This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Conversion of Direct into Indirect Speech”.
1. Which of the following changes in tense do not occur while converting to indirect speech when the principal verb is in the past tense?
a) Simple present becomes simple past
b) Present continuous becomes past continuous
c) Present perfect becomes past perfect
d) Present perfect continuous becomes future perfect continuous
View Answer
Explanation: When converting direct to indirect speech, three main changes in tense occur if the principal verb is in the past tense. Simple present to simple past, present continuous to past continuous and present perfect to past perfect.
2. Who in cloud computing decides which computing resources to use for the instances?
a) The Server
b) The Administrator
c) The Cloud User
d) The Service Provider
View Answer
Explanation: The Cloud User or the cloud consumer or the self-service user decides which computing resources such as CPU, memory, storage etc. to use for their instances.
3. Which of the following changes in auxiliary cannot be seen while changing direct to indirect speech?
a) ‘Will’ of future tense is changed to ‘should’
b) ‘Shall’ of future tense is changed to ‘should’
c) ‘Can’ of present tense is changed to ‘could’
d) ‘Will’ of future tense is changed to ‘would’
View Answer
Explanation: When changing from direct to indirect speech, changes in auxiliaries take place. ‘Will’ is changed to ‘should’ or ‘would’ and ‘shall’ is changed to ‘should’.
4. Choose the correct indirect speech for the given direct speech.
She said, “I am tired.”
a) She said she is tired.
b) She said I am tired.
c) She said she was tired.
d) She said that she was tired.
View Answer
Explanation: If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses of the direct speech do not undergo any changes. Here, ‘am’ in the present tense only changes to ‘is’ which is also in the present tense.
5. Which of the following is the correct indirect speech?
Tim said, “I had worked late last night.”
a) Tim said he worked late last night.
b) Time said that he had worked late last night.
c) Tim said he was working late last night.
d) Tim said he is working late last night.
View Answer
Explanation: There is another rule while changing direct to indirect speech. The simple past in the direct becomes the past perfect in the indirect.
6. Is the following statement true or false?
If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses of the direct speech change to future tense.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: This is incorrect. When the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses of the direct speech remain unaltered even when converted to indirect speech.
7. What changes can be seen in the pronouns when converted to indirect speech?
a) Are changed where necessary
b) Remain unaltered
c) Are always changed
d) Are changed only in relation with the hearer
View Answer
Explanation: While changing a direct speech into indirect speech, there are certain changes in pronouns too. They are changed where necessary, so that their relation with the reporter and their hearer are indicated, rather than the original speaker.
8. Which of the following changes in time do not occur when changed to indirect speech?
a) ‘last night’ becomes ‘the night before’
b) ‘ago’ becomes ‘before’
c) ‘now’ becomes ‘then’
d) ‘yesterday’ becomes ‘today’
View Answer
Explanation: While changing direct to indirect speech, certain changes in expression of time also occur. Words expressing nearness in time or place are generally changed into words expressing distance.
9. State true or false.
Changes in time expressions always occurs.
a) False
b) True
View Answer
Explanation: When direct speech is converted to indirect speech, sometimes the changes in time expressions do not occur. This happens if the speech is reported during the same period or at the same place.
10. Which of the following is not used to report questions in the indirect speech?
a) Asked
b) Said
c) Inquired
d) Whether
View Answer
Explanation: While reporting questions in the indirect speech, some verbs are used. Those are asked, enquired, whether or if. “Said” is not used to report questions in the indirect speech.
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