Question 1

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  He said, "I will go to Mumbai someday next month."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question focuses on reporting a future intention that is expressed with "will". The direct sentence talks about a future plan relative to the original speaking time. When we convert this into indirect speech with a past reporting verb, we must backshift the future tense and adjust the time expression "next month". Such items test understanding of tense sequence and time phrase changes in reported speech. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "I will go to Mumbai someday next month." Pronoun "I" refers to "he" in the reported version. Verb "will go" expresses a future plan. Time expression: "next month" must be adapted to indirect speech. Concept / Approach: In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in the past, the simple future with "will" usually changes to "would". Time words and phrases must be changed to match the point of view of the reporter. The phrase "next month" becomes "the following month". Pronouns must shift from first person to third person according to the new subject of the sentence. The main aim is to express the same future intention from a position in the past, without changing the planned action itself. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Begin with the reporting clause "He said that". Step 2: Change the pronoun "I" to "he", because the speaker is now referred to in third person. Step 3: Convert "will go" to "would go" to backshift the simple future to a future in the past. Step 4: Retain "to Mumbai someday" because the place and the adverb "someday" do not need form change. Step 5: Change the time phrase "next month" to "the following month" to suit reported speech from a later time point. Step 6: Combine the parts into "He said that he would go to Mumbai someday the following month." Verification / Alternative check: Check that the action of going to Mumbai is still in the future relative to the time when he spoke, but from the reporting point of view it is expressed as a future in the past. "Would go" correctly carries this meaning. The time expression "the following month" still refers to one month after the original speaking time. The reported version has no quotation marks and uses the conjunction "that", which is standard in formal indirect speech. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B is wrong because it mixes the present "says" with "would go", which is not logical in this context. Option C keeps "will go", which fails to backshift the future tense after a past reporting verb. Option D again uses "says" with "will go", which would only be correct if the report were truly in the present, but the original sentence clearly treats "said" as a past action in the test pattern. Common Pitfalls: A common error is to forget to change "will" to "would" when the reporting verb is in the past. Some learners also forget to adjust the time phrase, leaving "next month" unchanged in indirect speech, which can cause confusion about when the action is supposed to happen. Another issue is inconsistent mixing of present and past in the reporting clause, which changes the time frame of the report. Practising several examples of future in reported speech helps to fix these patterns firmly in memory. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is He said that he would go to Mumbai someday the following month.

Question 2

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  The manager said, "I will not waste any further time and start the work today itself."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests how to report a firm decision expressed with "will not" and "will" in the same sentence. The manager promises immediate action on the same day as the original statement. In indirect speech, the learner must change the future form, adjust the time expression "today", and maintain the sense of determination and immediacy in a grammatically correct way. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "I will not waste any further time and start the work today itself." Pronoun "I" refers to the manager and becomes "he" in reported form. The clause expresses refusal to waste time and intention to start the work. Time expression: "today itself" must be converted to "that day itself" in indirect speech. Concept / Approach: With a past reporting verb, simple future usually changes to "would". Time expressions also change: "today" becomes "that day" in reported speech. The manager two linked actions share the same subject and the same time frame. So, "will not waste" becomes "would not waste" and "start the work" is understood as part of the same plan that also belongs to that future in the past. The conjunction "and" continues to link the two actions. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Start with "The manager said that" to introduce the reported clause. Step 2: Replace "I" with "he" to shift to third person. Step 3: Change "will not waste any further time" to "would not waste any further time" to show future in the past. Step 4: Retain "and start the work" as part of the same plan, understood to share the same auxiliary, so "would" still applies to this second action in meaning. Step 5: Change "today itself" to "that day itself" to reflect the reporter viewpoint. Step 6: Put it all together as "The manager said that he would not waste any further time and start the work that day itself." Verification / Alternative check: Check that the reported sentence still shows decision and immediacy. The manager promise to begin work on the same day is preserved through the phrase "that day itself". The shift from "will" to "would" correctly follows the rule for reported speech after a past reporting verb. The two linked actions are both clearly planned actions and no meaning is lost. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A keeps "today itself", which is not correct in indirect speech when the report happens later. Option B uses "will not" instead of "would not", so it fails to backshift the tense. Option C has both "will not" and "today itself", and therefore does not apply any of the necessary changes for indirect speech. Common Pitfalls: It is easy to forget about time expressions when focusing on verb tense. Words such as "today", "tomorrow", and "yesterday" are frequent traps in exam questions. Another pitfall is to think that the second verb "start" requires a separate auxiliary, and some learners may incorrectly write "would not waste any further time and would start", which is not wrong but is less stylistically compact. However, examination options usually provide a single shared auxiliary, so understanding this pattern can help choose the correct option quickly. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is The manager said that he would not waste any further time and start the work that day itself.

Question 3

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  My neighbours said, "We will not be driving this car anymore as it has become unreliable."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In this item, the speakers express a decision about a habitual future action related to a car. The sentence has a future continuous form "will not be driving" and a present perfect form "has become unreliable". When we report this speech later, we must adjust both the future form and the perfect tense, and we must also change the demonstrative "this" that refers to the car near the speaker. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct sentence: "We will not be driving this car anymore as it has become unreliable." Pronoun "we" refers to "they" from the narrator position. Verb phrase: "will not be driving" (future continuous) expresses a continued future decision. Second clause: "has become unreliable" (present perfect) gives the reason. Demonstrative "this car" refers to a car near the speakers and becomes "that car" in reported speech. Concept / Approach: With a past reporting verb, simple future forms with "will" generally change to "would". A future continuous form "will be driving" changes to "would be driving". Present perfect "has become" normally changes to past perfect "had become". The demonstrative "this" changes to "that", especially when the object is no longer near the reporter. The adverb "anymore" remains unchanged because it refers to future time relative to the original plan, which becomes future in the past in reported form. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Begin with "My neighbours said that" to form the reporting clause. Step 2: Change "we" to "they" to reflect third person reference. Step 3: Convert "will not be driving" to "would not be driving" to show future continuous in the past. Step 4: Replace "this car" with "that car" for correct demonstrative use in indirect speech. Step 5: Change "has become unreliable" to "had become unreliable" to backshift the present perfect to past perfect. Step 6: Combine all parts to obtain "My neighbours said that they would not be driving that car anymore as it had become unreliable." Verification / Alternative check: Check that the sense of a future decision is preserved. The neighbours are still talking about not using the car in future, but from the reporter viewpoint, this plan is expressed as a future in the past with "would not be driving". The reason that the car had already become unreliable also remains clear through the use of past perfect. The change from "this car" to "that car" correctly reflects indirect reference. No information has been lost or altered. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B keeps "will not be driving" and "has become", which ignores the rule of backshifting after a past reporting verb. Option C changes the aspect by using "would not drive" instead of "would not be driving", which reduces the sense of continuing usual use and does not mirror the original continuous form. Option D repeats the same problem as option B, keeping "will" and "has become" and also keeping "this car", which is not appropriate in indirect speech from a different location or time. Common Pitfalls: Learners often focus on tense changes but forget about demonstratives such as "this" and "that". Another pitfall is to ignore the difference between simple future and future continuous. Exam setters sometimes include distractors that remove the continuous aspect or leave auxiliary verbs unchanged. To avoid mistakes, always list the parts that must change: pronouns, tense, time or place words, and demonstratives. Then apply the rules one by one before choosing the final option. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is My neighbours said that they would not be driving that car anymore as it had become unreliable.

