English Language & Comprehension –Direct /Indirect Speech –Part I

In following questions, a sentence has been given in Direct/ Indirect. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in direct      /indirect.

1. He said to me, “I have often told you not to play with fire.”

      (A)  He told me that he has often told me not to play with fire.

      (B)  He told me that he had often told me not to play with fire.

      (C)  He reminded me that he had often told him not to play with fire.

      (D)  He reminded me that he had often told me not to play with fire.

2. “You have all done very badly!” remarked the teacher.

        (A)  The teacher remarked that you had done all very badly.

        (B)  The teacher remarked that he had all done very badly.

        (C)  The teacher remarked that they had all done it very badly.

        (D)  The teacher told that they had done it very badly.

3. The dwarf said to her, “Promise me that when you are Queen you will give me your first-born child.”

     (A) The dwarf asked  her to promise him that when she was  Queen she would give him her first-born                child.

      (B) The dwarf asked  her  promise him that when she was  Queen she would give him her first-born                     child.

      (C)  The dwarf asked  her to promise him that when she was  Queen she will give him her first-born                      child.

       (D) The dwarf asked  her to promise him when she was  Queen she will give him her first-born child.

4.   They wrote, “It is time we thought about settling the matter.”

       (A) They wrote that it was time they have thought about settling the matter.

        (B) They wrote that it was time we had thought about settling the matter.

        (C) They wrote that it was time they had thought about settling the matter.

         (D) They wrote that it is time we should think about settling the matter.

5.   The teacher promised, "If you will come before school tomorrow, I will explain it.”

        (A)  The teacher promised that If they would come before school tomorrow, he would explain it.

        (B)  The teacher promised that if they will come before school next day, he would explain it.

        (C)  The teacher promised that he would explain it if they would come  before school next day.

         (D)   The teacher promised that if they would come before school next day, he will explain it.

6.   She wrote, “I am waiting and watching and longing for my son's return.”

        (A) She wrote that she was waiting and watching and longing for her son's return.

        (B) She wrote that I am waiting and watching and longing for her son's return.

        (C) She wrote, she is waiting and watching and longing for her son's return.

        (D) She wrote that she was waiting and watching and longing for my son's return.

7.  The examiner's orders were, “No one is to bring books into the room nor ask me

     questions about what I have told you to do.”

       (A) The examiner's orders were that no one was to bring books into the room nor ask him

             questions about what he had told him to do.

       (B)  The examiner's orders were that no one was to brought books into the room nor ask me

              questions about what he had told him to do.

       (C) The examiner's orders were that no one was to brought books into the room nor ask him

             questions about what he had told him to do.

       (D) The examiner's orders were that no one was to bring books into the room nor ask me

             questions about what he had told him to do.

8.  “That is my horse,” said he, “and if I do not prove it in a few minutes I will give up my

      claim.”

        (A) He said that it was his horse and that if he did not prove it in a few minutes he will give up his

              claim.

        (B) He said that it was his horse and if he did not prove it in a few minutes  he would give up his

              claim.

        (C) He said that it was my horse and if he did not prove it in a few minutes  he will give up his

              claim.

        (D) He said that it was my horse  and if I did not prove it in a few minutes I will give up my

              claim.

9.  He cried, “I will not enter Athens until I have punished the king who had so cruelly treated you."

     (A) He cried that he would not enter Athens until he had punished the king who so cruelly treated her.

     (B) He cried that he will not enter Athens until he punished the king who had so cruelly treated her.

     (C) He cried that he would not enter Athens until he punished the king who so cruelly treated her.

     (D) He cried that he would not enter Athens until he punished the king who had so cruelly treated her.

10.  He wrote and said, “I am unable to come just now because I am ill, but I will certainly start as soon as I am well enough to do so.”

        (A) He wrote and said that he was unable to come just now because he was ill, but he would certainly start as  he was well enough to do so.

         (B)  He said that he was unable to come just now because he was ill, but he would certainly start as  he was well enough to do so.

        (C) He wrote and said that he was unable to come just then because he was ill, but he would certainly start as  he was well enough to do so.

        (D) He wrote and said that I was unable to come just then because I was ill, but I would certainly start as  I was well enough to do so.

11.  One day he sent for Jack and told him that he was then old enough to earn his living, so he had to set off and make his own way in the world.

        (A) One day he sent for Jack and said to him, “He is now old enough to earn your living, so you must set off, and make your own way in the world.”

        (B) One day he sent for Jack and said to him, “You are now old enough to earn your living, so you must set  off, and make your own way in the world.”

