"Is the library open on Sunday?" she asked. She asked if the library ___ on Sunday.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)was
💡 Explicación
A reported polar question takes the word order of a statement: subject, auxiliary, rest. The auxiliary keeps the tense the reporter uses.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)was
A)wasCorrect! A polar question becomes a statement word order, so the subject comes before the auxiliary.
B)is itThe question word order cannot survive inside a reported clause, because that clause is a statement.
C)wereWere is the form of the second conditional and is not used for a library opening on a real Sunday.
D)has beenA present perfect would suggest the question was about a period up to now, and Sunday is a stated day.
💡 Explicación
A reported polar question takes the word order of a statement: subject, auxiliary, rest. The auxiliary keeps the tense the reporter uses.
Pregunta 2
Pregunta 2 · D3Bloom: Apply
A polar question with a present perfect, backshifted.
"Have you finished the report?" he asked. He asked whether I ___ the report.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)had finished
💡 Explicación
Backshift also applies to the perfect tenses. The present perfect moves to the past perfect, and the question word order becomes statement word order.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)had finished
A)have finishedKeeping the present perfect would mean the reporting verb was also present.
B)had finishedCorrect! The present perfect backshifts to the past perfect when the reporting verb is in the past.
C)was finishingA past continuous would describe an action under way, which the original question does not.
D)finishA bare base form would leave the clause without a tense of its own.
💡 Explicación
Backshift also applies to the perfect tenses. The present perfect moves to the past perfect, and the question word order becomes statement word order.
Pregunta 3
Pregunta 3 · D3Bloom: Apply
A wh question about a place, reported.
"Where do they sell the tickets?" she asked. She asked where they ___ the tickets.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)sell
💡 Explicación
In a reported wh question the auxiliary disappears and the main verb takes the form the reporter's tense requires. The question word stays at the front.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)sell
A)do sellThe auxiliary do cannot remain in a reported statement clause; the tense is already carried by the reporting verb.
B)are sellingA present continuous would describe an action under way, and the original question is about the usual arrangement.
C)sellCorrect! The wh question keeps its question word and the clause takes the word order of a statement.
D)soldThe past simple would backshift a present simple twice, and the question is reported in the present.
💡 Explicación
In a reported wh question the auxiliary disappears and the main verb takes the form the reporter's tense requires. The question word stays at the front.
Pregunta 4
Pregunta 4 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question about a person, with the verb backshifted.
"Who called you?" she asked. She asked who ___ her.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)had called
💡 Explicación
Backshift moves the tense one step back even in a wh question. The only change to the structure is the loss of the question word order.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)had called
A)callsCalls is the present form and shows no backshift at all.
B)callA base form would need an auxiliary to carry the tense, and none is present in the clause.
C)will callA future form would place the call after the moment of asking, which the past reporting verb excludes.
D)had calledCorrect! The past simple call backshifts to the past perfect with a past reporting verb.
💡 Explicación
Backshift moves the tense one step back even in a wh question. The only change to the structure is the loss of the question word order.
Pregunta 5
Pregunta 5 · D3Bloom: Apply
A negative polar question reported with whether.
"Didn't you get my message?" he asked. He asked whether I ___ his message.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)had got
💡 Explicación
In a negative question, the auxiliary did is the tense carrier, so backshift changes it to had and moves the not with it. The main verb then takes the participle.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)had got
A)had gotCorrect! The negative auxiliary did becomes had not when the tense is backshifted.
B)didn't getKeeping didn't would ignore the backshift that every other tense undergoes in this report.
C)have gotA present perfect would place the receiving in the present period, and the reporting verb is past.
D)would getA would would turn the question into a hypothetical, and the original was a plain query.
💡 Explicación
In a negative question, the auxiliary did is the tense carrier, so backshift changes it to had and moves the not with it. The main verb then takes the participle.
Pregunta 6
Pregunta 6 · D4Bloom: Apply
A question about something not yet decided, reported.
"Are they going to cancel the trip?" she asked. She asked whether they ___ to cancel the trip.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)were going
💡 Explicación
Only the first auxiliary of a compound future shifts. In are going to cancel, the are becomes were and the rest of the phrase is untouched.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)were going
A)are goingKeeping are going would require a present reporting verb, and she asked is in the past.
B)were goingCorrect! Be going to backshifts its first auxiliary, so are becomes were, while going keeps its form.
C)had been goingA past perfect would shift the whole structure, and the original are going to needs only one step.
D)will goA will is a different future form and would change the meaning of the plan.
💡 Explicación
Only the first auxiliary of a compound future shifts. In are going to cancel, the are becomes were and the rest of the phrase is untouched.
Pregunta 7
Pregunta 7 · D3Bloom: Apply
A wh question about a time, reported.
"When does the train leave?" he asked. He asked when the train ___.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)would leave
💡 Explicación
A question about a timetable reports naturally with would, because the reporter is looking at the same question from an earlier moment in time.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)would leave
A)does leaveThe auxiliary does is removed in a reported clause, and it cannot be kept to carry the tense.
B)leftThe past simple would backshift a past simple, and the original is a present form.
