← English Comprehension

Narration — Questions with Solutions

4 solved Narration 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 direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech. Rita said, "I haven't eaten anything."

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. Rita said, "I haven't eaten anything."

  1. A. Rita said that she didn't eat anything.
  2. B. Rita said that she hasn't eaten anything.
  3. C. Rita said that she hadn't eaten anything.
  4. D. Rita said that she wasn't eating anything.

Solution

The present perfect tense ('haven't eaten') in direct speech changes to the past perfect tense ('hadn't eaten') in indirect 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. They said, "We shall overcome this challenge together."

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. They said, "We shall overcome this challenge together."

  1. A. They said they will overcome that challenge together.
  2. B. They said they should overcome this challenge together.
  3. C. They said they would overcome that challenge together.
  4. D. They said they shall overcome that challenge together.

Solution

'We shall' changes to 'they would', and the demonstrative pronoun 'this' changes to 'that' in indirect speech.

Q3. 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 said, "My friends will leave tonight."

  1. A. He said that his friends will leave that night.
  2. B. He said his friends would leave tonight.
  3. C. He said that his friends would leave that night.
  4. D. He said his friends would be leaving tonight.

Solution

'Will' changes to 'would' and 'tonight' changes to 'that night' in indirect speech.

Q4. 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. She said that she wanted to meet the principal.

  1. A. "I want to meet the principal," she said.
  2. B. "I wanted to meet the principal," she said.
  3. C. "I wished to meet the principal," she said.
  4. D. "May I meet the principal?" she said.

Solution

The indirect past tense 'wanted' converts back to the direct present tense 'want'.