FPSC (Federal Public Service Commission) · CSS (Central Superior Services)
Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration) Set-1
Narration and Voice
· English
570 MCQs
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of 570 MCQs
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1
"Everything is going to be alright," said the doctor.
Answer:
The doctor said that everything are going to be alright.
** According to the **Rule of Reported Speech (Sequence of Tenses)**, when the reporting verb ("said") is in past tense, the verb inside the reported clause must shift one step back in tense. "Is going to" changes into "was going to." Option (a) is wrong because "everything are" is a subject–verb agreement error (everything is singular). Option (b) keeps "is" without changing tense, which breaks the rule. Option (c) incorrectly changes "going to" into "will," which alters the meaning. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---
2
"Is he alright now?" I asked my neighbour's wife about her husband, Mr. Sharif.
Answer:
I asked Mrs. Sharif, my neighbour's wife, if her husband is alright now.
** In **yes/no questions in reported speech**, we use "if" or "whether" and apply the **sequence of tenses**. Present "is" becomes past "was." The adverb "now" changes into "then." Option (b) fails because it keeps present tense. Option (c) wrongly uses "your husband" (instead of her husband) and future tense "will." Option (d) changes the tense to "had become," which suggests completion, not the original sense. Therefore, option (a) is correct. ---
3
"Read the instructions before you start making the dish," Sara's mother said to her.
Answer:
Sara's mother told to her to read the instructions before you start making the dish.
** In **imperative sentences (commands/requests)** converted to indirect speech, "said to" changes into "told + object + infinitive." Thus, "Read" becomes "told her to read." The pronoun "you" changes to "she." Present tense "start" shifts to past "started." Option (a) is wrong because "told to her" is grammatically incorrect. Option (b) wrongly uses past perfect ("had made"), changing meaning. Option (d) keeps "start" instead of "started." Hence, (c) is correct. ---
4
"Whom did you see at the shopping mall today?" I asked my daughter.
Answer:
I asked my daughter who she has seen at the shopping mall today.
** In **reported WH-questions**, "did you see" changes into past perfect "she had seen." The adverb "today" changes into "that day." Option (a) keeps "has seen," which is present perfect, breaking tense sequence. Option (b) is grammatically wrong: "whom did she saw" has a double past form. Option (c) wrongly uses "that" before "whom" and keeps past simple ("saw") instead of past perfect. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---
5
The teacher said, "Man is mortal."
Answer:
The teacher said that men were mortal.
** This is a **universal truth/general fact**. In reported speech, universal truths remain in the **present tense**. "Man is mortal" is a universal fact, so it stays as "is mortal." Option (a) changes singular "man" to plural "men," altering meaning. Option (b) wrongly uses "instructed," which is not suitable here. Option (c) changes tense to past ("was mortal"), which is incorrect because universal truths do not shift tense. Thus, option (d) is correct. ---
6
"Is the door closed?" Jamila asked Aamir.
Answer:
Jamila asked Aamir is the door close.
** This is a **yes/no question in reported speech**. Such questions require "if" or "whether," and the verb tense shifts back. Present tense "is" changes to past tense "was." Option (a) is ungrammatical ("is the door close" is wrong). Option (b) fails because "is" stays in present tense. Option (c) wrongly shifts pronoun and sense — it implies Aamir closed the door, which alters meaning. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---
7
"How beautiful she is!" said Saira.
Answer:
Saira exclaimed with joy how beautiful she is.
** This is an **exclamatory sentence** converted into indirect speech. "Exclaimed with joy" is correct for positive emotion. Present tense "is" shifts to past "was." Option (a) keeps "is" without tense change. Option (b) changes structure and drops "how," which alters emphasis. Option (d) is grammatically correct but not faithful to the exact exclamation style. Hence, (c) is the most accurate. ---
8
"I'll see you later," she said.
Answer:
She said that she will be able to see you later.
** In **reported speech**, "will" changes to "would." Also, "you" becomes "me" when addressed directly. Option (a) incorrectly adds "be able to," which changes the meaning. Option (b) keeps "will" in future tense — incorrect with past reporting verb. Option (c) uses "would be seeing," which suggests a continuous sense not in the original. Hence, (d) is the correct transformation. ---
9
"I will work hard to get the first rank in class," said Arshad.
Answer:
rshad said that he should work hard to get the first rank in class.
