Question 1

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) will complete / (D) completes the project by the deadline. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in past tense ('said'), the reported clause must shift to a past tense form. Since the original direct speech would be 'I have completed the project,' the indirect form requires past perfect ('had completed') to maintain the time relationship and show that the action was completed before the moment of speaking in the past.

Question 2

He said, "I will attend the meeting tomorrow." The indirect form of this sentence is: (A) He said that he will attend the meeting tomorrow. / (B) He said that he would attend the meeting the next day. / (C) He said that he would attend the meeting tomorrow. / (D) He said that he will attend the meeting the next day.

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is past ('said'), the future tense in the reported clause must shift to conditional (would + V1). Additionally, time expressions must be adjusted: 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day' or 'the following day' because the perspective shifts from the speaker's original time to the narrator's past time.

Question 3

She said, "I am studying for the examination." The indirect speech form is: (A) She said that she is studying for the examination. / (B) She said that she was studying for the examination. / (C) She said that she has been studying for the examination. / (D) She said that she studies for the examination.

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in past tense ('said'), the present continuous tense in the reported clause must shift to past continuous (was/were + V-ing). This maintains the time relationship and shows that the action was ongoing at the moment of speaking in the past.

Question 4

The teacher asked the students, "Have you finished your homework?" When converted to indirect speech, this becomes: (A) The teacher asked the students if they have finished their homework. / (B) The teacher asked the students if they had finished their homework. / (C) The teacher asked the students whether they finish their homework. / (D) The teacher asked the students if they are finishing their homework.

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech, a direct question in present perfect ('Have you finished?') must undergo tense backshift when the reporting verb is in past tense ('asked'). Present perfect becomes past perfect. Additionally, the question form changes to a statement with 'if' or 'whether' as a connector.

Question 5

She said that she (A) is going / (B) was going / (C) goes / (D) went to the market and (A) will buy / (B) would buy / (C) buys / (D) bought some groceries. Choose the correct option for both blanks.

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech with a past reporting verb, both actions must shift to past tense. The first blank requires past continuous 'was going' (to show an action in progress), and the second requires conditional 'would buy' (to show a future action from the past speaker's perspective).

Question 6

He told me that he (A) would have finished / (B) will finish / (C) would finish / (D) has finished the report before noon. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech with a past reporting verb, a future action (from the past speaker's perspective) must be expressed using the conditional 'would' rather than 'will'. Since the action is expected to complete before a specific time, 'would finish' is correct.

Question 7

Identify the error in the following sentence:

The manager (A) told his assistant that (B) he will complete the report by Friday and (C) submit it to the director immediately. (D) No error

Accepted Answer

The sentence contains a tense inconsistency in reported speech. When the reporting verb is in past tense ('told'), the reported speech must shift to a corresponding past tense. The phrase 'he will complete' uses future tense, which violates the rule of tense backshift in indirect speech. The correct form should be 'he would complete' (conditional past).

Question 8

She said that if he (A) comes / (B) came / (C) would come / (D) had come tomorrow, she would help him with the project. No error?

Accepted Answer

The sentence is indirect speech with a conditional clause. The reporting verb 'said' is in past tense, and the conditional refers to a future possibility from the perspective of that past moment. In indirect speech with past reporting verb, conditional sentences follow the rule: if the condition is about the future (relative to the past moment), use simple past in the 'if' clause and 'would' in the main clause. The direct form would be: 'She said, "If he comes tomorrow, I will help him."' In indirect speech, this becomes: 'She said that if he came tomorrow, she would help him.' The simple past 'came' is used in the conditional clause (not 'comes' or 'would come') because it represents the future from the perspective of the past reporting verb.

Question 9

The teacher told the students that (A) they should submit / (B) they will submit / (C) they have submitted / (D) they submitted their assignments by Friday. No error?

Accepted Answer

The sentence uses indirect speech with a past reporting verb ('told'). The phrase 'by Friday' indicates a deadline in the future relative to the time of speaking. In indirect speech, 'should' is the correct modal to express obligation or instruction when the reporting verb is past. 'Will submit' violates the backshift rule (should become 'would submit'), 'have submitted' is present perfect (incorrect for future obligation), and 'submitted' is simple past (suggests the action already happened, contradicting 'by Friday').

Question 10

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) would complete / (D) completes the project before he arrived, and she insisted that he (E) should not worry about the deadline.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is **(B) had completed**. In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense ('said'), the reported clause must shift to a corresponding past tense. Since the action of completing the project occurred *before* the arrival (a past event within the reported speech), past perfect ('had completed') is required. This maintains the sequence of tenses rule: past perfect shows an action completed before another past action.

Question 11

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) would complete / (D) completes the project before he arrived. No error?

Accepted Answer

The sentence requires past perfect tense in the reported speech clause because the action (completing the project) happened before another past action (his arrival). In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in past tense ('said'), the reported clause must shift one tense backward. The original direct speech would be: 'She said, "I have completed the project before he arrives."' When converted to indirect speech with a past reporting verb, 'have completed' becomes 'had completed' to show that the completion occurred prior to his arrival.

Question 12

He asked her whether she (A) would attend / (B) will attend / (C) attends / (D) had attended the conference that was scheduled for next month. No error?

Accepted Answer

The sentence is indirect speech with a past reporting verb ('asked'). The phrase 'that was scheduled for next month' indicates a future event from the perspective of the past moment of asking. In indirect speech, 'will' must backshift to 'would' after a past reporting verb. The direct form would be: 'He asked her, "Will you attend the conference that is scheduled for next month?"' When converted to indirect speech, 'will' becomes 'would', and 'is scheduled' becomes 'was scheduled' (also backshifted).

IBPS Clerk Direct & Indirect Speech

Direct & Indirect Speech— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Direct & Indirect Speech — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Direct & Indirect Speech