Time Place Words Reported Speech Quiz

1. What happens to many time and place words when we change direct speech into reported (indirect) speech?

They often stay exactly the same.

They often change so they make sense from the new time and place of the speaker.

They must always change into future words.

They are removed from the sentence.

Words like today or here often change so they still make sense when the speech is reported later.

Explanation

Words like today or here often change so they still make sense when the speech is reported later.

2. Direct: "I will do it today," he said. Which is the best reported sentence?

He said that he would do it today.

He said that he will do it that day.

He said that he would do it that day.

He said that he would do it yesterday.

Will usually changes to would and today usually changes to that day in reported speech.

Explanation

Will usually changes to would and today usually changes to that day in reported speech.

3. Direct: "I will finish it tomorrow," she said. Which reported sentence is correct?

She said that she would finish it the next day.

She said that she would finish it yesterday.

She said that she finished it the next day.

She said that she will finish it tomorrow.

Tomorrow usually becomes the next day (or the following day) in reported speech.

Explanation

Tomorrow usually becomes the next day (or the following day) in reported speech.

4. In reported speech, the time word now is often changed to then.

True

False

We say then to show the time at the moment the person was speaking.

Explanation

We say then to show the time at the moment the person was speaking.

5. In reported speech, the place word here often changes to there.

True

False

Here shows the speaker’s place, so it often becomes there when another person reports it.

Explanation

Here shows the speaker’s place, so it often becomes there when another person reports it.

6. Which time changes are usually correct in reported speech?

Today → that day

Tomorrow → the next day

Yesterday → the day after

Now → then

Tonight → that night

Today often becomes that day, tomorrow becomes the next day, now becomes then, and tonight becomes that night.

Explanation

Today often becomes that day, tomorrow becomes the next day, now becomes then, and tonight becomes that night.

Submit

7. Which place word changes are usually correct in reported speech?

Here → there

This → that

These → those

There → here

That → these

Here often becomes there, this becomes that, and these becomes those when we report someone’s words.

Explanation

Here often becomes there, this becomes that, and these becomes those when we report someone’s words.

Submit

9. Direct: "We went there yesterday," he said. Reported: He said that they had gone there __________.

Yesterday usually becomes the day before (or the previous day) in reported speech.

Explanation

Yesterday usually becomes the day before (or the previous day) in reported speech.

Submit

10. Direct: "I am staying here tonight," Alex said. Which is the best reported sentence?

Alex said that he was staying here that night.

Alex said that he was staying there that night.

Alex said that he is staying there tonight.

Alex said that he stayed there the night before.

Here changes to there, and tonight changes to that night when reported later.

Explanation

Here changes to there, and tonight changes to that night when reported later.

11. Direct: "We met you last week," they said. Which reported sentence is correct?

They said that they met us last week.

They said that they had met us the following week.

They said that they had met us the previous week.

They said that they had met us the next week.

Last week usually becomes the previous week (or the week before) in reported speech.

Explanation

Last week usually becomes the previous week (or the week before) in reported speech.

12. In reported speech, next year often becomes the following year or the next year.

True

False

We often use the following year or the next year to show future time from the moment of speaking.

Explanation

We often use the following year or the next year to show future time from the moment of speaking.

13. Sometimes time and place words do not change if the report is made at the same time and place as the original speech.

True

False

If the situation has not moved in time or place, we can keep words like today or here.

Explanation

If the situation has not moved in time or place, we can keep words like today or here.

14. Which pairs show correct changes from direct to reported speech?

Direct: "I will go there tomorrow," he said. Reported: He said that he would go there the next day.

Direct: "We arrived yesterday," she said. Reported: She said that they had arrived the day before.

Direct: "I am busy now," he said. Reported: He said that he was busy then.

Direct: "We will travel next week," they said. Reported: They said that they would travel the previous week.

Direct: "I will call you tonight," she said. Reported: She said that she would call us that night.

A, B, C, and E use usual time-word changes like tomorrow→the next day and tonight→that night.

Explanation

A, B, C, and E use usual time-word changes like tomorrow→the next day and tonight→that night.

Submit

15. Which reported sentences use time or place words incorrectly?

Direct: "I met him yesterday," she said. Reported: She said that she had met him the day before.

Direct: "I will see you tomorrow," he said. Reported: He said that he would see me the day before.

Direct: "We are leaving now," they said. Reported: They said that they were leaving then.

Direct: "I went there last night," he said. Reported: He said that he had gone there that night.

Direct: "I live here," she said. Reported: She said that she lives here.

In B tomorrow should not become the day before, in D last night should become the night before, and in E here may stay or become there depending on context, but lives here is odd if she moved.

Explanation

In B tomorrow should not become the day before, in D last night should become the night before, and in E here may stay or become there depending on context, but lives here is odd if she moved.

Submit

16. Direct: "I am busy now," he said. Reported: He said that he was busy __________.

Now usually becomes then when we report the sentence later.

Explanation

Now usually becomes then when we report the sentence later.

Submit

17. Direct: "I work here," she said. Reported: She said that she worked __________.

Here often becomes there when another person reports the sentence from a different place.

Explanation

Here often becomes there when another person reports the sentence from a different place.

Submit

18. Why do we usually change words like today, now, and here in reported speech?

Because English grammar rules say we cannot use them.

Because we want sentences to be longer.

Because the time and place are viewed from the later reporter’s point of view, not the original speaker’s.

Because we must always use past time words.

Reported speech shows the situation from the time and place of the person reporting, so the words must fit that view.

Explanation

Reported speech shows the situation from the time and place of the person reporting, so the words must fit that view.

19. In reported speech, yesterday usually changes to the day before or the previous day.

True

False

We use the day before or the previous day to show time before the moment of speaking.

Explanation

We use the day before or the previous day to show time before the moment of speaking.

20. When checking a reported-speech sentence for time and place, what should you do first?

Change every time word to the past tense.

Remove all place words so there is no confusion.

Always change here to now and today to then.

You should scan for time and place words and decide whether they should be shifted for reported speech.

Explanation

You should scan for time and place words and decide whether they should be shifted for reported speech.

Conversion Rules: Time and Place Words in Reported Speech Quiz