Fill in the blanks.
1. The boy told the girl that he ........................ her hairstyle.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, we use a past tense in the subordinate clause as well.
2. She told me she ...................... to come with me.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, we use a past tense in the subordinate clause as well.
3. He said that if his parents ...................... him permission, he ...................... go abroad.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, we use a past tense in the subordinate clause as well. Would is the past form of will.
4. He told me that he ......................... such a lazy boy as I was.
A present perfect in the direct speech becomes a past perfect in the indirect speech.
5. She said that she ........................ to lock the door.
A simple past in the direct speech becomes past perfect in the indirect speech.
6. He says that he .......................... to be an astronaut.
When the verb in the main clause is in the simple present tense, a present tense is possible in the subordinate clause depending upon the meaning.
7. The mother asked the child ...................... her wet clothes.
Imperatives are reported with a to-infinitive.
8. I reminded him that his wife .......................... for him.
9. She told me that she would let me know as soon as she ............................ information.
10. He said that he ........................ something behind the curtain.
A simple past and a present perfect in the direct speech becomes a past perfect in the indirect speech.
11. The Jester said that Lenore knew more about the moon than they ..............................
12. She told me that she ...................... that book on my table the other day.
A simple past and a present perfect in the direct speech becomes a past perfect in the indirect speech.
Answers
- The boy told the girl that he liked her hairstyle.
- She told me she wanted to come with me.
- He said that if his parents gave him permission, he would go abroad.
- He told me that he had never seen such a lazy boy as I was.
- She said that she had forgotten to lock the door.
- He says that he wants to be an astronaut.
- The mother asked the child to change her wet clothes.
- I reminded him that his wife might be waiting for him.
- She told me that she would let me know as soon as she received information.
- He said that he had seen something behind the curtain.
- The Jester said that Lenore knew more about the moon than they did.
- She told me that she had seen that book on my table the other day.
