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Direct/Indirect (English) Solved Questions & Notes (2026) - Apex Rankers

General Competitive Exams > English > Direct/Indirect

55 Total Solved Questions
~83 mins Estimated Reading Time
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Direct/Indirect

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25 Questions in this set
From each group of sentences pick up the sentence which is changed into indirect narration correctly:
Q. 1 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said to me, "Which is the shortest way?"
A
He told me which the shorter way was.
B
He asked me which the shortest way was.
✓ Correct
C
He asked me which the shortest way is.
D
He asked which was the shortest way.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reporting Verb: The underlying sentence is a question asking for directions (e.g., "Which is the shortest way?"). For questions, the reporting verb "said to me" transitions into "asked me".

Word Order Shift: A direct question uses an interrogative format (Verb + Subject). In indirect narration, it must shift to an assertive statement format (Subject + Verb). Therefore, "which was the shortest way" changes into "which the shortest way was".

No Extra Conjunctions: For "Wh-" question words (like which, what, where), the question word acts as the connector. No additional conjunctions like "that" are added.
Q. 2 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said, "Alas! How foolish I have been!"
A
He exclaimed with surprise that he had been foolish.
B
He exclaimed how foolish he had been.
C
He exclaimed with sorrow that he had been extremely foolish.
✓ Correct
D
He exclaimed with joy that he has been foolish.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Use of "exclaimed" for an exclamatory sentence.
Q. 3 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said to his master, "Pardon me."
A
He told his master pardon me.
B
He asked his master pardon me.
C
He exclaimed his master to pardon him.
D
He begged his master to pardon him.
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Use of "begged" and infinitive for an imperative request.
Q. 4 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The teacher said, "I will not come tomorrow."
A
The teacher said I would not come the next day.
B
The teacher asked I will not come the next day.
C
The teacher told that he would not come the next day.
D
The teacher exclaimed that he would not come tomorrow.
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Pronoun Shift: The first-person pronoun "I" from the direct speech correctly shifts to the third-person pronoun "he" to match the speaker (the teacher).

Tense Shift: The future modal "will" correctly shifts to its past form "would" because the reporting verb is in the past tense.

Time Word Shift: Words expressing closeness in time must shift to words expressing distance. Therefore, "tomorrow" correctly changes to "the next day".
Q. 5 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said, "I have not worked hard."
A
He admitted that he had not worked hard.
✓ Correct
B
He said if he had not worked hard.
C
He told whether he had not worked hard.
D
He exclaimed he had not worked hard.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Use of "admitted" to report a confession.
Q. 6 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said, "I will do this in a perfect manner."
A
He advised to do this in a perfect manner.
B
He told to do in a perfect manner that.
C
He said I would do it in a perfect manner.
D
He promised to do that in a perfect manner.
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Use of "advised" for an imperative suggestion.
Q. 7 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
I said, "If my fault is proved, I will pay the fine."
A
I replied my fault in proved to pay fine.
B
I said my fault was proved to pay fine.
C
I exclaimed if my fault was proved to pay fine.
D
I replied if my fault was proved, I would pay the fine.
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Conditional Structure: The underlying direct speech is a conditional sentence (Type 1 conditional): I said, "If my fault is proved, I will pay the fine."

Tense Shift: When converting to indirect narration with a past-tense reporting verb ("replied"), the tenses shift backward:

Present simple passive (is proved) shifts to past simple passive (was proved).
Future simple modal (will pay) shifts to conditional modal (would pay).

Grammatical Completeness: Option D preserves the original cause-and-effect meaning ("if... then...") clearly and grammatically.
Q. 8 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The scientist said, "The earth is round."
A
The scientist told that the earth is round.
✓ Correct
B
The scientist said earth was round.
C
The scientist asked that the earth as round.
D
The scientist told that the earth will be round.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The Universal Truth Rule: The statement "The earth is round" is a universal scientific fact. When a statement in direct speech represents a universal truth, geographical fact, or proverb, its tense does not change in indirect speech, even if the reporting verb is in the past tense ("said/told"). It must remain in the present tense (is).
Q. 9 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said, "Goodbye, my friends!"
A
He told good bye to all the friends.
B
He exclaimed good bye to all the friends.
C
He bade good bye to all the friends.
✓ Correct
D
He asked good bye to all the friends.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
"Bade" is the standard reporting verb for "Good-bye".
Q. 10 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The man said, "What do you mean?"
A
The man replied what did he mean.
B
The man exclaimed what did he meant.
C
The man told what do you mean.
D
The man asked what he meant.
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reporting Verb: The underlying sentence is a question (e.g., "What do you mean?"). For questions, the reporting verb must change to "asked".

Word Order Shift: Direct questions use an interrogative structure (Verb + Subject). When changed to indirect narration, they must switch to an assertive format (Subject + Verb). Therefore, "what did he mean" converts to "what he meant".


Tense Shift: The original present simple question ("What do you mean?") shifts back to the past simple ("meant") because the reporting verb ("asked") is in the past tense.
Q. 11 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
he man said, "Alas! I am ruined."
A
The man exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
✓ Correct
B
The man told with sadness that he was ruined.
C
The man said with sadness that he was ruined.
D
The man said oh, he was ruined.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Use of "exclaimed with sorrow" for "Alas!".
Q. 12 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
She said to me, "Honesty is the best policy."
A
She told that honesty was the best policy.
B
She said that honesty was the best policy.
C
She exclaimed that honesty is the best policy.
D
She told me that honesty is the best policy.
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The Object Rule: The verb "told" requires a direct object (the listener). Adding "me" satisfies this grammatical requirement perfectly.

