Competitive English (Direct and Indirect) 4

Question 1

A sentence that cannot be directly backshifted in tense is one that expresses:

Accepted Answer

A universal truth or scientific fact.

Answer

Universal truths and scientific facts retain their present tense even in indirect speech because they are always true.

Question 2

Convert to indirect speech: "Can you help me?" she asked him.

Accepted Answer

She asked him if he could help her.

Answer

'Can' shifts to 'could' and 'you/me' shift appropriately when forming the indirect question with 'if.'

Question 3

Which of the following correctly reports: "I have been waiting here since morning," he said.

Accepted Answer

He said that he had been waiting there since morning.

Answer

'Have been waiting' (present perfect continuous) backshifts to 'had been waiting,' and 'here' changes to 'there.'

Question 4

Select the sentence where indirect speech has been applied incorrectly.

Accepted Answer

She said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius had been proven.

Answer

Scientific facts should retain present tense ('boils'), and the addition of 'had been proven' is grammatically incorrect.

Question 5

What is the reported form of: "Hurry up!" the coach shouted at the players.

Accepted Answer

The coach urged the players to hurry up.

Answer

An imperative delivered with urgency is reported using 'urged + object + to + infinitive.'

Competitive English Practice Test