Reported Speech Error Correction

Start by finding the reporting verb, such as said, told, asked, or promised. If it is in the past, check whether the reported verb needs backshift: present becomes past, present perfect becomes past perfect, and will becomes would. Then check reference words from the speaker's point of view, such as I, my, we, our, you, and your. Finally, check time and place words like today, tomorrow, yesterday, now, here, this, and these. In this click-edit exercise, one sentence may already be correct, so only edit a chunk when the whole context proves it is wrong.

Reported questions look like questions in meaning, but they use statement word order after the reporting verb. Direct question order such as "Where did you go?" becomes "where I had gone", not "where had I gone". Yes/no questions also need a connector: "Are you ready?" becomes "She asked if I was ready" or "whether I was ready". Many learners fix the tense but leave the original question order, so the sentence still sounds wrong. In proofreading, scan the chunk after asked, wondered, or wanted to know and make sure the subject comes before the verb.

For standard B1-B2 classroom and exam practice, backshift is the safest default after a past reporting verb: "I am busy" becomes "she was busy", and "I have finished" becomes "she had finished". In real communication, speakers sometimes keep the original tense when the information is still true or immediately relevant. This exercise focuses on the standard proofreading pattern unless a sentence is clearly marked as already correct. Do not change every verb automatically; first ask whether the reporting context, time reference, and meaning show that the original speech has moved into the past.