Direct & Indirect Speech — Set 8
Questions 71–80 of 140
Convert: "He says he is a doctor," she said.
Correct Answer: B. She said that he said he was a doctor
When reporting reported speech, both the outer and inner verbs change tense. The form 'She said that he said he was a doctor' shows both tense shifts following the sequence of tenses rule. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive examinations like SSC and banking exams.
"She told me she would help," he said. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. He said that she told him she would help
When reporting reported speech that contains a conditional, the structure is 'He said that she told him she would help'. This maintains the reported past tense and the conditional form from the original reported speech. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive examinations like SSC and banking exams.
Convert: "I saw him yesterday and we talked for hours," she said.
Correct Answer: B. She said she had seen him the day before and they had talked for hours
Both past simple verbs change to past perfect. 'Yesterday' changes to 'the day before'. The form 'She said she had seen him the day before and they had talked for hours' is correct for compound statements.
"If you come, we will celebrate," she said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. She said if I came, we would celebrate
In conditional sentences (if-then), the if-clause changes from present to past, and the main clause changes from future to conditional. The pronouns also shift. The correct form is 'She said if I came, we would celebrate'.
Convert: "Unless you work hard, you won't succeed," the teacher said.
Correct Answer: B. The teacher said unless I worked hard, I wouldn't succeed
In conditional-like sentences with 'unless', both clauses change tense. 'Work' changes to 'worked', and 'won't succeed' changes to 'wouldn't succeed'. The pronoun 'you' changes to 'I'. The correct form is 'The teacher said unless I worked hard, I wouldn't succeed'.
"Both of us are ready," she said to him. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. She told him both of them were ready
When reporting, 'us' (which includes the speaker and the person addressed) changes to 'them'. The present tense 'are' changes to past 'were'. The correct form is 'She told him both of them were ready'.
Convert: "This is my responsibility," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said that this was his responsibility
Present tense 'is' changes to past 'was'. The possessive 'my' changes to 'his'. The demonstrative 'this' remains unchanged as it can apply to reported situations. The correct form is 'He said that this was his responsibility'.
"I haven't eaten anything since morning," she said. Convert to indirect.
Correct Answer: B. She said she hadn't eaten anything since morning
Present perfect 'haven't eaten' changes to past perfect 'hadn't eaten'. The negative form and time reference remain appropriate. The correct form is 'She said she hadn't eaten anything since morning'.
Convert: "I am going to study medicine," he said.
Correct Answer: B. He said he was going to study medicine
The near future expression 'am going to' changes to past 'was going to' in indirect speech. The correct form is 'He said he was going to study medicine', which maintains the near future sense within a past context. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive examinations like SSC and banking exams.
"The show starts at 8 PM tonight," she said on Monday. Report this.
Correct Answer: B. She said the show started at 8 PM that night
When reporting statements about future events from a past time, 'starts' changes to 'started', and 'tonight' changes to 'that night'. The correct form is 'She said the show started at 8 PM that night'. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive examinations like SSC and banking exams.