Reporting with No Backshift Practice Test — Intermediate

All 45 questions with answers

Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.

1. Q1Original: 'I live in London.' If the speaker still lives in London, which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

   AHe said he lived in London. BHe said he lives in London. CHe said he has lived in London. DHe said he was living in London.

   Answer: B. He said he lives in London.

   When reporting a situation that remains true at the moment of speaking, we can choose to keep the present simple (lives) instead of backshifting to the past simple (lived). This emphasizes that the information is still a current fact.

2. Q2Original: 'I am working on a new project.' If the project is still ongoing, which sentence uses NO backshift to show this?

   AShe said she is working on a project. BShe said she was working on a project. CShe said she worked on a project. DShe said she had worked on a project.

   Answer: A. She said she is working on a project.

   If an action is still in progress when reported, the present continuous (is working) can be retained without backshifting. Using the present tense specifically highlights that the project is not yet finished. The other options all backshift the verb into the past, which does not emphasise the ongoing nature of the action.

3. Q3Choose the correctly reported indirect question: 'Where does the bus stop?' (The bus route is still current).

   AHe asked where the bus stopped. BHe asked where did the bus stop. CHe asked where does the bus stop. DHe asked where the bus stops.

   Answer: D. He asked where the bus stops.

   Indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb) and do not use auxiliary inversion (verb before subject). Since the bus route is currently active, we can keep the present simple (stops). Using 'where does the bus stop' is incorrect because it retains the question structure.

4. Q4Choose the grammatically correct version: 'She asked when is the meeting.'

   AShe asked when is the meeting. BShe asked when the meeting is. CShe asked when the meeting had been. DShe asked when was the meeting.

   Answer: B. She asked when the meeting is.

   Indirect questions must follow statement word order (subject + verb). Therefore, 'the meeting is' is correct because the subject ('the meeting') comes before the verb ('is'). All other options use inverted word order ('when is the meeting', 'when was the meeting'), which is only correct in direct questions.

5. Q5Choose the grammatically correct version: 'He asked me where did I live, but I didn't know.'

   AHe asked me where I have lived, but I didn't know. BHe asked me where I lived, but I didn't know. CHe asked me where I was living, but I didn't know. DHe asked me where did I live, but I didn't know.

   Answer: B. He asked me where I lived, but I didn't know.

   In indirect questions, we remove auxiliary verbs like 'did' and use statement word order. 'Where I lived' correctly follows this structure. 'Where did I live' is incorrect because it uses the question form instead of a reported clause.

6. Q6Original: 'I love jazz music.' (The speaker still loves it). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

   AHe said he had loved jazz. BHe said he is to love jazz. CHe said he loves jazz. DHe said he was loving jazz.

   Answer: C. He said he loves jazz.

   For personal preferences or permanent states that are still true, we often use the present simple (loves) in reported speech. 'Is to love' is incorrect here as it usually refers to future obligations or arrangements.

7. Q7Which sentence implies the reporter confirms the current truth of the statement?

   AShe said she was happy, and she is sad. BShe said she was happy, but I don't know now. CShe said she is happy, but she looked sad. DShe said she is happy, and I believe her.

   Answer: D. She said she is happy, and I believe her.

   Using the present tense 'is happy' indicates that the reporter believes the statement is still a fact. The phrase 'and I believe her' provides the context clue that the situation remains true in the reporter's eyes.

8. Q8Original: 'The sky is blue.' Report this universal truth.

   AHe said the sky would be blue. BHe said the sky is blue. CHe said the sky was blue. DHe said the sky has been blue.

   Answer: B. He said the sky is blue.

   Universal truths or scientific facts generally do not backshift. Using 'is blue' shows that the statement is a permanent fact that does not change over time.

9. Q9Original: 'I think she is guilty.' (Reporter still holds this opinion). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

   AHe said he thought she was guilty. BHe said he thinks she is guilty. CHe said he has thought she is guilty. DHe said he was thinking she is guilty.

   Answer: B. He said he thinks she is guilty.

