English Grammar - Narration: 138 MCQs with Answers

This sentence is in the simple present tense within the reported speech. Since the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense, the verb "am" changes to "was" according to the rule of backshift. The pronoun "I" also changes to "he" because it refers to Ravi. Therefore, the correct indirect narration is "Ravi said that he was busy." The other options either retain the incorrect tense or use the wrong pronoun and are grammatically incorrect.

The reporting verb is in the past tense, so the simple present tense "like" changes to the simple past tense "liked" in indirect speech. The pronoun "I" changes to "she" because it refers to the speaker. Hence, "She said that she liked music" is correct. The remaining options contain incorrect pronouns, incorrect verb forms, or an inappropriate reporting verb, making them grammatically incorrect.

In indirect speech, the present perfect tense changes to the past perfect tense when the reporting verb is in the past. Thus, "have finished" becomes "had finished." The pronouns also change appropriately, with "I" becoming "he" and "my" becoming "his." Therefore, the correct indirect speech is "He said that he had finished his work." The other options violate tense or pronoun change rules.

The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense, so the present tense verb "are" changes to "were" in indirect speech. The pronoun "we" changes to "they" because it refers to the speakers themselves. Hence, the correct answer is "They said that they were ready." The remaining options either fail to change the tense correctly or use an incorrect pronoun.

This sentence expresses a universal truth. Universal truths do not undergo a tense change in indirect speech, even if the reporting verb is in the past tense. Therefore, "revolves" remains unchanged. The correct indirect speech is "My father said that the Earth revolves around the Sun." The other options incorrectly change the tense or omit essential grammatical elements.

Imperative sentences expressing advice are generally reported using reporting verbs such as "advised" followed by an infinitive. Therefore, "Do your homework" becomes "The teacher advised us to do our homework." Options B, C, and D are grammatically incorrect because they do not follow the accepted structure for changing imperative sentences into indirect speech.

The word "please" indicates that the sentence is a request. In indirect speech, requests are commonly reported with the verb "requested" followed by the object and an infinitive. The pronoun "me" changes to "him" according to the context. Therefore, the correct answer is "He requested me to help him." The remaining options use incorrect grammar or inappropriate reporting verbs.

An interrogative sentence beginning with a question word retains the question word in indirect speech. However, the sentence changes to statement order, and the present tense "live" changes to the past tense "lived." Therefore, the correct form is "She asked where I lived." The other options either keep the interrogative word order or fail to change the tense appropriately.

This imperative sentence expresses a command because it is spoken by an officer. Commands are converted into indirect speech using reporting verbs such as "ordered" or "commanded," followed by the object and the infinitive form of the verb. Therefore, "The officer ordered him to stand up" is correct. The other options either use an inappropriate reporting verb or incorrect grammatical construction.

When converting a declarative sentence into indirect speech, the reporting verb "said" remains unchanged, but the tense usually shifts back if the reporting verb is in the past tense. Here, "am" changes to "was" because the reporting verb is "said." The pronoun "I" also changes to "he" since it refers to Ravi. Therefore, the correct indirect speech is "Ravi said that he was busy." The remaining options either use an incorrect pronoun, incorrect tense, or an incomplete sentence structure.