No Change In Verb Tenses In Reported Speech Grammar Exercises: Level B1-B2 (with Answers)

⏱ Time: 10:00 📝 Questions: 20 📊 Level: B1, B2 📚 Type: Grammar ⭐ XP: up to +22 (on pass)

The fastest way to learn is from your mistakes. Try these 20 No Change In Verb Tenses In Reported Speech exercises at Level B1-B2 and read the explanation for every question — especially the ones you get wrong. Each explanation names the specific rule so you know exactly what to review.

⏱ You have 10:00 to answer 20 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  20
Q1 20

Question 1: My sister says that she ___ Spanish at university right now.

Question 1 options
'is studying' is correct because when the reporting verb ('says') is in the present tense, the verb tense in the reported clause does not change. 'was studying' shifts the tense to the past unnecessarily. 'studied' changes the meaning to a completed action. 'had studied' uses past perfect, which is not appropriate here.
Q2 20

Question 2: The teacher tells us every day that water ___ at 100 degrees Celsius.

Question 2 options
'boils' is correct because scientific facts and general truths keep their present tense in reported speech, even when the reporting verb is in the past. 'boiled', 'had boiled', and 'was boiling' all unnecessarily shift the tense away from a universal fact.
Q3 20

Question 3: When the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., 'says'), the verb tense in the reported clause must stay the same and does not shift back.

Question 3 options
True because one of the core rules of reported speech is that tense backshift only applies when the reporting verb is in a past tense. If the reporting verb is present ('says', 'tells'), the verb in the reported clause remains unchanged.
Q4 20

Question 4: In which situation should the verb tense NOT change when reporting speech?

Question 4 options
'When the reporting verb is in the present tense' is correct because tense backshift is only required when the reporting verb is in a past tense. The other options describe situations where tense backshift is either required or irrelevant.
Q5 20

Question 5: Arrange the words to make a correct sentence:

Question 5 options
  • that he
  • us next week
  • He says
  • will visit

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'He says that he will visit us next week' because the reporting verb 'says' is in the present tense, so 'will visit' does not change to a past form.
Q6 20

Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses no tense change in reported speech?

Question 6 options
'She says that she is working on a new project' is correct because the present tense reporting verb 'says' means no tense change is needed. The other options incorrectly apply past tense forms ('was working', 'had worked', 'worked') to a present-tense reporting context.
Q7 20

Question 7: A: What does the weather forecast say? B: It says that there ___ heavy rain this afternoon.

Question 7 options
'will be' is correct because the reporting verb 'says' is in the present tense, so the original future tense 'will be' remains unchanged in the reported clause. 'would be', 'was', and 'had been' all incorrectly shift the tense.
Q8 20

Question 8: Which sentence correctly uses no tense change (not backshift) in reported speech with a past reporting verb?

Question 8 options
'The scientist said that the Earth orbits the Sun' is correct because scientific facts and general truths can keep the present tense ('orbits') even when the reporting verb is in the past ('said'). The other options apply backshift to a universal fact, which is unnecessary.
Q9 20

Question 9: Put the words in the correct order:

Question 9 options
  • are rising
  • The report says
  • quickly
  • that prices

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'The report says that prices are rising quickly' because 'says' is a present tense reporting verb, so 'are rising' stays in the present continuous with no tense change.
Q10 20

Question 10: My brother will confirm tomorrow that he ___ the job and already signed the contract.

Question 10 options
'has got' is correct because when the reporting verb is in the future tense ('will confirm'), the tense in the reported clause does not change. 'had got', 'got', and 'was getting' all incorrectly shift or alter the tense.
Q11 20

Question 11: He said, 'If I had more time, I would learn guitar.' → He said that if he had more time, he ___ guitar. Which option correctly continues the reported sentence with no tense change?

Question 11 options
'would learn' is correct because second conditional verb forms ('would + base verb') do not change in reported speech — they remain as spoken. 'will learn', 'learned', and 'had learned' all incorrectly alter the conditional structure.
Q12 20

Question 12: Direct speech: 'I might join you for dinner.' → Reported speech: He said that he ___ join us for dinner.

Question 12 options
'might' is correct because modal verbs like 'might', 'could', 'would', 'should', and 'ought to' do not change in reported speech — they remain the same. 'may', 'will', and 'can' are all different modals that do not reflect the original 'might'.
Q13 20

Question 13: Match each reported speech sentence to the correct rule that explains why the tense does not change.

Question 13 options
She says that she loves cooking Italian food.
Newton stated that objects fall due to gravity.
He said that if he won, he would donate the prize.
She said that it might snow later.
No tense change: modal verb 'might' stays unchanged
No tense change: present tense reporting verb
No tense change: general/scientific truth
No tense change: second conditional (unreal past)

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Tense does not change in reported speech for several reasons: present-tense reporting verb, general truth, second conditional, or an unchanged modal verb.
Q14 20

Question 14: When a speaker reports something immediately after it was said, the verb tense in the reported clause may remain exactly as originally spoken, even with a past reporting verb.

Question 14 options
True because when something is reported immediately or very soon after being said, English allows the clause to remain unchanged. For example: 'What did he say?' — 'He said we meet at noon.' This is a recognised exception to the standard backshift rule.
Q15 20

Question 15: Both sentences are grammatically possible. Which one is more appropriate when reporting a statement about a permanent scientific fact?

Question 15 options
'The professor explained that light travels faster than sound' is more appropriate because when the reported content is a universal or scientific truth, the present tense is retained even with a past reporting verb. Using 'travelled' (past) implies the fact may no longer be true.
Q16 20

Question 16: She told me yesterday that her company ___ three new offices in different countries since January, and the expansion is still ongoing.

Question 16 options
'has opened' is correct because the reported information refers to an ongoing situation that is still true at the time of reporting, so the present perfect can be retained without backshift. 'had opened' applies unnecessary backshift. 'opened' loses the present perfect aspect. 'was opening' changes the meaning to a progressive action.
Q17 20

Question 17: The children said, 'We wish we didn't have to go to bed so early.' → The children said they wished they ___ to go to bed so early.

Question 17 options
'didn't have' is correct because the subjunctive and wish-clauses do not change in reported speech — they remain as spoken. 'hadn't had', 'wouldn't have', and 'don't have' all incorrectly alter the original structure.
Q18 20

Question 18: Put the sentences in the correct order:

Question 18 options
  • After the call, I asked Anna what her manager had said.
  • Anna and I were talking about her job when her manager called.
  • Because he often repeats this, Anna reports it in the present tense.
  • She told me he says the team is doing excellent work this month.

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order introduces the conversation, then asks what was said, then gives the reported speech with no tense change, then explains why. This is the only logical sequence.
Q19 20

Question 19: Modal verbs such as 'could', 'would', 'might', and 'should' remain unchanged in reported speech, AND the second conditional verb form also stays the same when reported.

Question 19 options
True because both of these are separate rules that produce no tense change: modals like 'could', 'would', 'might', and 'should' never shift in reported speech, and second conditional structures (if + past simple, would + infinitive) also remain unchanged when reported.
Q20 20

Question 20: Which option correctly fixes the error in: 'My doctor will tell me next week that I needed to exercise more regularly.'?

Question 20 options
'My doctor will tell me next week that I need to exercise more regularly.' is correct because when the reporting verb is in the future tense ('will tell'), there is no tense backshift — the reported clause keeps its natural tense. 'needed' is an incorrect backshift. The other options either change the reporting verb or introduce new errors.