Reported Statements Exercises PDFSet 3: Future & Modal Verb Changes
20 questions·14 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1."I will call you tomorrow." She said she ___ me the next day.
a) will callb) would callc) calledd) is calling
2."I can speak three languages." He said he ___ speak three languages.
a) couldb) canc) was abled) might
3."I may visit you this weekend." She said she ___ visit me that weekend.
a) mayb) couldc) mightd) would
4."I must finish this essay tonight." He said he ___ finish that essay that night.
a) mustb) has toc) shouldd) had to
5."I'm going to start a new job next month." She said she ___ start a new job the following month.
a) is going tob) was going toc) willd) would
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.would call
2.could
3.might
4.had to
5.was going to
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."would call"(b)
In reported speech, 'will' shifts back to 'would'. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'she' and 'you' to 'me'. 'Tomorrow' also changes to 'the next day'.
2."could"(a)
In reported speech, 'can' shifts back to 'could'. The meaning of ability is preserved, but the modal changes to its past form.
3."might"(c)
In reported speech, 'may' (possibility) shifts back to 'might'. The pronoun 'you' changes to 'me' and 'this weekend' becomes 'that weekend'.
4."had to"(d)
In reported speech, 'must' (obligation) shifts back to 'had to'. 'This essay' becomes 'that essay' and 'tonight' becomes 'that night'.
5."was going to"(b)
In reported speech, 'am going to' shifts back to 'was going to'. The full structure changes: 'am/is/are going to' becomes 'was/were going to'. 'Next month' becomes 'the following month'.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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