Grammar Final Review

Practice the key concepts for your exam.

Section 1: Reported Speech

When changing direct speech to reported speech:

Tense Backshift: Present tenses usually shift to past tenses (e.g., 'am' -> 'was', 'have done' -> 'had done').
Pronouns: Change pronouns to reflect the new perspective (e.g., 'I' -> 'he/she', 'my' -> 'his/her').
Time/Place Words: Words indicating time and place often change (e.g., 'now' -> 'then', 'today' -> 'that day', 'tomorrow' -> 'the next day', 'here' -> 'there').

1. Direct: "I am working on a new project."
Reported: He said that he ___ on a new project.

a) is working b) was working c) will be working

2. Direct: "We will visit our grandparents next week."
Reported: They mentioned they ___ their grandparents the following week.

a) will visit b) have visited c) would visit

3. Direct: "I bought this book yesterday."
Reported: She told me she had bought that book ___.

a) yesterday b) the day before c) today

4. Direct: "I am leaving tomorrow," he said.
Reported: He said he ___ the next day.

a) was leaving b) is leaving c) will leave

5. Direct: "I can't find my keys," she said.
Reported: She said she ___ her keys.

a) couldn't find b) didn't find c) hasn't found

Section 2: Identifying Question Types

Direct Question: Standard question format, usually starting with a question word (What, Where, Who) or an auxiliary verb (Do, Are, Can). Ends with a question mark. Ex: "What is your name?"
Indirect Question: More polite. Often starts with a phrase like "Could you tell me..." or "I wonder...". The word order changes to subject-verb. Ends with a question mark or a period. Ex: "Could you tell me what your name is?"
Reported Question: Reporting what someone else asked. Tense backshift applies. Usually ends with a period. Ex: "He asked me what my name was."

1. "Do you know what the weather will be like tomorrow?"

a) Direct b) Indirect c) Reported

2. "When did you arrive?"

a) Direct b) Indirect c) Reported

3. "She asked if we had enjoyed the concert."

a) Direct b) Indirect c) Reported

4. "Could you tell me when the store opens?"

a) Direct b) Indirect c) Reported

5. "They asked, 'Are you coming?'"

a) Direct b) Indirect c) Reported

Section 3: Indirect Questions

To form indirect questions, use a polite opening phrase and change the word order of the direct question to statement form (Subject + Verb). Do not use 'do', 'does', or 'did'.

Direct: "Where is the bank?" -> Indirect: "Could you tell me where the bank is?"
Direct: "What time does the movie start?" -> Indirect: "Do you know what time the movie starts?"
Direct: "Did she pass the test?" -> Indirect: "I wonder if/whether she passed the test."

1. Could you tell me __________?

a) how much this costs b) how much does this cost c) this costs how much

2. I'd like to know __________ the train has arrived.

a) has if b) does c) if

3. Do you have any idea __________ for the holidays?

a) where they are going b) where are they going c) they are going where

4. Direct: "Where does the bus stop?"
Indirect: "Do you know where the bus ___?"

a) stops b) stop c) does stop

5. Direct: "When did she leave?"
Indirect: "Could you tell me when she ___?"

a) left b) does leave c) has left

Section 4: Question Tags

Question tags are short questions at the end of statements. The basic rule is: Positive statement, negative tag. Negative statement, positive tag.

You are a student, aren't you?
He can't swim, can he?
They went home (past simple), didn't they?
Special case: I am late, aren't I?
Special case: Let's go, shall we?

1. They have finished the project, __________?

a) have they b) do they c) haven't they

2. She doesn't work on weekends, __________?

a) does she b) doesn't she c) is she

3. You were at the meeting yesterday, __________?

a) were you b) did you c) weren't you

4. You can swim, __________?

a) can you b) can't you c) do you

5. Let's go to the park, __________?

a) shall we b) will we c) don't we

Section 5: Agreeing

To agree with someone, use 'So' for positive statements and 'Neither' for negative statements. Match the auxiliary verb from the original statement.

"I am hungry." -> "So am I." / "Me too."
"I can play chess." -> "So can I."
"I don't like spiders." -> "Neither do I." / "Me neither."
"I haven't seen that film." -> "Neither have I."

1. Anna: "I'm not going to the party tonight."
Ben: "______. I have to study."

a) So am I b) Neither am I c) I am

2. Chris: "I really enjoyed that movie."
Dana: "______. It was fantastic!"

a) So did I b) Neither did I c) So I did

3. Evan: "I can't believe how expensive that was."
Fay: "______. It was a rip-off."

a) So can I b) Me too c) Neither can I

4. Sam: "I love sushi."
Mia: "______."

a) So do I b) Neither do I c) So I do

5. Tom: "I haven't seen it."
Jerry: "______."

a) So have I b) Neither have I c) Me too

Section 6: Disagreeing

To disagree with a positive statement, reply using the negative form of the auxiliary (helping) verb:

Positive → Negative: "I was tired." → "I wasn't."
Use a DO form when there isn't a helping verb: "I like coffee." → "I don't."

To disagree with a negative statement, reply using the positive form of the auxiliary verb:

"I can't swim." → "I can."
"I haven't seen that movie." → "I have."

Tip: identify the helping verb (am, is, are, was, were, do, have, can, will, etc.) in the original statement and use its opposite form in your reply.

1. Tom: "I think horror movies are exciting."
Bill: "______. I find them too scary."

a) So do I. b) Neither do I. c) I don't. d) I am.

2. Anna: "I loved the concert."
Ben: "______. I thought it was boring."

a) So did I b) Neither did I c) I didn't d) I am

3. Paul: "We should take the highway."
Rita: "______. It's much slower."

a) So should I b) We shouldn't c) I don't d) I am

4. Mark: "I don't drink coffee before bed."
Nina: "______. I fall asleep right after."

a) So does mine b) Neither do I c) I am d) I do

5. Jess: "I would paint the room blue."
Ali: "______. Green is better."

a) I wouldn't b) Neither do I c) I don't d) I am

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