In reported speech you tell someone what another person said, usually with a tense shift. This reported speech quiz covers statements, yes/no questions and commands, with an explanation after each answer.
1. “I am tired,” she said. She said that she ___ tired.
Present simple moves back to past simple in reported speech: am becomes was.
2. “I will call you tomorrow,” he said. He said he ___ me the next day.
Will becomes would, and tomorrow becomes the next day.
3. “Do you like coffee?” he asked. He asked ___ coffee.
Yes/no questions are reported with if or whether and statement word order.
4. “Close the door,” the teacher said. The teacher told us ___ the door.
Commands are reported with tell + object + to-infinitive.
5. “I have finished my work,” he said. He said he ___ his work.
Present perfect becomes past perfect in reported speech.
6. “Don ‘t be late,” she said to him. She told him ___ late.
Negative commands are reported with not + to-infinitive.
7. He said, “I saw her yesterday.” He said he had seen her ___.
Yesterday becomes the day before when the reporting verb is in the past.
8. “I ‘m staying here this week,” she said. She said she was staying ___ that week.
Here becomes there, and this week becomes that week.
9. She ___ me not to tell anyone.
“Tell “is followed by a person (told me). “Say “is not.
10. “Can you help me?” she asked. She asked if I ___ help her.
Can becomes could in reported speech.
Frequently asked questions
What changes in reported speech?
Pronouns, time and place words change, and the verb usually moves one tense back: I am tired becomes She said she was tired.
What is the difference between say and tell?
Tell needs a person after it (She told me). Say does not (She said that she was late).
How do I report questions?
Use statement word order with no do or does. Wh-questions keep the question word (She asked where I lived). Yes/no questions use if or whether (He asked if I liked coffee).
