WASSCE English Language · Paper 1 style

Reported speech

One sample question with the full working. 1 more in the app, with instant feedback and repair sessions for the traps below.

He said, 'I am tired.' In reported speech: He said that he ___ tired.

Aam
Bis
Cwas
Dhas been

Show the answer and working

Answer: C

Was.

Trap A Fails to backshift in reported speech: With a past reporting verb, shift tenses back (will→would, am→was, have done→had done), change pronouns and time/place words (tomorrow→the next day, here→there).

Trap B Makes only part of the required change: List every change the transformation needs (pronoun, tense, time word, word order) and tick each one in the option.

Trap D Confuses tense/aspect forms: Present perfect links past to now (since 2019, already, yet, for three years); simple past goes with finished time (yesterday, in 2010, last week).

Traps in Reported speech

Fails to backshift in reported speech
With a past reporting verb, shift tenses back (will→would, am→was, have done→had done), change pronouns and time/place words (tomorrow→the next day, here→there).
Makes only part of the required change
List every change the transformation needs (pronoun, tense, time word, word order) and tick each one in the option.
Confuses tense/aspect forms
Present perfect links past to now (since 2019, already, yet, for three years); simple past goes with finished time (yesterday, in 2010, last week).

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