sentence structure direct and reported speech

Choose the correct way to convert this sentence into reported speech: My teacher said, "We will review our notes tomorrow."

• My teacher said that they would review their notes the next day.

• My teacher said that we would review our notes the next day.

• My teacher said that they would review their notes tomorrow.

• My teacher said that they will review their notes the next day.

Answer explanation

When reporting speech, pronouns ('we' to 'they'), verb tenses ('will' to 'would'), and time adverbs ('tomorrow' to 'the next day') must be changed. Option A makes all three changes correctly. The other options fail to change the pronoun, time word, or tense.

How would you correctly report this yes/no question?
Sarah asked, "Is this your backpack?"

• Sarah asked if that was my backpack.

• Sarah asked was that my backpack.

• Sarah asked whether was that my backpack.

• Sarah asked is this your backpack.

Answer explanation

To report a yes/no question, use 'if' or 'whether', change pronouns ('this' to 'that'), and backshift the verb tense ('is' to 'was'). Crucially, the word order must become a statement (subject + verb), not a question. The other options use incorrect question word order or fail to make the necessary changes.

Complete the sentence to report the command.
The coach shouted, "Run faster!"
The coach ordered the team _____ faster.

• to run

• that they run

• running

• run

Answer explanation

Commands are reported using a reporting verb (like 'ordered') followed by an object ('the team') and the infinitive form of the verb ('to' + verb). Using 'that they run' or a gerund ('running') is incorrect for reporting commands.

Identify the sentence that has an error in its reported speech structure.

• My friend told me that he was feeling sick.

• The students said they had completed their project.

• She explained that she has to leave early.

• He mentioned that he would call me later.

Answer explanation

This sentence is incorrect because the verb tense should shift back. 'Has to' in direct speech should become 'had to' in reported speech. The other options correctly show the simple past ('was feeling'), past perfect ('had completed'), and future-in-the-past ('would call') backshifts.

Choose the correct reported speech for this Wh-question, paying close attention to the word order.
He asked, "What time does the bus arrive?"

• He asked what time the bus arrived.

• He asked what time does the bus arrive.

• He asked what time did the bus arrive.

• He asked that what time the bus arrived.

Answer explanation

In a reported question, the word order changes to a statement form (subject + verb). The question form 'does the bus arrive' becomes the statement form 'the bus arrived', with the tense backshifted. The other options incorrectly keep the question word order.

Complete the sentence to report the request.
My classmate said, "Please lend me your pencil."
My classmate asked me _____ her my pencil.

• to lend

• lending

• that I lend

• if I lend

Answer explanation

Requests, especially those using 'please', are reported using a verb like 'asked' followed by the infinitive ('to' + verb). The word 'please' is removed. The other options use incorrect grammatical structures for a request.

Complete the sentence to report the full dialogue.
Leo said, "I finished my project yesterday. Did you finish yours?"
Leo said that he had finished his project the day before and then asked me _____.

• if I had finished mine

• did I finish mine

• if I finished mine

• that I finished mine

Answer explanation

This combines reporting a statement ('I finished' -> 'he had finished') and a yes/no question ('Did you finish?' -> 'if I had finished'). The verb tense shifts to past perfect in both parts, and the time word 'yesterday' becomes 'the day before'.

Which sentence shows the correct direct speech for this reported sentence: The girl said she had finished her homework the day before.

• The girl said, "I finished my homework yesterday."

• The girl said, "I have finished my homework yesterday."

• The girl said, "I had finished my homework yesterday."

• The girl said, "I finish my homework yesterday."

Answer explanation

The past perfect tense ('had finished') and the phrase 'the day before' in reported speech correctly reverse to the simple past tense ('finished') and the time word 'yesterday' in direct speech. The other options use incorrect or illogical tenses for the original statement.

Complete the reported question correctly.
The police officer asked the driver _____ the stop sign.

• if he had seen

• had he seen

• that he saw

• if did he see

Answer explanation

This reports a yes/no question ('Did you see...?'). It requires the conjunction 'if' (or 'whether'), a subject ('he'), and a backshifted verb ('had seen') in statement order. The other options use incorrect question word order or the wrong conjunction.

Choose the best reporting verb to complete the sentence based on the context.
The doctor said, "You should get more sleep."
The doctor _____ me to get more sleep.

• advised

• ordered

• suggested

• warned

Answer explanation

The verb 'advised' is the most appropriate choice because the doctor is giving helpful guidance. 'Ordered' is too strong, 'warned' implies danger, and 'suggested' typically doesn't use the 'to + infinitive' structure in this way.