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Reported Speech Exercise

August 30, 2023 B1pdf

Fill in the blanks.

Progress 0 of 11 answered
1The teacher asked me what ............... scribbling in my notebook.
Wrong!
In reported questions, we use statement word order, so "I was" is correct.
2He asked me why ............... hit his brother.
Wrong!
In reported questions, we use statement word order and backshift the tense, so "I had" is correct.
3The teacher asked the boy why ............... absent the previous day.
Wrong!
In reported questions, we use statement word order and backshift the tense, so "he was" is correct.
4The stranger asked Peter ............... he knew Samuel.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Yes/no questions in reported speech can use "if" or "whether" before the reported clause.
5Della asked Madam if she ............... buy her hair.
Wrong!
In reported speech after a past reporting verb, "will" usually changes to "would".
6The girl asked me if I ............... her cat.
Wrong!
The present perfect in the direct question changes to the past perfect, so "had seen" is correct.
7He requested the passersby ............... him a glass of water.
Wrong!
After "requested" with an object, we use the to-infinitive (request somebody to do something), so "to give" is correct.
8The mother advised her children ............... hard.
Wrong!
After "advised" with an object, we use the to-infinitive, so "to work" is correct.
9The father advised his son ............... all his money on gadgets.
Wrong!
The negative infinitive after "advised" is formed with "not to spend".
10He asked me when ............... leaving for Mumbai.
Wrong!
In reported questions, we use statement word order, so "I was" is correct.
11He asked her what ............... doing in his room.
Wrong!
In reported questions, we use statement word order and backshift the tense, so "she was" is correct.

Exercise complete

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Answers

  1. The teacher asked me what I was scribbling in my notebook.
  2. He asked me why I had hit his brother.
  3. The teacher asked the boy why he was absent the previous day.
  4. The stranger asked Peter if / whether he knew Samuel.
  5. Della asked Madam if she would buy her hair.
  6. The girl asked me if I had seen her cat.
  7. He requested the passersby to give him a glass of water.
  8. The mother advised her children to work hard.
  9. The father advised his son not to spend all his money on gadgets.
  10. He asked me when I was leaving for Mumbai.
  11. He asked her what she was doing in his room.

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Related lesson in the course Reported statements: say, tell and backshift Module 08: Clauses & reporting · Lesson 5

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