   When reporting an opinion that is still currently held, both the reported verb ('thinks') and the embedded clause can remain in the present tense (thinks... is). Note that 'said' is the reporting verb; 'thinks' is the verb of the reported clause. This use of the present tense emphasizes the ongoing nature of the belief.

10. Q10Original: 'I will be there.' (The meeting is in the future). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AHe said he will be there. BHe said he has been there. CHe said he was being there. DHe said he is being there.

    Answer: A. He said he will be there.

    If the reported event is still in the future, 'will' can be kept instead of backshifting to 'would'. This signals that the action is still pending. The options involving 'being' are ungrammatical for expressing future intentions.

11. Q11Choose the correct sentence regarding a current fact:

    AHe said he works at Google. BHe said he had worked at Google. CHe said he has worked at Google. DHe said he worked at Google.

    Answer: A. He said he works at Google.

    To report a currently held job, the present simple (works) is used. Backshifting to 'worked' might suggest the person no longer works there or simply reports a past conversation without confirming if the situation is still the same.

12. Q12Original: 'I need your help.' (The request is still relevant). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AHe said he needed my help. BHe said he has needed my help. CHe said he was needing my help. DHe said he needs my help.

    Answer: D. He said he needs my help.

    Using the present simple (needs) indicates that the help is still required at the time of reporting. State verbs like 'need' are typically not used in the continuous form, making 'was needing' incorrect.

13. Q13Choose the grammatically correct version: 'Can you tell me what time was it?'

    ACan you tell me what time it is. BCan you tell me what time it was. CCan you tell me what time was it. DCan you tell me what time it will be.

    Answer: B. Can you tell me what time it was.

    This is an embedded question. Even when reporting a past state, we must use statement word order (subject + verb). 'What time it was' correctly places the subject 'it' before the verb 'was'.

14. Q14Choose the grammatically correct version: 'He asked me why did I choose this topic.'

    AHe asked me why did I choose this topic. BHe asked me why I was choosing this topic. CHe asked me why I have chosen this topic. DHe asked me why I chose this topic.

    Answer: D. He asked me why I chose this topic.

    In indirect questions, we remove the auxiliary verb 'did' and use statement word order. 'Why I chose' is the correct past simple statement form. 'Why did I choose' is a common mistake that incorrectly retains question word order (inversion).

15. Q15Original: 'I believe this is the right path.' (I still believe it). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AShe said she believed that was the right path. BShe said she has believed this is the right path. CShe said she believes this is the right path. DShe said she was believing this is the right path.

    Answer: C. She said she believes this is the right path.

    For beliefs that are still held, we can use the present simple for both the reported verb ('believes') and the embedded clause ('is'). Note that 'said' is the reporting verb; 'believes' is the verb of the reported clause. state-describing verbs like 'believe' are almost never used in the continuous form ('was believing').

16. Q16Original: 'I think the movie is boring.' (Reporter still thinks so). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AHe said he has thought the movie is boring. BHe said he was thinking the movie is boring. CHe said he thinks the movie is boring. DHe said he thought the movie was boring.

    Answer: C. He said he thinks the movie is boring.

    When an opinion is still current, the present simple (thinks) is the most accurate way to report it. Using the past simple 'thought' might suggest the person no longer feels that way.

17. Q17Original: 'I understand why you are angry.' (I still understand). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AShe said she has understood why I am angry. BShe said she understood why I was angry. CShe said she was understanding why I am angry. DShe said she understands why I am angry.

    Answer: D. She said she understands why I am angry.

    Using 'understands' and 'am' shows the situation and the mental state are currently active. state-describing verbs like 'understand' are used in simple tenses, not continuous forms like 'was understanding'.

18. Q18Choose the grammatically correct version: 'He knows that the earth was round.'

    AHe knows that the earth is round. BHe knows that the earth was round. CHe knew that the earth is round. DHe knows that the earth has been round.

    Answer: A. He knows that the earth is round.

