Direct & Indirect Speech — Set 6
Questions 51–60 of 140
Convert: "I didn't see the accident," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said that he hadn't seen the accident
Past simple 'didn't see' changes to past perfect 'hadn't seen' in indirect speech. The correct form is 'He said that he hadn't seen the accident', reflecting the sequence of tenses rule. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive examinations like SSC and banking exams.
"She has already left," he said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. He said that she had already left
Present perfect 'has left' changes to past perfect 'had left' in indirect speech. The adverb 'already' remains unchanged. The correct form is 'He said that she had already left'.
Convert: "I will have completed the work by tomorrow," she said.
Correct Answer: B. She said she would have completed the work by the next day
Future perfect 'will have completed' changes to past future perfect 'would have completed'. 'Tomorrow' changes to 'the next day'. The correct form is 'She said she would have completed the work by the next day'.
"The Earth revolves around the Sun," the teacher said. Report this.
Correct Answer: A. The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun
Universal truths and scientific facts typically do not change tense even in indirect speech. The form 'The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun' is correct, maintaining the present tense for a general truth. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive examinations like SSC and banking exams.
Convert: "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius," he said.
Correct Answer: A. He said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius
Scientific facts and universal truths often retain their present tense in indirect speech. The correct form is 'He said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius', preserving the timeless nature of the statement. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive examinations like SSC and banking exams.
"I have been working here since 2015," she said. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. She said she had been working there since 2015
Present perfect continuous changes to past perfect continuous in indirect speech. 'Here' changes to 'there'. The correct form is 'She said she had been working there since 2015'.
Convert: "This will never happen again," he said.
Correct Answer: C. He said that that would never happen again
Future tense changes to 'would'. The demonstrative 'this' changes to 'that' when referring to something not immediately present. The correct form is 'He said that that would never happen again'.
"I was there yesterday," she said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. She said that she was there the day before
Time expressions change in indirect speech. 'Yesterday' becomes 'the day before'. The correct form is 'She said that she was there the day before'. The past simple tense may remain unchanged or shift to past perfect depending on context.
Convert: "I am meeting him tomorrow," she said.
Correct Answer: B. She said she was meeting him the next day
Present continuous changes to past continuous. 'Tomorrow' changes to 'the next day'. The correct form is 'She said she was meeting him the next day'.
"We won the match yesterday," they said. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. They said that they had won the match the day before
Past simple tense often changes to past perfect in indirect speech. 'Yesterday' becomes 'the day before'. The correct form is 'They said that they had won the match the day before'.