REVISION: VERB TENSES

SOME TIPS TO DO THIS ACTIVITY: 

Read the whole sentence first before choosing the tense.
Don’t look only at the verb — the context gives the answer.

Underline the time expression before writing the verb.
Words like already, yet, while, by the time, tomorrow at this time, last week are the key.

Watch the difference between simple and continuous forms.
Ask yourself: Is the action finished, repeated, or in progress?

Use continuous tenses for actions in progress at a specific moment.
(At 8 p.m., while I was studying. This time tomorrow they will be doing …)

Use simple tenses for routines, facts, and completed actions.
Don’t use continuous forms if the action is habitual or finished.

Present Perfect is not Past Simple.
Have/has + past participle is different from past simple.
Check if the time is finished (yesterday, last year) or unfinished (today, this week, already, yet).

Past Simple and Past Continuous often work together.
One action was in progress, and another interrupted it.

Past Perfect = the earlier past.
If two actions happened in the past, use Past Perfect for the one that happened first: When the children arrived, he had already prepared lunch. 

Check the order of past events carefully.
Ask yourself: What happened first? What happened later?

Remember: after “if”, we do not normally use “will” or "would"
(If I see her, I will tell her. NOT *If I will see her… If I were you, I wouldn't study only the last day.) 

Modal verbs need the base form.
After can, could, will, would, must, use the infinitive without to.

Don’t forget negative forms.
Check carefully if the sentence needs don’t / doesn’t / didn’t / won’t / haven’t…

Questions need the correct word order.
Be careful with: auxiliary + subject + verb
(Did you go? / Has she finished?)

Some verbs are irregular in the past and past participle.
Study them carefully: go–went–gone, see–saw–seen, take–took–taken…

Be careful with past participles.
Present Perfect and Past Perfect need the 3rd form of the verb, not Past Simple.

“Since” and “for” are not the same. They usually go with present perfect, like "already", "just", "yet".
Since = starting point
For = period of time

• One word can change the tense completely. Don’t ignore markers like still, just, ever, never, when, while, by.
• “Ago” = Past Simple. Never use Present Perfect with ago.  
• “By” often signals a perfect tense. Especially with by the time, by tomorrow, by next week.  
• “While” usually introduces a continuous action.“When” often introduces a shorter action that interrupts another one.  
• Present Simple can talk about the future (timetables, schedules). The train leaves at 8.30. 
• Present Continuous can also express future arrangements. I’m meeting Laura tomorrow. 

State verbs are not usually used in continuous forms. Be careful with verbs like know, like, love, want, understand, believe.

Future forms depend on meaning. Don’t choose randomly:

• will → spontaneous decision / prediction
• going to → plan / intention / evidence
• Present Continuous → fixed arrangement
• Future Continuous → action in progress in the future  

Check subject–verb agreement carefully.
Singular subject = singular verb (He works, She has)

Leave 2 minutes at the end to check everything.
Most mistakes are small: missing auxiliaries, spelling, endings, and irregular forms. 

 

 

 

Complete the sentences with the correct verb tense. Then click on the buttons to check your answers.

1. By the time the teacher arrived, the students __________________ (already / complete) the first exercise and __________________ (start) the second one.
   
   had already completed / had started
2. Don’t call me at 8 p.m. tonight. I __________________ (have) dinner with my grandparents, so I __________________ (not / be) available.
   
   will be having / won’t be
3. Sarah __________________ (already / book) the tickets. By tomorrow afternoon, she __________________ (plan) the whole trip.
   
   has already booked / will have planned
4. The child usually __________________ (play) in the garden after school, but today he __________________ (do) his homework because he has a test tomorrow.
   
   plays / is doing
5. While I __________________ (walk) through the park yesterday, I __________________ (see) a man who __________________ (paint) a beautiful picture near the lake.
   
   was walking / saw / was painting
6. — I __________________ (never / try) sushi before.
   — Really? What __________________ (you / think) of it?
   — It was delicious, but I __________________ (not / eat) the seaweed yet.
   
   has never tried or had never tried / do you think or did you think / haven’t eaten
7. Be careful! You __________________ (drop) those glasses if you carry them all at once.
   
