Reported Questions & Modals

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

"The recruiter asked me straight out why a coffee shop manager thought she could code," says Jomayra Herrera. "I told her I'd been building small apps on nights off for two years."

Grammar Reference · Reported Questions & Modals

Reported question

She asked why a manager thought she could code. — no auxiliary, word order flips

Reporting across time

Herrera has said she might have failed the test. — distant event, hedged outcome

Modal shift

He wondered whether her background would translate. — will becomes would in reported form

Common error

She asked did I study... ✗ → She asked if I had studied... ✓ — no inversion in reported questions

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Reported Questions & Modals

1.The recruiter asked why she (think) she could manage the role.

2.Herrera said she (teach) herself to code before applying.

3.She told the panel she (can) show them a real project.

4.The manager wondered if her skills (will) transfer to the job.

5.Herrera admitted she (might / fail) the technical test.

6.She asked what kind of project they (want) to see.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.The recruiter said, "Why do you think you can code?"

2.Herrera said, "I taught myself to code two years ago."

3.The manager said, "Will her background translate to this role?"

4.Herrera said, "I might have failed the standard test."

5.She said, "What kind of project do you want to see?"

6.The team said, "Her initiative outweighed her lack of training."

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

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

Reported Questions & Modals01classplan.ai