Question 4

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  My sister said to my mother, "When can I have dinner? I hardly have had anything to eat since no…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence combines a question in direct speech with a follow up statement about recent eating habits. The learner must convert the question into an indirect question using "asked" and also report the statement correctly. The example tests understanding of reported questions, tense backshifting for present perfect, and time expression changes such as "today". Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting clause: "My sister said to my mother" which becomes "asked my mother" for the question part. Direct question: "When can I have dinner?" Follow up statement: "I hardly have had anything to eat since noon today." Pronoun "I" refers to "she" in the reported version. Time expression: "since noon today" should become "since noon that day" in indirect speech. Concept / Approach: For reported questions, "said to" usually changes to "asked". The question word "when" is kept, but the word order changes from question form to normal statement form. The modal "can" changes to "could" after a past reporting verb. Present perfect "have had" backshifts to past perfect "had had". The adverb "today" becomes "that day". The reporting of two linked sentences is usually joined by "and said that" in indirect speech, keeping the logical connection. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Change "said to my mother" to "asked my mother" because the first part is a question. Step 2: Begin the indirect question with "when", followed by subject and modal in statement order: "when she could have her dinner". "Can" becomes "could" and "I" becomes "she". Step 3: Introduce the second clause with "and said that" to link the reported statement to the question. Step 4: Change "I hardly have had anything to eat since noon today" to "she hardly had had anything to eat since noon that day". "Have had" becomes "had had", "I" becomes "she", and "today" becomes "that day". Step 5: Combine the parts into "My sister asked my mother when she could have her dinner and said that she hardly had had anything to eat since noon that day." Verification / Alternative check: The indirect question no longer uses question order or a question mark, but it still clearly asks about the time of dinner. The second clause accurately describes a lack of food from noon until the time of speaking. Backshifted tenses and changed time expression show that this is now a report of what was said earlier. The overall meaning remains the same as the original direct speech. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A keeps "has had", which is present perfect and does not match the past reporting verb. Option B uses "can" instead of "could" in the indirect question, which is not correct after a past reporting verb. Option C repeats both errors, keeping "can" and "has had". Only option D correctly uses "could" and "had had" and also changes "today" to "that day". Common Pitfalls: Many learners forget to change the word order of the question when reporting it and leave a question mark, which is not correct in indirect questions. Another pitfall is handling the double perfect "had had", which looks unusual but is correct and common in reported speech with present perfect. Students also often overlook small time words like "today", but exam writers use them deliberately to test attention to detail. Careful stepwise conversion avoids these issues. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is My sister asked my mother when she could have her dinner and said that she hardly had had anything to eat since noon that day.

Question 5

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  He said, "I started the job today."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks how to report a simple past action linked with the time word "today". The speaker refers to an action that happened earlier the same day. When this is reported later, both the tense and the time expression must be adapted. The goal is to show that the job had already started before the time of reporting, and that the original reference to "today" now becomes "that day". Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "I started the job today." Pronoun "I" refers to "he" in the reported sentence. Verb "started" is in simple past. Time expression "today" is relative to the original moment of speaking. Concept / Approach: With a past reporting verb, simple past usually changes to past perfect in reported speech to show that the action was completed before the time of reporting. Time expressions also need adjustment; "today" changes to "that day". Pronoun "I" must change to "he" to match the third person perspective. No question or command is involved, so the structure remains a simple statement with conjunction "that" introducing the reported clause. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Start the reported sentence with "He said that". Step 2: Change "I started" to "he had started". This backshifts simple past to past perfect and changes the pronoun correctly. Step 3: Replace "today" with "that day" to represent the time of the action relative to the time of reporting. Step 4: The complete reported sentence becomes "He said that he had started the job that day." Verification / Alternative check: The reported version clearly indicates that starting the job happened before the reporting moment, which fits real life communication. The phrase "that day" tells the reader that the job was started earlier on the same calendar day when the original words were spoken. The sentence structure is correct and follows standard rules for reporting simple statements with time expressions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A keeps "has started" and "today". Present perfect "has started" is not suitable when the reporting verb is in past tense, and "today" should change to "that day". Option C uses "had had started", which is not a correct tense structure in this context. Option D repeats the same incorrect double perfect with "has had started", combining two unnecessary auxiliary verbs and also keeping the wrong tense sequence. Common Pitfalls: Learners may mistakenly think simple past should remain unchanged after a past reporting verb, especially when the action and the reporting seem close in time. Another frequent error is to overlook small time words, leaving "today" unchanged. Always identify the tense in the original quote, then decide on the proper backshift, and finally examine all time markers and pronouns. This disciplined approach ensures accurate reported speech. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is He said that he had started the job that day.

