Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.
1. He asked me what ……………………….. doing there.
In reported questions the subject goes before the verb.
2. He said that he ………………………….. his examination.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in the past tense.
3. He said that he ……………………… unwell.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in the past tense.
4. The boy said that he ………………………… then.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in the past tense.
5. The stranger asked where ……………………
Do is not used in reported questions.
6. The doctor said that the patient ……………………… in the night.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in the past tense.
7. The girl exclaimed that she …………………….. very clever.
8. I wrote that I ………………………… him next day.
Would is the past tense of will in direct speech. When we convert this into direct speech, we get: He wrote, ‘I will visit you tomorrow.’
9. He asked me …………………………. I knew his name.
We use if or whether to report questions.
10. I asked the girl if she ……………………… me her pen.
I asked the girl, 'Will you lend me your pen?' When we convert this into indirect speech we get: I asked the girl whether she would lend me her pen.
11. He told us that he ………………………. for an hour.
He told us, 'I have waited for an hour.' When we convert this into indirect speech we get: He told us that he had waited for an hour.
12. The speaker said that it …………………… him great pleasure to be there that evening.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in the past tense.
Answers
1. He asked me what I was doing there.
2. He said that he had passed his examination.
3. He said that he was unwell.
4. The boy said that he was sleeping then.
5. The stranger asked where I lived.
6. The doctor said that the patient had died in the night.
7. The girl exclaimed that she was very clever.
8. I wrote that I would visit him next day.
9. He asked me whether / if I knew his name.
10. I asked the girl if she would lend me her pen.
11. He told us that he had waited for an hour.
12. The speaker said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
