SOLUTION Direct Indirect Speech Practice Set 2 in English
View the Direct Indirect Speech Voice Practice Set 2
Direct Indirect Speech Practice Set 2 English Solution
1. He wrote in his report, “The rainfall has been scanty till now.”
Answer: D
Explanation: Option ‘D’. The reporting verb (WROTE) is in the Past Simple Tense. In the indirect speech you cannot change the tense of the reporting verb, so option ‘C’ is incorrect.
2. He welcomed me to his house.
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. Verb of the sentence in the Indirect Speech is WELCOMED, means in the Past Simple Tense. It means it will become in the Present Simple Tense in the Direct Speech. Option ‘B’ is incorrect as WELCOME HOME is used when someone comes back to his own house.
3. “Who’s the conductor of this bus?” he asked, and paused for a reply.
Answer: D
Explanation: Option ‘D’. Option ‘B’ is incorrect as it’s still a question as the helping (WAS) has been placed before the subject (THE CONDUCTER). Option ‘C’ is incorrect as you can’t join a question beginning with a WH-FAMILY word with IF or WTHETHER.
4. Manna said to Rohan, “Have you sat in a trolley bus before?”
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. BEFORE and EARLIER in this meaning are the same thing.
5. She wanted to know whether butterflies drank water.
Answer: B
Explanation: Option ‘B’. Option ‘A’ is incorrect as we do not use WANTED TO KNOW as a reporting verb in the reporting clause.
6. “We’ll go for an outing tomorrow.” said Laila’s father, “so you had better complete your homework this evening.”
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. See how HAD BETTER changes into in the indirect speech:
‘1st/3rd Person + had better’ remains unchanged, but ‘2nd Person + had better’ either can remain unchanged or be reported by ‘Advise/Warn + object + to-infinitive’; e.g.
a) He said, “I’d better hurry.”
= He said that he’d better hurry. (1st Person + had better, so no change)
b) The children had better go to bed early,” said Mohan.
= Mohan said that the children had better go to bed early. (3rd Person + had better, so no change)
c) You’d better not drink the water,” she said.
= She said that I/WE had better not drink the water.
= She advised/warned me/us not to drink the water. (2nd Person + had better, so it can be a change there or not.)
7. He says, “I am going to the market now.”
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. The reporting verb is in the present, so tense of the reported speech won’t change.
8. My teacher said to me, “What is your name?”
Answer: B
Explanation: Option ‘B’. Option ‘D’ is incorrect as it’s still in the question form.
9. He asked me why I hadn’t come on time the previous day.
Answer: D
10. The Police Chief warned that more accidents would occur if people continued to disregard traffic rules.
Answer: C
Explanation: Option ‘C’. If you see the sentence in the indirect speech is a warning. Therefore Option ‘A’ and Option ‘B’ are incorrect because they are only ordinary statements, not warnings. Option ‘D’ is rejected because the verb in the Indirect Speech CONTINUED is in the Past Simple Tense, and we already know that in the Direct Speech Past Simple Tense changes into the Present Simple Tense.
11. He said to me, “Do not run after money and then you will see money running after you.”
Answer: B
12. “Call the first witness.” said the judge.
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. All other options are rejected because a judge always orders or commands.
NOTE: When the verb ORDER is used with a THAT-CLAUSE we use the verb in the THAT-CLAUSE in the subjunctive mood, means the verb is always is its BASE FORM. The BASE FORM of a verb is the simplest form of a verb without a special ending; e.g.
The base form of CALLED is CALL; The base form of PLAYS is PLAY; The base form of IS/AM/ARE/WAS/WERE is BE
13. He said to us, “What did he have last night?”
Answer: B
Explanation: Option ‘B’. Verb in the direct speech (DID HAVE) is in the Past Simple Tense, so it should change into The Past Perfect Tense in the indirect speech. But a sentence in the indirect speech is always an Assertive Sentence, so option ‘D’ is rejected because it’s in the question form.
14. “Give yourself fifteen minutes and walk gently.” uncle Podger always said.
