← English Comprehension

Direct/Indirect Speech — Questions with Solutions

4 solved Direct/Indirect Speech questions from English Comprehension, as asked in SSC CGL and other SSC exams. Read the answer and explanation below, then practise the full set in the practice section.

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Q1. A sentence is provided in indirect speech. Choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech: He said that he would attend the meeting after the meal.

एक वाक्य अप्रत्यक्ष भाषण (indirect speech) में दिया गया है। वह विकल्प चुनें जो संबंधित प्रत्यक्ष भाषण (direct speech) को सटीक रूप से व्यक्त करता है: He said that he would attend the meeting after the meal.

  1. A. "I will attend the meeting after the meal," he said.
  2. B. "I would attend the meeting after the meal," he said.
  3. C. "I shall attend the meeting after the meal," he said.
  4. D. "I can attend the meeting after the meal," he said.

Solution

'Would' in indirect speech corresponds to 'will' in direct speech.

Q2. A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech: He asked me, "Did you submit your homework?"

एक वाक्य प्रत्यक्ष भाषण में दिया गया है। संबंधित अप्रत्यक्ष भाषण को सटीक रूप से व्यक्त करने वाला विकल्प चुनें: He asked me, "Did you submit your homework?"

  1. A. He asked me if I had submitted my homework.
  2. B. He asked me did I submit my homework.
  3. C. He asked me whether I have submitted my homework.
  4. D. He asked me whether had I submitted my homework.

Solution

Simple past tense interrogative changes to past perfect in indirect speech with 'if'.

Q3. A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech: The librarian of Public library said that silence must be maintained in the reading hall.

A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech: The librarian of Public library said that silence must be maintained in the reading hall.

  1. A. "Silence should be maintained in the reading hall," said the librarian of public library.
  2. B. "You will maintain silence in the reading hall," said the librarian of public library.
  3. C. "Maintain silence in the reading hall," said the librarian of public library.
  4. D. "Must you maintain silence in the reading hall?" asked the librarian of public library.

Solution

The imperative direct instruction matches the indirect rule statement context accurately.

Q4. A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech: She said, "I met him yesterday morning."

A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech: She said, "I met him yesterday morning."

  1. A. She said she had met him the previous morning.
  2. B. She said she has met him yesterday morning.
  3. C. She said she was meeting him yesterday morning.
  4. D. She said she had meet him the previous morning.

Solution

Simple past ('met') shifts to past perfect ('had met') and 'yesterday morning' becomes 'the previous morning'.