Fill in the blanks.
1James said that he ............... his friends for dinner.
Wrong!
Present perfect usually backshifts to past perfect in reported speech, so the correct answer is "had invited".
2Stella said that she ............... her friends.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "will" usually changes to "would", so the correct answer is "would also call".
3They wondered what they ............... for dinner.
Wrong!
In a reported question, "will" usually changes to "would", so the correct answer is "would serve".
4Mother asked what I ............... in my room.
Wrong!
Present continuous usually backshifts to past continuous in reported speech, so the correct answer is "was doing".
5I warned him ............... careful.
Wrong!
After "warned him", we use a to-infinitive to report the instruction, so the correct answer is "to be".
6She cried that there ............... a cockroach on her table.
Wrong!
Present simple "is" usually backshifts to past simple in reported speech, so the correct answer is "was".
7She replied that she ............... a book.
Wrong!
Present continuous usually backshifts to past continuous in reported speech, so the correct answer is "was reading".
8She asked me if she ............... a message with me.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "can" usually changes to "could", so the correct answer is "could leave".
9The child said that she ............... afraid.
Wrong!
Present simple "is" usually backshifts to past simple in reported speech, so the correct answer is "was".
10The doctor recommended that I ............... increase my intake of fruits and vegetables.
Wrong!
After "recommended that", "should" is a natural way to report advice, so the correct answer is "should".
11She cried that she ...............
Wrong!
Present perfect passive usually backshifts to past perfect passive in reported speech, so the correct answer is "had been duped".
12They told him ............... off.
Wrong!
After "told him", we use a to-infinitive to report the command, so the correct answer is "to be".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- James said that he had invited his friends for dinner.
- Stella said that she would also call her friends.
- They wondered what they would serve for dinner.
- Mother asked what I was doing in my room.
- I warned him to be careful.
- She cried that there was a cockroach on her table.
- She replied that she was reading a book.
- She asked me if she could leave a message with me.
- The child said that she was afraid.
- The doctor recommended that I should increase my intake of fruits and vegetables.
- She cried that she had been duped
- They told him to be off.