C)would leaveCorrect! A future simple backshifts to would plus base verb in reported speech.
D)has leftA present perfect would place the departure inside the present period, and the question is about a schedule.
💡 Explicación
A question about a timetable reports naturally with would, because the reporter is looking at the same question from an earlier moment in time.
Pregunta 8
Pregunta 8 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question about a reason, reported.
"Why are you laughing?" she asked. She asked why I ___.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)was laughing
💡 Explicación
The continuous tenses also backshift. Present continuous becomes past continuous, which is why she asked why I was laughing reads naturally.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)was laughing
A)am laughingKeeping the present would require a present reporting verb, and she asked is in the past.
B)laughedThe past simple would backshift a past simple, and the original is a continuous form.
C)had laughedA past perfect would shift twice and change the meaning from ongoing to completed.
D)was laughingCorrect! The present continuous backshifts to the past continuous in a reported question.
💡 Explicación
The continuous tenses also backshift. Present continuous becomes past continuous, which is why she asked why I was laughing reads naturally.
Pregunta 9
Pregunta 9 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question with a modal, which does not change form.
"Can you drive a lorry?" he asked. He asked whether I ___ drive a lorry.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)could
💡 Explicación
A few modals do have a past equivalent, and those do shift: can becomes could, will becomes would, may might and must stay the same.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)could
A)couldCorrect! Can backshifts to could because it is a modal that has a direct past equivalent.
B)canKeeping can would require a present reporting verb, and the question is reported in the past.
C)mayMay expresses permission rather than ability, and the original question is about ability.
D)wouldA would would build a conditional, and the original is a plain question about capability.
💡 Explicación
A few modals do have a past equivalent, and those do shift: can becomes could, will becomes would, may might and must stay the same.
Pregunta 10
Pregunta 10 · D3Bloom: Apply
A polar question about a past event, reported without backshift.
"Did you call the office?" she asked. She asked if I ___ the office.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)had called
💡 Explicación
The past simple backshifts to the past perfect. This is what keeps the two past moments in a fixed order in the report.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)had called
A)calledKeeping the past simple would leave the two past events without a clear order.
B)had calledCorrect! The past simple becomes the past perfect in reported speech.
C)have calledA present perfect would place the call in a period ending now, and the reporting verb is past.
D)was callingA past continuous would suggest the call was still in progress, which the original question denies.
💡 Explicación
The past simple backshifts to the past perfect. This is what keeps the two past moments in a fixed order in the report.
Pregunta 11
Pregunta 11 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question about a price, reported with a past reporting verb.
"How much does the tour cost?" she asked. She asked how much the tour ___.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)cost
💡 Explicación
No backshift happens when the reporting verb is in the present. She asked how much the tour cost keeps the original tense exactly as it was.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)cost
A)would costA would would require a past reporting verb, and she asked in this sentence is the present.
B)costsThe third person form cannot follow a subject and a reporting verb in a that or wh clause.
C)costCorrect! When the reporting verb is in the present, no backshift is applied and the base form is used.
D)costedCosted is not a form of cost, which does not change in the past simple.
💡 Explicación
No backshift happens when the reporting verb is in the present. She asked how much the tour cost keeps the original tense exactly as it was.
Pregunta 12
Pregunta 12 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question about a past continuous action, reported.
"What were you doing at that time?" he asked. He asked what I ___ doing at that time.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)was
💡 Explicación
The past continuous is one of the tenses that does not shift. Adding had would change the meaning of the question being reported, so careful speakers keep it.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)was
A)amA present auxiliary would place the action in the present, and at that time refers to the past.
B)had beenA past perfect would turn an ongoing past action into a completed one and change the meaning.
C)didDid is the auxiliary of the past simple and does not appear with a continuous form.
D)wasCorrect! A past continuous normally stays unchanged in reported speech.
💡 Explicación
The past continuous is one of the tenses that does not shift. Adding had would change the meaning of the question being reported, so careful speakers keep it.
Pregunta 13
Pregunta 13 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question with a negative answer implied, reported.
"Never seen that film before?" he said. He said he ___ that film before.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)had never seen
💡 Explicación
The adverb never is not affected by backshift. What changes is the auxiliary, which becomes had plus not, and the main verb takes its participle.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)had never seen
A)had never seenCorrect! The past simple in the original becomes the past perfect in the report, and never stays in place.
B)never sawKeeping the past simple would leave the two events unordered, and the reporting verb is past.
C)has never seenA present perfect would be right with a present reporting verb, but he said is in the past.
D)did never seeDid cannot carry a perfect construction, and never cannot sit between did and the base form.
💡 Explicación
The adverb never is not affected by backshift. What changes is the auxiliary, which becomes had plus not, and the main verb takes its participle.
Pregunta 14
Pregunta 14 · D4Bloom: Apply
A question about something someone else owns, reported.
"Do you have any questions?" the tutor asked. The tutor asked whether we ___ any questions.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)had
💡 Explicación
When a simple question uses the auxiliary do, backshift replaces do with did or had and the main verb returns to its base form.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)had
A)haveKeeping do plus have would require a present reporting verb, and the tutor asked is in the past.
