Competitive English (Change of Speech) 3

Question 1

They said, 'We were playing cricket.' — Which is the correct indirect form?

Accepted Answer

They said that they had been playing cricket.

Answer

Past continuous 'were playing' becomes past perfect continuous 'had been playing' in indirect speech.

Question 2

She said, 'I may go to the party.' — Identify the correct indirect speech.

Accepted Answer

She said that she might go to the party.

Answer

The modal 'may' shifts to 'might' in indirect speech.

Question 3

He asked, 'Where does she live?' — Which is the correct indirect speech?

Accepted Answer

He asked where she lived.

Answer

In indirect speech, question word order reverts to statement order and tense shifts back.

Question 4

The coach said, 'Work hard and you will succeed.' — Identify the correct indirect form.

Accepted Answer

The coach advised that if they worked hard, they would succeed.

Answer

Conditional imperative sentences in indirect speech use an 'if' clause with appropriate tense shift.

Question 5

She said, 'I had already eaten when he arrived.' — Which is the correct indirect speech?

Accepted Answer

She said that she had already eaten when he had arrived.

Answer

Past perfect remains past perfect and the simple past 'arrived' also shifts to past perfect.

Competitive English Practice Test