Question 1

Select the option that corrects the error in Direct/Indirect Speech conversion:

Direct: She said, "I am going to the market tomorrow."

Indirect: (A) She said that she is going to the market tomorrow. (B) She said that she was going to the market the next day. (C) She said that she will go to the market tomorrow. (D) She said that she goes to the market tomorrow.

Accepted Answer

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, the tense shifts one step backward (backshift rule), and time expressions relative to the speaker must be converted to expressions relative to the reported clause. 'Tomorrow' becomes 'the next day,' and 'am going' (present continuous) becomes 'was going' (past continuous). Option B correctly applies both rules.

Question 2

The teacher told the students that they (A) must submit / (B) had to submit / (C) have to submit / (D) would have to submit their assignments on time. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech with a past reporting verb ('told'), modal verbs must also shift. 'Must' in direct speech becomes 'would have to' or 'had to' in indirect speech. Since the instruction is about a future obligation (from the past perspective), 'would have to' is the most appropriate form.

Question 3

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) will complete / (D) completes the project by noon. 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 by noon' (present perfect indicating a completed action with present relevance), it must become past perfect ('had completed') in indirect speech to maintain the time relationship.

Question 4

Ramesh asked his friend, "(A) Will you / (B) Would you / (C) Can you / (D) Could you help me with this problem?" This is an example of direct speech. Convert to indirect speech: Ramesh asked his friend if he _____ help him with that problem.

Accepted Answer

When converting direct speech questions to indirect speech, the question mark becomes a period, and the question structure changes to a statement. The modal 'will' in a direct question becomes 'would' in indirect speech when the reporting verb is past ('asked'). The correct completion is 'would'.

Question 5

The manager said to the employee, "(A) You have / (B) You had / (C) You will have / (D) You are having made a serious mistake." Choose the correct option to complete the direct speech sentence.

Accepted Answer

The sentence structure indicates a statement about a completed action. In direct speech, when someone points out a mistake that has already been made, the present perfect tense 'have made' is used to show an action completed with present relevance. The correct form is 'You have made a serious mistake.'

Question 6

The teacher told the students that they (A) must / (B) should / (C) had to / (D) will have to submit their assignments on time.

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech following a past reporting verb ('told'), modal verbs must also undergo backshift. 'Must' (present obligation) becomes 'had to' (past obligation) to maintain consistency with the past tense of the reporting verb.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in past tense ('said'), the reported clause must shift to a past tense form. Since the action was completed before another past action (before the deadline she mentioned), past perfect ('had completed') is required.

Question 8

He asked me whether I (A) have seen / (B) had seen / (C) am seeing / (D) see the film that was released last month.

Accepted Answer

The reporting verb 'asked' is in past tense, so the reported clause must backshift. Since the film was released in the past and the question refers to a completed action before the asking, past perfect ('had seen') is required.

Question 9

The manager announced that the company (A) will launch / (B) would launch / (C) is launching / (D) launches a new product next quarter.

Accepted Answer

The reporting verb 'announced' is in past tense, so the reported clause must backshift. The future action ('next quarter') requires 'would launch' (conditional/backshifted future) rather than 'will launch' (direct future).

Question 10

She said that she (A) doesn't like / (B) didn't like / (C) won't like / (D) hasn't liked the proposal that was presented.

Accepted Answer

The reporting verb 'said' is in past tense, requiring backshift. Since the proposal was already presented (past) and her dislike is a general fact, simple past ('didn't like') is the correct backshifted form of simple present ('doesn't like').

Question 11

The manager told the employee that he (A) should submit the report by Friday and that (B) he has completed all the necessary revisions (C) before the deadline arrives (D). No error

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in past tense ('told'), all verbs in the reported clause must shift to a corresponding past tense. The error is in part (B): 'has completed' uses present perfect, but it should be 'had completed' (past perfect) to maintain tense consistency in indirect speech.

Question 12

She asked me whether (A) / I would attend (B) / the conference that (C) / she had organised. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The sentence correctly uses indirect speech with proper tense backshift. The reporting verb 'asked' (past) correctly triggers 'would attend' (conditional past) in the reported clause, and 'had organised' (past perfect) correctly refers to an action completed before the question was asked. All tenses are consistent.

Question 13

The witness told the court that (A) / the accused had confessed (B) / to the crime (C) / and that he was willing to testify against him. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The sentence uses indirect speech with a past reporting verb ('told'). The first clause correctly uses 'had confessed' (past perfect for a prior action). However, the second clause uses 'was willing' (simple past), which is correct for a state or condition that existed at the time of speaking. Both tenses are appropriate and consistent with indirect speech rules.

Question 14

The principal instructed that (A) / all students should wear (B) / their uniforms properly (C) / and that they must not bring (D) / mobile phones to school. (E) / No error

Accepted Answer

In indirect speech with an imperative or instructional reporting verb ('instructed'), the reported clause uses 'should' for obligation. The first clause correctly uses 'should wear'. However, the second clause uses 'must not bring', which is inconsistent. For consistency in indirect speech after 'instructed', both clauses should use 'should': 'should not bring' instead of 'must not bring'.

SBI PO 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