Reported Exclamations Formal Tone Quiz: Professional Skills

1. Which of the following is a direct exclamation?

She said she was surprised.

What an unbelievable performance that was!

She wondered whether it was real.

She told him to sit down.

Direct exclamations express emotion or surprise and use exclamation marks.

Explanation

Direct exclamations express emotion or surprise and use exclamation marks.

2. Fill in the blank: To report an exclamation, the punctuation and emotional tone are replaced by a grammatically correct __________.

Reported exclamations remove the exclamation mark and emotional form.

Explanation

Reported exclamations remove the exclamation mark and emotional form.

Submit

3. True or False: When converting to reported speech, what and how in exclamations often disappear or are replaced by modifiers like very or so.

True

False

These words show emotion in direct speech but are simplified in reported form.

Explanation

These words show emotion in direct speech but are simplified in reported form.

4. Choose the correct reported version: Direct: “What a fantastic idea you had!”

She said that I had a fantastic idea.

She said, “You had a fantastic idea!”

She asked if it was fantastic.

She told that I had a fantastic idea.

The exclamation is changed into a calm reported statement with that.

Explanation

The exclamation is changed into a calm reported statement with that.

5. Fill in the blank: Direct: “How awful the traffic is today!” → Reported: He said that the traffic was very __________ that day.

The emotional word how awful becomes very bad in reported form.

Explanation

The emotional word how awful becomes very bad in reported form.

Submit

6. Match each direct exclamation to its reported form:

“What terrible weather this is!”

“How nice it is to see you again!”

“What an exciting match that was!”

Each sentence shifts tense and form while keeping meaning.

Explanation

Each sentence shifts tense and form while keeping meaning.

Submit

7. Pick two reporting verbs that fit emotional tone in reported exclamations.

Exclaimed

Shouted

Asked

Replied

Exclaimed and shouted express emotion, while asked and replied are neutral.

Explanation

Exclaimed and shouted express emotion, while asked and replied are neutral.

Submit

8. Fill in the blank: A reported exclamation may include intensifiers like __________ to replace emotional emphasis.

These words help express emotion without using exclamation form.

Explanation

These words help express emotion without using exclamation form.

Submit

9. True or False: The verb tense in reported exclamations usually stays in the present tense.

True

False

Verb tenses usually move one step back (present → past, past → past perfect).

Explanation

Verb tenses usually move one step back (present → past, past → past perfect).

10. Choose the correct reported version: Direct: “What a mistake I’ve made!”

He said that he had made a mistake.

He said, “I made a mistake!”

He asked if he made a mistake.

He said that he made a mistake.

The verb tense shifts back from present perfect (I’ve made) to past perfect (had made).

Explanation

The verb tense shifts back from present perfect (I’ve made) to past perfect (had made).

11. Fill in the blank: Direct: “How tired I feel!” → Reported: She said that she felt very __________.

The emotional exclamation becomes a normal statement showing the same meaning.

Explanation

The emotional exclamation becomes a normal statement showing the same meaning.

Submit

12. Match each reporting verb to the emotion it conveys:

exclaimed

gasped

murmured

shouted

The reporting verb chosen shows how the speaker expressed emotion.

Explanation

The reporting verb chosen shows how the speaker expressed emotion.

Submit

13. Pick two sentences that correctly use reported exclamations.

“How lucky we are!” → She said that they were lucky.

“What a wonderful trip this will be!” → He said that it would be a wonderful trip.

“What time is it?” → She asked what time it was.

“How can I fix it?” → He asked how he could fix it.

Both transform exclamations into indirect statements with correct tense and structure.

Explanation

Both transform exclamations into indirect statements with correct tense and structure.

Submit

14. Fill in the blank: Reported exclamations maintain the same meaning as the direct version but use __________ grammar and punctuation.

The form becomes grammatical and unemotional while keeping the original sense.

Explanation

The form becomes grammatical and unemotional while keeping the original sense.

Submit

15. True or False: In formal writing, reported exclamations are preferred over direct exclamations because they sound more objective.

True

False

Reported forms are grammatically neutral and fit formal writing better than emotional punctuation.

Explanation

Reported forms are grammatically neutral and fit formal writing better than emotional punctuation.

Accuracy & Tone: Reported Exclamations in Formal Tone Quiz