Competitive English (Change of Speech) 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: She said, 'I used to walk to school.' — Which is the correct indirect speech?
- She said that she used to walk to school. (Correct answer)
- She said that she had used to walk to school.
- She said that she would walk to school.
- She said that she was used to walking to school.
Correct answer: She said that she used to walk to school.
'Used to' does not change in indirect speech as it already expresses a past habitual action.
Question 2: He said, 'I can swim very well.' — Identify the correct indirect speech.
- He said that he could swim very well. (Correct answer)
- He said that he can swim very well.
- He said that he was able to swim very well.
- He said that he should swim very well.
Correct answer: He said that he could swim very well.
The modal 'can' shifts to 'could' in indirect speech.
Question 3: She said to me, 'Do you know the answer?' — Which is the correct indirect form?
- She asked me whether I knew the answer. (Correct answer)
- She asked me that I knew the answer.
- She said to me whether I know the answer.
- She asked me whether I know the answer.
Correct answer: She asked me whether I knew the answer.
Yes/no questions use 'whether/if' and 'know' shifts to 'knew' in indirect speech.
Question 4: He said, 'I must complete this project.' — Which is the correct indirect speech?
- He said that he had to complete that project. (Correct answer)
- He said that he must complete that project.
- He said that he should complete that project.
- He said that he was to complete that project.
Correct answer: He said that he had to complete that project.
'Must' expressing obligation shifts to 'had to' in indirect speech.
Question 5: She said, 'How beautiful the sunset is!' — Identify the correct indirect speech.
- She exclaimed that the sunset was very beautiful. (Correct answer)
- She exclaimed how beautiful the sunset was.
- She said that how beautiful the sunset is.
- She exclaimed that the sunset is very beautiful.
Correct answer: She exclaimed that the sunset was very beautiful.
Exclamatory sentences are reported with 'exclaimed that' and converted to a statement form.
Question 6: He said to her, 'Don't be late.' — Which is the correct indirect form?
- He told her not to be late. (Correct answer)
- He said her not to be late.
- He asked her that she should not be late.
- He warned her be not late.
Correct answer: He told her not to be late.
Negative imperatives are reported with 'told + object + not to + infinitive'.
Question 7: She said, 'I wish I were a doctor.' — Which is the correct indirect speech?
- She wished that she were a doctor. (Correct answer)
- She said that she wishes she were a doctor.
- She said that she wished she had been a doctor.
- She wished that she was a doctor.
Correct answer: She wished that she were a doctor.
Wishes in the subjunctive mood retain 'were' (not 'was') in reported speech.
Competitive English (Change of Speech) 4
She said, 'I used to walk to school.' — Which is the correct indirect speech?