        (C) One day he sent for Jack and said to him, “He is now old enough to earn his living, so you must set off, and make your own way in the world.”

        (D) One day he sent for Jack and said to him, “You are now old enough to earn his living, so he must set off, and make his own way in the world.”

12.  When the Brahmin approached, the first thief said, “Why do you carry a dog on your back ? Are you not  ashamed ?”

          (A)  When the Brahmin approached, the first thief said why did he carry a dog on his back. Whether he was not ashamed.

          (B)  When the Brahmin approached, the first thief said why he carried a dog on his back. Whether he was not ashamed.

          (C)  When the Brahmin approached, the first thief said why he did carry a dog on his back. Whether he was not ashamed.

          (D) When the Brahmin approached, the first thief said why he carried a dog on his back. Whether he not ashamed.

13.   He asked us why we were all sitting about there doing nothing.

          (A) He said to us, “Why are we all sitting about there doing nothing?”

          (B) He said to us, “Why you are all sitting about there doing nothing?”

          (C) He said to us, “Why are you all sitting about here doing nothing?”

          (D) He said to us, “Why are you all sitting about there doing nothing?”

14.   The poor man exclaimed whether none of them would help him.

          (A) The poor man cried, “Will none of you help me?”

          (B) The poor man exclaimed, “Will none of they help me?”

          (C) The poor man cried, “Will none of they help me?”

          (D) The poor man exclaimed, “Will none of you help me?”

15.  Aladdin said to the magician, “What have I done to deserve so severe a blow?”

         (A) Aladdin told the magician what he had done to deserve so severe a blow.

         (B) Aladdin asked the magician what he has done to deserve so severe a blow.

         (C) Aladdin asked the magician what he had done to deserve so severe a blow.

         (D) Aladdin enquired the magician what he had done to deserve so severe a blow.

16.  “Have you anything to say on behalf of the prisoner ?”said the judge finally.

         (A) The judge finally asked whether he had anything to say on behalf of the prisoner.

         (B) The judge finally asked that he had anything to say on behalf of the prisoner.

         (C) The judge finally asked he had anything to say on behalf of the prisoner.

         (D) The judge finally asked whether had he anything to say on behalf of the prisoner.

17.  “Which way did she go?” asked the young Rakshas.

         (A) The young Rakshas asked which way she had gone.

         (B) The young Rakshas asked if which way she had gone.

         (C) The young Rakshas asked if which way she had been gone.

         (D) The young Rakshas asked which way she did go.

18.  “Which is the proper way to answer this question, father?” the boy enquired.

          (A) The boy enquired of the father if which proper way to answer the question was.

          (B) The boy enquired of the father which proper way to answer the question was.

          (C) The boy enquired of the father whether which proper way to answer the question was.

          (D) The boy enquired of the father which proper way to answer the question is.

19.  “Have you anything to tell me, little bird?”. asked Ulysses.

          (A) Ulysses asked the little bird whether she has anything to tell him.

          (B) Ulysses asked the little bird whether she had anything to tell him.

          (C) Ulysses asked the little bird it had anything to tell him.

          (D) Ulysses asked the little bird whether it had anything to tell him.

20.  When the sun got low, the king's son said, “Jack, since we have no money, where can

       we lodge this night ?”

          (A) When the sun got low, the king’s son asked Jack where they could lodge that night, since they had no  money.

         (B) When the sun got low, the king’s son asked Jack whether where they could lodge that night, since they had no  money.

         (C) When the sun got low, the king’s son asked Jack where they could lodge that night, since he had no  money.

         (D) When the sun got low, the king’s son asked Jack where they could lodge this night, since they had no  money.

21.    “Who are you, sir, and what do you want?” they cried.

              (A) They asked who he was and what he wanted.

              (B) They asked whether who he was and what he wanted.

              (C) They asked who he was and he wanted what.

              (D) They asked who he was and what did he want.

22.  She said to him, “What is it that makes you so much stronger and braver than any other man ?”

              (A) She asked him what was it that made you so much stronger and braver than any other man.

              (B) She asked him that what was it that made you so much stronger and braver than any other man.

              (C) She inquired him that what was it that made you so much stronger and braver than any other                         man.

              (D) She asked him what it was that made you so much stronger and braver than any other man.

23.   He said, “Daughter, take my golden jug, and fetch me some water from the Well.”

              (A) He asked his daughter take his golden jug and fetch him some water from the well.

              (B) He ordered his daughter to take his golden jug and fetch him some water from the well.

              (C) He proposed his daughter that take his golden jug and fetch him some water from the well.

