In the following section the sentences have been given in Direct or Indirect speech. From the given alternatives, choose the most appropriate sentence that best suits the given sentence in Indirect or Direct speech.
He said to his servant, "Why are you so lazy today?"
Answer: A
Correct answer: He asked his servant why he was so lazy that day.
The question order is straightened out, you becomes he, are becomes was, and today becomes that day. The past perfect and past continuous options add a shade of tense the original does not carry.
Please log in or register to report this question.
Sarita said to me, "I will do it now or never."
Answer: D
Correct answer: Sarita told me that she would do it then, or never.
I becomes she, will becomes would, and now becomes then. The option keeping now leaves one of the three untouched, and the one keeping will leaves the tense unshifted.
Please log in or register to report this question.
The Manager said, "Well, what can I do for you?"
Answer: C
Correct answer: The Manager wanted to know what he could do for him.
Well, what can I do for you? is a question, so the report needs a verb of enquiry; wanted to know supplies it. Can becomes could, I becomes he, and you becomes him.
Please log in or register to report this question.
The employer said to the workman, "I cannot pay you higher wages."
Answer: B
Correct answer: The employer told the workman that he could not pay him higher wages.
Cannot becomes could not, I becomes he, and you becomes him. The passive option reverses who cannot pay whom, and forbade misreads a statement of inability as a prohibition.
Please log in or register to report this question.
Rajesh said, "I bought a car yesterday."
Answer: D
Correct answer: Rajesh said that he had bought a car the previous day.
The past simple bought moves back to the past perfect, and yesterday becomes the previous day. Keeping yesterday would measure the time from the moment of reporting rather than from the moment of speaking.
Please log in or register to report this question.
He asked his teacher, "Need I read this chapter?"
Answer: D
Correct answer: He asked his teacher if he had to read that chapter.
Need I…? is a yes-or-no question, so it takes if; need as a modal has no past form and is replaced by had to; and this chapter becomes that chapter.
Please log in or register to report this question.
The sage said, “God helps those who help themselves.”
Answer: A
Correct answer: The sage said that god helps those who help themselves
A universal truth keeps its present tense even after a past reporting verb - the statement is as true at the moment of reporting as it was when it was made. This is the standing exception to backshift.
Please log in or register to report this question.
My friend said to me, "Has your father returned from Calcutta?"
Answer: B
Correct answer: My friend asked me if my father had returned from Calcutta.
A yes-or-no question takes asked… if; your becomes my, since the father belongs to the person now reporting; and the present perfect has returned moves back to had returned. The options with his father give the father to the wrong person.
Please log in or register to report this question.
He said to them, "Don't make a noise"
Answer: D
Correct answer: He told them not to make a noise
A negative command is reported with told… not to + infinitive. Asked would soften an order into a request, and keeping don't make a noise inside a that clause leaves the imperative unconverted. Note also that a noise keeps its article.
Please log in or register to report this question.
He said to her, "Are you coming to the party?"
Answer: C
Correct answer: He asked her if she was coming to the party.
A yes-or-no question is reported with asked… if, the question mark goes, and are coming moves back to was coming. Told cannot introduce a question, and will leaves the tense unshifted.
Please log in or register to report this question.
