Chapter 15: Narration · UPESSC TGT English

Part III — The Verb Systems

Chapter 15

Narration

📘 50 MCQs⏱ ~37 min read🎯 Exam-focused

(Direct and Indirect Speech)

Theory

3.1 Direct vs Indirect Speech — the basic structure

Direct Speech reproduces the speaker's exact words, which are placed within inverted commas (quotation marks).
Example: Rama said, "I am writing a letter."

Indirect (Reported) Speech reports the same idea without quotation marks, usually introduced by the conjunction that.
Example: Rama said that he was writing a letter.

Every sentence of narration has two parts:

Reporting verb / Reporting clause: the part outside the quotation marks — e.g. Rama said.
Reported speech: the part inside the quotation marks — e.g. "I am writing a letter."

Note: The reporting verb is never changed in tense. If it is said (past) in direct speech, it stays past in indirect; we change only the reported speech.

3.2 General rules

Remove the inverted commas and the comma after the reporting verb.
Change the conjunction according to the type of sentence:
- Statement → that
- Question (yes/no) → if / whether; (wh-) → keep the wh-word
- Command / Request / Advice → to / not to (to-infinitive)
- Exclamation / Wish → that (after exclaimed/prayed/wished)
Backshift the tense of the reported speech if the reporting verb is in the past.
Change the pronouns according to the rule of SON (Subject, Object, No change).
Change the words denoting nearness and time (this→that, now→then, here→there, etc.).

3.3 Tense Backshift — when the reporting verb is in the PAST

When the reporting verb is in the past tense (said, told, asked, etc.), the tense of the verb in the reported speech generally moves "one step back".

Direct Speech (tense)	Indirect Speech (tense)	Example: Direct → Indirect
Simple Present	Simple Past	"I write." → … he wrote.
Present Continuous	Past Continuous	"I am writing." → … he was writing.
Present Perfect	Past Perfect	"I have written." → … he had written.
Present Perfect Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous	"I have been writing." → … he had been writing.
Simple Past	Past Perfect	"I wrote." → … he had written.
Past Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous	"I was writing." → … he had been writing.
will / shall	would / should	"I will* go."* → … he would* go.*
can	could	"I can* swim."* → … he could* swim.*
may	might	"I may* come."* → … he might* come.*
shall	should	"Shall* I help?"* → … whether he should* help.*
must (obligation)	had to / must	"I must* go."* → … he had to* go.*

Note: The modals would, should, could, might, ought to, used to, need (not) and must (for permanent rule/logical deduction) usually remain unchanged. Example: "I could swim." → … he could swim.

3.4 When tense is NOT backshifted

Backshift does not take place in the following cases:

Reporting verb in the present or future: say, says, will say.
He says, "I am busy." → He says that he is busy. (no change)
Universal truths / scientific facts:
The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." → The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
Habitual / always-true facts:
She said, "Honesty is the best policy." → She said that honesty is the best policy.
Historical facts (definite past time):
He said, "India became independent in 1947." → He said that India became independent in 1947.

Caution: Backshift is optional/avoided only when the statement is still true at the time of reporting. If the truth is doubtful or no longer valid, normal backshift applies.

3.5 Pronoun changes — the SON rule

Pronouns in the reported speech change according to their person:

S — First person (I, we, my, our, me, us) changes according to the Subject of the reporting verb.
O — Second person (you, your, yours) changes according to the Object of the reporting verb.
N — Third person (he, she, it, they, his, her, their) — No change.

Solved examples (changed words in bold):

Ram said, "I have done my work." → Ram said that he had done his work.
She said to me, "You are my friend." → She told me that I was her friend.
He said to her, "You have helped me." → He told her that she had helped him.
They said, "We shall finish our task." → They said that they would finish their task.
Sita said to Gita, "I like your dress." → Sita told Gita that she liked her dress.

3.6 Changes of words denoting nearness and time

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
now	then
here	there
this	that
these	those
today	that day
tonight	that night
tomorrow	the next day
yesterday	the previous day / the day before
ago	before
last night	the previous night
last week	the previous week / the week before
next week	the following week / the next week
thus	so
come	go
hither	thither

Solved examples:

He said, "I am busy now." → He said that he was busy then.
She said, "I will come here tomorrow." → She said that she would go there the next day.
He said, "I met him yesterday." → He said that he had met him the previous day.
She said, "I read this book two days ago." → She said that she had read that book two days before.
He said, "These mangoes are sweet." → He said that those mangoes were sweet.

