Reported Speech (Statements) -B1 Grammar Test
This B1 grammar test focuses on reported speech (statements), a high-frequency topic in IELTS, TOEFL, and YDS, especially for tense changes, pronouns, and time expressions.
Choose the correct answer.
RESULTS
#1. She said that she ___ tired.
#2. He told me that he ___ the movie before.
#3. They said they ___ the report the next day.
#4. She said that she ___ in Ankara.
#5. He said he ___ to the gym every day.
#6. She told us that she ___ busy at that time.
#7. He said that he ___ the email already.
#8. They said they ___ the meeting that day.
#9. She said she ___ finish the work soon.
#10. He told me that he ___ his keys.
#11. She said that she ___ never ___ sushi before.
#12. They said they ___ waiting for us.
#13. He said that he ___ there the day before.
#14. She told me that she ___ help me later.
#15. He said that he ___ English for five years.
✅ Answer Key with VERY DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
🧠 IELTS · TOEFL · YDS Focused
🧠 Critical Exam Rule (READ THIS FIRST)
Reported Speech (Statements):
reporting verb past → tense usually moves one step back
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| present simple | past simple |
| present perfect | past perfect |
| will | would |
| am/is/are | was/were |
📌 YDS: backshift + time word trap
📌 IELTS/TOEFL: meaning consistency
1. She said that she was tired.
Correct: b)
Present → past simple (backshift).
2. He told me that he had seen the movie before.
Correct: c)
Present perfect → past perfect.
📌 YDS’nin favori dönüşümü.
3. They said they would finish the report the next day.
Correct: c)
Will → would (future reported).
4. She said that she lived in Ankara.
Correct: b)
General statement reported in the past.
5. He said he went to the gym every day.
Correct: b)
Habit → present simple becomes past simple.
6. She told us that she was busy at that time.
Correct: b)
Time expression shifts (now → then / at that time).
7. He said that he had sent the email already.
Correct: c)
Completed action before reporting → past perfect.
8. They said they had the meeting that day.
Correct: b)
Present simple → past simple.
9. She said she would finish the work soon.
Correct: b)
Future intention reported → would.
10. He told me that he had lost his keys.
Correct: c)
Loss happened before reporting → past perfect.
11. She said that she had never eaten sushi before.
Correct: b)
Present perfect → past perfect.
📌 IELTS Speaking reported experiences.
12. They said they were waiting for us.
Correct: b)
Present continuous → past continuous.
13. He said that he was there the day before.
Correct: b)
Yesterday → the day before (time shift).
14. She told me that she would help me later.
Correct: b)
Promise reported → would.
15. He said that he had studied English for five years.
Correct: c)
Duration up to a past point → past perfect.
🧠 EXAM SURVIVAL SUMMARY
Remember in Reported Speech:
Past reporting verb → backshift
will → would
have/has → had
now → then / today → that day / yesterday → the day before
Exam focus:
YDS: tense + time-word traps
IELTS: clarity & meaning
TOEFL: narrative consistency