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. See the word ALWAYS in the reporting clause, so It’s advice, not an order or request.
15. The dwarf said to her, “Promise me that when you are a queen you will give me your first-born child.”
Answer: D
Explanation: Option ‘D’. You can understand that this is neither advice nor a request.
16. The Captain commanded his men to stand at ease.
Answer: D
Explanation: Option ‘D’. Option ‘A’ is incorrect as the verb COMMAND is not used as a reporting verb in the direct speech.
17. Suma said to him, “Am I to wait for you forever?”
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. Use of WERE here is not real past, its use is in the subjunctive mood. We can also use a verb in this mood when we are saying something in a sarcastic mood. SARCASM = the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what one says, made in order to criticize something in a humorous way. You can understand the situation, SUMA was not happy with the wait, she said it in annoyance, think why the word FOREVER is used.
18. Samuel said to Remiel, ”Where do you usually go swimming?”
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. Habits are of two types, some habits can change in the course of time. Some habits can’t change. If the reporting verb (here SAID) is in the past tense, tense of a habit that can change also changes, and tense of a habit that don’t change does not also change. Habit of GOING SWIMMING can change, you see. Now see these examples:
a) He said, “He always goes for a morning walk.”
= He said that he always went for a walk.
(This habit can change, maybe he has left going for a walk now, )
b) He said, “He writes with left hand.”
= He said that he writes with left hand.”
(This habit can’t change.)
19. “I can show no mercy,” said the king, “except permitting you to choose what kind of death you wish to die.”
Answer: D
20. She said to her brother, “Don’t be late, we’ll be waiting for you.”
Answer: B
Explanation: Option ‘B’. WE is a pronoun of the first person, so it will be changed according to the subject of the reporting clause, which is SHE. But WE is in the plural, so WE will change into THEY. Option ‘A’ is incorrect as the verb SAY (here SAID) is not used in converting imperative sentences into the Indirect Speech.
21. “Don’t pull the dog’s tail.” said his father.
Answer: D
Explanation: Option ‘D’. FORBADE is a negative word, being such it can’t take negative words, so option ‘B’ is rejected. Other possible conversions:
a) His father asked/ordered/advised him not to pull the dog’s tail.
b) His father forbade him to pull the dog’s tail.
22. “Ah me!” exclaimed the man, “What a rash and bloody deed you have done!”
Answer: D
Explanation: Option ‘D’. AH ME! is an exclamation which we use when we are sad, so to use the word SADLY here is necessary.
23. The teacher said, “Students, we live in deeds, not in years.”
Answer: C
Explanation: Option ‘C’. ‘We live in deeds, not in years’ is a proverb/saying, so its tense cannot change, obviously the option ‘D’ is incorrect therefore. A common noun addressed when put inside the inverted commas is preceded by THE or any suitable possessive adjective (my/his/her, etc.) in the indirect speech, so option ‘B’ is also incorrect.
NOTE: In indirect speech we normally use SAY or TELL + OBJECT, but SAY TO + OBJECT is also correct however is much less usual than TELL + OBJECT; e.g.
He said, “I just heard the news.”
= He said that he had just heard the news.
= He told me that he had just heard the news.
= He said to me that he had just heard the news.
24. “What a terrible storm it is!” he said.
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. While converting an exclamation into the indirect speech with the subject IT article A/AN remains the same, and when the subject is other than IT; A/AN changes into THE and we put it before that subject. Therefore option ‘B’ is incorrect as the subject STORM is not preceded by the article THE. Option ‘D’ is incorrect as it’s an exclamation, so use of SAID is inappropriate.
NOTE: In expressions of weather we normally use IT as the subject whatever tense it is.
25. He exclaimed that I was very happy.
Answer: A
Explanation: Option ‘A’. Option ‘C’ is incorrect because the sentence in the inverted commas is a statement (assertive sentence). As the reporting verb of the given sentence is EXCLAIMED we need an exclamatory sentence in the inverted commas.
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