Question 6

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  He said, "I had gone to my native place last month."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question involves reporting a statement that already uses past perfect and contains the time phrase "last month". The speaker talks about an earlier visit to a native place. In indirect speech, we must keep the past perfect correctly and change the time expression to fit the new point of view. Such questions test attention to both tense and time phrase adjustment. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "I had gone to my native place last month." Pronoun "I" changes to "he" in the reported clause. Verb phrase "had gone" is already in past perfect. Time expression "last month" should become "the month before" in indirect speech. Concept / Approach: Past perfect generally remains unchanged when converted into reported speech, even when the reporting verb is in past tense, because it already indicates an action completed before another past time. The main change needed is to adapt the time phrase. "Last month" is relative to the time of speaking in the direct quote, so in reported speech it becomes "the month before". Pronoun changes and removal of quotation marks and comma complete the transformation. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Introduce the reported clause with "He said that". Step 2: Change "I" to "he" to show third person reference. Step 3: Keep "had gone to his native place" as it is, because past perfect is already the correct tense for an action completed before another past point. Step 4: Replace "last month" with "the month before" to fit the indirect speech time frame. Step 5: The final sentence is "He said that he had gone to his native place the month before." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence clearly describes an action that took place one month before the time of speaking in the original situation. By keeping past perfect, we preserve the sense of an earlier completed journey. The change from "last month" to "the month before" avoids confusion when the sentence is read later by someone who was not present at the original conversation. Grammar, pronouns, and time phrases all follow standard reported speech conventions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B keeps "last month", which is not suitable when the time of speaking has moved. Option C uses "has gone", which is present perfect and does not fit with the past reporting verb. Option D repeats this present perfect problem and also keeps "last month", so it does not follow the correct pattern. Common Pitfalls: Students often focus only on verb tense and forget about time expressions. Another common mistake is to over change the tense, attempting to modify past perfect further or replacing it with a simple past. Remember that past perfect is already a backshifted form and normally stays as it is in reported speech. Recognizing these patterns through practice helps to answer such questions quickly and accurately in exams. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is He said that he had gone to his native place the month before.

Question 7

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  They said to me, "We will help your team if you sign on this document."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item deals with reporting a conditional statement. The original promise connects future help with signing a document. The learner must change the future tense, the condition clause, and the demonstrative "this" appropriately while keeping the conditional structure intact. Conditional sentences in reported speech can be tricky because both clauses may require some change. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said to me" in simple past. Direct speech: "We will help your team if you sign on this document." Pronouns: "we" becomes "they" and "you" becomes "I" from the narrator point of view. Verb "will help" is simple future; "sign" is simple present in the if clause. "This document" refers to a specific document near the original speakers. Concept / Approach: In reported speech after a past reporting verb, "will" generally becomes "would". In many exam patterns, the if clause simple present "sign" changes to simple past "signed" to keep the conditional aligned with the main clause now in future in the past. The demonstrative "this" becomes "that". The promise remains conditional, and conjunction "if" stays as it is. The structure should still show that help is dependent on signing the document. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Replace "said to me" with "said to me that" to start the reported clause. Step 2: Change "we" to "they" and "your team" to "my team" to match the narrator perspective. Step 3: Backshift "will help" to "would help" to show future in the past. Step 4: Change "you sign" to "I signed" in the if clause so that the conditional structure matches the new time frame. Step 5: Replace "this document" with "that document" to show the shift in reference. Step 6: The final reported sentence becomes "They said to me that they would help my team if I signed on that document." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence still clearly states that help is dependent on the narrator signing a specific document. The main clause uses "would help", correctly following a past reporting verb. The if clause simple past "signed" combines naturally with "would help" to express the same type one conditional meaning in indirect speech. The demonstrative change from "this" to "that" is appropriate because the document is no longer being shown directly. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B keeps "will help" and "this document", not respecting the backshift rules and change in perspective. Option C uses "would be helping", which changes the aspect without any need and can sound unnatural in this context, even though it backshifts the future. Option D keeps both "will help" and "sign" as if the sentence were still in direct speech, so it does not correctly apply reported speech rules. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes change the main clause but neglect the if clause, leaving it in the original tense. Others over modify the conditional, turning it into a different type that changes the meaning. Demonstratives like "this" and "that" are often neglected but are important to preserve the sense of distance in time or space. A consistent approach is first to handle pronouns, then auxiliaries and tense, then condition clauses, and finally demonstratives. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is They said to me that they would help my team if I signed on that document.

Question 8

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  He said, "This man will be waiting for you here at the lobby."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item tests reported speech that includes a demonstrative "this", a future continuous form "will be waiting", and a place word "here". The original speaker is pointing out a person and describing where that person will wait. In indirect speech, we must adapt tense, demonstratives, and place expressions while preserving the information about the future arrangement. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "This man will be waiting for you here at the lobby." Demonstrative "this man" refers to a man near the speaker. Verb phrase "will be waiting" is future continuous. Place word "here" refers to the lobby where the original speaker is located. Pronoun "you" refers to "me" in the reported version. Concept / Approach: With a past reporting verb, "will be waiting" changes to "would be waiting". The demonstrative "this" becomes "that" because the man is being referred to by someone who is not pointing at him directly any more. The place adverb "here" becomes "there" in indirect speech to show a shift from the original speaker location to the reported context. The sentence remains a statement introduced by "that". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Begin with "He said that" to start the reported clause. Step 2: Convert "This man" to "that man" to reflect the change in demonstrative from direct pointing to indirect reference. Step 3: Change "will be waiting" to "would be waiting" to backshift the future continuous tense. Step 4: Change "for you" to "for me" because the speaker said this to the person who is now reporting it. Step 5: Replace "here at the lobby" with "there at the lobby" to mark the change of viewpoint. Step 6: Combine everything into "He said that that man would be waiting for me there at the lobby." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence keeps the idea of a man waiting in the lobby for the narrator. The continuous aspect "would be waiting" correctly indicates a planned ongoing action at some future time relative to the original speech, now seen as future in the past. Demonstrative and place changes align with standard reported speech rules. The sentence is grammatical and clear. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A begins with "He said this that man", which is not a correct structure. Option C keeps "here" instead of changing it to "there", which does not suit indirect speech from a different position. Option D also has the incorrect "He said this that man" structure and keeps "here", so it is doubly incorrect. Common Pitfalls: Learners frequently forget to change words that express place and time, focusing only on tense shifts. They may also overlook demonstratives, leaving "this" unchanged. Another pitfall is trying to keep the pointing effect of "this" in reported speech, which is not natural when the original situation is only described, not physically present. Remember always to handle pronouns, tense, demonstratives, and place or time words separately when converting direct speech to indirect speech. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is He said that that man would be waiting for me there at the lobby.

