Past continuous & Phrasal verbs — O/L English

How do I practise Past continuous & Phrasal verbs?

1 question with a worked solution

Check before you answer: Past Narrative Pacing: Harmonizing the Simple Past (completed event) with the Past Continuous (background condition) across complex sentences containing 'while' and 'when'.

1. Convert this direct speech sentence into reported speech: '"I have overcome my stage fright," declared Dinuka.'
   1. A) Dinuka declared that he had overcome his stage fright.
   2. B) Dinuka declared that he has overcome his stage fright.
   3. C) Dinuka declares that he had overcome his stage fright.
   4. D) Dinuka declared that I have overcome his stage fright.
   Check my answer

   Correct answer: A) Dinuka declared that he had overcome his stage fright.

   When the reporting verb is in the past tense ('declared'), the present perfect tense ('have overcome') shifts back to the past perfect tense ('had overcome'), and pronouns shift appropriately ('I' → 'he', 'my' → 'his').

   Show worked solution

   Step 1: Check reporting verb: 'declared' (past tense). Step 2: Apply tense backshift: Present perfect ('have overcome') → Past perfect ('had overcome'). Step 3: Adjust pronouns: First person 'I' → third person 'he'; possessive 'my' → 'his'. Step 4: Combine into: 'Dinuka declared that he had overcome his stage fright.' Answer: Dinuka declared that he had overcome his stage fright.
   Modelled on: the O/L English examination pattern

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Grade 11 · Term 1