Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Direct: He said, 'I am busy today.' Reported speech:
A. He said that he was busy that day.
B. He said that I am busy today.
C. He told that he was busy that day.
D. He said he were busy that day.
Correct Answer: A
Present 'am' normally backshifts to 'was', and 'today' may become 'that day'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
No sooner ___ the office than it started raining.
A. had we left
B. we had left
C. did we left
D. we left had
Correct Answer: A
'No sooner' at the beginning requires inversion with past perfect.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Such ___ that the meeting had to be postponed.
A. was the confusion
B. the confusion was
C. did the confusion
D. confusion was the
Correct Answer: A
Formal inversion is possible with 'Such was...that'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
So convincing ___ that everyone agreed.
A. was his argument
B. his argument was
C. did his argument
D. his argument did
Correct Answer: A
Formal inversion may follow fronted 'So + adjective'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Only then ___ the full extent of the problem.
A. we realized
B. did we realize
C. we did realized
D. realized we
Correct Answer: B
Fronted 'Only then' requires inversion.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Scarcely ___ the announcement when questions began.
A. had he finished
B. he had finished
C. did he finished
D. he finished had
Correct Answer: A
'Scarcely' at the beginning triggers inversion.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Hardly ___ the room when the phone rang.
A. had she entered
B. she had entered
C. did she entered
D. she entered had
Correct Answer: A
Fronted 'Hardly' uses inverted past perfect.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Little ___ that the policy would cause such debate.
A. they knew
B. did they know
C. they did knew
D. knew they
Correct Answer: B
Fronted negative 'Little' requires inversion.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Under no circumstances ___ confidential data be disclosed.
A. should
B. should it
C. it should
D. it
Correct Answer: B
After a fronted negative phrase, inversion is required: 'should it be disclosed'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Not until Friday ___ the final list.
A. they released
B. did they release
C. they did released
D. released they
Correct Answer: B
Fronted 'Not until...' requires auxiliary inversion.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Only after the audit ___ the mistake.
A. they discovered
B. did they discover
C. they did discovered
D. discovered they
Correct Answer: B
A fronted 'Only after...' phrase triggers inversion in the main clause.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Seldom ___ so quickly.
A. the committee decides
B. does the committee decide
C. the committee does decides
D. decides the committee
Correct Answer: B
Fronted 'Seldom' triggers inversion.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Never ___ such a clear explanation.
A. I heard
B. have I heard
C. I have heard
D. did I heard
Correct Answer: B
Fronted negative 'Never' requires subject-auxiliary inversion.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Were it not for the traffic, we ___ on time.
A. would arrive
B. will arrive
C. would have arrived yesterday only
D. arrived now
Correct Answer: A
This formal inverted conditional refers to a present hypothetical situation.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If it had not rained, the match ___.
A. would continue
B. would have continued
C. will continue
D. continued tomorrow
Correct Answer: B
Third conditional expresses an unreal past result.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He behaves as though he ___ the owner.
A. is
B. were
C. will be
D. has been tomorrow
Correct Answer: B
An unreal comparison after 'as though' commonly uses a past form.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I would rather you ___ tomorrow instead.
A. come
B. came
C. will come
D. to come
Correct Answer: B
With a different subject after 'would rather', a past form expresses present/future preference.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
It is vital that every candidate ___ the instructions.
A. follows
B. follow
C. followed
D. has followed
Correct Answer: B
Formal subjunctive uses the base form after expressions of necessity.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The board recommended that the policy ___ reviewed.
A. is
B. be
C. was
D. has been
Correct Answer: B
Formal mandative subjunctive uses the base form 'be'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If only she ___ here now.
A. is
B. were
C. will be
D. has been tomorrow
Correct Answer: B
'If only' for a present unreal situation uses a past form; 'were' is formal.