The Universal Truth Rule: Because "Honesty is the best policy" is a well-known proverb and a universal truth, the present tense verb "is" must not change to the past tense "was". It remains true in the present day.
Q. 13 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
Ali said to his friend, "Why are you idling away time?"
A
Ali exclaimed that why he was idling away time.
B
Ali told to his friend that why he was idling away time.
C
Ali asked his friend why he was idling away time.
✓ Correct
D
Ali said to his friend that why he was idling away time.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reporting a "why" question using "asked".
Q. 14 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said to the astrologer, "How do you like the stars?"
A
He asked the astrologer how he liked the stars.
✓ Correct
B
He said to the astrologer how did he like the stars.
C
He asked the astrologer how did he like the stars.
D
He asked the astrologer that how he liked the stars.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Indirect question word order: Wh-word + subject + verb.
Q. 15 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The professor said, "Can he solve the sum?"
A
The professor told I could solve the sum.
B
The professor told if I can solve the sum.
C
The professor asked if he could solve the sum.
✓ Correct
D
The professor said can be solve the sum.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Use of "if" for a yes/no question in indirect speech.
Q. 16 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
Ali said to the principal, "Thank you, sir. You have done me a favour."
A
Ali said thank you principal you had done me a favour.
B
Ali thanked the principle to say you have done me a favour.
C
Ali thanked the principal respectfully and said that he had done him a great favour.
✓ Correct
D
Ali thanked and said principal you have done me a favour.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Formal reporting of "thank you".
Q. 17 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The boys said to the teacher, "Please allow us to go home."
A
The boys asked the teacher to allow them to go home.
✓ Correct
B
The boys asked if the teacher can allow them to go home.
C
The boys ordered the teacher to allow them to go home.
D
The boys told the teacher to allow them to go home.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Imperative request using "asked... to".
Q. 18 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The dacoit said to the man, "I will rescue you."
A
The dacoit assured the man that he would rescue him.
✓ Correct
B
The dacoit told that he will rescue him.
C
The dacoit exclaimed the man that he will rescue him.
D
The dacoit said the man that he will rescue him.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reporting a promise/assurance; "will" changes to "would".
Q. 19 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
Ali said, "Mother has arrived!"
A
Ali told to find that mother has arrived.
B
Ali was surprised to find that mother had arrived.
✓ Correct
C
Ali exclaimed mother that his mother arrived.
D
Ali told mother that his mother arrived.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Handling the Emotion: The construction "Ali was surprised to find..." perfectly translates the emotional tone of an unexpected event or exclamation into standard indirect reporting format.

Tense Shift (Backshifting): The reporting context is in the past tense. Therefore, the present perfect tense inside the direct speech ("has arrived") must shift backward into the past perfect tense ("had arrived").
Q. 20 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
They said, "By God, we have not seen the thief."
A
They swore by God that they had not seen the thief.
✓ Correct
B
They said by God that they had not seen the thief.
C
They told by God that they had not sent the thief.
D
They exclaimed by God that they had not seen the thief.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reporting an oath using "swore by God".
Q. 21 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said, "Has he come?"
A
He exclaimed if he had come.
B
He said if I have come.
C
He asked if he had come.
✓ Correct
D
He asked if he has come.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Here is how the grammar rules apply to create the correct indirect narration:

Reporting Verb: Because the direct speech is a question, the reporting verb "said" shifts to "asked".

Conjunction: For Yes/No questions, you must use the conjunction "if" or "whether" to connect the clauses.

Tense Shift (Backshifting): The reporting verb is in the past tense (said/asked), so the original tense must shift backward into the Past Perfect tense (had come).

Present Perfect ("has come") $\rightarrow$ Past Perfect ("had come").

Past Simple ("did come") $\rightarrow$ Past Perfect ("had come").

Word Order: The interrogative structure shifts to a declarative structure (subject + verb), changing from "has he" to "he had".

Putting it all together results perfectly in Option C: "He asked if he had come."
Q. 22 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said, "Hello, how are you?"
A
Hello, how are you.
B
He said hello and asked how are you.
✓ Correct
C
He wished and asked how are you.
D
He addressed him to ask how he was.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Handling the Greeting ("Hello"): A greeting like "Hello" is used to get someone's attention. In formal reported speech, this is transformed using a descriptive action verb like "addressed him" or "greeted him".

Reporting Verb: The second part of the statement is a question ("how are you?"), which requires a reporting verb like "ask" or "asked".

Pronoun and Tense Shift: The pronoun "you" shifts to a third-person perspective ("he"), and the present tense verb "are" backshifts into the past tense ("was").

Word Order: The question format (verb + subject / "are you") changes into standard declarative word order (subject + verb / "he was").

Putting these rules together yields: "He addressed him to ask how he was."
Q. 23 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said, "Go away."
A
He said go away.
B
He asked him to go away.
C
He ordered him to go away.
✓ Correct
D
He asked please go away.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Imperative command using "ordered".
Q. 24 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
He said, "How can I judge it?"
A
He exclaimed how can I could judge it.
B
He asked how he could judge it.
✓ Correct
C
He said if he could judge it.
D
He said how if he could I judge it.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reporting a "how" question using "asked".
Q. 25 English Language Comprehension
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The officer said, "Bravo! March forward."
A
The officer said 'bravo' march forward.
B
The officer encouraged them and asked them to march forward.
✓ Correct
C
The officer praised bravery to march forward.
D
The officer marched forward saying bravo.
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Reporting "Bravo!" using "encouraged".
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