Reported Speech Basics

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Tech companies love the panel interview. One asks about teamwork. Another gives a coding puzzle. The candidate said he had solved it live, on a whiteboard.

Grammar Reference · Reported Speech Basics

Reported statement

"I have five years' experience," she said. → She said she had five years' experience. — tense shifts back

Reported question

"Can you code in Python?" → He asked if I could code in Python. — no question mark, no auxiliary inversion

Wh- question report

"Why did you leave?" → She asked why I had left. — word order becomes statement order

Common error

She asked did I have experience. ✗ → She asked if I had experience. ✓ — use if/whether, not inversion

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Reported Speech Basics

1."I enjoy working in teams," she said.

2."Do you have experience with Python?" he asked.

3."I left my last job for a new challenge," the candidate said.

4."Where did you study?" the interviewer asked.

5."I can handle pressure well," she said.

6."Will you be able to travel?" the manager asked.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1."I have five years' experience," she said.

2."Can you code in Python?" he asked.

3."Why did you leave your last job?" she asked.

4."I am available to start immediately," he said.

5."Will you relocate?" the manager asked.

6."What is your greatest strength?" the panel asked.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

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

Reported Speech Basics01classplan.ai