Reported Questions Exercises PDFSet 3: Tense Backshift in Questions
20 questions·14 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1."Where does Tom work?" → She asked where Tom ___.
a) workedb) had workedc) worksd) does work
2."What is she reading?" → He asked what she ___.
a) had been readingb) was readingc) readsd) is reading
3."Have you eaten lunch?" → She asked if I ___ lunch.
a) had eatenb) atec) was eatingd) have eaten
4."Where did you buy that jacket?" → He asked me where I ___ that jacket.
a) did buyb) have boughtc) had boughtd) bought
5."Why were you laughing?" → She asked me why I ___.
a) laughedb) was laughingc) am laughingd) had been laughing
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.worked
2.was reading
3.had eaten
4.had bought
5.had been laughing
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."worked"(a)
Present simple 'work' (after removing 'does') backshifts to past simple 'worked'. This is the most basic tense backshift in reported questions.
2."was reading"(b)
Present continuous 'is reading' backshifts to past continuous 'was reading'. The continuous aspect (-ing form) is preserved.
3."had eaten"(a)
Present perfect 'have eaten' backshifts to past perfect 'had eaten'. Both use the past participle 'eaten', but the auxiliary changes from 'have' to 'had'.
4."had bought"(c)
Past simple 'bought' (after removing 'did') backshifts to past perfect 'had bought'. Remember: 'did' is removed in reported questions and the tense shifts one step further back.
5."had been laughing"(d)
Past continuous 'were laughing' backshifts to past perfect continuous 'had been laughing'. The continuous form is preserved to show the ongoing nature of the action.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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