** In **reported speech**, "will" becomes "would." None of the modal verbs "should," "could," or "ought to" express the same definite intention as "will." Option (a) implies obligation, option (b) implies possibility, option (c) implies moral duty. Only (d) preserves Rohan's commitment. ---
10
Rehana said to me, "I was watching TV."
Answer:
Rehana told me that she was watching TV.
** Past continuous in direct speech ("was watching") becomes **past perfect continuous** ("had been watching") in reported speech. Option (a) wrongly keeps past continuous. Options (b) and (d) wrongly change subject to "I," making it sound like the narrator was watching TV. Hence, (c) is correct. ---
11
The policeman said, "It is clear that this is the work of a professional robber."
Answer:
The policeman said that It had been clearly the work of a professional robber.
** In **reported speech**, "is" changes to "was." The demonstrative "this" changes to "that." Hence: "it is clear…this is" → "it was clear…that was." Option (a) uses past perfect incorrectly. Option (b) keeps "is," breaking tense sequence. Option (d) wrongly introduces "must be clear," altering meaning. Thus, (c) is correct. ---
12
Raj said to his friend, "Please help me in this task."
Answer:
Raj ordered his friend to help him in this task.
** Imperative sentences with "please" in reported speech change into **"requested" + object + infinitive."** "This" shifts to "that." Option (a) ("ordered") is wrong because polite requests are not orders. Option (b) ("threatened") is illogical. Option (c) is just a repetition of direct speech. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---
13
The professor said to the media persons, "From our research we have come to the conclusion that there is life on that planet."
Answer:
The professor told to the media persons that from your research you have come to the conclusion that there is life on that planet.
** In reported speech, "we" (the professor + team) → "they." Present perfect "have come" → past perfect "had come." Present "is life" → past "was life." Option (a) wrongly changes "our" to "your." Option (b) changes "is life" into "had been life," altering meaning. Option (d) mixes pronouns incorrectly. Hence, option (c) is correct. ---
14
Kamal said, "I have done my work."
Answer:
Kamal said I have done my work.
** Present perfect ("have done") in direct speech becomes **past perfect ("had done")** in indirect speech. Pronoun "I" changes to "he." Option (a) repeats direct speech. Option (b) keeps "has done," breaking tense sequence. Option (c) keeps "I," which is incorrect. Thus, (d) is correct. ---
15
The French scientist said, "I want to study how bees and wasps find their way home."
Answer:
The French scientist said that he wants to study how bees and wasps found your way home.
** Present "want" → past "wanted." Present "find" → past "found." Pronoun "I" → "he." Option (a) wrongly keeps "wants" and introduces "your way home." Option (b) wrongly keeps "I." Option (c) keeps "find" in present tense. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---
16
The counter clerk asked the visitor, "What is your name?"
Answer:
The counter clerk asks the visitor your name.
** In reported speech for WH-questions, the reporting verb is followed directly by the question word. "What is your name?" → "asked the visitor his name." Options (a), (c), (d) change tense wrongly or drop "what." Hence, (b) is correct. ---
17
"Alas, I have broken my brother's watch!" said he.
Answer:
He exclaimed with sorrow that he has broken his brother's watch.
** Interjections like "Alas" are reported as "exclaimed with sorrow." Present perfect "have broken" changes into past perfect "had broken." Option (b) keeps present perfect. Option (c) repeats direct speech. Option (d) wrongly introduces "may have." Thus, option (a) is correct. ---
18
shirin asked Asghar, "Have you heard the news about the inauguration of the new bridge?"
Answer:
shirin asked Asghar if they have heard the news about the inauguration of the new bridge.
** Present perfect "have heard" becomes **past perfect "had heard."** "You" changes to "he." Option (a) uses "they," which is wrong. Option (b) is ungrammatical ("you have hear"). Option (d) is grammatically broken. Hence, (c) is correct. ---
19
"I live in Islamabad," she said.
Answer:
She says that she was living in Islamabad.
** Simple present "live" becomes simple past "lived" in reported speech. Option (a) wrongly changes tense to past continuous. Option (b) shifts unnecessarily to past perfect continuous. Option (c) uses present perfect continuous, which is incorrect. Hence, (d) is correct. ---
20
He said to me, "It was raining all day."
Answer:
He told me it was raining all day.
** Past continuous ("was raining") changes into **past perfect continuous ("had been raining").** Option (a) wrongly keeps past continuous. Options (b) and (c) use present tense forms, which break sequence of tenses. Hence, option (d) is correct. ---
