Fill in the blanks.
1After he finished the job, he said that it ............... him only five minutes.
Wrong!
In reported speech about a completed action, use the past simple "took".
2She asked ............... I could help her.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
A reported yes/no question can use "if" or "whether".
3When I called her, she said that she ............... be here soon.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "will" usually changes to "would".
4She said that her parents fully ............... her decision to join the military.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "supported" and "support" are possible because the parents' support may still be true now.
5I told them ............... up.
Wrong!
After "told them" to report an order, use "to hurry".
6He said that he ............... up feeling ill.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
A past event can stay in the past simple or backshift to the past perfect, so "woke" and "had woken" are correct.
7She said that she ............... not come to the party on Friday.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "can" usually changes to "could".
8The doctor advised me ............... plenty of water.
Wrong!
After "advised me" to report advice, use "to drink".
9He was driving too fast, so I asked him ............... down.
Wrong!
After "asked him" to report a request, use "to slow".
10He ............... me that he was bored with his job.
Wrong!
Use "told" before an object such as "me" in reported speech.
11He assured me that he ............... this.
Wrong!
In reported speech, "will not repeat" usually changes to "would not repeat".
12He asked where I ............... the previous night.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
A past question can be reported with "was" or backshifted to "had been".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- After he finished the job, he said that it took him only five minutes.
- She asked if / whether I could help her.
- When I called her, she said that she would be here soon.
- She said that her parents fully supported / support her decision to join the military.
- I told them to hurry up.
- He said that he woke / had woken up feeling ill.
- She said that she could not come to the party on Friday.
- The doctor advised me to drink plenty of water.
- He was driving too fast, so I asked him to slow down.
- He told me that he was bored with his job.
- He assured me that he would not repeat this.
- He asked where I was / had been the previous night.