Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1At the debrief, Maya reported that she ............... the figures before the client arrived.
Wrong!
Use past perfect for an action already completed before another past point in reported speech: "had checked".
2Leo told me yesterday that he would send the contract ...............
Wrong!
With past reporting from 'yesterday', 'tomorrow' usually shifts to "the following day".
3The officer asked the driver ............... insurance.
Wrong!
In reported yes/no questions, use 'whether/if' plus statement word order: "whether he had".
4In the interview, they asked Sara why ............... the previous job.
Wrong!
A reported wh-question keeps the question word but uses statement word order: "she had left".
5The coach told the players ............... their phones during the briefing.
Wrong!
After 'told + object' for a reported command, use the to-infinitive: "to switch off".
6The nurse warned us ............... the tablets with alcohol.
Wrong!
A negative reported warning or command uses 'not to' before the verb: "not to take".
7The site manager ordered the subcontractor ............... the unsafe ladder immediately.
Wrong!
After 'ordered + object' in reported commands, use the to-infinitive: "to remove".
8The security notice requested that all visitors ............... badges inside the laboratory.
Wrong!
After 'requested that', formal reported instructions can use the base verb: "wear".
9Priya asked me if I ............... her the final slides that evening.
Wrong!
With a past reporting verb, 'can' normally changes to "could send" in a reported question.
10Nina ............... me that the meeting had been cancelled.
Wrong!
Use 'tell' with a direct personal object before a that-clause: "told".
11Yesterday the technician explained that we ............... restart the server before installing the patch this morning.
Wrong!
When a past report refers to a later obligation, 'will have to' becomes "would have to".
12At last week's budget meeting, the reviewer wanted to know how much the upgrade ...............
Wrong!
A future form in a past reported question usually changes from 'will' to "would cost".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- At the debrief, Maya reported that she had checked the figures before the client arrived.
- Leo told me yesterday that he would send the contract the following day .
- The officer asked the driver whether he had insurance.
- In the interview, they asked Sara why she had left the previous job.
- The coach told the players to switch off their phones during the briefing.
- The nurse warned us not to take the tablets with alcohol.
- The site manager ordered the subcontractor to remove the unsafe ladder immediately.
- The security notice requested that all visitors wear badges inside the laboratory.
- Priya asked me if I could send her the final slides that evening.
- Nina told me that the meeting had been cancelled.
- Yesterday the technician explained that we would have to restart the server before installing the patch this morning.
- At last week’s budget meeting, the reviewer wanted to know how much the upgrade would cost .