English Grammar Test English Grammar Reported Speech 4

Question 1

He said, 'I have been working all day.' What is the reported speech?

Accepted Answer

He said he had been working all day.

Answer

Present perfect continuous 'have been working' backshifts to past perfect continuous 'had been working.'

Question 2

She said, 'I don't know the answer.' What is the reported speech?

Accepted Answer

She said she didn't know the answer.

Answer

Simple present 'don't know' backshifts to simple past 'didn't know' in reported speech.

Question 3

Which sentence correctly reports the question: 'Did she pass the exam?'

Accepted Answer

Both B and C are acceptable.

Answer

Both 'passed' (no change) and 'had passed' (backshifted) are acceptable reported forms.

Question 4

The coach said, 'Train harder!' What is the reported speech?

Accepted Answer

The coach told us to train harder.

Answer

Imperatives become 'told + object + to-infinitive' in reported speech.

Question 5

She said, 'I was cooking dinner.' What is the reported speech?

Accepted Answer

She said she had been cooking dinner.

Answer

Past continuous 'was cooking' backshifts to past perfect continuous 'had been cooking.'

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