B2 Reported Speech (Advanced) – Grammar Test 3 | 15 Practice Questions for IELTS, TOEFL & YDS
Boost your grammar skills with B2 Reported Speech Grammar Test 3. Practice 15 advanced questions for IELTS, TOEFL, and YDS exams.
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B2 Reported Speech (Advanced) – Grammar Test 3
Reported speech, or indirect speech, is an essential structure in English that enables speakers to report what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. At the B2 level, learners are expected to demonstrate strong control over tense shifts, pronoun changes, reporting verbs, and transformations of different sentence types, including statements, questions, commands, and requests. These transformations require careful attention to both grammar and meaning.
One of the most important aspects of advanced reported speech is the correct use of backshifting, where verb tenses change when the reporting verb is in the past. Learners must also be able to transform direct questions into indirect questions by adjusting word order and removing auxiliary inversion. In addition, expressions of time and place (such as today, tomorrow, here, yesterday) must be adapted appropriately to reflect the new context.
In exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, and YDS, reported speech is commonly tested in grammar and writing sections. Students must accurately apply grammatical rules and select appropriate reporting verbs such as tell, say, ask, advise, suggest, and warn. Mastering reported speech helps learners communicate more effectively, produce more complex sentences, and succeed in academic and professional English contexts.
Choose the correct answer for each question.
RESULTS
#1. She said, “I will finish the report tonight.” → She said that she ______ finish the report that night.
#2. He said, “I am watching a movie.” → He said that he ______ a movie.
#3. They said, “We have already left.” → They said that they ______ already left.
#4. She said, “I can speak three languages.” → She said that she ______ speak three languages.
#5. He said, “I bought this car last year.” → He said that he ______ that car the previous year.
#6. She said, “I am meeting him tomorrow.” → She said that she ______ him the next day.
#7. He said, “Do you understand the problem?” → He asked me if I ______ the problem.
#8. She said, “Where did you go?” → She asked me where I ______.
#9. He said, “Turn off the lights.” → He told me ______ off the lights.
#10. She said, “Please wait here.” → She asked me ______ there.
#11. He said, “I must leave now.” → He said that he ______ leave then.
#12. She said, “I may call you later.” → She said that she ______ call me later.
#13. He said, “We are building a new house.” → He said that they ______ a new house.
#14. She said, “I didn’t finish my homework.” → She said that she ______ her homework.
#15. He said, “I won’t tell anyone.” → He said that he ______ tell anyone.
Detailed Explanations
1
Correct Answer: would
Future tense changes to a conditional form when reported with a past reporting verb.
2
Correct Answer: was watching
Present continuous tense shifts to past continuous in reported speech.
3
Correct Answer: had
Present perfect tense changes to past perfect when backshifting occurs.
4
Correct Answer: could
The modal verb “can” changes to its past form in reported speech.
5
Correct Answer: had bought
Past simple tense changes to past perfect to show the action happened before the reporting moment.
6
Correct Answer: was meeting
Present continuous with future meaning shifts to past continuous in reported speech.
7
Correct Answer: understood
In reported yes/no questions, tense shifts back and the sentence structure changes to statement form.
8
Correct Answer: had gone
Past simple tense changes to past perfect in reported wh-questions.
9
Correct Answer: to turn
Commands are reported using an infinitive structure after verbs like “tell.”
10
Correct Answer: to wait
Requests are reported using an infinitive structure following verbs such as “ask.”
11
Correct Answer: had to
The modal verb “must” changes to “had to” when expressing obligation in reported speech.
12
Correct Answer: might
Some modal verbs remain unchanged or shift slightly depending on meaning; here, the correct form expresses possibility.
13
Correct Answer: were building
Present continuous tense shifts to past continuous in reported speech.
14
Correct Answer: hadn’t finished
Past simple negative changes to past perfect negative when reported.
15
Correct Answer: wouldn’t
Future negative forms shift to conditional negative forms in reported speech.
