Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.
1He asked me what ............... doing there.
Wrong!
In reported questions, the subject comes before the verb, so "I was" is correct.
2He said that he ............... his examination.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, the present perfect usually backshifts to "had passed" in reported speech.
3He said that he ............... unwell.
Wrong!
After "said", the present simple "is" usually backshifts to "was" in reported speech.
4The boy said that he ............... then.
Wrong!
The original present continuous usually backshifts to "was sleeping" in reported speech.
5The stranger asked where ...............
Wrong!
In reported questions, we use statement word order and backshift the verb, so "I lived" is correct.
6The doctor said that the patient ............... in the night.
Wrong!
A past event before the reporting time is reported with the past perfect "had died".
7The girl exclaimed that she ............... very clever.
Wrong!
After a past reporting verb, "is" usually backshifts to "was" in reported speech.
8I wrote that I ............... him the next day.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "will visit" usually backshifts to "would visit" after a past reporting verb.
9He asked me ............... I knew his name.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Yes/no questions in reported speech can be introduced by "if" or "whether".
10I asked the girl if she ............... me her pen.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "will lend" usually backshifts to "would lend" after a past reporting verb.
11He told us that he ............... for an hour.
Wrong!
The present perfect "has waited" usually backshifts to "had waited" in reported speech.
12The speaker said that it ............... him great pleasure to be there that evening.
Wrong!
After "said", the present simple "gives" usually backshifts to "gave" in reported speech.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- He asked me what I was doing there.
- He said that he had passed his examination.
- He said that he was unwell.
- The boy said that he was sleeping then.
- The stranger asked where I lived.
- The doctor said that the patient had died in the night.
- The girl exclaimed that she was very clever.
- I wrote that I would visit him the next day.
- He asked me if / whether I knew his name.
- I asked the girl if she would lend me her pen.
- He told us that he had waited for an hour.
- The speaker said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.