CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: He said, 'Where is the station?' Reported speech:
A. He asked where the station was.
B. He asked where was the station.
C. He said where is the station.
D. He asked that where station was.
Correct Answer: A
Reported questions use statement word order.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: The officer said, 'Bring the file at once.' Reported speech:
A. The officer ordered him to bring the file at once.
B. The officer said him bring the file.
C. The officer ordered that bring the file.
D. The officer told to him bringing the file.
Correct Answer: A
Commands can be reported with 'ordered + object + to-infinitive'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: She said, 'Please don't be late.' Reported speech:
A. She requested me not to be late.
B. She requested that me don't be late.
C. She said me not be late.
D. She asked me don't to be late.
Correct Answer: A
Negative requests can be reported with 'requested + object + not to + verb'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: He said to me, 'Will you help me?' Reported speech:
A. He asked me if I would help him.
B. He told me will I help him.
C. He asked that would I help him.
D. He said me if I will help him.
Correct Answer: A
Yes/no questions are reported with 'asked + if/whether' and statement word order.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: Sara said, 'I completed the task yesterday.' Reported speech:
A. Sara said that she had completed the task the previous day.
B. Sara said that she completes the task yesterday.
C. Sara told that she had complete the task tomorrow.
D. Sara said she has completed task yesterday.
Correct Answer: A
Simple past may backshift to past perfect, and 'yesterday' may change to 'the previous day'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: He said, 'I am working now.' Reported speech:
A. He said that he was working then.
B. He said that he is working now yesterday.
C. He told that he was work then.
D. He said he working then.
Correct Answer: A
Present continuous normally backshifts to past continuous, and 'now' may become 'then'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Such ___ that everyone remained silent.
A. was the tension
B. the tension was
C. did the tension
D. was tension the
Correct Answer: A
Formal inversion is possible with fronted 'Such': 'Such was the tension that...'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
So impressive ___ that the panel applauded.
A. her presentation was
B. was her presentation
C. did her presentation
D. her presentation did
Correct Answer: B
Fronted 'So + adjective' can trigger formal inversion: 'So impressive was...'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Only then ___ why the plan had failed.
A. we understood
B. did we understand
C. we did understood
D. understood we
Correct Answer: B
Fronted 'Only then' requires subject-auxiliary inversion.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Hardly ___ the announcement when the crowd reacted.
A. had he finished
B. he had finished
C. did he finished
D. he finished had
Correct Answer: A
'Hardly' at the beginning triggers inversion with past perfect.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Little ___ how serious the matter was.
A. she realized
B. did she realize
C. she did realized
D. realized she
Correct Answer: B
Fronted negative 'Little' requires auxiliary inversion.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Under no circumstances ___ this door be left unlocked.
A. it should
B. should
C. should it
D. it
Correct Answer: C
A fronted negative phrase triggers inversion: 'should this door...'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Not until the manager arrived ___ the meeting begin.
A. did
B. does
C. had
D. was
Correct Answer: A
Fronted 'Not until...' requires inversion: 'did the meeting begin'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Only after reading the report ___ the problem.
A. I understood
B. did I understand
C. I did understood
D. understood I
Correct Answer: B
A fronted 'Only after...' phrase triggers inversion in the main clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Rarely ___ on time.
A. he arrives
B. does he arrive
C. he does arrives
D. arrives he
Correct Answer: B
Fronted 'Rarely' triggers inversion with 'does'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Never before ___ such confusion.
A. we experienced
B. have we experienced
C. we have experienced
D. did we experienced
Correct Answer: B
Fronted negative 'Never before' requires subject-auxiliary inversion.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If it were not for your support, I ___ this project.
A. cannot complete
B. could not complete
C. will not complete
D. did not complete
Correct Answer: B
A present unreal condition takes 'would/could + base verb'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
It is necessary that he ___ present at the hearing.
A. is
B. be
C. was
D. has been
Correct Answer: B
Formal subjunctive uses the base verb after 'It is necessary that...'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The committee demanded that the report ___ revised.
A. is
B. be
C. was
D. has been
Correct Answer: B
The mandative subjunctive uses the base form 'be'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I wish I ___ that mistake yesterday.
A. did not make
B. had not made
C. would not make
D. do not make
Correct Answer: B
Past regret after 'wish' uses the past perfect.