Reported Speech Quiz

1. Which is the correct reported speech for: 'I am tired,' she said?

1. She said that I was tired.
2. She said that she is tired.
3. She said that she was tired.
4. She told that she was tired.

2. What tense does the present perfect become in reported speech?

1. It stays as present perfect
2. Past continuous
3. Past perfect
4. Simple past

3. Convert to reported speech: 'Don't open the door,' he told us.

1. He said not to open the door.
2. He said us not to open the door.
3. He told us not to open the door.
4. He told us to not open the door.

4. Which reporting verb most naturally fits: 'Could you pass me the salt, please?'

1. He asked me to pass the salt.
2. He demanded to pass the salt.
3. He said to pass the salt.
4. He told me pass the salt.

5. What happens to 'will' in reported speech?

1. It changes to 'could'
2. It changes to 'shall'
3. It changes to 'would'
4. It stays as 'will'

6. Convert to reported speech: 'Are you coming to the party?' she asked him.

1. She asked him are you coming to the party.
2. She asked him if he was coming to the party.
3. She asked him is he coming to the party.
4. She asked him that he was coming to the party.

7. Which word(s) replace 'yesterday' in reported speech when reporting the next day?

1. Before yesterday
2. The day before / the previous day
3. The last day
4. Yesterday remains the same

8. Choose the correct reported speech for: 'I didn't steal anything,' the suspect insisted.

1. The suspect insisted he not steal anything.
2. The suspect insisted that he didn't steal anything.
3. The suspect insisted that he had not stolen anything.
4. The suspect insisted that he hasn't stolen anything.

9. When does backshift NOT always apply in reported speech?

1. When the original speaker is famous
2. When the original statement contains a superlative
3. When the reporting verb is in the present tense
4. When the speech is reported more than 24 hours later

10. Convert to reported speech: 'Where did you put my keys?' he asked her.

1. He asked her that where she had put his keys.
2. He asked her where did she put his keys.
3. He asked her where had she put his keys.
4. He asked her where she had put his keys.

11. What does the reporting verb 'warn' imply that 'say' does not?

1. A caution about a possible danger or negative consequence
2. A formal announcement
3. An expression of surprise
4. Greater politeness

12. Choose the correct reported speech: 'I'll call you when I get home,' she promised.

1. Both A and C are correct.
2. She promised that she will call me when she gets home.
3. She promised that she would call me when she got home.
4. She promised to call me when she got home.

13. What changes when 'this' and 'these' are backshifted in reported speech?

1. 'This' becomes 'here'; 'these' becomes 'there'
2. 'This' becomes 'it'; 'these' becomes 'them'
3. 'This' becomes 'that'; 'these' becomes 'those'
4. They remain unchanged

14. Which sentence shows incorrect use of a reporting verb?

1. He admitted making a mistake.
2. He denied taking the money.
3. She agreed to help with the project.
4. She suggested to go to the cinema.

15. Convert to reported speech: 'Please sit down,' the teacher said to the students.

1. The teacher asked the students that they sit down.
2. The teacher said the students to sit down.
3. The teacher said to the students sit down.
4. The teacher told the students to sit down.

16. What stays the same in reported speech even with backshift?

1. All tenses must backshift without exception
2. Modal verbs never change
3. Past perfect stays as past perfect — it cannot go further back
4. Pronouns never change

17. Convert to reported speech: 'I might be late,' he said.

1. He said that he may be late.
2. He said that he might be late.
3. He said that he should be late.
4. He said that he would be late.

18. Which is the correct reported form of: 'Don't be late!' his mother told him.

1. His mother said him not to be late.
2. His mother told him not to be late.
3. His mother told him that not be late.
4. His mother told him to not late.

19. What does 'she acknowledged that it was her fault' reveal about the original direct speech?

1. She asked: 'Is it my fault?'
2. She said something like: 'It is my fault' or 'I was wrong'
3. She said: 'It might be my fault'
4. She said: 'It's not my fault'

20. Why might a journalist write 'The minister denied that taxes would rise' rather than quoting directly?

1. Direct quotes are illegal in journalism without permission
2. Direct quotes are only allowed when verified by a second source
3. Reported speech allows summarising without quoting word-for-word, and is often clearer and more concise
4. Reported speech is always more accurate than direct quotes