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Reported Questions – Quiz 1
Reported Questions Quiz 1 (30 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates students' understanding of reported speech structures, including correct reporting verbs, tenses, and pronoun usage. It covers various aspects such as conditional reporting, future tense in indirect speech, and transforming direct questions into reported questions.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
"WHAT WILL BE THE TOPIC OF THE MEETING?-SUSAN
A) SUSAN ASKED WHAT WOULD BE THE MEETING OF THE TOPIC.
B) SUSAN ASKED WHAT WOULD BE THE TOPIC OF THE MEETING.
C) SUSAN ASKED IF WOULD BE THE TOPIC OF THE MEETING.
D) SUSAN ASKED WHAT THE TOPIC OF THE MEETING WOULD BE.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it accurately reflects the structure of a reported question, where "what" introduces the topic and "would be" indicates future tense, properly reporting Susan's inquiry about the meeting’s topic.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. The sentence structure is awkward and does not clearly report Susan's question.
Option B:
Correct in meaning but less precise in reported speech construction compared to D, as "would be" better captures the future tense inquiry.
Option C:
Incorrect. The sentence structure is flawed and does not properly represent a reported question.
Option D:
Correct. It accurately reports Susan's question about the meeting’s topic in the future tense.
2.
Change the direct question 'Did she call you yesterday?' into a reported question.
A) She questioned if you had called her yesterday.
B) She asked if you had called her the day before.
C) She inquired if you had called her yesterday.
D) She wondered if you called her yesterday.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B correctly transforms the direct question into a reported question by using "asked" instead of "questioned," which is more appropriate for reported speech, and changes "you had called her yesterday" to "you had called her the day before," maintaining the meaning while adhering to grammatical rules.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses "questioned" incorrectly in reported speech.
Option B:
Correctly transforms the direct question into a reported question.
Option C:
Maintains proper structure but uses "inquired," which is less common than "asked" in this context.
Option D:
Uses "wondered," which implies uncertainty and is not typically used for reported questions of fact.
3.
Where did you go to on holiday last year?
A) Mary asked Joe if he had gone to on holiday last year.
B) Mary asked Joe where he went to on holiday last year.
C) Mary asked Joe where you had gone to on holiday last year.
D) Mary asked Joe where he had gone to on holiday last year.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it accurately reflects the structure of a reported question in English grammar. In reported questions, we use "where" to ask about a place, and the past perfect tense ("had gone") is used to indicate an action completed before another past event.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it lacks the necessary verb form for reported speech.
Option B:
Incorrect due to redundant "to" after "went".
Option C:
Incorrect because it uses "you", which is not appropriate in this context since we are reporting Joe's holiday destination, not Mary’s or anyone else’s.
Option D:
Correct as it properly forms the reported question with "where" and the past perfect tense.
4.
Sue asked me how long I had lived in Madrid.
A) How long I had lived in Madrid?.
B) How long have you lived in Madrid?.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it accurately reflects the structure of a reported question in English. When reporting a direct question, we typically change the verb tense and pronoun to fit the context. In this case, "How long have I lived in Madrid?" (direct speech) becomes "Sue asked me how long I had lived in Madrid." (reported speech). The use of "had" is incorrect here as it should be present perfect ("have") to match the reported question.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. It repeats Sue's question, not reporting it.
Option B:
Correct. Properly reports the question with correct tense and pronoun.
Option C:
Incorrect. Includes an incorrect option (A) which is not valid.
Option D:
Incorrect. None of the options are correct.
5.
Frank: "How much money does Lisa get?"
A) Frank wanted to know how much money Lisa get.
B) Frank wanted to know how much money Lisa got.
C) Frank wanted to know how many Lisa gets.
D) Frank wanted to know how much money do Lisa get.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the past tense "got" which matches the reported speech structure in the question where "does" implies a past context. The other options are incorrect: A and D use present tense, C changes the sentence structure incorrectly, and D has a grammatical error with "do."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; uses present tense.
Option B:
Correct; past tense matches reported speech context.
Option C:
Incorrect; changes sentence structure and number agreement.
Option D:
Incorrect; has a grammatical error with "do."
6.
'Can Melanie drive?'She .....
A) Asked if Malanie could drive.