   are going to drop
8. When we __________________ (open) the shop this morning, we __________________ (notice) that someone __________________ (take) several items during the night, so we __________________ (contact) the manager immediately.
   
   opened / noticed / had taken / contacted
9. This time next month, we __________________ (sit) on a beach in Greece while everyone here __________________ (work).
   
   will be sitting / is working
10. Yesterday afternoon, I __________________ (talk) to an important customer when my phone suddenly __________________ (stop) working. If that __________________ (not / happen), I __________________ (arrange) the meeting right away.
    
    was talking / stopped / hadn’t happened / would have arranged

6. REPORTED SPEECH QUIZ

Reported Speech Quiz

Check your answers and mark yourself. Your score will be calculated automatically.

Reporting Verbs

apologise / insist / enquire / warn / agree / refuse / add / order / admit / recommend / remind / want to know / advise / threaten / request

 

Score: 0 / 15

1. He said: “I won’t help you today.”

He refused to help me that day.

2. She said: “Why did you come here yesterday?”

She wanted to know why I had gone there the day before.

3. He said: “These results are wrong.”

He added that those results were wrong.

4. She said: “I’m sorry. I made a mistake this morning.”

She apologised for having made a mistake that morning.

5. He said: “Don’t forget about our meeting tomorrow.”

He reminded me not to forget about our meeting the next day.

6. She said: “You should visit this museum next week.”

She recommended visiting that museum the following week.

7. He said: “Take your medicine now.”

He advised me to take my medicine then.

8. She said: “Don’t enter this place.”

She warned me not to enter that place.

9. He said: “I broke your phone yesterday.”

He admitted breaking my phone the day before.

10. She said: “Remind me about these documents later today.”

She requested to be reminded about those documents later that day.

11. He said: “Don’t use this equipment again.”

He warned me not to use that equipment again.

12. The manager said: “Finish your work by tomorrow.”

The manager ordered us to finish our work the next day.

13. She said: “Did you finish your homework last night?”

She enquired whether I had finished my homework the night before.

14. He said: “Let’s meet here next week.”

He suggested meeting there the following week.

15. She said: “Bring these files today.”

She insisted that I bring those files that day.

6. 15 REPORTING VERBS. MIXED

Reported Speech Practice

Report these sentences using these verbs:

apologise / insist / enquire / warn / agree / refuse / add / order / admit / recommend / remind / want to know / advise / threaten / request

 

Click “Show answer” to check your transformation.

1. He said: “I won’t help you today.”

He refused to help me that day.

Reporting Verbs

apologise / insist / enquire / warn / agree / refuse / add / order / admit / recommend / remind / want to know / advise / threaten / request

2. She said: “Why did you come here yesterday?”

She wanted to know why I had gone there the day before.

3. He said: “These results are wrong.”

Reporting Verbs

apologise / insist / enquire / warn / agree / refuse / add / order / admit / recommend / remind / want to know / advise / threaten / request

He said that those results were wrong.

4. She said: “I’m sorry. I made a mistake this morning.”

She apologised for having made a mistake that morning.

5. He said: “Don’t forget about our meeting tomorrow.”

He reminded me not to forget about our meeting the next day.

6. She said: “You should visit this museum next week.”

She recommended visiting that museum the following week.

7. He said: “Take your medicine now.”

He advised me to take my medicine then.

Reporting Verbs

apologise / insist / enquire / warn / agree / refuse / add / order / admit / recommend / remind / want to know / advise / threaten / request

8. She said: “Don’t enter this place.”

She warned me not to enter that place.

9. He said: “I broke your phone yesterday.”

He admitted that he had broken my phone the day before.

10. She said: “Remind me about these documents later today.”

She asked me to remind her about those documents later that day.

11. He said: “Don’t use this equipment again.”

He warned me not to use that equipment again.

12. The manager said: “Finish your work by tomorrow.”

The manager ordered us to finish our work the next day.

13. She said: “Did you finish your homework last night?”

She asked whether I had finished my homework the night before.

14. He said: “Let’s meet here next week.”

He suggested meeting there the following week.

15. She said: “Bring these files today.”

She insisted that I bring those files that day.

