1Grandmother said that she ............... the party.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "said", the present simple usually backshifts to "didn't like".
2I asked him if he ............... to come with me.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "asked", the present simple usually backshifts to "wanted".
3I ............... her that she looked beautiful.
Wrong!
Use "told" before a personal object such as "her" in reported speech.
4He pretended that he ............... sing.
Wrong!
In reported speech after a past verb, "can't" usually changes to "couldn't".
5She said that she ............... on a new project.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "said", the present continuous usually backshifts to "was working".
6She ............... she wouldn't come.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "said" and "said that" are correct because "that" is optional after "said".
7I ............... you are right.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "think" and "think that" are correct because "that" is optional after "think".
8When they asked about the job, I ............... I hadn't applied for it.
Wrong!
Use "replied that" to introduce the reported answer to a question.
9He wanted to know what ............... doing there.
Wrong!
Indirect questions use statement word order, so the correct form is "I was".
10I asked where ............... staying.
Wrong!
Indirect questions use statement word order, so the correct form is "they were".
11Nobody told me why ............... to leave.
Wrong!
Indirect questions use statement word order, so the correct form is "I had".
12He suggested ............... another job.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "suggested", both "that I find" and "that I should find" are correct ways to report the advice.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Grandmother said that she didn’t like the party.
- I asked him if he wanted to come with me.
- I told her that she looked beautiful.
- He pretended that he couldn’t sing.
- She said that she was working on a new project.
- She said / said that she wouldn’t come.
- I think / think that you are right.
- When they asked about the job, I replied that I hadn’t applied for it.
- He wanted to know what I was doing there.
- I asked where they were staying.
- Nobody told me why I had to leave.
- He suggested that I find / that I should find another job.