CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He says, "I am ready."
A. He says that he is ready.
B. He says that I am ready.
C. He told that he is ready.
D. He said that he was ready.
Correct Answer: A
When the reporting verb is in the present, the tense normally does not change.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: She said, "I had finished the task."
A. She said that she has finished the task.
B. She said that she finished the task.
C. She said that she had finished the task.
D. She told that she had been finishing the task.
Correct Answer: C
Past perfect usually remains unchanged in indirect speech.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "I was reading a book."
A. He told that he had read a book.
B. He said that he had been reading a book.
C. He said that I had been reading a book.
D. He said that he was reading a book.
Correct Answer: B
Past continuous generally changes to past perfect continuous.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: The teacher said, "The earth moves around the sun."
A. The teacher told that the earth had moved around the sun.
B. The teacher said that the earth moved around the sun.
C. The teacher said that the earth is moving around the sun.
D. The teacher said that the earth moves around the sun.
Correct Answer: D
A universal truth normally keeps its original tense.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said to me, "You are honest."
A. He told that you were honest.
B. He told me that I was honest.
C. He said to me that you are honest.
D. He said me that I was honest.
Correct Answer: B
'Said to' becomes 'told' before an object; 'you' becomes 'I' according to the listener.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: Sara said, "I can solve this problem."
A. Sara said that I could solve the problem.
B. Sara said that she could solve that problem.
C. Sara told that she could solve that problem.
D. Sara said that she can solve this problem.
Correct Answer: B
'Can' changes to 'could' and 'this' changes to 'that'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "I will help you."
A. He said that I would help him.
B. He said that he will help you.
C. He said that he would help me.
D. He told that he would help me.
Correct Answer: C
'Will' changes to 'would', and pronouns change according to speaker and listener.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: Ali said, "I went to Lahore yesterday."
A. Ali told that he had gone to Lahore tomorrow.
B. Ali said that he went to Lahore yesterday.
C. Ali said that he had gone to Lahore the previous day.
D. Ali said that I had gone to Lahore the previous day.
Correct Answer: C
Past simple generally changes to past perfect; 'yesterday' changes to 'the previous day'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: She said, "I have completed my work."
A. She told that she had completed her work.
B. She said that she has completed her work.
C. She said that she completed my work.
D. She said that she had completed her work.
Correct Answer: D
Present perfect changes to past perfect when the reporting verb is in the past.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "I am tired."
A. He told that he was tired.
B. He said that I was tired.
C. He says that he is tired.
D. He said that he was tired.
Correct Answer: D
With a past reporting verb, present simple 'am' changes to past simple 'was', and 'I' changes according to the speaker.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Fill in the blank: He is ___ honest man.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article
Correct Answer: B
A: Wrong because 'honest' begins with a vowel sound due to silent h. B: Correct because 'an' is used before a vowel sound. C: Wrong because the sentence does not require a specific previously known man. D: Wrong because an article is needed before singular countable noun.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Choose the correct indirect narration: He said, "I am busy."
A. He said that I am busy.
B. He said that he was busy.
C. He said that he is busy.
D. He says that he was busy.
Correct Answer: D
Present tense changes to past tense in indirect narration.