Question 9

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  She said, "I will have my report finished by tomorrow."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests reported speech with the future perfect tense. The direct sentence uses "will have finished" to describe a completed action by a specified future time. In indirect speech with a past reporting verb, this tense must be backshifted and the time expression "tomorrow" must be changed. Understanding how to report future perfect forms is important for advanced grammar use. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "I will have my report finished by tomorrow." Pronoun "I" refers to "she" in the reported version. Verb phrase: "will have finished" is future perfect, expressed here as "will have her report finished". Time expression "by tomorrow" indicates a deadline in the future of the original speaking time. Concept / Approach: When we report future perfect with a past reporting verb, "will have" usually becomes "would have". The reference time phrase "tomorrow" changes to "the next day". The idea of completion by a certain time remains. The structure "have her report finished" stays the same, only the auxiliary changes. We must also adjust the pronoun "I" to "she". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Start the reported sentence with "She said that". Step 2: Change "I" to "she" to reflect third person reference. Step 3: Change "will have" to "would have" to backshift future perfect to a future perfect in the past. Step 4: Keep the complement "her report finished" as it is, because the structure already shows completion. Step 5: Replace "by tomorrow" with "by the next day" to reflect the new time viewpoint. Step 6: The complete reported sentence is "She said that she would have her report finished by the next day." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence still expresses the idea that her report will be completed by a certain future time relative to the original statement. Now, from the reporter perspective, that time is future in the past. The phrase "the next day" points to the day after the original speaking date, which corresponds exactly to "tomorrow". All parts of the sentence follow standard rules for tense and time phrase changes in reported speech. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A keeps "tomorrow", which is not correct when reporting from a later viewpoint. Option B keeps "will have", which fails to backshift the future perfect. Option C repeats this problem with both "will have" and "tomorrow". Only option D has both the correct auxiliary "would have" and the correct time phrase "the next day". Common Pitfalls: Learners may be less familiar with future perfect, so they hesitate about how to backshift it. Another common mistake is to focus on the auxiliary only and forget the time expression. Exam setters like to use "tomorrow" and "yesterday" because they are easy to overlook under time pressure. A reliable method is to underline all tense markers and time words in the direct sentence before starting the conversion, then handle each systematically. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is She said that she would have her report finished by the next day.

Question 10

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  The host asked, "Did you come by train?"

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question concerns reporting a yes or no question. The original query asks how the guest arrived, specifically whether the guest used a train. In indirect speech, we must remove the question form, add a suitable linker such as "whether" or "if", backshift the tense, and change pronouns. Understanding reported yes or no questions is essential for accurate formal writing and speaking. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "asked" already appears in the sentence. Direct question: "Did you come by train?" Auxiliary "did" forms the simple past question. Pronoun "you" refers to "I" from the narrator viewpoint. The question expects a yes or no answer about the mode of transport. Concept / Approach: For yes or no questions in indirect speech, we use "if" or "whether" and follow it with normal statement word order. The auxiliary "did" disappears and the main verb "come" takes the backshifted tense, usually past perfect "had come" when the reporting verb is in the past. The preposition "by" used with "train" is correct and should be retained. Pronoun "you" changes to "I" to suit the narrator perspective. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Keep "The host asked" as the reporting clause. Step 2: Add "whether" to introduce the indirect yes or no question. Step 3: Remove the auxiliary "did" and change the verb to past perfect: "I had come". Step 4: Retain the preposition phrase "by train". Step 5: Combine into "The host asked whether I had come by train." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence now reads as a statement that indirectly represents the original question. The tense backshift from simple past "did come" to past perfect "had come" shows that the action of coming happened before the time of asking. The linker "whether" makes it clear that a yes or no answer was expected. There is no question mark because indirect questions follow statement punctuation patterns. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A uses "have come", which is present perfect and does not fit a past reporting verb. Options C and D use the phrase "in case", which has a different meaning; it is used for precaution, not for reporting a yes or no question. They also keep "have come", which is incorrect for tense. Only option B uses "whether I had come by train", which satisfies both tense and structure requirements. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes keep the question word order or even attach the question mark, but indirect questions should use statement order and normal punctuation. Another common error is to choose "if" or "whether" but forget to backshift the tense. Some learners also replace prepositions or change "by train" to "on train", which is less idiomatic in standard English. Paying attention to each element in turn ensures accurate reporting. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is The host asked whether I had come by train.

Question 11

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  She said, "I will be making the dinner now, so tell me what you wish to eat?"

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence combines a future continuous plan with an instruction requesting information. The speaker declares that she is about to start cooking and wants to know what others want to eat. In reported speech, we must backshift the future continuous form, change the time word "now", and report the request part in a natural way while preserving the meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "I will be making the dinner now, so tell me what you wish to eat?" Pronoun "I" refers to "she" in reported form. Verb phrase "will be making" is future continuous. Time word "now" refers to the moment of speaking in the original context. Second part is an imperative plus an indirect wh question: "tell me what you wish to eat". Concept / Approach: With a past reporting verb, "will be making" changes to "would be making". The time word "now" becomes "then". The request part is often reported using "so we should tell her what we wished to eat" in exam style, which reflects both suggestion and expectation. The pronoun "you" inside "what you wish to eat" becomes "we" when the narrator is part of the group addressed by the original speaker. The verb "wish" is usually backshifted to "wished". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Begin the reported sentence with "She said that". Step 2: Change "I will be making the dinner now" to "she would be making the dinner then". "Will be making" becomes "would be making", and "now" becomes "then". Step 3: Introduce the second part using "so we should tell her". This indicates what the listeners were expected to do. Step 4: Change "what you wish to eat" to "what we wished to eat". "You" becomes "we" from the group point of view, and "wish" changes to "wished". Step 5: The resulting sentence is "She said that she would be making the dinner then so we should tell her what we wished to eat." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence maintains the idea that she planned to cook at that time and wanted menu choices from the listeners. The continuous aspect is preserved through "would be making". The adverb "then" accurately reflects the time of cooking relative to the reporting moment. The second clause clearly shows that the listeners were expected to tell her their preferences, with the wh clause "what we wished to eat" correctly retaining the original question meaning in reported form. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A uses "that we wished to eat", which does not include the word "what" and therefore loses the wh question sense. Option C keeps "now" instead of changing it to "then", which ignores the shift in time reference. Option D repeats the same problem and again omits "what", which makes the second part incomplete or unnatural in meaning. Common Pitfalls: Learners may have difficulty combining reported statements with reported requests or questions in one sentence. They may also forget to handle "now" and other time markers. Another common issue is dropping the wh word like "what", "where", or "when" in the second clause, which changes the structure and meaning. A good method is to treat the sentence as two linked parts: first convert the statement, then convert the request or question, and finally join them logically using connectors like "so". Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is She said that she would be making the dinner then so we should tell her what we wished to eat.

