Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The manager said that the new policy ............... the following month.
Wrong!
"Would start" is correct because future "will" usually backshifts to "would" in reported speech.
2Ella told me that she ............... her keys the day before.
Wrong!
"Had lost" is correct because an earlier past action is naturally reported with the past perfect here.
3Our teacher said that water ............... at 100°C.
Wrong!
"Boils" is correct because general truths usually do not backshift in reported speech.
4Daniel explained that he ............... from home that week.
Wrong!
"Was working" is correct because a current temporary action backshifts naturally with "that week."
5She said that she ............... the report by Friday.
Wrong!
"Would finish" is correct because future "will finish" usually backshifts to "would finish" in reported speech.
6My brother told us that he ............... in Madrid for three years before moving to Lisbon.
Wrong!
"Had lived" is correct because the living happened before the later past action of moving.
7The guide said that we ............... photos inside the museum.
Wrong!
"Couldn't take" is correct because reported prohibition from "can't" usually backshifts to "couldn't."
8Nina mentioned that her parents ............... the next day.
Wrong!
"Were arriving" is correct because a planned future action backshifts naturally in reported speech.
9He said that he ............... coffee anymore.
Wrong!
"Didn't drink" is correct because present simple usually backshifts to past simple in reported speech.
10The scientist said that the results ............... surprising.
Wrong!
"Were" is correct because present "are" usually backshifts to past "were" in reported speech.
11Julia told me that she ............... me later that evening.
Wrong!
"Would call" is correct because future "will call" usually backshifts to "would call" in reported speech.
12The coach said that the team ............... well recently.
Wrong!
"Had been playing" is correct because present perfect continuous often backshifts to past perfect continuous in reported speech.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The manager said that the new policy would start the following month.
- Ella told me that she had lost her keys the day before.
- Our teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
- Daniel explained that he was working from home that week.
- She said that she would finish the report by Friday.
- My brother told us that he had lived in Madrid for three years before moving to Lisbon.
- The guide said that we couldn’t take photos inside the museum.
- Nina mentioned that her parents were arriving the next day.
- He said that he didn’t drink coffee anymore.
- The scientist said that the results were surprising.
- Julia told me that she would call me later that evening.
- The coach said that the team had been playing well recently.