6. SOME MORE REPORTING VERBS

Grammar · Reported Speech

More Reporting Verbs (by Function)

Using a variety of reporting verbs makes your English sound more natural, precise, and advanced. Here are some of the most common reporting verbs, grouped by function, with clear examples and key grammar patterns.

1. Reporting Verbs by Function

🔹 Statements (neutral / factual)

said, told, explained, stated, mentioned, added

Use these when simply reporting information.

• He said that he was tired.
• She explained that the problem was difficult.
• They mentioned that they were leaving early.

🔹 Agreement / Disagreement

agreed, disagreed, refused

These verbs show whether someone accepts or rejects something.

• He agreed to help me.
• She refused to answer the question.
• They disagreed with the decision.

🔹 Truth / Lies / Responsibility

admitted, denied, confessed

Use these when talking about honesty, guilt, or responsibility.

• He admitted stealing the money.
• She denied breaking the window.
• He confessed to lying.

👉 These verbs are especially important because they often use -ing forms:
admitted doing · denied doing · confessed to doing

🔹 Opinions / Feelings

claimed, insisted, argued, complained

These verbs express opinions, arguments, or complaints.

• He claimed that he was innocent.
• She insisted that she was right.
• They complained about the noise.

🔹 Promises / Decisions

promised, offered, decided

Use these for intentions, plans, and decisions.

• He promised to call me.
• She offered to help.
• They decided to leave early.

👉 These usually follow verb + to-infinitive.

🔹 Orders / Requests (extra variety)

begged, warned, reminded, encouraged

These verbs add nuance to commands and requests.

• She begged him to stay.
• He warned us not to go there.
• She reminded me to call her.
• They encouraged us to try again.

2. Key Patterns (Very Important)

Here is a quick summary you can use as a reference:

Verb Type	Structure	Example
admit / deny	verb + -ing	He admitted stealing the money.
promise / offer	verb + to-infinitive	She offered to help.
suggest / recommend	-ing OR that + clause	He suggested going. / He suggested that we should go.
tell / order	object + to-infinitive	He told me to wait.
say / claim	that + clause	She said that she was tired.

Quick tip: if you learn the verb together with its pattern, reported speech becomes much easier. For example, do not just learn admit — learn admit + -ing.

Why use a variety of reporting verbs?

Using different reporting verbs helps you avoid repetition, sound more fluent, and express meaning more precisely. Instead of repeating said all the time, you can show whether someone admitted, promised, refused, insisted, or warned something.

6. REPORTING SUGGESTIONS AND PIECES OF ADVICE

Reported Suggestions: 10 Sentences

Change each suggestion into reported speech. Use structures like suggest + -ing or suggest/advise/recommend + that + subject + (should). Pay attention to time, place, demonstratives, and possessives.

Shifts: now → then | today → that day | tomorrow → the next day | here → there | this → that | these → those | my → his/her | our → their

1

She suggested: “Let’s start this project today.”

She suggested starting that project that day. / She suggested that we should start that project that day.

2

He recommended: “Let’s meet here tomorrow.”

He recommended meeting there the next day. / He recommended that we should meet there the next day.

3

The teacher advised us: “Let’s review these exercises now.”

The teacher advised us to review those exercises then.

4

She proposed: “Let’s finish our homework tonight.”

She proposed finishing their homework that night.

5

He suggested to me: “Let’s visit this place today.”

He suggested visiting that place that day.

6

They recommended: “Let’s bring these documents tomorrow.”

They recommended bringing those documents the next day. / They recommended that we should bring those documents the next day.

7

My friend advised me: “Let’s study here now.”

My friend advised me to study there then.

8

The guide suggested: “Let’s take this route today.”

The guide suggested taking that route that day. / The guide suggested that we should take that route that day.

9

She recommended: “Let’s use our notes tomorrow.”

She recommended using their notes the next day. / She recommended that we should use their notes the next day.

10

He proposed: “Let’s solve these problems now.”

He proposed solving those problems then. / He proposed that we should solve those problems then.

11

She suggested: “Let’s not go there today.”

She suggested not going there that day. / She suggested that we should not go there that day.

12

He recommended: “Let’s not use these tools now.”

He recommended not using those tools then. / He recommended that we should not use those tools then.

