Tense Changes Reported Speech Quiz

1. What happens to the verb tense in reported (indirect) speech when the reporting verb is in the past (for example, she said)?

It always stays in the present tense.

It usually moves one step back into the past.

It always changes to the future tense.

It is removed from the sentence.

When we report speech with a past-tense verb like said, we usually move the main verb one step back in time.

Explanation

When we report speech with a past-tense verb like said, we usually move the main verb one step back in time.

2. Direct: "I am tired," she said. Which is the correct reported (indirect) speech?

She said that she is tired.

She said that she was tired.

She said that she will be tired.

She said that she had been tired.

Am tired in direct speech usually changes to was tired when reported with said.

Explanation

Am tired in direct speech usually changes to was tired when reported with said.

3. Direct: "I am hungry," he said. Indirect: He said that he was hungry. This is a correct tense change.

True

False

The present tense am changes to the past tense was after the past reporting verb said.

Explanation

The present tense am changes to the past tense was after the past reporting verb said.

4. You must always change the verb tense in reported speech, even if the meaning and time are still true now.

True

False

Often we backshift the tense, but we do not have to if the statement is still clearly true in the present.

Explanation

Often we backshift the tense, but we do not have to if the statement is still clearly true in the present.

5. Which reported sentences correctly show tense changes from the direct speech?

Direct: "I like pizza," Tom said. Indirect: Tom said that he liked pizza.

Direct: "I am reading," she said. Indirect: She said that she was reading.

Direct: "I will help," he said. Indirect: He said that he would help.

Direct: "I can swim," Mia said. Indirect: Mia said that she can swim.

Direct: "I am late," she said. Indirect: She said that she will be late.

Liked, was reading, and would help all show the verb moved one step back after a past reporting verb.

Explanation

Liked, was reading, and would help all show the verb moved one step back after a past reporting verb.

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6. Which reported sentences do NOT show the tense changes correctly?

Direct: "I am tired," she said. Indirect: She said that she was tired.

Direct: "I am tired," she said. Indirect: She said that she is tired.

Direct: "I will call you," he said. Indirect: He said that he would call me.

Direct: "I can help," they said. Indirect: They said that they could help.

Direct: "I like school," he said. Indirect: He said that he will like school.

In B and E the tense change does not match the usual backshift pattern for past reporting verbs.

Explanation

In B and E the tense change does not match the usual backshift pattern for past reporting verbs.

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8. Direct: "I will help," he said. Indirect: He said that he __________ help.

Will usually changes to would when the reporting verb is in the past.

Explanation

Will usually changes to would when the reporting verb is in the past.

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9. Direct: "I play soccer," Mark said. Which is the best reported (indirect) sentence?

Mark said that he plays soccer.

Mark said that he played soccer.

Mark said that he will play soccer.

Mark said that he had played soccer.

Play in the present simple usually changes to played in the past simple after said.

Explanation

Play in the present simple usually changes to played in the past simple after said.

10. Direct: "I am doing my homework," she said. Which is the correct reported sentence?

She said that she is doing her homework.

She said that she did her homework.

She said that she was doing her homework.

She said that she will be doing her homework.

Am doing in present progressive usually changes to was doing in past progressive when reported.

Explanation

Am doing in present progressive usually changes to was doing in past progressive when reported.

11. Direct: "I can come," he said. Indirect: He said that he could come. This shows a correct tense change.

True

False

Can usually changes to could in reported speech after a past reporting verb.

Explanation

Can usually changes to could in reported speech after a past reporting verb.

12. Direct: "I will finish it," she said. Indirect: She said that she would finish it. This is correct reported speech.

True

False

Will normally changes to would when we report it with said in the past.

Explanation

Will normally changes to would when we report it with said in the past.

13. Match the direct speech to correct reported speech. Which pairs are correct?

Direct: "I am sick," he said. Indirect: He said that he was sick.

Direct: "I was sick," he said. Indirect: He said that he was sick.

Direct: "I was sick," he said. Indirect: He said that he had been sick.

Direct: "I have finished," she said. Indirect: She said that she finished.

Direct: "I have finished," she said. Indirect: She said that she had finished.

All these pairs show either a correct backshift or a tense that stays the same in a natural way.

Explanation

All these pairs show either a correct backshift or a tense that stays the same in a natural way.

Submit

14. Direct: "Are you ready?" she asked. Which is the correct reported (indirect) sentence?

She asked are you ready.

She asked if I am ready.

She asked if I was ready.

She asked that I was ready.

Are becomes was and the question form turns into a statement with if in indirect speech.

Explanation

Are becomes was and the question form turns into a statement with if in indirect speech.

15. Direct: "I was late," he said. Indirect: He said that he __________ late.

Was can change to had been to show one more step back in time in reported speech.

Explanation

Was can change to had been to show one more step back in time in reported speech.

Submit

16. Which reported sentence does NOT show the tense correctly?

Direct: "I am busy," she said. Indirect: She said that she was busy.

Direct: "I like dogs," he said. Indirect: He said that he liked dogs.

Direct: "I will call you," she said. Indirect: She said that she would call me.

Direct: "I can come," he said. Indirect: He said that he can come.

Can usually changes to could in reported speech after a past reporting verb.

Explanation

Can usually changes to could in reported speech after a past reporting verb.

17. When we change direct speech to reported speech, we must pay attention to both the verb tense and the time words like now or tomorrow.

True

False

Time words and verb tenses need to match so the new sentence still makes sense in time.

Explanation

Time words and verb tenses need to match so the new sentence still makes sense in time.

18. Which reported sentences correctly change both the tense and the time word?

Direct: "I am going today," she said. Indirect: She said that she was going that day.

Direct: "I will go tomorrow," he said. Indirect: He said that he would go tomorrow.

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

Direct: "I was here yesterday," she said. Indirect: She said that she had been here yesterday.

Direct: "I was here yesterday," she said. Indirect: She said that she had been there the day before.

These sentences show natural changes in tense and time words when moving to reported speech.

Explanation

These sentences show natural changes in tense and time words when moving to reported speech.

Submit

19. Direct: "I like this game," he said. Indirect: He said that he __________ that game.

Like in present simple changes to liked in past simple after said.

Explanation

Like in present simple changes to liked in past simple after said.

Submit

20. Why do we often change the verb tense when we turn direct speech into reported speech?

To make the sentence longer.

To hide who was speaking.

To show that the words were spoken in the past and to keep the time clear for the reader.

To remove all time words from the sentence.

Backshifting the tense helps show that the speech happened earlier and keeps the time of actions clear.

Explanation

Backshifting the tense helps show that the speech happened earlier and keeps the time of actions clear.

Verb Shifts: Tense Changes Reported Speech Quiz