Question 12

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  My mother said, "I will have cooked the food by then thus I can join you all for the movie."

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Introduction / Context: This question uses a future perfect form combined with a modal of present ability "can". The mother is talking about finishing cooking by a certain future time so that she is free to join the group for a movie. In indirect speech with a past reporting verb, both the future perfect and the modal of ability must be changed appropriately while preserving the cause and effect relationship. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "I will have cooked the food by then thus I can join you all for the movie." Pronoun "I" refers to "she" in the reported version. Verb phrase "will have cooked" is future perfect. Modal "can" expresses present or future ability linked to a future condition. Pronoun "you all" refers to "us" in the reported version. Concept / Approach: In reported speech after a past reporting verb, "will have" changes to "would have". Modal "can" usually changes to "could". The adverbial phrase "by then" already functions as a relative time marker and does not require change in many exam patterns. The result clause that shows ability must be backshifted from "can" to "could" while still referring to the future in the past. The connector "thus" is often replaced with "so" in the key options, but the meaning remains the same. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Start with "My mother said that" for the reporting clause. Step 2: Change "I will have cooked the food by then" to "she would have cooked the food by then". "Will have" becomes "would have", and "I" becomes "she". Step 3: Replace the connector "thus" with "so" which is more common in conversational reported speech. Step 4: Change "I can join you all for the movie" to "she could join us for the movie". "Can" becomes "could", "I" becomes "she", and "you all" becomes "us". Step 5: Combine all parts to get "My mother said that she would have cooked the food by then so she could join us for the movie." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence still expresses a future perfect action in relation to a point in time referred to as "then", and still links this completed action to the possibility of joining the movie. The backshift from "will have" to "would have" and from "can" to "could" correctly places the whole idea as future in the past. Pronoun changes show clearly who is speaking and who is included in the group watching the movie. The sentence remains grammatically sound and faithful to the original meaning. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A changes "will have cooked" to "would have cooked" but keeps "can join", which mixes time references. Option B keeps "will have cooked", failing to backshift the future perfect, although it changes "can" to "could". Option D keeps both "will have cooked" and "can join", which does not reflect reported speech after a past reporting verb. Only option C backshifts both verb groups correctly. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes backshift only the first verb phrase and forget about the modal in the second clause. Others are unsure about whether to change "by then" or leave it, but in many exam patterns "by then" remains unchanged. Focusing on connectors and modals is especially important, as they frequently carry a lot of meaning in complex sentences. Reading through the sentence aloud after conversion often helps catch inconsistent tense patterns. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is My mother said that she would have cooked the food by then so she could join us for the movie.

Question 13

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  My father said, "We have been living here since the day this house was built."

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Introduction / Context: This sentence reports a long lasting action that started in the past and continues up to the present of the original speaker. It uses present perfect continuous and a past passive clause about the house being built. In indirect speech with a past reporting verb, both parts must be backshifted and place and demonstrative words must be adjusted. The question checks understanding of these advanced aspects of reported speech. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "We have been living here since the day this house was built." Pronoun "we" refers to "they" in reported speech. Verb phrase "have been living" is present perfect continuous. Clause "this house was built" is a simple past passive. Place word "here" and demonstrative "this house" must change appropriately. Concept / Approach: When the reporting verb is in the past, present perfect continuous "have been living" usually changes to past perfect continuous "had been living". The passive clause "was built" is often backshifted to "had been built". The place word "here" changes to "there" and "this house" becomes "that house" to match the different point of view. The prepositional phrase "since the day" remains, as it correctly shows the starting point of the action. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Start with "My father said that" for the reporting clause. Step 2: Change "we have been living" to "they had been living", which backshifts the tense and changes the pronoun. Step 3: Replace "here" with "there" to indicate that the place is being talked about from a different location or time perspective. Step 4: Change "since the day this house was built" to "since the day that house had been built". "This house" becomes "that house" and "was built" becomes "had been built". Step 5: The full reported sentence is "My father said that they had been living there since the day that house had been built." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence clearly indicates that the family started living in the same place when the house was built and had continued to do so up to the time of the original statement. By using past perfect continuous, we show that this ongoing action started before the time of reporting. The passive "had been built" correctly places the building of the house even earlier. Changes from "here" to "there" and "this" to "that" indicate that the description is no longer spoken at the original location. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A keeps "here" and does not backshift the passive clause, so it is incomplete in its changes. Option C uses "have been living" and "were built", both of which do not follow the needed backshifts and contain a subject verb agreement error in "house were built". Option D again keeps present perfect continuous and uses "were being built", which changes the meaning and makes the building action look incomplete or ongoing, which is not true in the original sentence. Common Pitfalls: Many learners find it difficult to handle present perfect continuous in reported speech, especially when it is paired with a "since" clause. Another typical mistake is to forget to change "here" and "this" in such sentences because the focus tends to remain on tense changes. Passive structures also cause confusion, leading some learners to drop "been" or to mishandle agreement. Careful attention to each element helps ensure the reported sentence keeps both correct grammar and original meaning. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is My father said that they had been living there since the day that house had been built.

Question 14

In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.  My neighbour said, "I bought a new car last week."

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This last item involves reporting a simple statement about a recent purchase. The original uses simple past with the time phrase "last week". In indirect speech with a past reporting verb, the tense should be backshifted to past perfect and the time phrase must be changed. This pattern is extremely common in exam questions on reported speech. Given Data / Assumptions: Reporting verb: "said" in simple past. Direct speech: "I bought a new car last week." Pronoun "I" refers to "he" in reported speech. Verb "bought" is simple past. Time phrase "last week" is relative to the original speaking time. Concept / Approach: When the reporting verb is in the past, simple past usually backshifts to past perfect in indirect speech. The time phrase "last week" is replaced by "the week before" or "the previous week" to match the new perspective of the person reporting the sentence later. The structure remains a simple statement introduced by the conjunction "that". No changes are needed in the object phrase "a new car". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Introduce the reported clause with "My neighbour said that". Step 2: Change "I bought" to "he had bought". "Bought" is backshifted from simple past to past perfect, and the pronoun is changed from "I" to "he". Step 3: Keep "a new car" as it stands, as the object of the verb does not change. Step 4: Replace "last week" with "the week before" to represent the time correctly in indirect speech. Step 5: The complete reported sentence becomes "My neighbour said that he had bought a new car the week before." Verification / Alternative check: The reported sentence now clearly states that the purchase happened one week before the original statement and that this information is being reported later. The use of past perfect indicates that the buying happened before the time of reporting. The change from "last week" to "the week before" avoids confusion about exactly which week is referred to. The sentence is grammatically correct and faithful to the original meaning. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A keeps "last week", which is not natural in reported speech when the time has shifted. Option C uses "has bought", which is present perfect, and combines it with "the week before", which is not a standard combination. Option D uses "has bought" with "last week", but present perfect is not used with definite past time adverbials like "last week", so it is doubly incorrect. Common Pitfalls: Learners often hesitate about whether to change simple past to past perfect in reported speech, especially with time phrases. Another common mistake is to leave time expressions exactly as they appear in direct speech, which can create confusion for the reader. Exam preparation should include many practice items specifically on time phrase changes like "yesterday", "last week", and "tomorrow". That practice makes it easier to answer such questions quickly and confidently. Final Answer: The correct reported sentence is My neighbour said that he had bought a new car the week before.

