Exercise topic: REPORTED SPEECH (indirect) 1

GRAMMAR REVIEW! Reported speech

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is when we report what someone else said without quoting them directly.

KEY FEATURES

No quotation marks — We don't use the speaker's exact words.
Tense shift (usually backshift) — Tenses often change because we're talking about something said in the past.
Pronoun changes — Pronouns shift to match the speaker and listener.
Time and place words may change — Words like now, today, here often change.

USAGE EXAMPLES

• Statements
Direct speech:
She said, "I am tired."
Reported speech:
She said (that) she was tired.
Direct speech:
He said, "I like pizza."
Reported speech:
He said (that) he liked pizza.

• Questions
Direct speech:
He asked, "Where are you going?"
Reported speech:
He asked where I was going.
Direct speech:
She asked, "Do you like chocolate?"
Reported speech:
She asked if I liked chocolate.

• Commands and Requests
Direct speech:
She said, "Close the window."
Reported speech:
She told me to close the window.
Direct speech:
He said, "Please help me."
Reported speech:
He asked me to help him.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER REPORTED SPEECH PRACTICE TESTS:
Reported Speech (Mixed tenses) 1 (I)
Reported Speech (Mixed tenses) 2 (I)
Reported Speech (Commands) 1 (I)
Reported Speech (Simple past) 1 (I)

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DID YOU KNOW?

The TOEFL iBT checks grammar indirectly through reading, listening, speaking, and writing tasks rather than a separate grammar section. Key aspects include:
1. Sentence structure & word order - understanding and producing correct English syntax.
2. Verb forms & tenses - correct use of past, present, future, perfect, and continuous forms.
3. Articles & determiners - a, an, the, and quantifiers.
4. Prepositions - proper use in context (time, place, movement).
5. Pronouns & agreement - personal, possessive, and relative pronouns.
6. Complex grammar - conditionals, passive voice, relative clauses, and linking words, especially in writing and speaking.

How it's tested:
• Writing: essays scored on grammar, coherence, and clarity.
• Speaking: responses evaluated for grammatical accuracy and sentence variety.
• Reading & Listening: understanding sentence structure, references, and meaning depends on grammar.
Grammar is measured as part of overall communication ability, not as isolated questions.