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 me, “I have often told you not to play with fire.”
Answer: B
Correct answer: He told me that he had often told me not to play with fire
The present perfect have told moves back to the past perfect had told, I becomes he, and you becomes me. The negative imperative inside the sentence - not to play - is already in infinitive form and does not change.
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The Captain said to his men, "Stand at ease."
Answer: D
Correct answer: The Captain commanded his men to stand at ease
Stand at ease is a military order, so the reporting verb must carry that force: commanded. Urged and wanted weaken it to persuasion or wish, and told them that they should turns an order into advice.
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Pawan said to me, "If I hear any news, I'll phone you."
Answer: D
Correct answer: Pawan told me that if he heard any news, he would phone me
In a first conditional the if clause keeps the past simple after backshift and the main clause moves from will to would. Pushing the if clause to the past perfect, as one option does, turns a real condition into an unreal one.
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He said,"I cannot help you at present because I am myself in difficulty."
Answer: B
Correct answer: He said that he could not help me at present because he was himself in difficulty.
I becomes he, you becomes me, cannot becomes could not, and am becomes was. The reflexive myself follows its subject and becomes himself. The options keeping you report the refusal to the wrong person, and asked that cannot introduce a statement.
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He told her, "I want to meet your father"
Answer: B
Correct answer: He told her that he wanted to meet her father
Both pronouns cross over: I becomes he and your becomes her. The present want then moves back to wanted. Changing only one of the two leaves the sentence half in direct speech.
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He says, ''I don't want to play any more."
Answer: A
Correct answer: He says that he doesn't want to play any more
The reporting verb says is present, so there is no backshift. Only I becomes he, which carries don't to doesn't.
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The government has announced, "Taxes will be raised"
Answer: C
Correct answer: The government has announced that taxes will be raised
Has announced is a present perfect, not a past tense, so it does not trigger backshift - will be raised stays. The announcement also still holds, which is a second reason to keep the future.
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Mohan said, "We shall go to see the Taj in the moonlit night"
Answer: D
Correct answer: Mohan said that they should go to see the Taj in moonlit night
We becomes they. First-person shall becomes should after a past reporting verb, in the same way that will becomes would. The options keeping we report Mohan as speaking of the reporter's party.
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The teacher said to Ram,"Congratulations ! Wish you success in life."
Answer: D
Correct answer: The teacher congratulated Ram and wished him success in life
Two separate speech acts are reported with the verbs proper to each: congratulated for the congratulation and wished for the good wish. Keeping wish you success inside the report leaves a piece of direct speech unconverted.
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The poor examinee said, “O God, take pity on me.”
Answer: B
Correct answer: The poor examinee, invoking God, implored him to take pity on him
The direct speech is a prayer, so the report needs a verb of entreaty. Implored supplies it, and the address O God becomes the participial phrase invoking God. Asked and prayed God to are too flat for the appeal, and exclaimed that God take pity leaves the subjunctive stranded.
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