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Reported Speech Practice (B1-B2) - English Grammar Quiz

⏱ Time: 07:30 📝 Questions: 15 📊 Level: B1, B2 📚 Type: Grammar ⭐ XP: up to +16 (on pass)

Use this 15-question quiz to find your weak spots in Reported Speech. At Level B1-B2, every question targets a specific sub-topic with a clear explanation. Your score tells you what you know; the explanations show you what to study next.

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: Anna said she ___ tired after the long journey.

Question 1 options
'was' is correct because when the reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense, the present simple 'am/is' shifts back to past simple 'was'. The other options use incorrect tense shifts for reported speech.
Q2 15

Question 2: He told me he ___ finish the report by Friday.

Question 2 options
'would' is correct because in reported speech, 'will' changes to 'would' when the reporting verb is in the past tense. 'Will', 'shall', and 'can' are not the correct reported forms here.
Q3 15

Question 3: In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense, the present simple tense in the original sentence changes to past simple.

Question 3 options
True because the tense backshift rule requires present simple to shift to past simple when reporting something in the past, e.g. 'I like pizza' → 'She said she liked pizza'.
Q4 15

Question 4: When do we use reported speech instead of direct speech?

Question 4 options
Reported speech is used to tell someone what another person said without quoting their exact words. It is not used to show exact quotations, describe emotions, or express future plans directly.
Q5 15

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

Question 5 options
  • had already eaten
  • She
  • said that
  • she
  • lunch

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

The correct order is 'She said that she had already eaten lunch' because in reported speech, the present perfect 'have eaten' shifts back to past perfect 'had eaten' when the reporting verb is in the past.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence uses reported speech correctly?

Question 6 options
'He said he could help me the next day' is correct because 'can' changes to 'could' and 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day' in reported speech. The other sentences contain tense or time reference errors.
Q7 15

Question 7: Maria called earlier. She said: 'I'm coming to the party tonight.' What did she say? Maria said she ___ to the party that night.

Question 7 options
'was coming' is correct because in reported speech, present continuous 'am coming' shifts to past continuous 'was coming', and 'tonight' changes to 'that night'.
Q8 15

Question 8: Which sentence correctly uses 'tell' (not 'say') as a reporting verb?

Question 8 options
'She told me she was feeling unwell' is correct because 'tell' must be followed by an object (me, him, her, etc.). 'Say' does not take a direct personal object without 'to'.
Q9 15

Question 9: Put the words in the correct order:

Question 9 options
  • she
  • asked if
  • They
  • her homework
  • had finished

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

The correct order is 'They asked if she had finished her homework' because reported questions use statement word order (subject + verb) and 'have finished' shifts to 'had finished'.
Q10 15

Question 10: Direct speech: 'I must leave now.' Reported speech: He said he ___ leave.

Question 10 options
'had to' is correct because 'must' (for obligation) changes to 'had to' in reported speech when the reporting verb is past. 'Must', 'would', and 'could' are not the correct reported form of 'must' for obligation.
Q11 15

Question 11: Direct speech: 'We were waiting for the bus.' Which correctly reports this sentence?

Question 11 options
'She said they had been waiting for the bus' is correct because past continuous 'were waiting' shifts to past perfect continuous 'had been waiting' in reported speech.
Q12 15

Question 12: Rewrite in reported speech: 'I have never visited Japan.' → She said she ___ Japan.

Question 12 options
'had never visited' is correct because present perfect 'have visited' shifts to past perfect 'had visited' in reported speech when the reporting verb is past.
Q13 15

Question 13: Match each reported speech sentence to the tense change rule it demonstrates.

Question 13 options
He said he worked at a hospital.
She said she was studying for her exam.
They said they had already seen the film.
He said he would call me later.
Will → would
Present simple → past simple
Present perfect → past perfect
Present continuous → past continuous

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

In reported speech, tenses shift back: present simple → past simple, present continuous → past continuous, present perfect → past perfect, and 'will' → 'would'.
Q14 15

Question 14: Modal verbs 'should', 'could', 'might', and 'would' do not change form when used in reported speech.

Question 14 options
True because these modal verbs remain unchanged in reported speech — they already represent a past or hypothetical form and do not need to backshift further.
Q15 15

Question 15: Direct speech: 'Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.' Which reported version is most appropriate?

Question 15 options
'She said water boils at 100 degrees Celsius' is correct because when the reported statement is a general or scientific fact, the tense does not need to change. Backshifting is unnecessary and can sound unnatural for permanent truths.