Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The analyst admitted that she ............... the volatility data when she drafted the initial forecast.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "admitted", the original past simple ("I misread the data when I drafted...") backshifts to the past perfect, so "had misread" is correct. The present perfect cannot be used with a finished past time clause like 'when she drafted'.
2According to the minutes, the suppliers said they ............... a revised delivery schedule at that point.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "said", the present continuous in the original statement is backshifted, so "were negotiating" is correct.
3The consultant warned that the merger ............... require regulatory approval before any assets could be transferred.
Wrong!
A future prediction reported from a past standpoint normally backshifts "will" to "would", so "would" is correct.
4The technician told us that the backup generator ............... sustain the laboratory for six hours without refuelling.
Wrong!
In a past reported statement about ability, "can" normally backshifts to "could", so "could" is correct.
5The chair noted that the proposal ............... be postponed if the legal review was not completed by Friday.
Wrong!
When a possibility with "may" is reported from a past viewpoint, it usually backshifts to "might", so "might" is correct.
6The applicant said that he ............... the portfolio the previous week, not on the day of the interview.
Wrong!
A past action reported from a later past viewpoint is normally backshifted from past simple to past perfect, so "had submitted" is correct.
7The researcher explained that her team ............... developing the prototype for almost two years before the funding was withdrawn.
Wrong!
The activity continued up to an earlier past point ('before the funding was withdrawn'), and the report is in the past after 'explained', so the past perfect continuous "had been developing" is correct; the present perfect cannot connect to a finished past event.
8The operations director announced that engineers ............... the network throughout the weekend.
Wrong!
A planned future activity reported from a past standpoint normally changes "will be" to "would be", so "would be monitoring" is correct.
9In her email on Tuesday, Marta wrote that the auditors would arrive ...............
Wrong!
In a report made from a later viewpoint, direct-speech "tomorrow" shifts to "the following day", so "the following day" is correct.
10The maintenance log stated that the contractor ............... the drainage fault by the time inspectors returned.
Wrong!
Because the issue was reported as already complete before another past time, the backshifted past perfect "had resolved" is correct.
11The compliance officer reminded the board that, under the policy in force at the time, all archived contracts ............... be retained for ten years.
Wrong!
The obligation belongs to a past situation ('the policy in force at the time') and is reported after a past verb, so the past form "had to" is correct; present "have to" clashes with 'at the time'.
12During last year's briefing, the economist argued that consumer confidence ............... heavily on energy prices at that time.
Wrong!
The claim is tied to a past situation ('at that time') and reported after the past verb "argued", so the present simple backshifts to the past simple "depended"; present "depends" clashes with 'at that time'.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The analyst admitted that she had misread the volatility data when she drafted the initial forecast.
- According to the minutes, the suppliers said they were negotiating a revised delivery schedule at that point.
- The consultant warned that the merger would require regulatory approval before any assets could be transferred.
- The technician told us that the backup generator could sustain the laboratory for six hours without refuelling.
- The chair noted that the proposal might be postponed if the legal review was not completed by Friday.
- The applicant said that he had submitted the portfolio the previous week, not on the day of the interview.
- The researcher explained that her team had been developing the prototype for almost two years before the funding was withdrawn.
- The operations director announced that engineers would be monitoring the network throughout the weekend.
- In her email on Tuesday, Marta wrote that the auditors would arrive the following day.
- The maintenance log stated that the contractor had resolved the drainage fault by the time inspectors returned.
- The compliance officer reminded the board that, under the policy in force at the time, all archived contracts had to be retained for ten years.
- During last year’s briefing, the economist argued that consumer confidence depended heavily on energy prices at that time.