Direct & Indirect Speech — Set 14
Questions 131–140 of 140
Convert: "I am being blamed for something I didn't do," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said he was being blamed for something he hadn't done
Present continuous passive 'am being blamed' changes to past continuous passive 'was being blamed'. The nested past simple 'didn't do' changes to past perfect 'hadn't done'. The correct form is 'He said he was being blamed for something he hadn't done'.
"This book is being published next month," she said. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. She said that book was being published the following month
Present continuous passive 'is being published' changes to past continuous passive 'was being published'. 'This' changes to 'that', and 'next month' changes to 'the following month'. The correct form is 'She said that book was being published the following month'.
Convert: "The work has been completed," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said the work had been completed
Present perfect passive 'has been completed' changes to past perfect passive 'had been completed'. The correct form is 'He said the work had been completed'. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive examinations like SSC and banking exams.
"I was told that you have excellent qualifications," she said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: C. She said she was told I had excellent qualifications
Past simple passive 'was told' changes to past perfect passive 'had been told'. Present perfect 'have' changes to past perfect 'had'. The correct form is 'She said she had been told I had excellent qualifications'.
Convert: "I will be awarded a prize next week," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said he would be awarded a prize the following week
Future simple passive 'will be awarded' changes to conditional passive 'would be awarded'. 'Next week' changes to 'the following week'. The correct form is 'He said he would be awarded a prize the following week'.
"I am sure that we will succeed," she said. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. She said she was sure that they would succeed
The introductory phrase 'I am sure' changes to 'she was sure'. The future 'will succeed' changes to 'would succeed'. The pronoun 'we' changes to 'they'. The correct form is 'She said she was sure that they would succeed'.
Convert: "I suppose you remember what happened last year," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He supposed I remembered what had happened the year before
The main verb 'suppose' changes from present to past tense 'supposed'. Both 'remember' changes to 'remembered' and the nested 'happened' changes to 'had happened'. 'Last year' changes to 'the year before'. The correct form is 'He supposed I remembered what had happened the year before'.
"I assure you I am not lying," she said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. She assured me she was not lying
When 'assure' is used with an object, it becomes 'assured (+ object)'. Present continuous negative 'am not lying' changes to past continuous 'was not lying'. The correct form is 'She assured me she was not lying'.
Convert: "I will always love you," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said he would always love me
The future 'will always love' changes to conditional 'would always love'. The pronoun 'you' changes to 'me'. The adverb 'always' remains unchanged. The correct form is 'He said he would always love me'.
"I have been waiting for this opportunity for so long," she said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. She said she had been waiting for that opportunity for so long
Present perfect continuous 'have been waiting' changes to past perfect continuous 'had been waiting'. The demonstrative 'this' changes to 'that'. The temporal phrase 'for so long' remains unchanged. The correct form is 'She said she had been waiting for that opportunity for so long'.