Question 15

In the following English grammar question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same idea in indirect or reported speech: The artist said, "I was painting a picture here at the…

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Introduction / Context: Reported speech questions test your understanding of how to retell what someone said without using quotation marks. In direct speech, the exact original words of the speaker are kept inside inverted commas with a reporting clause outside the quotation. In indirect speech, we report the meaning in our own words, adjusting tense, pronouns, and time or place expressions so that the sentence is grammatically correct and logically consistent. This item asks you to select the correct indirect version of a past continuous statement that also contains words of place and reference to a specific river bank. Given Data / Assumptions: The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. The quoted clause begins with the first person pronoun "I". The quoted clause uses the past continuous form "was painting". The clause includes place and reference words: "here" and "this river". The converted sentence must keep the same meaning but follow standard rules of reported speech. Concept / Approach: When the reporting verb is in the past, normal backshift rules apply in English grammar. A past continuous form such as "was painting" usually becomes past perfect continuous, "had been painting", in reported speech. Deictic expressions related to place and reference are also adjusted from the viewpoint of the reporter: "here" is normally changed to "there" and "this" to "that". The first person pronoun "I" changes to "he" or "she" according to the speaker, and we usually insert the conjunction "that" after the reporting verb. All of this is done without changing the basic sense that the artist had been painting at that location earlier. Step-by-Step Solution: First, remove the comma and the quotation marks and join the two parts with the conjunction "that". Second, change the first person pronoun "I" in the quoted clause to "he", because the speaker is the artist. Third, backshift the tense from past continuous "was painting" to past perfect continuous "had been painting" because the reporting verb "said" is in the past. Fourth, replace the place word "here" with "there" and the reference "this river" with "that river" to reflect the different point of view in reported speech. Fifth, keep the rest of the vocabulary and the order of ideas unchanged so that the sentence still states that the artist had been painting a picture at the same river bank in the past. Verification / Alternative check: To verify the final sentence, read it as if you are explaining to a third person what the artist said earlier. The structure "The artist said that he had been painting a picture there at the bank of that river" clearly shows that the painting activity took place before the act of reporting. Pronouns, place words, and the reference to the river now make sense from the reporter's position, and the sentence sounds natural and complete. This confirms that the tense and deictic changes have been applied correctly. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A keeps "here" with "that river", which mixes two different viewpoints and is not idiomatic in reported speech. Option B uses "there" but keeps "this river", which again sounds as if the speaker and the reporter are standing in different places at the same time. Option D fails to backshift the tense and keeps "was painting" as well as "here" and "this river", so it is essentially still direct speech without quotation marks. Only option C correctly changes the tense, pronoun, and both place expressions while preserving the original meaning. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake in such items is to focus only on the verb tense and ignore words like "here" and "this". Another frequent error is to leave the first person pronoun "I" unchanged, even though in reported speech the speaker is usually referred to in the third person. Learners may also choose an option that sounds familiar but does not fully backshift the tense or that only changes some of the deictic words. To avoid these pitfalls, always check pronouns, tense, and time or place expressions together whenever you convert direct speech to indirect speech. Final Answer: The option that correctly converts the given direct sentence into reported speech is: The artist said that he had been painting a picture there at the bank of that river.

Question 16

In this English grammar question, a sentence is given in direct speech about noise and disturbing the neighbours. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same idea in indirect or reported speech: My brother said, "I w…

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Introduction / Context: This question again tests reported speech, but here the focus is on a negative past continuous action and its result. In direct speech, the brother explains that he was not making a noise and therefore did not disturb the neighbours. In indirect speech, we need to show that both the continuous action and the result happened before the moment of reporting. Correct handling of tense backshift, linking words like "so" or "thus", and negative forms is essential for a fully correct answer. Given Data / Assumptions: The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. The quoted part contains a past continuous form "was not making" and a simple past form "did not disturb". The sentence contains a cause and effect connector "thus" or "so". The speaker is "my brother", so the first person "I" becomes "he" in reported speech. There are no time or place words that need to change, only tense and pronouns. Concept / Approach: With a past reporting verb, both the past continuous and the simple past inside the quotation are normally shifted one step back. "Was not making" becomes "had not been making", and "did not disturb" becomes "had not disturbed". The negative word "not" stays in place, and the connector "thus" or "so" continues to show cause and effect. Pronouns change in a logical way: "I" becomes "he". We also add "that" after "said" and remove comma and quotation marks. The final sentence must still clearly state that because he had not been making any noise, he had not disturbed the neighbours. Step-by-Step Solution: First, drop the comma and quotation marks and join the clauses with "that". Second, change "I" to "he" to refer to the brother and keep the negative idea "not making a noise". Third, backshift "was not making" to "had not been making" to show that the action happened before the time of reporting. Fourth, backshift "did not disturb" to "had not disturbed" and keep the link word "so" or "thus" to preserve the cause and effect relationship. Fifth, read the complete sentence to ensure that both actions now sit correctly in the past relative to the reporting verb and that the meaning is unchanged. Verification / Alternative check: The correct reported sentence should make it clear that at the time of speaking in the past, the brother had already not been making any noise and had already not disturbed anyone. "My brother said that he had not been making a noise so he had not disturbed the neighbours" satisfies this condition. Both clauses use the past perfect or past perfect continuous forms, which are appropriate after a past reporting verb. The negative forms are in the correct positions, and the logic of cause and effect remains intact. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A mixes past perfect continuous "had not been making" with a present perfect progressive idea "has not been disturbing", which clashes with the past reporting verb. Option B only partially backshifts, keeping "was not making", and therefore does not show that the action took place before the time of reporting. Option C contains a grammatical error because it omits the subject "he" before "was not making" and also uses the present perfect "has not disturbed". These problems make them incorrect as reported speech. Only option D applies the tense changes consistently and preserves the meaning. Common Pitfalls: Learners often fail to backshift all verbs when there is more than one clause inside the quotation. Another common problem is mixing past and present perfect forms in the same reported sentence, which leads to a confused time reference. Some students also omit or change the linking word "thus" or "so", which may weaken the cause and effect relationship. To avoid these mistakes, always identify each verb inside the quotation and shift all of them, while keeping connectors and negatives in the same logical positions. Final Answer: The option that correctly converts the given direct sentence into reported speech is: My brother said that he had not been making a noise so he had not disturbed the neighbours.