B) Said that Malanie could drive.
C) Said that Malanie had driven.
D) Asked if Malanie drives.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A is correct because it accurately represents a reported question. The original sentence 'Can Melanie drive?' is a question asking about the ability to drive, and "She asked if Malanie could drive" correctly reports this question in past tense form.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correctly reports the question in past tense.
Option B:
Incorrect as it states a fact rather than reporting a question.
Option C:
Incorrect as it refers to an action that has already occurred, not asking about ability.
Option D:
Incorrect as it uses present tense instead of past tense.
7.
Linda: "Did Max fly to London two weeks ago, Holly?"
A) Linda asked me if Max had flown to London two weeks before.
B) Linda asked Holly if Max had flown to London two weeks before.
C) Linda asked Holly if had Max flown to London two weeks before.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it accurately reflects the structure of a reported question. In Linda's statement, she is asking Holly about Max’s travel to London two weeks ago. The phrase "Did Max fly to London two weeks ago" is being reported by Linda to Holly.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it suggests Linda asked the speaker directly, not Holly.
Option B:
Correct for the reasons explained above.
Option C:
Incorrect due to the missing subject "Holly" and the tense issue in the reported question.
Option D:
Not applicable since Option B is correct.
8.
They asked me when .....
A) I can arrive.
B) Will I arrive.
C) Did I arrive.
D) I had arrived.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) I had arrived.
In reported questions, the verb tense of the direct question is typically shifted back in time using past perfect tense (had + past participle). Here, "when" introduces a question about arrival, and since it's being reported, "I had arrived" correctly reflects this.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Simple present does not fit the context of reporting a past event.
Option B:
Incorrect. Simple future or will + base form is not used in reported questions for past events.
Option C:
Incorrect. Simple past is not appropriate for reporting a completed action in the past with "when."
Option D:
Correct. Past perfect tense accurately reports when an event occurred in the past relative to another past event or time reference.
9.
Can you put away your clean clothes?
A) Tyler asked Harry can to put away his clean clothes.
B) Tyler asked Harry put away his clothes.
C) Tyler asked Harry to put away his clean clothes.
D) Tyler asked Harry to put away your clothes.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it uses the proper construction for a reported question in English grammar, specifically using "to" before the infinitive verb "put." This maintains the formal and clear nature of Tyler's request as stated originally.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. The sentence structure is awkward and unclear.
Option B:
Incorrect. It omits "his" before "clean clothes," making the request ambiguous.
Option C:
Correct. Uses proper reported question construction with "to put."
Option D:
Incorrect. Replaces "his clean clothes" with "your clothes," changing the meaning of Tyler's request.
10.
Has Dan been to China?
A) Do you know has Dan been to China.
B) Can you tell me if Dan has been to China.
C) Do you know if has Dan been to China.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it properly uses the reported question structure, which involves using "if" and maintaining the past perfect tense with "has been". The sentence starts with "Can you tell me if", followed by the subject "Dan has been to China".
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. It uses "has" instead of "has been", which is not appropriate for reported questions.
Option B:
Correct. Properly structured as a reported question using "if" and past perfect tense.
Option C:
Incorrect. Uses "has" without "been", and the sentence structure is awkward.
Option D:
Incorrect. At least one of the options above is correct.
11.
Tina asked me" Who did you meet?"Tina asked me .....
A) Who I met.
B) Who I have met.
C) Who I had met.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Reported questions often use the past perfect tense to indicate that an action was completed before another past action. In this case, "Who did you meet?" is reported as "Tina asked me who I had met." This correctly uses the past perfect tense ("had met") to show that the meeting happened before Tina's action of asking.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Uses simple past tense, which doesn't indicate a sequence of events in the past.
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses present perfect tense, which is not appropriate for reporting a specific past event.
Option C:
Correct. Uses past perfect tense to show that the meeting happened before Tina's action of asking.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct option among the choices provided.
12.
Put your hands up or I'll shoot!The robber threatened .....
A) To shoot us if we didn't put our hands up.
B) To put our hands up if we didn't shoot him.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The phrase "Put your hands up or I'll shoot!" is a direct statement from the robber, indicating that he will shoot if the victims do not comply by raising their hands. This means the correct reported question would be: "To shoot us if we didn't put our hands up."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Matches the original statement's meaning.
