Tense Agreement Quiz

She said, 'I speak French.'
↓
She said that she (speak) French. (indirect or reported speech)

• She said that she is speaking French.

• She said that she speaks French.

• She said that she spoke French.

• She said that she had spoken French.

Answer explanation

'She said that she spoke French.' We use the past tense 'spoke' to shift the original present tense 'speak' backwards in reported speech.

'My name is Fred.'
↓
Our neighbour said his name (be) Fred.

• be

• were

• is

• was

Answer explanation

Here, we talk about a lasting thing that is not going to change with time. Common facts, repeating situations, social rules, people's names, or natural laws do not change easily, they continue into the present time. The neighbour's name is always Fred. So, we don't use past tense in indirect speech here.

He said, 'Oh, I am so tired!'
↓
He said he (be) tired.

• be

• was

• is

• were

Answer explanation

The correct form is 'was'. He was tired at the moment when he spoke about it in the past.

"Have you called the doctor to make an appointment?.." (direct speech)
↓
I asked him if he (call) the doctor. (reported speech)

• had called

• call

• called

• was calling

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'had called' because the original question is in the present perfect tense. In reported speech, we shift the tense back. 'Had called' indicates that the action was completed before the asking.

'We met her in the shop this morning. She lives next door!' (direct speech)
↓
Today, we met the woman who (live) next door. (reported speech)

• live

• lived

• lives

• living

Answer explanation

This woman still lives nearby, so the action is not over (continues into the present time). Therefore, we don't shift the tense back in time.

'I don't have enough money! I can't buy a new car...'
↓
Jane said she (can not) buy a new car.

• can’t

• couldn’t

• could

Answer explanation

We use the shift to 'couldn’t' because Jane didn't have money to buy a new car in the past.

'How many books have you read in last month?' (direct speech)
↓
She asked me how many books I (read) in last month. (reported speech)

• reads

• was reading

• read

• had read

Answer explanation

In reported speech, the past perfect tense 'had read' is used to indicate an action completed before another past action. Here, it correctly reflects that the reading occurred in the month prior to the question.

'I usually go to bed before midnight.'
↓
Bob said he usually (go to bed) before midnight?

• go to bed

• went to bed

• going to bed

• goes to bed

Answer explanation

'Usually' suggests a regular action (not a past action). So, the present simple tense is appropriate.

'Why has he left without saying a word? How strange...'
↓
I wondered why Sam (leave) without saying a word.

• had left

• left

• was leaving

• leaves

Cavendish discovered that water (consist of) hydrogen and oxygen?

• was consisting of

• consists of

• consist

• consisted of

Answer explanation

Water ALWAYS consists of H and O elements, it's a natural law. So, no past tense is needed here.