Rules of reported speech

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
1

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #117 [color=blue]“Past Tenses”, question 7

He was wondering what … prompted him to take no notice at all.

(a) has
(b) have
(c) had
(d) having

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #117 [color=blue]“Past Tenses”, answer 7

He was wondering what had prompted him to take no notice at all.

Correct answer: (c) had

Your answer was: [color=red]incorrect
He was wondering what has prompted him to take no notice at all.
[size=200]_________________________[/size]

could you explain tenses in this sentence?
he was wondering?had prompted?
Do they macht in that way in this sentence?

teodora

2

Hi teodora65

The sentence basically follows the rules of reported speech (indirect speech).

He was wondering (something) means he was asking himself (something) — similar to He asked.

Direct question (quote):
“What prompted him to take no notice at all?”

When you report the question above, prompted has to move back a tense to the past perfect:
He was wondering what had prompted him to take no notice at all.

3

He wondered what had prompted him to take no notice at all.
He was wondering what prompted him to take no notice at all.

4

Hi teodora65

Wondered and was wondering are both past tenses (past simple and past continuous).

Have you already had a look at Alan’s write-up?

ESL Lesson: Indirect Speech
[size=75]http://www.english-test.net/lessons/6/index.html[/size]

Amy

5

He was wondering what promted him to take no notice at all - is it always incorrect?

Could it be so that the direct question was: “What does prompt him to take no notice at” in the sence that he usually takes no notice at all. And in this case you can use Past Simple instead of Past Perfect, can’t you?

6

Hi,
Could you explain what prompt sy to do sg means?
Thanks,
Ildiko