Note: If the reporting and reception happen at the same time/place, words like here, today, this may remain unchanged. In objective examinations, however, the standard change is expected unless the context clearly preserves the time/place.

3.7 Reporting STATEMENTS (Assertive sentences)

Rule: Use the conjunction that. Change say to → tell; apply backshift, pronoun and word changes.

He said, "I am ill." → He said that he was ill.
She said to me, "You look tired." → She told me that I looked tired.
The boy said, "I have finished my homework." → The boy said that he had finished his homework.
Mohan said, "I shall help you tomorrow." → Mohan said that he would help me the next day.
She said, "It is raining heavily." → She said that it was raining heavily.
They said, "We can solve this problem." → They said that they could solve that problem.

3.8 Reporting QUESTIONS (Interrogative sentences)

Rules:

Change the reporting verb to asked / enquired (of) / wanted to know / demanded.
Do NOT use that.
For a yes/no question, use if or whether. For a wh-question, keep the wh-word (what, when, where, why, who, how).
Change the interrogative word order into assertive (statement) order — subject before verb.
Remove do/does/did; transfer their tense to the main verb. Remove the question mark.

He said to me, "Are you happy?" → He asked me if I was happy.
She said, "Where do you live?" → She asked where I lived. (no do)
He said to her, "Did you see the film?" → He asked her whether she had seen the film.
The teacher said, "Why are you late?" → The teacher asked why I was late.
Mother said, "Have you eaten your meal?" → Mother asked if I had eaten my meal.
He said, "What is your name?" → He asked what my name was.

Note: Use whether (rather than if) when two alternatives are offered: "Will you go or stay?" → … asked whether I would go or stay.

3.9 Reporting COMMANDS, REQUESTS and ADVICE (Imperative sentences)

Rules:

Choose a suitable reporting verb: ordered, told, commanded, requested, asked, advised, begged, forbade, urged, warned, suggested.
The reporting verb takes an object + to-infinitive.
A negative command (Do not…) becomes not to… (or use forbade).
There is no tense backshift in the to-infinitive.

He said to me, "Open the door." → He ordered me to open the door.
She said to him, "Please help me." → She requested him to help her.
The teacher said, "Do not make a noise." → The teacher told the students not to make a noise.
The doctor said to him, "Give up smoking." → The doctor advised him to give up smoking.
The officer said to the soldiers, "Fire." → The officer commanded the soldiers to fire.
The father said to his son, "Do not waste your time." → The father forbade his son to waste his time. / … advised his son not to waste his time.

3.10 Reporting EXCLAMATIONS and WISHES (Exclamatory & Optative sentences)

Rules:

Use a reporting verb that conveys the emotion: exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise that…, cried out that…, prayed that…, wished that….
Drop interjections (Alas! Hurrah! Oh! Wow!) and convert the exclamation into a statement.
Words such as what a / how are usually replaced by very / great / a great deal of.

He said, "Hurrah! We have won the match." → He exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
She said, "Alas! I have lost my purse." → She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
He said, "What a beautiful scene it is!" → He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful scene.
The priest said, "May you live long!" → The priest prayed that I might live long.
She said, "Would that I were rich!" → She wished that she had been rich.
The crowd said, "Bravo! You have played well." → The crowd applauded him, saying that he had played well.

3.11 Special structures: "Let's…" vs "Let him/her/me…"

Let's / Let us (a suggestion or proposal) → suggested / proposed that we should…
Let him / Let me (permission, wish or a third-person directive) → proposed / wished / suggested that he/I might…

He said, "Let's go for a walk." → He suggested that we should go for a walk.
She said, "Let us start the meeting." → She proposed that we should start the meeting.
He said, "Let him come in." → He proposed (wished) that he might come in.
The captain said, "Let's not waste time." → The captain suggested that we should not waste time.
She said, "Let me try once more." → She wished that she might try once more.

