me that the exhibition had ended the previous day.
  10. He said, “Let’s go for a walk.” / He said that they should go for a walk.
  11. He said to me, “Close the door.” / He ordered me to close the door.
  12. She said to me, “Be careful.” / She advised me to be careful.
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