    The shape of the earth is a universal truth. Universal truths are reported in the present simple (is round) regardless of when they are mentioned. 'Was round' would imply the earth's shape has changed.

19. Q19Choose the grammatically correct version: 'She feels that the earth was round, even now.'

    AShe felt that the earth was round. BShe feels that the earth is round, even now. CShe feels that the earth was round, even now. DShe has felt that the earth is round.

    Answer: B. She feels that the earth is round, even now.

    Because the earth's shape is an unchanging fact, we use 'is round'. The phrase 'even now' is a context clue that the truth remains valid, requiring the present tense.

20. Q20Original: 'I suppose he is late.' (I still suppose so). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AShe said she was supposing he is late. BShe said she has supposed he is late. CShe said she supposes he is late. DShe said she supposed he was late.

    Answer: C. She said she supposes he is late.

    To show that a thought or 'supposition' is still active, we keep the reported verb in the present tense ('supposes'). Note that 'said' is the reporting verb; 'supposes' is the verb of the reported clause. This indicates the speaker currently expects the person to be late.

21. Q21Original: 'I hope they are arriving soon.' (I still hope). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AHe said he hoped they were arriving. BHe said he hopes they are arriving. CHe said he was hoping they are arriving. DHe said he has hoped they are arriving.

    Answer: B. He said he hopes they are arriving.

    Current hopes and expectations are reported in the present simple (hopes) to show the desire is still ongoing. Backshifting to 'hoped' would imply the period of hoping has ended.

22. Q22Which sentence implies the reporter confirms the belief?

    AHe said he has thought it was true. BHe said he thinks it's true. CHe said he thought it was true. DHe said he was thinking it was true.

    Answer: B. He said he thinks it's true.

    The use of the present simple (thinks) connects the belief to the current moment, implying that the speaker still holds that view and the reporter is acknowledging it as a current state.

23. Q23Original: 'I realise that I am wrong.' (I still realise it). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AHe said he was realising he is wrong. BHe said he realises he is wrong. CHe said he has realised he is wrong. DHe said he realised he was wrong.

    Answer: B. He said he realises he is wrong.

    State verbs like 'realise' are used in the present simple to show current awareness. Reporting this with 'realises' and 'is' keeps the focus on the subject's current understanding of the situation.

24. Q24Original: 'I believe in ghosts.' (Still believe). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AShe said she has believed in ghosts. BShe said she believes in ghosts. CShe said she was believing in ghosts. DShe said she believed in ghosts.

    Answer: B. She said she believes in ghosts.

    Beliefs that are still held do not require backshifting. 'She believes' indicates a current conviction. Using 'was believing' is incorrect because 'believe' is a state/feeling verb and is not used in the continuous form.

25. Q25Choose the grammatically correct version: 'He said he thinks that the capital was Paris.'

    AHe said he was thinking that the capital is Paris. BHe says the capital is Paris. CHe said he thinks that the capital is Paris. DHe said he thinks that the capital was Paris.

    Answer: C. He said he thinks that the capital is Paris.

    Geographical facts, such as the capital of a country, are reported in the present tense ('is Paris') because they are permanent truths. The reported verb 'thinks' can remain in the present when the belief is still held — note that 'said' is the reporting verb while 'thinks' belongs to the reported clause. 'Was thinking' incorrectly uses the past continuous — 'think' is a state/feeling verb and is not used in the continuous form.

26. Q26Original: 'I know that water freezes at 0 degrees.' Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this current knowledge?

    AHe said he was knowing that water freezes at 0 degrees. BHe said he knew that water froze at 0 degrees. CHe said he has known that water freezes at 0 degrees. DHe said he knows that water freezes at 0 degrees.

    Answer: D. He said he knows that water freezes at 0 degrees.

    Scientific facts like the freezing point of water are reported in the present simple (freezes) because they are universal laws. 'Knows' also remains in the present to show the knowledge is still current.

27. Q27Original: 'I feel that honesty is the best policy.' Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this current view?