Option B:
Incorrect. Confuses the actions of the victims and the robber.
Option C:
Incorrect. Option A is correct, so this cannot be true.
Option D:
Incorrect. At least one option (A) is correct.
13.
Can Tom play the quitar?
A) Can you tell me can Tom play the quitar.
B) Can you tell me if can Tom play the quitar.
C) Can you tell me if Tom can play the quitar.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it uses the proper reported question structure with "if" and maintains subject-verb agreement ("Tom can"). The other options are incorrect: Option A and B start with "Can you tell me can," which is grammatically wrong. Option D is not applicable as option C is valid.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect due to improper sentence structure.
Option B:
Incorrect due to improper sentence structure.
Option C:
Correct reported question structure with proper subject-verb agreement.
Option D:
Not applicable as option C is valid.
14.
'Are you the one who broke the vase?' Roger asked Jimmy.
A) Roger asked Jimmy if he was the one who had broken the vase.
B) Roger asked Jimmy if he is the one who broke the vase.
C) Roger asked Jimmy if he was the one who has broken the vase.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is A) Roger asked Jimmy if he was the one who had broken the vase.
In reported questions, the past perfect tense (had + past participle) is used to refer to an action that occurred before another past action. Here, "had broken" correctly conveys this sequence of events.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses the appropriate past perfect tense ("had broken").
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses present tense ("is"), which doesn't fit the reported question context.
Option C:
Incorrect. Uses present perfect tense ("has broken"), which is not suitable for reporting a specific past action.
Option D:
Incorrect. None of the above options are correct.
15.
The teacher asks the boy, "Where is your homework?"
A) The teacher asks the boy where your homework is.
B) The teacher asks the boy where is his homework.
C) The teacher asks the boy where his homework is.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it accurately reflects the reported question format, where "his" correctly refers to the boy's homework and maintains proper grammar in the reported speech structure.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. The pronoun "your" should refer to the boy, not the teacher.
Option B:
Incorrect. The verb "is" should be placed after "where" in reported speech.
Option C:
Correct. It properly uses "his" and places "is" correctly after "where."
Option D:
Not applicable as Option C is correct.
16.
Katie, what is the cat doing? Katie wanted to know .....
A) What the cat would do.
B) What the cat could do.
C) What the cat was doing.
D) What the cat had been doing.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is C) What the cat was doing. In reported questions, we use the past continuous tense to report an action that was happening at a particular time in the past. Here, "What the cat was doing" accurately reflects this usage.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; it suggests asking about future actions which is not relevant here.
Option B:
Incorrect; it implies potential actions rather than an ongoing action in the past.
Option C:
Correct; it uses the past continuous tense to report an ongoing action from the past.
Option D:
Incorrect; it suggests a completed action which is not what the question requires.
17.
Were you at the party?My father asked me .....
A) I was at the party.
B) If I had been at the party.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the past perfect tense ("had been"), which is appropriate for reported questions that refer to a hypothetical situation in the past. The original question "Were you at the party?" is about something that happened, and when reporting such a question, we use the past perfect to indicate that the action was completed before another past event.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
This uses simple past tense, which does not fit the context of reported questions. It directly answers the original question without reporting it.
Option B:
Correct use of past perfect tense for reported questions.
Option C:
Includes both options A and B, making it incorrect as only one option can be correct.
Option D:
Incorrect because Option B is the right choice.
18.
Czy zdanie 'She told him turn off the computer.' jest poprawne?
A) Yes.
B) No.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence 'She told him turn off the computer.' is not grammatically correct because it lacks a verb in the reported speech part. The correct form should include "to" before "turn," making it 'She told him to turn off the computer.'
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect, as the sentence needs correction.
Option B:
Correct, as the sentence is indeed incorrect.
Option C:
Incorrect, as "No" is correct here.
Option D:
Incorrect, as there are no other options that fit.
19.
What is the original question of this sentence:He asked what they were doing.
A) What are they doing?.
B) What they were doing?.
C) What were they doing?.
D) What are they do?.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The original question "He asked what they were doing." is a reported question where the direct question "What were they doing?" has been reported using the past tense "asked."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
What are they doing? - This option uses present tense, which does not match the past tense context of the sentence.
