Reported Statements exercises — Set 5: No Backshift & Special Cases (Worksheet)
Worksheet • 20 questions • 15 min
"The sun rises in the east." The geography teacher told us that the sun in the east.
"Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius." She said that water at zero degrees Celsius.
"Whales are mammals, not fish." The marine biologist explained that whales mammals, not fish.
"Light travels faster than sound." My physics teacher said that light faster than sound.
"I live in Paris." (She still lives in Paris now.) She said she in Paris.
"I am allergic to peanuts." (He is still allergic.) He told me he allergic to peanuts.
"I work at a hospital." (She still works there.) She said she at a hospital.
"My sister loves chocolate." (Her sister still loves it.) She told me that her sister chocolate.
"I had already eaten dinner before you called." He said he already eaten dinner before I called.
"We had never visited Japan before last year." They told us they never visited Japan before the previous year.
"I had been waiting for two hours when the bus finally arrived." She said she been waiting for two hours when the bus finally arrived.
"I would love to visit Italy someday." He said he love to visit Italy someday.
"I might take a holiday in August." She said she take a holiday in August.
"You should see a doctor about that cough." He told me I see a doctor about my cough.
The weather forecast says it sunny tomorrow.
My doctor says I more exercise.
The sign says the museum at 9 a.m. every day.
"I finished the report yesterday." (Reporting the next day) He said he the report the day before.
"Honesty is the best policy." My grandmother always said that honesty the best policy.
"I could speak three languages when I was young." He said he speak three languages when he was young.
Reported Statements exercises online (Worksheet)
In reported speech, backshift is not always required. When reporting general truths, scientific facts, still-true statements, or sentences with past perfect and certain modals (would, could, might, should), the tense often stays the same. This set tests your ability to decide WHEN to backshift and when to leave the tense unchanged.