    AHe said he was feeling that honesty is the best policy. BHe said he feels that honesty is the best policy. CHe said he has felt that honesty is the best policy. DHe said he felt that honesty was the best policy.

    Answer: B. He said he feels that honesty is the best policy.

    Proverbs and general truths use the present tense (is) because their relevance is permanent. 'Feels' indicates the subject still holds this moral view.

28. Q28Original: 'I lived in Paris.' (I moved out last year). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AHe said he lives in Paris. BHe said he had lived in Paris. CHe said he is living in Paris. DHe said he has lived in Paris.

    Answer: B. He said he had lived in Paris.

    Because the situation (living in Paris) is finished and no longer true, we must backshift. The original past simple (lived) shifts to the past perfect (had lived) to show it happened before the reporting.

29. Q29Original: 'I was tired.' (At the time of the meeting). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AShe said she would be tired. BShe said she was tired. CShe said she is tired. DShe said she has been tired.

    Answer: B. She said she was tired.

    We are reporting a specific past state that is now finished. We use the past simple (was) to report this. Using the present simple 'is' would incorrectly suggest she is still tired now.

30. Q30Original: 'The train left at 5:00.' (It is now 8:00). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AHe said the train had left at 5:00. BHe said the train leaves at 5:00. CHe said the train has been leave at 5:00. DHe said the train has left at 5:00.

    Answer: A. He said the train had left at 5:00.

    When reporting a completed past action (left) that happened before the time of reporting, we backshift to the past perfect (had left) to clarify the sequence of events.

31. Q31Choose the correct reporting of the situation: 'She lived in Madrid, but she moved away in 2010.'

    AShe said she lived in Madrid, but she moved away in 2010. BShe said she lives in Madrid, but she moved away in 2010. CShe said she has lived in Madrid, but she moved away in 2010. DShe said she is living in Madrid, but she moved away in 2010.

    Answer: A. She said she lived in Madrid, but she moved away in 2010.

    Since she moved away, the present tense 'lives' is incorrect. We use the past simple (lived) to report a completed state. Often, the past simple does not change in reported speech if the specific time (2010) is mentioned.

32. Q32Original: 'I can swim.' (I have always been able to). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AHe said he could not swim. BHe said he swims. CHe said he can swim. DHe said he is to swim.

    Answer: C. He said he can swim.

    General abilities that remain true at the time of reporting can be expressed with 'can'. This emphasizes that the person still possesses the skill.

33. Q33Choose the correct sentence:

    AHe said he is a doctor, but he retired last year. BHe said he would be a doctor, but he retired last year. CHe said he has been a doctor, but he retired last year. DHe said he was a doctor, but he retired last year.

    Answer: D. He said he was a doctor, but he retired last year.

    The context clue 'he retired last year' indicates he is no longer a doctor. Therefore, we must backshift to the past simple (was). 'Is' would be factually wrong.

34. Q34Original: 'I will call you.' (The call hasn't happened yet). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AHe said he has called me. BHe said he had called me. CHe said he will call me. DHe said he was calling me.

    Answer: C. He said he will call me.

    If the reported event is still in the future relative to the reporting time, we can keep the future tense (will). This indicates the promise is still active and pending.

35. Q35Original: 'I am allergic to nuts.' (Permanent condition). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AShe said she is being allergic to nuts. BShe said she has allergic to nuts. CShe said she is allergic to nuts. DShe said she would be allergic to nuts.

    Answer: C. She said she is allergic to nuts.

    Permanent medical conditions are reported in the present simple (is allergic) because the statement remains true. 'Has allergic' is ungrammatical; the adjective 'allergic' requires the verb 'to be'.

36. Q36Choose the correct indirect question: 'What time does the shop close?' (The shop is still open and follows a regular schedule).

    AI wonder what time the shop closed. BI wonder what time did the shop close. CI wonder what time the shop closes. DI wonder what time does the shop close.

    Answer: C. I wonder what time the shop closes.

    Indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb). We keep the present simple (closes) for a regular schedule. 'Does the shop close' is incorrect because it retains the auxiliary inversion used only in direct questions.