Question 17

In this English grammar item on reported speech, a sentence is given in direct speech about a stadium and winning a match. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same idea in indirect speech: They said, "This is the …

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Introduction / Context: This question focuses on converting a direct speech sentence about a particular place and a past achievement into indirect speech. In direct speech, the speakers point to a stadium and state that it is the place where they had won a match. In indirect speech, we must report this statement from another point of view, changing tense and reference words appropriately. Mastering such transformations helps with both spoken and written English accuracy in exams and real communication. Given Data / Assumptions: The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. The quoted clause uses "this is" to refer to a specific stadium. The clause also contains a past perfect form "had won" and the pronoun "we". The word "this" is a demonstrative pronoun related to place and needs adjustment. The reported sentence must keep the idea that they had already won a match at that stadium. Concept / Approach: When the reporting verb is in the past, the present simple "is" normally changes to past simple "was" in reported speech. The demonstrative "this" also changes to "that", because the reporter is usually not standing at the same place at the same time. The past perfect "had won" already shows an action completed before another past point, so that form stays as it is. The first person plural "we" becomes "they" to match the subject of the reporting clause. We also remove the quotation marks and insert "that" to introduce the reported clause. Step-by-Step Solution: First, remove the comma and quotation marks and join the reporting clause and the reported clause with "that". Second, change the demonstrative "this" to "that" to reflect the new point of view in reported speech. Third, backshift the present simple "is" to "was" because the reporting verb "said" is in the past. Fourth, change the pronoun "we" to "they" so that it matches the subject "they" of the reporting clause. Fifth, keep the past perfect "had won" unchanged, since it is already correctly placed in the past relative to the time of saying. Verification / Alternative check: The resulting sentence "They said that that was the stadium where they had won the match" clearly reports a statement made earlier about a specific stadium. The structure shows that the reference to the stadium and the winning of the match are both in the past relative to the reporting. Reading the sentence aloud, you can see that it sounds natural and maintains the original meaning that the match had been won at that particular stadium before they spoke about it. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B changes "the match" to "that match", which is not strictly wrong but is unnecessary and less natural in this context. Options C and D keep the verb "is" in the present, which is incorrect after a past reporting verb "said". They also create a mismatch between the time of speaking and the time of reporting. Only option A correctly backshifts "is" to "was", changes "this" to "that", and keeps the past perfect form "had won" with the correct pronoun "they". Common Pitfalls: Many learners remember to change "this" to "that" but forget to backshift the present tense of the verb "to be". Others may over-edit by changing too many surrounding words, which can slightly alter the meaning. Some candidates also hesitate when they see two instances of "that" in a row, but in English it is completely acceptable to have "said that that was" when one "that" is a conjunction and the other is a demonstrative. Paying attention to function and meaning rather than appearance helps avoid these mistakes. Final Answer: The option that correctly converts the given direct sentence into reported speech is: They said that that was the stadium where they had won the match.

Question 18

In this reported speech question on English grammar, a sentence is given in direct speech about starting a new assignment. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same idea in indirect speech: My colleague said, "I wi…

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Introduction / Context: Here the test focuses on reporting a future plan that was expressed in direct speech. In the original sentence, the colleague promises to start a new assignment "tomorrow". In reported speech, we must change both the future form with "will" and the time expression so that the sentence fits correctly into the past reporting situation. Such items are extremely common in competitive exams and measure whether you know the standard sequence of tenses in English grammar. Given Data / Assumptions: The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. The quoted clause contains "I will start a new assignment". The time word "tomorrow" refers to the day after the original day of speaking. The speaker is "my colleague", so "I" must become "he" in the reported sentence. The reported sentence should sound natural and preserve the idea of a future plan relative to the original time of speaking. Concept / Approach: When we report a future statement after a past reporting verb, "will" usually changes to "would". This keeps the meaning of future relative to the time of speaking but shows that we are reporting it later. Time words also need adjustment: "tomorrow" becomes "the next day" or "the following day". Pronouns are changed according to the subject of the reporting verb. We remove the comma and quotation marks, introduce the reported clause with "that", and keep the rest of the sentence structure and vocabulary unchanged so that the meaning stays the same. Step-by-Step Solution: First, remove the comma and quotation marks and join the clauses with "that". Second, change the pronoun "I" to "he" because the person speaking is the colleague. Third, backshift the future auxiliary "will" to "would" to match the past reporting verb "said". Fourth, replace the time word "tomorrow" with "the next day" to reflect the shift in time from when the sentence is being reported. Fifth, keep the rest of the words "start a new assignment" exactly as they are, preserving the intended meaning. Verification / Alternative check: The correct reported sentence "My colleague said that he would start a new assignment the next day" shows a future plan relative to the time of speaking in the past. The auxiliary "would" is the standard backshift of "will" in this context, and "the next day" accurately replaces "tomorrow". When read aloud, the sentence clearly means that at some earlier time your colleague said he intended to begin a new assignment on the following day. This confirms that the transformation follows accepted grammar rules. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A retains "tomorrow" and so does not properly change the time expression for reported speech. Options B and D keep "will", which does not show the expected backshift after "said" in the past. This creates a mismatch between the time of speaking and the time of reporting. Therefore they do not conform to the normal sequence of tenses. Only option C changes both "will" to "would" and "tomorrow" to "the next day" while also correcting the pronoun, so it is the only fully correct choice. Common Pitfalls: Candidates often remember to change "will" to "would" but forget to adjust time expressions like "tomorrow", "today", or "yesterday". Others may attempt to be too literal and keep the exact original words, ignoring the change in perspective that happens in reported speech. Some also forget to change the pronoun "I" to match the subject of the reporting verb. A good habit is to check every reported speech question for three things: pronoun change, correct tense backshift, and updated time or place words. Final Answer: The option that correctly converts the given direct sentence into reported speech is: My colleague said that he would start a new assignment the next day.