              (D) He asked his daughter to take his golden jug and fetch him some water from the well.

24.   “Run away, children,” said their mother.

              (A)  The mother told children run away.

              (B)  The mother ordered children run away.

              (C)   The mother told children to run away.

              (D)   The mother ordered children to run away.

25.    “Take off your hat,” the king said to the Hatter.

            (A)  The king ordered the Hatter take off his hat.

            (B)  The king ordered the Hatter to take off his hat.

            (C)  The king ordered the Hatter to take off your hat.

            (D)  The king commanded the Hatter take off his hat.

26.    “What a rare article milk is, to be sure, in London !” said Mr. Squeers with a sigh.

            (A)  Mr. Squeers exclaimed with sigh that milk was, to be sure, a very rare article in London.

            (B)  Mr. Squeers exclaimed with sigh that milk was, to be sure, a very rare article in London.

            (C)  Mr. Squeers exclaimed with sigh to milk was, to be sure, a very rare article in London.

            (D)  Mr. Squeers wondered that milk was, to be sure, a very rare article in London.

27.    He said, “What a lazy boy you are! How badly you have done your work!”

            (A) He remarked he was a very lazy boy and that he had done his work very badly.

            (B) He remarked to he was a very lazy boy and he had done his work very badly.

            (C) He remarked that he was a very lazy boy and that he had done his work very badly.

            (D) He remarked that he was a very lazy boy and he had done his work very badly.

28.    “How smart you are!” she said.

             (A)  She remarked to he was very smart.

             (B)  She remarked that he was very smart.

             (C)  She remarked to he is very smart.

             (D)  She remarked that very smart he was.

29.    He inquired whether his name was not Ahmed.

            (A)   He said to him, “Is your name not Ahmed ?”

            (B)   He told him, “Is not your name Ahmed ?”

            (C)   He said to him, “Was not your name Ahmed ?”

            (D)  He said to him, “Is not your name Ahmed ?”

30.   As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked, “Are you a traveller?” “So it would   appear,” he answered carelessly.

          (A)   As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked him that he was a traveller. He replied carelessly that it would appear so.

          (B)   As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked him if he was a traveller. He replied carelessly that it would appear so.

         (C)  As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked him whether was he a traveller. He replied carelessly that it would appear so.

          (D)  As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked him he was a traveller. He replied carelessly that it would appear so.

31.   He said, “Let us wait for the award.”

        (A)  He proposed that they should wait for the award.

        (B)   He proposed to we should wait for the award.

        (C)   He proposed that we should wait for the award.

        (D)  He proposed to they should wait for the award.

32.   Telemachus replied, "How can I drive away the mother, who bore me and nourished me?"

        (A)  Telemachus replied that he could not drive away his mother who had born him and nourished him.

        (B)  Telemachus replied to he could not drive away his mother who had born him and nourished him.

        (C) Telemachus replied that he could not drive away his mother who had bore him and nourished him.

         (D) Telemachus replied that he could not drive away his mother who born and nourished him.

33.   He said to Rama, “ Come with me”.

         (A)  He asked Rama to come with him.

         (B)  He asked Rama that come with me.

         (C)  He asked Rama  come with me.

         (D)  He asked Rama to go with him.

34.   Then said the wolf to the fox, “Now either yield thyself as vanquished, or else certainly I will kill thee.”

         (A) The wolf asked the fox that yield himself as vanquished, if he did not, he would certainly kill him.

         (B)  The wolf asked the fox to yield himself as vanquished, if he did not, he will certainly kill him.

         (C)  The wolf asked the fox to either yield himself as vanquished or he will certainly kill him.

         (D)  The wolf asked the fox to yield himself as vanquished, if he did not, he would certainly kill him.

35.   “I believe,” said he, “that we are in this country among a people whom we like and who like us.”

         (A)  He said that he believed they were in that country among a people whom they liked and who liked               them.

         (B)  He said that he believed that they were in that country among a people whom they liked and who liked  them.

         (C) He said that he believed that they were in that country among a people whom they had liked and who had  liked them.

         (D) He told that he believed that they were in that country among a people whom they liked and who liked them.

36.   “My hour is come,” thought he. “Let me meet death like a man.”

           (A)  He thought to his hour had come and let him to meet death like a man.

           (B)  He thought to his hour had go and decided to meet death like a man.

            (C)  He thought to his hour had come and decided to meet death like a man.

            (D)  He thought that his hour had come and decided to meet death like a man.

37.   “I have just one word to say to you,” said the dealer. “Either make your purchase, or walk out of my shop.”

