Free Competitive English (Direct and Indirect) Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Mike asked me, "Did you see the Cricket match on the television last night?"
- Mike asked me whether I had see the Cricket match on television the earlier night (Correct answer)
- Mike asked me whether I saw the Cricket match on television the earlier night
- Mike asked me whether I had seen the Cricket match on television the last night
- Mike asked me did I see the Cricket match on television the last night
Correct answer: Mike asked me whether I had see the Cricket match on television the earlier night
When converting a direct question in the past simple tense ('Did you see?') to reported speech, the tense shifts to the past perfect ('had seen'). Additionally, time expressions like 'last night' change to 'the earlier night' or 'the previous night' to reflect the shift in time perspective. The use of 'whether' is correct for reporting yes/no questions. (Note: The provided correct answer has a typo 'had see' instead of 'had seen').
Question 2: "Janice will leave for her native country tomorrow," Josh informed Janna.
- Josh told Janna that Janice left for her native the next day
- Josh told Janna that Janice will leave for her native place tomorrow
- Josh told Janna that Janice would leave for her native place the next day (Correct answer)
- Josh told Janna that Janice would be leaving for her native place tomorrow
Correct answer: Josh told Janna that Janice would leave for her native place the next day
When converting direct speech to reported speech, the future tense 'will' changes to 'would' because the reporting verb ('informed' or 'told') is in the past tense. Also, time expressions like 'tomorrow' change to 'the next day' or 'the following day' to accurately reflect the shift in time perspective.
Question 3: Why are you working so hard, I asked him.
- I asked him why was he working so hard
- I asked him why he was working so hard (Correct answer)
- I asked him why had he been working so hard
- I asked him why had been working so hard
- I asked him why he had been working so hard
Correct answer: I asked him why he was working so hard
When converting a direct question to reported speech, the word order changes from interrogative (verb before subject, e.g., 'why are you') to assertive (subject before verb, e.g., 'why he was'). The present continuous tense ('are you working') shifts to the past continuous tense ('he was working') because the reporting verb ('asked') is in the past.
Question 4: It was a chilly day, he told her.
- He told her that it was a cold day
- He exclaimed sorrowfully that it was a cold day
- He exclaimed that it was a cold day
- He exclaimed that it was a very cold day (Correct answer)
Correct answer: He exclaimed that it was a very cold day
In reported speech, the reporting verb can sometimes be changed to better convey the speaker's emotion or manner, such as 'exclaimed' instead of 'told' to suggest a stronger feeling. While 'chilly' means cold, 'very cold' emphasizes the degree, which aligns with an exclamation. This option interprets the tone and intensity of the original statement.
Question 5: Will you have the suit done by tomorrow evening, the tailor asked him.
- The tailor asked him that he would had the suit ready by the next evening
- The tailor asked him that he will have the suit ready by the next evening
- The tailor asked him if he will like to the suit ready by the next evening
- The tailor asked him if he would have the suit ready by the next evening (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The tailor asked him if he would have the suit ready by the next evening
For a yes/no question in reported speech, 'if' or 'whether' is used to introduce the clause. The future tense 'will' changes to 'would' when the reporting verb ('asked') is in the past tense. Additionally, 'tomorrow evening' changes to 'the next evening' to reflect the shift in time perspective.
Question 6: Could you repeat the question, he asked the interviewer?
- He requested the interviewer to please repeat the question
- He requested the interviewer if he could please repeat the question
- He requested the interviewer if he could repeat the question
- He requested the interviewer to repeat the question (Correct answer)
Correct answer: He requested the interviewer to repeat the question
A polite request using 'Could you...' is typically reported using an infinitive structure ('to repeat'). The reporting verb 'asked' can be replaced with 'requested' to better convey the polite and solicitous nature of the original question.
Question 7: He spoke. "Sit quietly and pay attention to what I have to say.
- He urged them and said be quite and listen to his words
- He urged them to be quite and listen to his words (Correct answer)
- He said you should be quite and listen to his words
- He urged they should be quite and listen to his words
Correct answer: He urged them to be quite and listen to his words
This is an imperative sentence (a command or instruction). In reported speech, imperatives are often converted using an infinitive phrase ('to be quiet and listen'). The reporting verb 'spoke' is replaced with 'urged' to convey a stronger, persuasive tone, and pronouns like 'I' change to 'his' to reflect the speaker. (Note: 'quite' should be 'quiet').
Question 8: I have frequently warned you not to play with fire, he remarked to me.
- He told me that he had often told me not to play with fire (Correct answer)
- He said that he has often been telling me not to play with fire
- He said to me that he often told me not to play with fire
- He reminded me that he often said to me not to play with fire
Correct answer: He told me that he had often told me not to play with fire
When the direct speech is in the present perfect tense ('I have warned'), it changes to the past perfect tense ('he had told') in reported speech, as the reporting verb ('remarked') is in the past. The adverb 'frequently' is accurately conveyed by 'often' in the reported speech.
Question 9: To his crew, the captain commanded, "Stand calm."
- The Captain wanted his men to stand at ease
- The Captain urged his men to stand at ease
- The Captain commanded his men to stand at ease (Correct answer)
- The Captain told his men that they should stand at ease
Correct answer: The Captain commanded his men to stand at ease
This is an imperative sentence (a command). In reported speech, commands are typically converted using an infinitive structure ('to stand'). The reporting verb 'commanded' is retained, and 'his crew' is specified as 'his men.' The phrase 'stand calm' is interpreted as 'stand at ease,' a common military command.
Question 10: Angelo said to me, "If I hear any news, I'll phone you."
- Angelo told me that if he will hear my news, he will phone me
- Angelo me that if he heard any news, he will phone me
- Angelo told me that if he heard any news, he would phone me (Correct answer)
- Angelo told me that if he had heard any news, he would phone me
Correct answer: Angelo told me that if he heard any news, he would phone me
This is a Type 1 conditional sentence ('If I hear... I'll phone...'). In reported speech, the present simple ('hear') shifts to the past simple ('heard'), and 'will' shifts to 'would' in the main clause. The pronouns also change from 'I' to 'he' to reflect Angelo as the speaker.
Question 11: I am unable to assist you at this time because of my own difficulties, he added.
- He said that he could not help me at present because he was himself in difficulty (Correct answer)
- He said that I cannot help you at present because I myself in difficulty
- He asked that he could not help you at present because he was himself in difficulty
- He told that he could not help you at present because he was himself in difficulty
Correct answer: He said that he could not help me at present because he was himself in difficulty
When converting to reported speech, the present tense 'am unable' changes to the past tense 'could not help' (or 'was unable to assist'). 'At this time' changes to 'at present' (or 'then'). Pronouns 'I' and 'my' change to 'he' and 'his' (or 'himself') respectively, and 'you' changes to 'me' from the perspective of the person being told.
Free Competitive English (Direct and Indirect) Questions and Answers
Mike asked me, "Did you see the Cricket match on the television last night?"