Common Exam Errors

#	Wrong	Correct	Explanation
1	He said that he is ill.	He said that he was ill.	Past reporting verb requires backshift (is → was).
2	He told that he was busy.	He said that he was busy. / He told me that…	Tell needs an object; say takes that directly.
3	He said me that he was tired.	He told me that he was tired.	Say to with an object becomes told, not said me.
4	She asked that where I lived.	She asked where I lived.	No that with a reported question.
5	He asked me if was I happy.	He asked me if I was happy.	Questions take assertive word order in indirect speech.
6	She asked where do I live.	She asked where I lived.	Remove do/does/did; transfer tense to main verb.
7	He said the sun rose in the east.	He said the sun rises in the east.	Universal truth — no backshift.
8	He told me to not go.	He told me not to go.	Negative infinitive is not to, not to not.
9	He ordered me that I should open the door.	He ordered me to open the door.	Commands take a to-infinitive, not a that-clause.
10	She said that she will come.	She said that she would come.	will → would after a past reporting verb.
11	He said that he can swim.	He said that he could swim.	can → could under backshift.
12	He said he would come tomorrow.	He said he would come the next day.	Time word change: tomorrow → the next day.
13	He said he had met him yesterday.	He said he had met him the previous day.	yesterday → the previous day.
14	He said he would come here.	He said he would go there.	here → there; come → go.
15	He said this book was good.	He said that book was good.	this → that.
16	He exclaimed that we have won.	He exclaimed with joy that they had won.	Show emotion; backshift; pronoun (we→they).
17	She requested him that he should help her.	She requested him to help her.	Requests take a to-infinitive.
18	He said, "Let's go" → He said that we should go.	He suggested that we should go.	Let's = suggestion; use suggested/proposed.
19	He asked do I know the answer.	He asked if I knew the answer.	Yes/no question needs if/whether + no do.
20	He said he must go (reporting past).	He said he had to go.	Obligation must → had to under backshift.
21	She told to me that she was busy.	She told me that she was busy.	Tell takes a direct object, no to.
22	He said that I had done his work.	He said that he had done his work.	First person changes with the subject (He → he).
23	The priest said that I live long.	The priest prayed that I might live long.	Optative (May…) uses prayed/wished that … might.
24	He asked me whether or not if I was ready.	He asked me whether I was ready.	Use one of if/whether, not both.
25	She said that honesty was the best policy.	She said that honesty is the best policy.	Habitual/universal truth — no backshift.

Exam Tricks

Identify the sentence type first (statement / question / command / exclamation) — it fixes the conjunction.
Check the reporting verb's tense. Past → backshift; present/future → no backshift.
Apply SON for pronouns: First person → Subject, Second → Object, Third → No change.
"That" test: If you see that after asked, it is a distractor — questions never take that.
"Do/does/did" test: Any retained auxiliary in a reported question marks the option as wrong.
Universal-truth trap: A distractor that backshifts a scientific/proverbial fact is wrong.
say vs tell trap: told without an object, or said me, signals a wrong option.
"to not" trap: The correct negative infinitive is not to.
come → go and here → there are frequently used as distractors; verify the direction of movement.
For Let's always look for suggested/proposed that we should; for Let him look for that he might.

Frequently Confused Pairs

Pair	Distinction	Example
say vs tell	Say takes no personal object before that; tell needs a personal object.	He said that… / He told me that…
say to vs told	In direct speech said to X; in indirect, say to + object becomes told + object.	He said to me, "…" → He told me that…
this vs that	This (nearness, direct) → that (distance, indirect).	"I like this." → … liked that.
now vs then	Now (present time, direct) → then (past time, indirect).	"I am free now." → … was free then.
if vs whether	Both report yes/no questions; use whether for two alternatives or before to-infinitive/after prepositions.	… asked if she came / … asked whether to go or stay.
ago vs before	Ago (counting back from now) → before (counting back from the past moment).	"two days ago" → two days before.
come vs go	Come (movement towards speaker) → go when the reporter is elsewhere.	"Come here." → … to go there.