37. Q37Choose the grammatically correct version: 'He said he has been to Japan in 1999.'

    AHe said he went to Japan in 1999. BHe said he had been in Japan since 1999. CHe said he has been to Japan in 1999. DHe said he were in Japan in 1999.

    Answer: A. He said he went to Japan in 1999.

    Specific past time references like 'in 1999' require the past simple ('went') because the present perfect cannot be used with a definite past time expression. 'He said he had been in Japan sin...' is incorrect because 'in 1999' is a specific point in time, not a starting point for a duration — 'since' would require a starting point (e.g., 'since 1999 until he moved'), making it incompatible with the fixed date 'in 1999' used here. 'He said he has been to Japan in ...' is the original error: the present perfect with a specific past year is ungrammatical. 'He said he were in Japan in 1999.' contains a subject-verb agreement error ('he were').

38. Q38Original: 'I work at the bank.' (Still working there). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AShe said she works at the bank. BShe said she was working at the bank. CShe said she has worked at the bank. DShe said she worked at the bank.

    Answer: A. She said she works at the bank.

    If the speaker's job hasn't changed, the present simple (works) is used to report it as a current fact. 'Worked' is also possible but might imply she no longer works there.

39. Q39Original: 'I am feeling sick.' (Still feeling sick). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AHe said he has felt sick, and he still is. BHe said he is feeling sick, and he still is. CHe said he was feeling sick, and he still is. DHe said he felt sick, and he still is.

    Answer: B. He said he is feeling sick, and he still is.

    The present continuous (is feeling) is used to report a temporary state that is still occurring. The context clue 'and he still is' confirms that the situation is currently active.

40. Q40Original: 'I have never seen this.' (Still true). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AHe said he was never seeing that. BHe said he is never seeing that. CHe said he never saw that. DHe said he has never seen that.

    Answer: D. He said he has never seen that.

    The present perfect (has never seen) can be retained if the experience is still true up to the present moment. Note that 'this' often changes to 'that' in reported speech.

41. Q41Choose the grammatically correct version: 'She told me where does he work.'

    AShe told me where he works. BShe told me where does he work. CShe told me where he worked. DShe told me where he has worked.

    Answer: A. She told me where he works.

    This indirect question reports a current fact. We must use statement word order (he works) rather than question word order (does he work). 'He works' correctly indicates an ongoing situation.

42. Q42Original: 'I am not ready.' (I am still not ready). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AHe said he has not been ready. BHe said he was not ready. CHe said he is not ready. DHe said he would not be ready.

    Answer: C. He said he is not ready.

    The present simple (is not ready) indicates that the state of unreadiness is still true at the time the words are being reported.

43. Q43Original: 'I am hungry.' (Still hungry). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AHe said he was hungry. BHe said he would be hungry. CHe said he is hungry. DHe said he has been hungry.

    Answer: C. He said he is hungry.

    Using the present tense (is) shows that the person is still experiencing hunger at the moment of reporting. Using 'was' would simply be a standard backshift of a past conversation.

44. Q44Original: 'I like coffee.' (Still like). Identify the grammatically correct sentence:

    AHe said he is liking coffee. BHe said he was liking coffee. CHe said he has liked coffee. DHe said he likes coffee.

    Answer: D. He said he likes coffee.

    General likes and habits are reported in the present simple (likes) if they are still true. state-describing verbs like 'like' are not used in continuous forms (is/was liking).

45. Q45Original: 'I feel that we are making progress.' (Still feel this). Which sentence uses NO backshift to emphasize this?

    AHe said he feels we are making progress. BHe said he was feeling we are making progress. CHe said he felt we were making progress. DHe said he has felt we are making progress.

    Answer: A. He said he feels we are making progress.

    Both the reported verb ('feels') and the subordinate clause ('are making') remain in the present tense to show that both the feeling and the progress are still current. Note that 'said' is the reporting verb; 'feels' is the verb of the reported clause.