Reporting in English Grammar

What is the correct reported speech for this sentence?

"She said, 'I am happy today.'"

• A) She said she is happy today.
  

• B) She said she was happy that day.
  

• C) She said I was happy that day.
  

• D) She said she were happy today.

  
  

Answer explanation

Explanation: In reported speech, the present tense "am" changes to past "was", and "today" changes to "that day"

Which word is commonly used when changing direct speech to reported speech?

• A) Says

• B) Say

• C) Told

• D) Tells

Answer explanation

Explanation: The verb "told" is commonly used to report speech when specifying who was spoken to (e.g., "He told me…").

Choose the correct reported speech form:

"They said, 'We will visit our grandmother tomorrow.'"

• A) They said they would visit their grandmother tomorrow.
  

• B) They said they would visit their grandmother the next day.
  

• C) They said they will visit their grandmother the next day.
  

• D) They said they visit their grandmother tomorrow.

  
  

Answer explanation

Explanation:

• "Will" changes to "would" in reported speech.

• "Tomorrow" changes to "the next day."

True or False: When reporting yes/no questions, we use "if" or "whether."

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Explanation:
When reporting yes/no questions, we use "if" or "whether" to introduce the reported question.

Fill in the blank: "Ivana asked me, 'Do you like ice cream?'"

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: "if/whether"

Explanation:

• "If" and "whether" are used when reporting yes/no questions.

• "Do you like ice cream?" → She asked me if/whether I liked ice cream.

What happens to the pronouns in reported speech?

• A) They stay the same.

• B) They change depending on the speaker and listener.

• C) They are removed.
  

• D) They always change to "he" or "she."

Answer explanation

Explanation:
Pronouns must change to match the new speaker’s perspective.

Convert this question into reported speech:

"Youp, 'Where do you live?'"

• A) Youp asked where did I live.
  

• B) Youp asked where I live.
  

• C) Youp asked where I lived.
  

• D) Youp asked where do I live.

  
  

Answer explanation

Explanation:

• The word order changes: "Where do you live?" → "Where I lived."

• The present tense "live" changes to past "lived" in reported speech.

Which sentence is NOT an example of reported speech?

• A) Maria Aurora said she was tired.
  

• B) Andres told me that he would call later.
  

• C) "I love chocolate," Diego said.
  

• D) They explained that they had already eaten.

  
  

Answer explanation

Explanation:

• This is direct speech because it includes quotation marks.

• Reported speech would be: He said he loved chocolate.

Reported speech usually moves the tense of the verb…

• A) Forward in time

• B) Stays the same

  
  

• C) Changes to present tense
  

• D) Backward in time
  

Answer explanation

Explanation:

• This is called backshifting (present → past, past → past perfect).

Choose the correct transformation into reported speech:

"She said, 'I have finished my homework.'"

• A) She said she had finished her homework.
  

• B) She said she finishes her homework.

• C) She said she has finished her homework.

• D) She said she finished her homework.

  
  

Answer explanation

Explanation:

• "Have finished" (present perfect) changes to "had finished" (past perfect).