B)hadCorrect! The do auxiliary backshifts to had and the main verb takes the base form after it.
C)were havingA past continuous would describe an action under way, and the original is a simple question.
D)would haveA would have would build a conditional, and the original question has no such sense.
💡 Explicación
When a simple question uses the auxiliary do, backshift replaces do with did or had and the main verb returns to its base form.
Pregunta 15
Pregunta 15 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question about an object, with the verb in the past perfect.
"Where have you put the keys?" he asked. He asked where I ___ the keys.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)had put
💡 Explicación
Put, cut and let keep the same form in the base, the past simple and the participle. The backshift still applies, so the auxiliary changes but the verb does not.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)had put
A)have putKeeping the present perfect would require a present reporting verb.
B)puttedPutted is not a word in English, and put is the same form in the base and the past simple.
C)had putCorrect! The present perfect backshifts to the past perfect and put keeps its irregular participle.
D)was puttingA past continuous would suggest the keys were being placed at that moment, which the question denies.
💡 Explicación
Put, cut and let keep the same form in the base, the past simple and the participle. The backshift still applies, so the auxiliary changes but the verb does not.
Pregunta 16
Pregunta 16 · D4Bloom: Apply
A question with a suggestion word, reported.
"Why not take the earlier train?" she suggested. She suggested that we ___ the earlier train.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)should take
💡 Explicación
Reporting verbs such as suggest, insist, recommend and advise are followed by a that clause with should and the base form. This pattern replaces the imperative of the original.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)should take
A)would takeA would would report a future, but a suggestion is advice about what to do.
B)must takeMust would express a strict obligation, which is stronger than a suggestion.
C)will takeA future form would state a fact about the future rather than advice.
D)should takeCorrect! Verbs like suggest, recommend and advise take a that clause with should plus base verb.
💡 Explicación
Reporting verbs such as suggest, insist, recommend and advise are followed by a that clause with should and the base form. This pattern replaces the imperative of the original.
Pregunta 17
Pregunta 17 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question about a past state, reported.
"Was the exam hard?" she asked. She asked whether the exam ___ hard.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)had been
💡 Explicación
Questions about the past are reported with the past perfect whenever the reporting verb is in the past, exactly as statements about the past are.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)had been
A)had beenCorrect! The past simple in the direct question backshifts to the past perfect.
B)wasKeeping the past simple would leave the two past events without an established order.
C)isA present form would place the exam in the present, and the question is about a finished event.
D)will beA future form would predict the difficulty, and the exam is already over.
💡 Explicación
Questions about the past are reported with the past perfect whenever the reporting verb is in the past, exactly as statements about the past are.
Pregunta 18
Pregunta 18 · D3Bloom: Apply
A question asked by a teacher, reported by a student.
"How many pages have you written?" the teacher asked. The teacher asked how many pages I ___.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)had written
💡 Explicación
A how many question keeps its quantifier and reports exactly like any other wh question, with the tense of the clause backshifted once.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)had written
A)have writtenKeeping the present perfect would require the reporting verb to be present.
B)had writtenCorrect! The present perfect backshifts to the past perfect, and how many is kept.
C)wroteThe past simple would backshift a past simple, and the original is a present perfect.
D)am writingA present continuous would describe the action at the moment of speaking, and the question is about a total.
💡 Explicación
A how many question keeps its quantifier and reports exactly like any other wh question, with the tense of the clause backshifted once.
Pregunta 19
Pregunta 19 · D4Bloom: Apply
Two questions reported in sequence.
"Where are you going?" he asked. "And when will you be back?" He asked where I ___ and when I ___ be back.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)was going ... would
💡 Explicación
Each reported question follows its own backshift rule, independently of the others. Joining them with and or or does not change the tense of either clause.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)was going ... would
A)am going ... willKeeping both original tenses would ignore the past tense of the reporting verb he asked.
B)was going ... had beenA past perfect in the second clause would shift twice, and the original will needs only one step.
C)was going ... wouldCorrect! Both clauses are backshifted, and the coordinating conjunction joins the two reported questions.
D)had been going ... wasThe first clause is over-shifted and the second is not shifted at all, which reverses the pattern.
💡 Explicación
Each reported question follows its own backshift rule, independently of the others. Joining them with and or or does not change the tense of either clause.
Pregunta 20
Pregunta 20 · D4Bloom: Apply
A question reported with the same tense because the reporting verb is present.
She asks where I ___ every weekend.
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)go
💡 Explicación
The tense of the reporting verb decides everything. She asked forces the past perfect, and she asks keeps the original form untouched.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)go
A)wentThe past simple would backshift a present simple, and the reporting verb is present.
B)have goneA present perfect would change the meaning from a routine to a completed visit.
C)am goingA present continuous would describe a particular journey rather than a weekly habit.
D)goCorrect! A present reporting verb means no backshift, so the base form is used after the question word.
💡 Explicación
The tense of the reporting verb decides everything. She asked forces the past perfect, and she asks keeps the original form untouched.
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