Indirect Speech Quiz

1. Tom says, "I work at the local library."

• Tom says that he worked at the local library.

• Tom says that he has worked at the local library.

• Tom said that he worked at the local library.

• Tom said that he had worked at the local library.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Tom says that he works at the local library.' because the present tense 'works' is used in indirect speech when the reporting verb is in the present tense.

2. Sarah says, "I go to the gym every morning."

• Sarah says that she has gone to the gym every morning.

• Sarah said that she went to the gym every morning.

• Sarah says that she had gone to the gym every morning.

• Sarah says that she has gone to the gym every morning.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Sarah says that she goes to the gym every morning.' because it maintains the present tense of Sarah's original statement, accurately reflecting her routine.

3. John said, "I visited my grandmother yesterday."

• John said that he had visited his grandmother the day before.

• John said that he visited his grandmother the day before.

• John said that he has visited his grandmother the day before.

• John said that he was visiting his grandmother the day before.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'John said that he had visited his grandmother the day before.' This uses the past perfect tense 'had visited' to indicate an action completed before another past action (the statement).

4. Mary said, "I cleaned my room this morning."

• Mary said that she has cleaned her room that morning.

• Mary said that she was cleaning her room that morning.

• Mary said that she had cleaned her room that morning.

• Mary said that she cleaned her room that morning.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Mary said that she had cleaned her room that morning.' This uses the past perfect tense, which is appropriate for reported speech when the original statement is in the past.

5. Lisa says, "I am studying for my exam."

• Lisa said that she studied for her exam.

• Lisa says that she has studied for her exam.

• Lisa says that she has been studying for her exam.

• Lisa said that she was studying for her exam.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Lisa says that she is studying for her exam.' because it maintains the present continuous tense from the original statement, accurately reflecting her ongoing action.

6. Peter said, "The dog is sleeping in the garden."

• Peter says that the dog had been sleeping in the garden.

• Peter said that the dog was sleeping in the garden.

• Peter says that the dog has been sleeping in the garden.

• Peter says that the dog slept in the garden.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Peter says that the dog is sleeping in the garden.' because it directly reflects Peter's original statement without changing the tense or meaning.

7. The students said, "We were preparing for the show."

• The students said that they had been preparing for the show.

• The students say that they were preparing for the show.

• The students say that they have been preparing for the show.

• The students said that they prepared for the show.

Answer explanation

The correct choice maintains the present tense "are preparing," matching the original statement. The other options incorrectly change the tense or aspect of the verb, altering the meaning.

8. Emma said, "I was cooking dinner when you called."

• Emma said that she had been cooking dinner when I called.

• Emma said that she was cooking dinner when I had called.

• Emma said that she has been cooking dinner when I called.

• Emma said that she is cooking dinner when I called.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Emma said that she had been cooking dinner when I called.' This maintains the past perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that was ongoing before another past action (the call).

9. The boys said, "We were playing football."

• The boys said that they had been playing football.

• The boys said that they were playing football.

• The boys said that they have been playing football.

• The boys said that they are playing football.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The boys said that they were playing football.' because it accurately reflects the past continuous tense used in the original statement, maintaining the same time frame.

10. Jack says, "I do not like spicy food."

• Jack said that he does not like spicy food.

• Jack says that he had not liked spicy food.

• Jack said that he did not like spicy food.

• Jack says that he was not liking spicy food.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Jack says that he does not like spicy food.' because it accurately reflects Jack's original statement in the present tense, maintaining the same meaning without altering the time frame.