Direct & Indirect Speech — Set 7
Questions 61–70 of 140
Convert: "I have never seen such a sight," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said he had never seen such a sight
Present perfect changes to past perfect in indirect speech. The emphasis word 'such' remains unchanged. The correct form is 'He said he had never seen such a sight'.
"I think he is honest," she said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. She said that she thought he was honest
Both the reporting verb 'think' and the embedded clause change tense. The form 'She said that she thought he was honest' shows both tense changes following the sequence of tenses rule. For example, 'He said that he was happy' is the indirect form of 'He said: I am happy'.
Convert: "I know she will succeed," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said he knew she would succeed
The reporting verb 'know' changes from present to past 'knew'. The future 'will succeed' changes to 'would succeed'. The correct form is 'He said he knew she would succeed'.
"I suppose we will be late," she said. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. She said she supposed they would be late
The verb 'suppose' changes from present to past tense. 'We' changes to 'they', and 'will be' changes to 'would be'. The correct form is 'She said she supposed they would be late'.
Convert: "I remember he came last week," she said.
Correct Answer: B. She said she remembered he had come the week before
Both verbs change tense in indirect speech. 'Came' (past simple) changes to 'had come' (past perfect). 'Last week' changes to 'the week before'. The correct form is 'She said she remembered he had come the week before'.
"I believe you are right," he said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. He said he believed I was right
The reporting verb 'believe' changes from present to past. 'You' changes to 'I' in the reported form. 'Are' changes to 'was'. The correct form is 'He said he believed I was right'.
Convert: "I expect he will arrive soon," she said.
Correct Answer: B. She said she expected he would arrive soon
The verb 'expect' changes to past tense 'expected'. The future 'will arrive' changes to 'would arrive'. The correct form is 'She said she expected he would arrive soon'.
"I doubt they will come," he said. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. He said he doubted they would come
The verb 'doubt' changes from present 'doubts' to past 'doubted'. 'Will come' changes to 'would come'. The correct form is 'He said he doubted they would come'.
Convert: "I feel you are making a mistake," she said.
Correct Answer: B. She said she felt I was making a mistake
The reporting verb 'feel' changes from 'feels' to 'felt'. Present continuous 'are making' changes to 'was making'. 'You' changes to 'I'. The correct form is 'She said she felt I was making a mistake'.
"I am afraid something bad will happen," he said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. He said he was afraid something bad would happen
The expression 'I am afraid' changes to 'he was afraid' with appropriate pronoun and tense changes. The future 'will happen' changes to 'would happen'. The correct form is 'He said he was afraid something bad would happen'.