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Reported Speech: Gap-Fill Practice and Explanations

Practise reported statements and questions in original dialogues. Review tense and pronoun changes, then adapt the exercise for your learners.

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Reported Speech: Gap-Fill Practice and Explanations example

Source material

Original sample for reported speech gap fill exercises: reported speech, backshift, pronouns, statements, questions.

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Question 1
1

Keep the present tense for a same-day report. Mina said, “The room ______ ready.”

Question 2
2

Context check: The report is being repeated on the same day. Complete the sentence: Mina said, “The room ______ ready.”

Question 3
3

Use past reporting for a later retelling. Mina said that the room ______ ready.

Question 4
4

Context check: The later retelling places the state in the past. Complete the sentence: Mina said that the room ______ ready.

Question 5
5

Use past perfect for an earlier departure. Tom said that he ______ before breakfast.

Question 6
6

Context check: The departure happened before the past reporting point. Complete the sentence: Tom said that he ______ before breakfast.

Question 7
7

Use would for a future seen from the past. The guide said she ______ the next day.

Question 8
8

Context check: The return was future relative to the guide’s past statement. Complete the sentence: The guide said she ______ the next day.

Question 9
9

Use could to report past ability or permission. Lee said that he ______ with the boxes.

Question 10
10

Context check: The reported offer is framed from a past viewpoint. Complete the sentence: Lee said that he ______ with the boxes.

Question 11
11

Use past perfect for an earlier sighting. Rina said she ______ the notice before noon.

Question 12
12

Context check: The sighting preceded the past reference time. Complete the sentence: Rina said she ______ the notice before noon.

Question 13
13

Use would in a reported prediction. The forecast said it ______ colder at night.

Question 14
14

Context check: The prediction is viewed from an earlier time. Complete the sentence: The forecast said it ______ colder at night.

Question 15
15

Use past form in a reported question about a state. He asked whether the doors ______ locked.

Question 16
16

Context check: The question is reported after the original moment. Complete the sentence: He asked whether the doors ______ locked.

Question 17
17

Use past perfect for a completed earlier task. They explained that they ______ the check.

Question 18
18

Context check: The check was complete before the explanation. Complete the sentence: They explained that they ______ the check.

Question 19
19

Use past form when reporting a past need. The note said that the team ______ more time.

Question 20
20

Context check: The need belonged to the earlier situation. Complete the sentence: The note said that the team ______ more time.

Each prompt states whether the report is made on the same day or later, so optional backshift is not treated as a universal error.

Source: Original practice material; grammar terminology checked against Cambridge Dictionary grammar references.

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