Option B:
What they were doing? - This is a correct form but lacks the verb "were" before "asking," making it incomplete in reported speech.
Option C:
What were they doing? - This option correctly forms the past tense question that would be used in reporting, matching the context of the sentence.
Option D:
What are they do? - This is grammatically incorrect and does not form a proper question.
20.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
A) He asked me where I am going.
B) He asked me where I was going.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because in reported questions, the past tense auxiliary verb "asked" requires a shift to the past perfect continuous tense for "going," which becomes "was going." This follows the rule that the simple past tense of the reporting verb (asked) corresponds to the past perfect continuous tense in the reported speech.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Uses present tense "am going" instead of past perfect continuous "was going."
Option B:
Correct. Uses "was going," which is appropriate for reported questions in the past.
Option C:
Incorrect. Includes both A and B, but only B is correct.
Option D:
Incorrect. None of the options provided are correct.
21.
The stranger asked, "Where is the police station?"
A) The starnger asked where the police station is.
B) The stranger asked where is the police station.
C) The stanger asked where the police station was.
D) The stranger asked where the police station was?.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it accurately reflects the reported question format, maintaining the past tense of the original question while properly placing the question mark at the end.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
This option is grammatically correct but lacks a question mark, making it an incomplete sentence in context.
Option B:
Incorrect as it uses "is" instead of "was," not reflecting the past tense required for reported speech.
Option C:
Incorrect due to the use of "was" and missing question mark, making it neither a proper reported question nor an interrogative sentence.
Option D:
Correct as it accurately represents the reported question in past tense with appropriate punctuation.
22.
Andrew: "Will Mandy have lunch with Sue?"
A) Andrew asked me whether Mandy would had lunch with Sue.
B) Andrew asked me whether Mandy would have lunch with Sue.
C) Andrew asked me whether Mandy will have had lunch with Sue.
D) Andrew asked me whether Mandy could have lunch with Sue.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it accurately reflects the use of "would" in the reported question, which indicates a future time frame at the moment Andrew asked his question. The verb tense and modal usage are appropriate for reporting a question about a planned future event.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect due to past perfect ("had") not fitting the context of a reported question about a future event.
Option B:
Correct as it uses "would" for reporting a future question and matches the tense used in the original question.
Option C:
Incorrect because "will have had" implies a past perfect future, which is not appropriate here.
Option D:
Incorrect since "could" suggests possibility rather than certainty about the planned event.
23.
Direct speech: "Why is Julie sad?"Reported speech: ..... ?
A) She asked me why Julie was sad.
B) She asked me why Julie had been sad.
C) She asked me why Julie were sad.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Reported questions are typically introduced by a reporting verb such as "asked" followed by the reported question in indirect form, which means using the past tense of the auxiliary verb (was) and the subject-verb inversion for the main clause. In this case, "Why is Julie sad?" becomes "why Julie was sad."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses the correct reported question form with "was" in past tense.
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses "had been," which implies a past perfect and is not appropriate here.
Option C:
Incorrect. Uses "were," which does not agree with the subject "Julie" (singular).
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
24.
"How much will it cost to send the package to Japan?" asked Julie. Julie asked the cashier how much ..... to send the package to Japan.
A) Will it cost.
B) It would cost.
C) Would it cost.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because "It would cost" accurately reflects the future tense implied by the original question, which asks about a potential cost. Reported questions often use past tense for indirect speech, but in this case, since Julie is asking about a future action (sending a package), the conditional form "would cost" is appropriate.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it uses an imperative structure that doesn't fit reported questions.
Option B:
Correct for using "would cost," reflecting future tense in indirect speech.
Option C:
Incorrect as it uses a question format, which is not suitable for reported questions.
Option D:
Incorrect as there is a correct option (B).
25.
He asked Tom '' Have you seen the dog?"He asked Tom .....
A) If he had seen the dog.
B) Had he seen the dog.
C) If he saw the dog.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is A) If he had seen the dog. In reported questions, we use past perfect tense to indicate that an action happened before another in the past. Here, "Have you seen the dog?" is being reported as a question Tom was asked, and the response uses "If he had seen the dog" to reflect this.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses past perfect tense indicating an action before another in the past.
