CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "I can meet you tonight."
A. He told that he could meet me that night.
B. He said that he could meet me that night.
C. He said that he could meet you that night.
D. He said that he can meet you tonight.
Correct Answer: B
Time and place expressions are adjusted when the reporting context changes, e.g. tomorrow → the next day and here → there.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: The clerk said, "I received these papers today."
A. The clerk said that he had received those papers that day.
B. The clerk said that he had received these papers that day.
C. The clerk told that he had received those papers that day.
D. The clerk said that he received these papers today.
Correct Answer: A
Time and place expressions are adjusted when the reporting context changes, e.g. tomorrow → the next day and here → there.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: She said, "I worked here two years ago."
A. She told that she had worked there two years before.
B. She said that she had worked there two years before.
C. She said that she had worked here two years before.
D. She said that she worked here two years ago.
Correct Answer: B
Time and place expressions are adjusted when the reporting context changes, e.g. tomorrow → the next day and here → there.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "I will finish it next week."
A. He told that he would finish it the following week.
B. He said that he would finish it next week.
C. He said that he will finish it next week.
D. He said that he would finish it the following week.
Correct Answer: D
Time and place expressions are adjusted when the reporting context changes, e.g. tomorrow → the next day and here → there.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: Sara said, "I saw this film last night."
A. Sara said that she had seen this film last night.
B. Sara said that she had seen that film the previous night.
C. Sara told that she had seen that film the previous night.
D. Sara said that she saw this film last night.
Correct Answer: B
Time and place expressions are adjusted when the reporting context changes, e.g. tomorrow → the next day and here → there.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: Ali said, "I am leaving now."
A. Ali said that he is leaving now.
B. Ali said that he was leaving now.
C. Ali told that he was leaving then.
D. Ali said that he was leaving then.
Correct Answer: D
Time and place expressions are adjusted when the reporting context changes, e.g. tomorrow → the next day and here → there.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: She said, "I met him yesterday."
A. She said that she had met him yesterday.
B. She said that she had met him the previous day.
C. She said that she met him yesterday.
D. She told that she had met him the previous day.
Correct Answer: B
Time and place expressions are adjusted when the reporting context changes, e.g. tomorrow → the next day and here → there.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "I will return tomorrow."
A. He said that he would return tomorrow.
B. He said that he will return tomorrow.
C. He told that he would return the next day.
D. He said that he would return the next day.
Correct Answer: D
Time and place expressions are adjusted when the reporting context changes, e.g. tomorrow → the next day and here → there.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: The students said, "We can answer these questions."
A. The students said that they could answer those questions.
B. The students said that we could answer these questions.
C. The students told that they could answer those questions.
D. The students said that they can answer these questions.
Correct Answer: A
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: The players said, "We will try again."
A. The players said that we would try again.
B. The players told that they would try again.
C. The players said that they will try again.
D. The players said that they would try again.
Correct Answer: D
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: She said, "We have completed our project."
A. She said that they have completed their project.
B. She told that they had completed their project.
C. She said that they had completed their project.
D. She said that we had completed our project.
Correct Answer: C
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "We are waiting for the bus."
A. He said that they were waiting for the bus.
B. He said that they are waiting for the bus.
C. He said that we were waiting for the bus.
D. He told that they were waiting for the bus.
Correct Answer: A
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: Nadia said, "I am working here."
A. Nadia told that she was working there.
B. Nadia said that she is working here.
C. Nadia said that I was working here.
D. Nadia said that she was working there.
Correct Answer: D
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: Hamid said, "I bought this book last week."
A. Hamid told that he had bought that book the previous week.
B. Hamid said that he had bought that book the previous week.
C. Hamid said that I had bought this book last week.
D. Hamid said that he bought this book last week.
Correct Answer: B
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: She said, "I cannot attend the meeting."
A. She told that she could not attend the meeting.
B. She said that she cannot attend the meeting.
C. She said that she could not attend the meeting.
D. She said that I could not attend the meeting.
Correct Answer: C
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "I must leave now."
A. He said that he must leave now.
B. He said that I had to leave then.
C. He said that he had to leave then.
D. He told that he had to leave then.
Correct Answer: C
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: The teacher said, "I shall explain the rule."
A. The teacher said that he shall explain the rule.
B. The teacher said that he would explain the rule.
C. The teacher said that I would explain the rule.
D. The teacher told that he would explain the rule.
Correct Answer: B
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: The officer said, "I will check the record."
A. The officer said that I would check the record.
B. The officer said that he will check the record.
C. The officer told that he would check the record.
D. The officer said that he would check the record.
Correct Answer: D
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: She said, "I wrote the letter yesterday."
A. She said that she had written the letter the previous day.
B. She told that she had written the letter the previous day.
C. She said that I had written the letter the previous day.
D. She said that she wrote the letter yesterday.
Correct Answer: A
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Direct and Indirect Narration
Change into indirect speech: He said, "I was reading a novel."
A. He said that he had been reading a novel.
B. He said that I had been reading a novel.
C. He told that he had been reading a novel.
D. He said that he was reading a novel.
Correct Answer: A
A past reporting verb normally causes backshift; pronouns and demonstratives are also adjusted to the reporting context.