English Grammar Test English Grammar Reported Speech 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: She said, 'I have never been to Paris.' What is the reported speech?
- She said that she had never been to Paris. (Correct answer)
- She said that she has never been to Paris.
- She said that she never went to Paris.
- She said that she would never go to Paris.
Correct answer: She said that she had never been to Paris.
Present perfect 'have been' shifts to past perfect 'had been' in reported speech.
Question 2: He asked, 'Will you help me?' What is the reported speech?
- He asked if I will help him.
- He asked whether I would help him. (Correct answer)
- He asked that I would help him.
- He asked me would I help him.
Correct answer: He asked whether I would help him.
'Will' backshifts to 'would' and yes/no questions use 'if' or 'whether' in reported speech.
Question 3: They announced, 'The meeting starts at noon.' Which reported version is correct?
- They announced that the meeting starts at noon.
- They announced that the meeting started at noon.
- They announced that the meeting would start at noon.
- Both B and C are correct. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both B and C are correct.
Both backshifted past simple and 'would' forms are acceptable for reporting a scheduled future event.
Question 4: Mom said, 'Don't touch the stove!' What is the reported speech?
- Mom said don't touch the stove.
- Mom told me to not touch the stove.
- Mom told me not to touch the stove. (Correct answer)
- Mom said that I shouldn't touch the stove.
Correct answer: Mom told me not to touch the stove.
Negative imperatives become 'told + object + not + to-infinitive' in reported speech.
Question 5: She said, 'I am waiting for the bus.' What is the reported speech?
- She said that she is waiting for the bus.
- She said that she waited for the bus.
- She said that she was waiting for the bus. (Correct answer)
- She said that she had been waiting for the bus.
Correct answer: She said that she was waiting for the bus.
Present continuous 'am waiting' backshifts to past continuous 'was waiting' in reported speech.
Question 6: He said, 'I can swim.' What is the reported speech?
- He said that he can swim.
- He said that he could swim.
- He said that he was able to swim.
- Both B and C are correct. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both B and C are correct.
'Can' backshifts to 'could' or 'was able to' in reported speech; both are correct.
Question 7: The teacher said, 'Who broke the window?' What is the reported speech?
- The teacher asked who broke the window.
- The teacher asked who had broken the window. (Correct answer)
- The teacher asked who did break the window.
- The teacher asked who breaks the window.
Correct answer: The teacher asked who had broken the window.
Past simple 'broke' backshifts to past perfect 'had broken' in reported speech.
English Grammar Test English Grammar Reported Speech 2
She said, 'I have never been to Paris.' What is the reported speech?