Reported Speech Quiz

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

She said that she was tired.

Answer

She said that she is tired.

Answer

She told that she was tired.

Answer

She said that I was tired.

Question 2

What tense does the present perfect become in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Past perfect

Answer

Simple past

Answer

Past continuous

Answer

It stays as present perfect

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

He told us not to open the door.

Answer

He said us not to open the door.

Answer

He told us to not open the door.

Answer

He said not to open the door.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

He asked me to pass the salt.

Answer

He said to pass the salt.

Answer

He told me pass the salt.

Answer

He demanded to pass the salt.

Question 5

What happens to 'will' in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

It changes to 'would'

Answer

It changes to 'shall'

Answer

It stays as 'will'

Answer

It changes to 'could'

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

She asked him if he was coming to the party.

Answer

She asked him that he was coming to the party.

Answer

She asked him are you coming to the party.

Answer

She asked him is he coming to the party.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

The day before / the previous day

Answer

Before yesterday

Answer

The last day

Answer

Yesterday remains the same

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The suspect insisted that he had not stolen anything.

Answer

The suspect insisted that he didn't steal anything.

Answer

The suspect insisted he not steal anything.

Answer

The suspect insisted that he hasn't stolen anything.

Question 9

When does backshift NOT always apply in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

When the reporting verb is in the present tense

Answer

When the speech is reported more than 24 hours later

Answer

When the original statement contains a superlative

Answer

When the original speaker is famous

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

He asked her where she had put his keys.

Answer

He asked her where had she put his keys.

Answer

He asked her where did she put his keys.

Answer

He asked her that where she had put his keys.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A caution about a possible danger or negative consequence

Answer

Greater politeness

Answer

A formal announcement

Answer

An expression of surprise

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Both A and C are correct.

Answer

She promised that she would call me when she got home.

Answer

She promised that she will call me when she gets home.

Answer

She promised to call me when she got home.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

'This' becomes 'that'; 'these' becomes 'those'

Answer

'This' becomes 'it'; 'these' becomes 'them'

Answer

They remain unchanged

Answer

'This' becomes 'here'; 'these' becomes 'there'

Question 14

Which sentence shows incorrect use of a reporting verb?

Accepted Answer

She suggested to go to the cinema.

Answer

He admitted making a mistake.

Answer

He denied taking the money.

Answer

She agreed to help with the project.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

The teacher told the students to sit down.

Answer

The teacher said the students to sit down.

Answer

The teacher asked the students that they sit down.

Answer

The teacher said to the students sit down.

Question 16

What stays the same in reported speech even with backshift?

Accepted Answer

Past perfect stays as past perfect — it cannot go further back

Answer

All tenses must backshift without exception

Answer

Modal verbs never change

Answer

Pronouns never change

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

He said that he might be late.

Answer

He said that he may be late.

Answer

He said that he would be late.

Answer

He said that he should be late.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

His mother told him not to be late.

Answer

His mother said him not to be late.

Answer

His mother told him to not late.

Answer

His mother told him that not be late.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

She said something like: 'It is my fault' or 'I was wrong'

Answer

She said: 'It might be my fault'

Answer

She asked: 'Is it my fault?'

Answer

She said: 'It's not my fault'

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Reported speech allows summarising without quoting word-for-word, and is often clearer and more concise

Answer

Direct quotes are illegal in journalism without permission

Answer

Reported speech is always more accurate than direct quotes

Answer

Direct quotes are only allowed when verified by a second source