Q1.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
He said, "I am going to the market."
- He said that he was going to the market.
- He said that I was going to the market.
- He said that he is going to the market.
- He said that he had gone to the market.
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Answer: A. He said that he was going to the market.
The reporting verb 'said' indicates past tense, so the present continuous 'am going' changes to past continuous 'was going' in indirect speech. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'he'.
Q2.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun."
- The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
- The teacher said that the Earth revolved around the Sun.
- The teacher said that the Earth had revolved around the Sun.
- The teacher said that the Earth is revolving around the Sun.
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Answer: A. The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Universal truths or scientific facts do not change their tense in indirect speech, regardless of the reporting verb's tense.
Q3.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
She asked, "Are you coming to the party?"
- She asked if I was coming to the party.
- She asked that if I was coming to the party.
- She asked if you were coming to the party.
- She asked if I am coming to the party.
Show answer
Answer: A. She asked if I was coming to the party.
For a yes/no interrogative sentence, 'if' or 'whether' is used, and the sentence structure changes to assertive. The tense changes from present continuous ('are coming') to past continuous ('was coming').
Q4.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
My friend said, "I finished my homework an hour ago."
- My friend said that he had finished his homework an hour before.
- My friend said that he finished his homework an hour before.
- My friend said that I had finished my homework an hour before.
- My friend said that he has finished his homework an hour ago.
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Answer: A. My friend said that he had finished his homework an hour before.
Past Simple tense ('finished') changes to Past Perfect tense ('had finished') in indirect speech. The time expression 'ago' changes to 'before'.
Q5.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
The captain said to the soldiers, "March forward!"
- The captain ordered the soldiers to march forward.
- The captain requested the soldiers to march forward.
- The captain told the soldiers that they should march forward.
- The captain asked the soldiers if they would march forward.
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Answer: A. The captain ordered the soldiers to march forward.
For an imperative sentence expressing a command, the reporting verb 'ordered' is appropriate, and the structure becomes 'to' + infinitive.
Q6.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
He asked me, "Where did you find this book?"
- He asked me where I had found that book.
- He asked me where I found this book.
- He asked me where did I find that book.
- He asked me where had I found that book.
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Answer: A. He asked me where I had found that book.
For a Wh-question, the Wh-word is retained, the sentence structure becomes assertive, and the tense changes from Past Simple ('did find') to Past Perfect ('had found'). The demonstrative 'this' changes to 'that'.
Q7.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
She exclaimed, "What a beautiful painting it is!"
- She exclaimed that it was a very beautiful painting.
- She exclaimed what a beautiful painting it was.
- She exclaimed that what a beautiful painting it is.
- She asked if it was a beautiful painting.
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Answer: A. She exclaimed that it was a very beautiful painting.
Exclamatory sentences are converted into assertive sentences in indirect speech. The reporting verb changes to 'exclaimed', and expressions like 'what a' are often replaced by 'very' or 'great'. Tense changes from Present Simple to Past Simple.
Q8.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
The doctor said to the patient, "You must take this medicine regularly."
- The doctor advised the patient to take that medicine regularly.
- The doctor advised the patient that he must take this medicine regularly.
- The doctor advised the patient that he had to take this medicine regularly.
- The doctor asked the patient if he would take that medicine regularly.
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Answer: A. The doctor advised the patient to take that medicine regularly.
When 'must' expresses advice or instruction, it is often changed to 'to' + infinitive in indirect speech. The demonstrative 'this' changes to 'that'.
Q9.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
He said, "I will meet you here tomorrow."
- He said that he would meet me there the next day.
- He said that he will meet me here tomorrow.
- He said that he would meet me here the next day.
- He said that he would meet me there tomorrow.
Show answer
Answer: A. He said that he would meet me there the next day.
The modal 'will' changes to 'would', the adverb of place 'here' changes to 'there', and the adverb of time 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day' (or 'the following day').
Q10.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
"Don't go near the fire," warned the mother to her child.
- The mother warned her child not to go near the fire.
- The mother warned her child to not go near the fire.
- The mother warned her child that he should not go near the fire.
- The mother warned her child if he would not go near the fire.
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Answer: A. The mother warned her child not to go near the fire.
For negative imperative sentences, the structure in indirect speech is 'reporting verb + object + not to + infinitive'.
Q11.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
The old man said, "Alas! My only son is no more."
- The old man exclaimed with sorrow that his only son was no more.
- The old man exclaimed with sorrow that my only son was no more.
- The old man said with sorrow that his only son is no more.
- The old man exclaimed that alas his only son was no more.
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Answer: A. The old man exclaimed with sorrow that his only son was no more.
Exclamatory sentences with 'Alas!' are reported using 'exclaimed with sorrow' or 'lamented'. The exclamation is removed, and the sentence becomes assertive. Tense changes from Present Simple to Past Simple, and pronouns are adjusted.
Q12.
Choose the correct indirect speech for the given sentence:
My sister said to me, "I have never seen such a beautiful sunrise before today."
- My sister told me that she had never seen such a beautiful sunrise before that day.
- My sister told me that she has never seen such a beautiful sunrise before today.
- My sister told me that I had never seen such a beautiful sunrise before that day.
- My sister told me that she had never seen such a beautiful sunrise before today.
Show answer
Answer: A. My sister told me that she had never seen such a beautiful sunrise before that day.
The reporting verb 'said to' changes to 'told'. Present Perfect tense ('have never seen') changes to Past Perfect tense ('had never seen'). The adverb of time 'today' changes to 'that day'. The pronoun 'I' changes to 'she'.