            (A) The dealer ordered that he had just one word to say him. He must either make his purchase or walk out of his shop.

            (B) The dealer told that he has just one word to say him. He must either make his purchase or walk out of his shop.

            (C)  The dealer told that he had just one word to say him. He must either make his purchase or walk out of his shop.

            (D) The dealer told that he had just one word to say him. He should either make his purchase or walk out of his shop.

38.   He said: "Who are you to speak to me like this? I am the master.”

            (A) He asked who he was to speak to him like that and added that he was the master.

            (B) He asked who he was to spoke to him like that and added that he was the master.

            (C) He asked who he was to spoke to him like that and added to he was the master.

            (D) He asked who was he to speak to him like that and added that he was the master.

39.  "Are you angry, my friends," said the king, "because you have lost your leader? I am your king; I will be your leader."

             (A)  The king asked if they were angry because they had lost his leader. He said that he was his king and that he would be his leader.

             (B) The king asked them they were angry because they had lost their leader. He said that he was their king and that he would be their leader.

             (C) The king asked them whether they were angry because they had lost their leader. He said that he was their king and that he would be their leader.

             (D) The king asked them if they were angry because they had lost their leader. He said that he was their king and that he will be their leader.

40.  Said an old Crab to young one, "Why do you walk so crooked, child? Walk straight!" "Mother," said the young Crab, "show me the way, will you?"

          (A) An old Crab asked a young one if why she walked so crooked and advised her to walk straight. The young Crab wanted her mother to show her the way.

          (B) An old Crab asked a young one that why it walked so crooked and advised it to walk straight. The young Crab wanted its mother to show it the way.

          (C) An old Crab asked a young one why it walked so crooked and advised it to walk straight. The young Crab wanted its mother to show it the way.

          (D) An old Crab asked a young one why he walked so crooked and advised him to walk straight. The young Crab wanted his mother to show him the way.

41.  Her mother said, "You must go straight to your grandmother's cottage and not loiter on the way.”

           (A) Her mother told to she must go straight to her grandmother's cottage and not loiter on the way.

           (B) Her mother told to you must go straight to your grandmother's cottage and not loiter on the way.

           (C)  Her mother told that she must go straight to her grandmother's cottage and not loiter on the way.

           (D) Her mother told that she must go straight to your grandmother's cottage and not loiter on the                            way.

42.   Father said, “May God bless you”.

         (A) Father said that god might bless me.

         (B) Father prayed that god might bless me.

         (C) Father wished that god might blessed me.

         (D) Father prayed that god may bless me.

43.  We said to the people, “Let’s punish the thief.”

          (A) We suggested to the people that let’s punish the thief.

          (B)  We advised to the people to we should punish the thief.

          (C)  We suggested to the people that we should punish the thief.

          (D)  We suggested to the people to we should punished the thief.

44.  He said to her, “ Are you coming to the party?”

          (A) He asked her whether she was coming to the party.

          (B) He told her if she was coming to the party.

          (C) He asked her if she was coming to the party.

          (D) He asked her if she will be coming to the party.

45.  The sage said, “God helps those who help themselves.”

          (A) The sage said that God helps those who help themselves.

          (B)  The sage said that God helped those whose helped themselves.

          (C)  The sage said that God helps those who helped themselves.

          (D)  The sage said that God helped those who help themselves.

46.  “Please don’t go away”, she said.

           (A) She said to please her and not go away.

           (B) She told me not to go away.

           (C) She begged that I not go away.

           (D) She begged me not to go away.

47.   He said, “I clean my teeth twice a day.”

           (A) He said that he cleaned his teeth twice a day.

          (B)  He said that he cleans his teeth twice a day.

          (C)  He said that he used to clean his teeth twice a day.

          (D)  He said that he is used to cleaning his teeth twice a day.

48.  He said to them, “Don’t make a noise.”

 

          (A) He told them that don’t make a noise.

          (B) He told them not to make a noise.

          (C) He said them not to make a noise.

          (D) He asked them not to make a noise.

49.  The teacher said, “Be quiet, boys.”

          (A) The teacher said that the boys should be quiet.

          (B)  The teacher called the boys and ordered them to be quiet.

          (C)  The teacher urged the boys to be quiet.

          (D)  The teacher commanded the boys that they be quiet.

50.  My friend said to me, “Has your father returned from Kolkata?”

          (A) My friend said to me that my father has returned from Kolkata.

          (B) My friend asked me if my father had returned from Kolkata.

          (C) My friend told me that his father had returned from Kolkata.

          (D) My friend enquired me if his father had returned from Kolkata.