Question 19

In this English grammar question on reported speech, a sentence in direct speech describes a future action and its consequence. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same idea in indirect speech: The farmer said, "I…

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Introduction / Context: This item checks your ability to report a complex future statement that contains two coordinated future actions. In direct speech, the farmer explains that he will be busy feeding the cows and therefore will eat lunch later. When we report this sentence, both future forms need to be shifted correctly to show that the speaking occurred in the past. Handling more than one future verb and a causal connector like "hence" makes this question slightly more detailed, but the same core rules still apply. Given Data / Assumptions: The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. The quoted clause has two future forms with "will": "will be feeding" and "will eat". The conjunction "hence" expresses a reason or consequence between the two actions. The subject "I" refers to the farmer and must become "he" in reported speech. There is no explicit time word like "tomorrow", only the idea of "later". Concept / Approach: With a past reporting verb, future forms with "will" are normally converted to "would" in reported speech. Future continuous "will be feeding" changes to "would be feeding", and simple future "will eat" becomes "would eat". The causal connector "hence" stays in place because it still joins the two actions logically. The pronoun "I" is changed to "he" to refer back correctly to the farmer. We remove the comma and quotation marks and introduce the reported clause with the conjunction "that". Step-by-Step Solution: First, remove the comma and quotation marks and add "that" after "The farmer said". Second, change the pronoun "I" to "he" to reflect the fact that the speaker is the farmer. Third, convert "will be feeding the cows" to "would be feeding the cows" to show future in the past. Fourth, convert "will eat my lunch later" to "would eat his lunch later" so that both future actions are consistently backshifted. Fifth, keep the conjunction "hence" in the same position, preserving the reason why lunch will be eaten later. Verification / Alternative check: The sentence "The farmer said that he would be feeding the cows hence he would eat his lunch later" clearly presents both actions as future relative to the time of speaking in the past. The form "would be feeding" is the correct reported version of "will be feeding", and "would eat" is the correct reported version of "will eat". The pronouns and possessive adjectives have been changed to "he" and "his", and the logical link expressed by "hence" is still present. When read aloud, the sentence sounds natural and accurate. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A changes the first future clause correctly to "would be feeding" but leaves "will eat his lunch later" unchanged, so the tenses are inconsistent. Option C keeps "will be feeding" in the first clause and changes only the second clause, which again breaks the sequence of tenses rule. Option D leaves both future forms as "will", which does not show the expected backshift after a past reporting verb. Only option B consistently changes both future verbs to "would" and adjusts the pronouns, so it is the correct answer. Common Pitfalls: Candidates commonly focus on the first verb and forget that the second verb must also be backshifted. Another mistake is to overlook the need to change the possessive adjective from "my lunch" to "his lunch". Some learners may also remove or replace the word "hence", which slightly changes the tone of the sentence. A reliable strategy is to identify every finite verb inside the quotation and check each one for necessary tense changes, pronoun changes, and logical connectors before choosing an option. Final Answer: The option that correctly converts the given direct sentence into reported speech is: The farmer said that he would be feeding the cows hence he would eat his lunch later.

Question 20

In this reported speech question on English grammar, a sentence in direct speech describes finishing work before someone leaves a place. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same idea in indirect speech: My brother…

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Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of how to report a future perfect construction combined with a time clause. In the original direct speech, the brother promises that his work will be finished before another person leaves "this place". In reported speech, we need to show future in the past and adjust both the time clause and the reference to the place. Such sentences require careful handling of verb forms and pronouns so that the sequence of tenses remains logical and the meaning stays unchanged. Given Data / Assumptions: The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. The quoted clause uses the future perfect form "will have finished". The time clause "by the time you leave from this place" refers to a future leaving action. The speaker is "my brother", and the listener is "you", so pronouns may need to change to "he" and "we". The demonstrative "this place" refers to a location that will be mentioned from a different point of view in reported speech. Concept / Approach: When reporting future perfect tense after a past reporting verb, "will have finished" normally changes to "would have finished". The time clause "by the time you leave" needs to be made consistent with the new viewpoint, so "you leave" often becomes "we left" if the original "you" includes the reporter. The reference "this place" changes to "that place" in reported speech. We remove comma and quotation marks, introduce the reported clause with "that", and keep the meaning that the work will already be complete before the leaving action takes place. Step-by-Step Solution: First, join the reporting and reported clauses by removing the comma and quotation marks and adding "that". Second, change the pronoun "I" to "he" to refer correctly to "my brother". Third, convert "will have finished" to "would have finished" to express future in the past. Fourth, change the time clause "by the time you leave from this place" to "by the time we left from that place", aligning pronouns and place with the reporter's perspective. Fifth, ensure that the completed action (finishing work) still clearly occurs before the leaving action in the reported sentence. Verification / Alternative check: The sentence "My brother said that he would have finished his work by the time we left from that place" expresses that at some earlier time your brother promised the work would be done before the group left. The form "would have finished" is the correct reported version of "will have finished". The clause "by the time we left from that place" matches the time reference and the change in viewpoint. Reading the sentence as a whole, the sequence of tenses and the logical relationship between finishing the work and leaving the place are both preserved. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A mixes "would have finished" with "we are leaving", which combines a future in the past with a present progressive form and sounds incorrect. Option B uses "were leaving", which suggests an ongoing action and does not reflect the completed nature of the leaving that the brother had in mind. Option C uses "says" instead of "said", which changes the time of reporting and does not match the original structure, and also creates tense confusion in the time clause. Only option D correctly uses "would have finished" and "we left from that place" to show two past-related future events with the correct sequence. Common Pitfalls: Learners often struggle with future perfect forms in reported speech, sometimes simplifying them to a basic past tense and losing the nuance of completion before another action. Another common problem is leaving the time clause unchanged, which can result in conflicting tenses or an unclear time relationship. Confusion about pronouns in complex time clauses is also frequent. A good technique is to identify the main verb phrase, the time clause, and every pronoun separately, and then apply the backshift and point-of-view changes step by step. Final Answer: The option that correctly converts the given direct sentence into reported speech is: My brother said that he would have finished his work by the time we left from that place.

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