Business Reported Speech Backshift BE - Exercise Worksheet

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GrammarBusiness · Reported Speech: Backshift

Reported Speech: Backshift

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

When analysts at McKinsey stated that the average multinational experienced at least one supply chain disruption lasting more than a month every 3.7 years, the figure felt abstract.

Grammar Reference · Reported Speech: Backshift

Reported speech: form

The CEO said that the shipment had been delayed. — present → past in backshift

Backshift: tense pairs

"We are expanding." → She stated that they were expanding. — one step back

Announce / state

The board announced that the new hub would open in Q3. — formal register signal

Common error

He said that costs will rise ✗ → costs would rise ✓ — backshift will → would

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Reported Speech: Backshift

1.The CEO said that the new distribution hub operational within six months.

2.The analyst stated that freight costs by 30 percent over the previous quarter.

3.A Maersk director announced that the company its Arctic route options.

4.The trade minister said that the new tariff in force since the beginning of the fiscal year.

5.The logistics manager stated that just-in-time models the firm vulnerable during the crisis.

6.The board announced that the company to outsource its warehousing operations.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1."We are expanding our upstream supplier base in South-East Asia." (the CEO / say)

2."The bottleneck has delayed all outbound freight by two weeks." (the logistics director / state)

3."Lead times will increase if the tariff dispute continues." (the analyst / announce)

4."We have already outsourced our last-mile delivery operations." (the CFO / confirm)

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

Reported Speech: Backshift01EnglishPlans.com