Competitive Exams: English Language - Narration (Set 3)

Question 1

Identify the critical narration error in this conversion:

Direct: Rohan said, "I am writing a letter now."
Incorrect Indirect: Rohan said that he was writing a letter now.

Accepted Answer

B) The adverb "now" should have been changed to "then".

Answer

A) The pronoun "he" should have remained "I".

Answer

C) The verb "was writing" should be changed to "had been writing".

Answer

D) The reporting verb "said" must be changed to "told".

Question 2

Choose the correct indirect speech for the following interrogative sentence:

Direct: The guide asked, "Do you know the way?"

Accepted Answer

C) The guide asked if I knew the way.

Answer

A) The guide asked that if I knew the way.

Answer

B) The guide asked did I know the way.

Answer

D) The guide asked if I know the way.

Question 3

What is the correct indirect conversion of this universal truth?

Direct: The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun."

Accepted Answer

A) The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Answer

B) The teacher said that the Earth revolved around the Sun.

Answer

C) The teacher said that the Earth is revolving around the Sun.

Answer

D) The teacher told that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Question 4

Convert the following imperative sentence correctly:

Direct: "Please sit down," said the coordinator to the candidates.

Accepted Answer

B) The coordinator requested the candidates to sit down.

Answer

A) The coordinator ordered the candidates to please sit down.

Answer

C) The coordinator said to the candidates to sit down.

Answer

D) The coordinator requested the candidates that they sit down.

Question 5

Analyze the narration error in this conversion:

Direct: Sam said, "I bought a new watch yesterday."
Incorrect Indirect: Sam said that he bought a new watch the previous day.

Accepted Answer

A) The simple past verb "bought" should have been backshifted to the past perfect "had bought".

Answer

B) The pronoun "he" is incorrect and should be "she".

Answer

C) The adverb "yesterday" should have remained unchanged.

Answer

D) The reporting verb "said" should be replaced with "ordered".

Question 6

Which is the correct indirect form when a reporting verb has a direct personal object?

Direct: "I will help you," Liam said to Sophia.

Accepted Answer

D) Liam told Sophia that he would help her.

Answer

A) Liam said Sophia that he would help her.

Answer

B) Liam told to Sophia that he would help her.

Answer

C) Liam asked Sophia that he will help her.

Question 7

Identify the correct conversion of this exclamatory sentence:

Direct: "What a beautiful painting!" said the art critic.

Accepted Answer

A) The art critic exclaimed that it was a very beautiful painting.

Answer

B) The art critic said that what a beautiful painting it is.

Answer

C) The art critic exclaimed that what a beautiful painting it was.

Answer

D) The art critic wished that the painting is beautiful.

Question 8

Convert this sentence using correct modal verb backshifting:

Direct: Tina said, "I can swim across the river."

Accepted Answer

B) Tina said that she could swim across the river.

Answer

A) Tina said that she can swim across the river.

Answer

C) Tina said that she would swim across the river.

Answer

D) Tina said that I could swim across the river.

Question 9

Select the correct transformation for future tense narration:

Direct: David said, "I will meet you next week."

Accepted Answer

B) David said that he would meet me the following week.

Answer

A) David said that he will meet me next week.

Answer

C) David said that he would have met me the following week.

Answer

D) David told that he would meet me next week.

Question 10

Which is correct when the reporting verb is in the present tense?

Direct: The chef says, "The soup is ready."

Accepted Answer

C) The chef says that the soup is ready.

Answer

A) The chef says that the soup was ready.

Answer

B) The chef said that the soup is ready.

Answer

D) The chef told that the soup was ready.