Competitive Exams : English Language - Narration (Set 1)

Question 1

1. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: She said, "I am writing a letter."

A) She said that she is writing a letter.

B) She said that she was writing a letter.

C) She said that she had been writing a letter.

D) She says that she was writing a letter.

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Present continuous tense ("am writing") changes to past continuous tense ("was writing") when the reporting verb ("said") is in the past tense.

Question 2

2. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: He said to me, "What are you doing?"

A) He asked me what I was doing.

B) He asked me what was I doing.

C) He told me what I am doing.

D) He asked to me what I was doing.

Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: In indirect questions, interrogative word order changes to assertive word order (subject + verb), and "said to" changes to "asked".

Question 3

3. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun."

A) The teacher said that the Earth revolved around the Sun.

B) The teacher told that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

C) The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

D) The teacher asked if the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Question 4

4. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: Rama said, "I went to the market yesterday."

A) Rama said that he went to the market yesterday.

B) Rama said that he had gone to the market yesterday.

C) Rama said that he had gone to the market the previous day.

D) Rama said that he has gone to the market the previous day.

Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Simple past tense ("went") changes to past perfect ("had gone") and "yesterday" changes to "the previous day" in indirect speech.

Question 5

5. Which reporting verb is most appropriate to change an imperative sentence making a polite request into indirect speech?

A) ordered

B) requested

C) advised

D) exclaimed

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Imperative sentences expressing a request use reporting verbs like "requested" in indirect speech.

Question 6

6. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: She says, "I love reading books."

A) She says that she loved reading books.

B) She said that she loves reading books.

C) She said that she loved reading books.

D) She says that she loves reading books.

Answer

Correct Answer: D

Explanation: If the reporting verb is in the present tense ("says"), the tense of the verb inside the direct speech remains unchanged in indirect speech.

Question 7

7. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: He said, "Please bring me a glass of water."

A) He requested to bring him a glass of water.

B) He ordered me to bring him a glass of water.

C) He requested that please bring him a glass of water.

D) He said to bring me a glass of water.

Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The word "please" is omitted in indirect speech, and the infinitive "to bring" is used with the reporting verb "requested".

Question 8

8. What does "tomorrow" change to in indirect speech when the reporting verb is in the past tense?

A) the previous day

B) the next day / the following day

C) that day

D) then

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The adverb of time "tomorrow" changes to "the next day" or "the following day" in indirect narration.

Question 9

9. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: They said, "We have won the match."

A) They said that we have won the match.

B) They said that they have won the match.

C) They said that they had won the match.

D) They said that we had won the match.

Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Present perfect ("have won") changes to past perfect ("had won"), and the pronoun "We" changes to "they".

Question 10

10. Convert the following direct speech to indirect speech: He said, "Alas! I am undone."

A) He said sad that he was undone.

B) He exclaimed with sorrow that he was undone.

C) He exclaimed with joy that he was undone.

D) He said exclamation that he was undone.

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: "Alas!" expresses grief or sorrow, so the reporting verb becomes "exclaimed with sorrow" and "am" changes to "was".

Competitive Exams: English Language - Narration (Set 1)