G5: Noun Clauses III - Reported Speech 1

by Tom Rohrbach

Multiple Choice Quiz

When we report something that someone else said, we usually 'time-shift' the verb tense.
Do you know the rules for this shifting? Let's find out.

NOTE: In this exercise, we are using FORMAL reported speech. When people speak casually, they often fail to use the correct verb tense.
For more advanced aspects of reported speech, please continue to the Noun Clauses IV ('Reported Speech 2') quiz after you finish this one.

Read each quote below, and then choose the correct verb and/or modal for each reported-speech sentence.

QUOTE: Mary said, “I sold my old sofa.”
REPORTED SPEECH: Mary said that she __ (sell) her old sofa.
1. had sold
2. sold
3. has sold
QUOTE: Vernon said (to us), “I will pick you up at the airport.”
REPORTED SPEECH: Vernon said that he __ (pick) us up at the airport.
1. will pick
2. would have picked
3. would pick
QUOTE: The professor said, “I have graded all the midterm tests.”
REPORTED SPEECH: The professor said that he __ (grade) all the midterm tests.
1. graded
2. has graded
3. had graded
QUOTE: My wife announced, “I am going to paint the bedroom a different color!”
REPORTED SPEECH: My wife announced that she __ (be going to + paint) the bedroom a different color.
1. was going to paint
2. painted
3. would paint
QUOTE: My father reminded me, “You have to take out the trash.”
REPORTED SPEECH: My father reminded me that I __ (have to + take) out the trash.
1. must have taken
2. had to take
3. take
QUOTE: “You should take a break.”
REPORTED SPEECH: My roommate said that I __ (should + take) a break.
1. should take
2. should have taken
3. must take
QUOTE: “I want you to ship this package by Fedex.”
REPORTED SPEECH: My boss said that he __ (want) me to ship the package by Fedex.
1. had wanted
2. wanted
3. has wanted
QUOTE: The teacher said, “The Earth goes around the Sun.”
REPORTED SPEECH: The teacher said that the Earth __ (go) around the Sun.
1. has gone
2. had gone
3. goes
QUOTE: My tutor said, “I can help you again later.”
REPORTED SPEECH: My tutor said that she __ (can + help) me again later.
1. could help
2. could have helped
3. can have helped
QUOTE: My father said, “Turn off the TV and do your homework!”
REPORTED SPEECH: My father told me __ (turn off) the TV and __ (do) my homework.
1. turn off ... do
2. turned off ... did
3. to turn off ... do
QUOTE: We may go to the park after class.
REPORTED SPEECH: My friend Ann said that they __ (may? + go) to the park after class.
1. may go
2. might go
3. may have gone
QUOTE: Mr. Fitch said, “I must get my passport by Friday.”
REPORTED SPEECH: Mr. Fitch said that he __ (must? + get) his passport by Friday.
1. had to get
2. must have gotten
3. had gotten
QUOTE: James said, “The students had already left before the professor arrived.”
REPORTED SPEECH: James said that the students __ (leave + already) before the professor arrived.
1. had already left
2. have already left
3. already left
QUOTE: My accountant said, “You had better send in that payment.”
REPORTED SPEECH: My accountant said that I __ (had better + send in) the payment.
1. had to send in
2. had better to send in
3. had better send in