Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The manager said that the new policy ............... the following month.
Wrong!
Use "would start" because future "will" usually backshifts to "would" in reported speech.
2Ella told me that she ............... her keys the day before.
Wrong!
Use "had lost" because the action happened before the time Ella spoke.
3Our teacher said that water ............... at 100°C.
Wrong!
Use "boils" because general truths usually stay in the present in reported speech.
4Daniel explained that he ............... from home that week.
Wrong!
Use "was working" because present continuous usually backshifts to past continuous in reported speech.
5She said that she ............... the report by the following Friday.
Wrong!
Use "would finish" because future "will" usually backshifts to "would" in reported speech.
6My brother told us that he ............... in Madrid for three years before moving to Lisbon.
Wrong!
Use "had lived" because the living happened before the later past action of moving.
7The guide said that we ............... photos inside the museum.
Wrong!
Use "couldn't take" because reported "can't" usually backshifts to "couldn't".
8Nina mentioned that her parents ............... the next day.
Wrong!
Use "were arriving" because a planned future arrangement can backshift to past continuous in reported speech.
9He said that he ............... coffee anymore, but now he drinks it every day.
Wrong!
Use "didn't drink" because present simple usually backshifts to past simple in reported speech, and the situation is no longer true.
10The scientist said that the results ............... surprising.
Wrong!
Use "were" because present "are" usually backshifts to past "were" in reported speech.
11Julia told me that she ............... me later that evening.
Wrong!
Use "would call" because future "will" usually backshifts to "would" in reported speech.
12The coach said that the team ............... well in the previous few weeks.
Wrong!
Use "had been playing" because present perfect continuous often backshifts to past perfect continuous in reported speech.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
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 the following 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, but now he drinks it every day.
- 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 in the previous few weeks.