13

The teacher advised us: “Let’s not forget our homework tomorrow.”

The teacher advised us not to forget their homework the next day. / The teacher advised that we should not forget our homework the next day.

6. REPORTING COMMANDS AND ORDERS

Reported Orders & Commands (Time + Demonstratives)

Transform into reported speech. Pay attention to time expressions AND reference words (here → there, this → that, these → those).

Tip:
now → then | today → that day | tomorrow → the next day | here → there | this → that | these → those
my → his/her | your → my/his/her | our → their

1

The teacher instructed the students: “Open these books now.”

The teacher instructed the students to open those books then.

2

Her mother ordered her: “Clean this room today.”

Her mother ordered her to clean that room that day.

3

The doctor advised me: “Take this medicine tomorrow.”

The doctor advised me to take that medicine the next day.

4

The coach urged the players: “Run faster here now.”

The coach urged the players to run faster there then.

5

The boss commanded us: “Finish this report today.”

The boss commanded us to finish that report that day.

6

The police officer ordered the driver: “Stop this car here.”

The police officer ordered the driver to stop that car there.

7

She told me: “Wait here now.”

She told me to wait there then.

8

The librarian reminded the children: “Read these books today.”

The librarian reminded the children to read those books that day.

9

The manager instructed the staff: “Wear these badges tomorrow.”

The manager instructed the staff to wear those badges the next day.

10

My father told me: “Turn off these lights tonight.”

My father told me to turn off those lights that night.

11

The teacher warned us: “Don’t use these phones today.”

The teacher warned us not to use those phones that day.

12

My mother forbade me: “Don’t touch this stove now.”

My mother forbade me to touch that stove then.

13

The sign warned visitors: “Do not feed these animals here.”

The sign warned visitors not to feed those animals there.

14

The officer commanded them: “Don’t stand here now.”

The officer commanded them not to stand there then.

15

She advised him: “Don’t forget this tomorrow.”

She advised him not to forget that the next day.

16

The guide instructed us: “Follow me here.”

The guide instructed us to follow him there.

17

The dentist told the patient: “Use this tool now.”

The dentist told the patient to use that tool then.

18

My friend reminded me: “Bring these documents tonight.”

My friend reminded me to bring those documents that night.

19

The captain ordered the soldiers: “Stay here today.”

The captain ordered the soldiers to stay there that day.

20

The receptionist asked the guests: “Sign these forms here today.”

The receptionist asked the guests to sign those forms there that day.

6. REPORTING QUESTIONS

Reported Questions Practice: 20 Sentences

Change each direct question into indirect speech. Each sentence already gives you the subject and reporting verb. Click Show Answer when you want to check your response.

1

He wondered: “Where did you go yesterday?”

He wondered where I had gone the day before.

2

She checked: “Is she at home?”

She checked if she was at home.

3

He wanted to know: “Why are they shouting?”

He wanted to know why they were shouting.

4

She inquired: “Did you finish your homework?”

She inquired whether I had finished my homework.

5

He asked: “What time does the train leave?”

He asked what time the train left.

6

She wondered: “Where is he working now?”

She wondered where he was working then.

7

He checked: “Are you feeling better?”

He checked if I was feeling better.

8

She wanted to know: “Why did he call you?”

She wanted to know why he had called me.

9

He inquired: “Did they understand the instructions?”

He inquired whether they had understood the instructions.

10

She asked: “What are you watching?”

She asked what I was watching.

11

He wondered: “Where have you been all day?”

He wondered where I had been all day.

12

She checked: “Is the door locked?”

She checked if the door was locked.

13

He wanted to know: “Why is she upset?”

He wanted to know why she was upset.

14

She inquired: “Did you buy the tickets?”

She inquired whether I had bought the tickets.

15

He asked: “What time will they arrive?”

He asked what time they would arrive.

16

She wondered: “Where can I find a taxi?”

She wondered where she could find a taxi.

17

He checked: “Is everything ready?”

He checked if everything was ready.

18

She wanted to know: “Why were they arguing?”

She wanted to know why they were arguing.

19

He inquired: “Did he send the email?”

He inquired whether he had sent the email.

20

She asked: “What does this word mean?”

She asked what that word meant.

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