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses simple past, which doesn't fit the context of reported questions requiring a sequence of events in the past.
Option C:
Incorrect. Uses simple past, not appropriate for reporting a question about seeing something in the past.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
26.
'Have you met Angela?'She asked us ..... Angela.
A) If we had met.
B) Had we met.
C) If you have met.
D) If I had met.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The reported question structure requires the use of a past perfect tense to indicate that the action (meeting Angela) had occurred before another past event. The correct form is "Had we met," which matches Option B and aligns with the context of reporting a question about a past event.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Uses conditional perfect, not suitable for reported questions.
Option B:
Correct. Uses past perfect tense appropriate for reported questions.
Option C:
Incorrect. Uses present perfect, not suitable for reporting a past event.
Option D:
Incorrect. Uses conditional perfect, not suitable for reported questions.
27.
Report the following statement: "What time is the flight?"
A) Do you know what time is the flight?.
B) Do you know what time the flight is?.
C) Do you know the time was the flight?.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it properly uses the reported question structure, which involves reporting a direct question in indirect form. The sentence "Do you know what time the flight is?" accurately reflects the original statement "What time is the flight?" while maintaining proper grammar and syntax.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect due to improper word order.
Option B:
Correct as it properly uses reported question structure.
Option C:
Incorrect because it changes the tense and makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
Option D:
Not applicable since Option B is correct.
28.
Why are they laughing?
A) John asked why were they laughing.
B) John asked why did they laugh.
C) John asked why they were laughing.
D) John asked why they had laughed.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it accurately reports the question "why they were laughing" in a grammatically proper way. The use of "were" maintains consistency with the past tense implied by "asked."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "why were they laughing" is not a reported question as it lacks the reporting verb.
Option B:
Incorrect; "why did they laugh" uses "did," which changes the tense and is not appropriate for reporting questions.
Option C:
Correct; "why they were laughing" accurately reports the question in past continuous tense, maintaining consistency with "asked."
Option D:
Incorrect; "why they had laughed" uses "had," which implies a completed action in the past and is not suitable for reporting questions.
29.
"What do the children study on Fridays?"We ask .....
A) What they studied on Fridays.
B) What did they study on Fridays.
C) What do they study on Fridays.
D) What they study on Fridays.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it maintains the present tense, which indicates a habitual action or general truth about what children study on Fridays. The use of "do" and the present participle "study" correctly form the question in reported speech for this context.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it uses past tense, which doesn't fit a habitual action.
Option B:
Incorrect as it uses past tense, which doesn't fit a habitual action.
Option C:
Incorrect as it uses present tense but the question format is not properly reported speech for this context.
Option D:
Correct as it uses present tense to report a general truth about what children study on Fridays.
30.
Tom asked '' How will they find the book?"Tom asked .....
A) How will they find the book.
B) How they will find the book.
C) How they would find the book.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it uses the past conditional tense ("would") to report Tom's question about a hypothetical future action, which is appropriate for reported questions in English grammar.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. It directly quotes Tom’s question without reporting it.
Option B:
Incorrect. It uses the present tense, which doesn't fit the hypothetical future context of the reported question.
Option C:
Correct. Uses past conditional to report a hypothetical future action.
Option D:
Incorrect. Option C is valid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are reported questions?
Reported questions, also known as indirect questions, are sentences that report what someone has asked without using the exact words of the original question. They often begin with verbs like 'asked', 'said', or 'inquired'.
How do reported questions differ from direct questions?
Direct questions use the question format with a question mark, while reported questions are stated as statements and often include reporting verbs like 'asked' or 'inquired', followed by the reported content in the past tense.
Can you give an example of a reported question?
Certainly. If someone asks, "Where is the library?", it can be reported as 'She asked where the library was located.' This shows how the original direct question has been transformed into a reported statement.
Why are reported questions important in English grammar?
Reported questions are crucial for understanding and using indirect speech correctly. They help in conveying information without the urgency or directness of a direct question, making communication more nuanced and polite.
How do reported questions affect verb tenses?
In reported questions, the tense of the original question is typically changed. For example, a present simple tense in the direct question becomes past simple in the reported form. This change helps to indicate that the action or state has already occurred.