Exceptions — Important, Rare & Advanced

7.1 Universal truths and permanent facts — no backshift

Even after a past reporting verb, statements that are always true keep their present tense.
Galileo said, "The earth moves round the sun." → Galileo said that the earth moves round the sun.

7.2 Reporting verb in the present or future tense — no backshift

When the reporting verb is say, says, will say, has said, the tense of the reported speech stays unchanged.
He says, "I am coming." → He says that he is coming.
She will say, "I have done it." → She will say that she has done it.

7.3 "Said to" vs "told"

Said with no listener stays said (that). Said to + person becomes told + person. We never write said me or told that (without an object).
He said, "I am tired." → He said that he was tired.
He said to her, "I am tired." → He told her that he was tired.

7.4 Modals that do not backshift

Would, should, could, might, ought to, used to, dare not, need not remain unchanged. Must stays must for a general rule or logical certainty but becomes had to for a specific past obligation.

7.5 Past tense with definite time (historical) — no backshift

The guide said, "The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century." → The guide said that the Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century. (A definite past fact need not become past perfect.)

50 MCQs

Easy (1–15)

1. He said, "I am happy." Choose the correct indirect form.

(a) He said that he is happy. (b) He said that he was happy. (c) He said he is happy. (d) He told that he was happy.
Answer: (b) He said that he was happy.
Explanation: Past reporting verb backshifts am → was; say takes that without an object.

2. She said, "I am writing a letter." Indirect form:

(a) She said that she is writing a letter. (b) She said that she was writing a letter. (c) She told that she wrote a letter. (d) She said she write a letter.
Answer: (b) She said that she was writing a letter.
Explanation: Present continuous → past continuous.

3. Ram said to me, "You are my friend." Indirect form:

(a) Ram said that I am his friend. (b) Ram told me that I was his friend. (c) Ram said me that you were his friend. (d) Ram told that I was his friend.
Answer: (b) Ram told me that I was his friend.
Explanation: Said to → told; second person you → I (object), my → his.

4. He said, "I have finished my work." Indirect form:

(a) He said that he finished his work. (b) He said that he has finished his work. (c) He said that he had finished his work. (d) He told that he had finished his work.
Answer: (c) He said that he had finished his work.
Explanation: Present perfect → past perfect.

5. She said, "I will come tomorrow." Indirect form:

(a) She said that she will come tomorrow. (b) She said that she would come the next day. (c) She said that she would come tomorrow. (d) She told that she came the next day.
Answer: (b) She said that she would come the next day.
Explanation: will → would; tomorrow → the next day.

6. He said, "The sun rises in the east." Indirect form:

(a) He said that the sun rose in the east. (b) He said that the sun rises in the east. (c) He said the sun had risen in the east. (d) He told that the sun rises.
Answer: (b) He said that the sun rises in the east.
Explanation: Universal truth — no backshift.

7. He said to me, "Are you busy?" Indirect form:

(a) He asked me that I was busy. (b) He asked me if I was busy. (c) He asked me if was I busy. (d) He told me whether I was busy.
Answer: (b) He asked me if I was busy.
Explanation: Yes/no question → if; assertive word order; no that.

8. She said, "Where do you live?" Indirect form:

(a) She asked where do I live. (b) She asked where I lived. (c) She asked that where I live. (d) She asked where did I live.
Answer: (b) She asked where I lived.
Explanation: Remove do; transfer tense to main verb (live → lived).

9. The teacher said to us, "Open your books." Indirect form:

(a) The teacher said that we open our books. (b) The teacher told us to open our books. (c) The teacher ordered that we open our books. (d) The teacher said us to open our books.
Answer: (b) The teacher told us to open our books.
Explanation: Command → object + to-infinitive.

10. He said, "Please give me some water." Indirect form:

(a) He requested to give him some water. (b) He requested me to give him some water. (c) He requested that I give him water. (d) He said me to give water.
Answer: (b) He requested me to give him some water.
Explanation: Request → requested + object + to-infinitive; me → him.

11. He said, "Do not touch the wire." Indirect form:

(a) He told me to not touch the wire. (b) He told me not to touch the wire. (c) He said that do not touch the wire. (d) He ordered to not touch.
Answer: (b) He told me not to touch the wire.
Explanation: Negative command → not to + infinitive.

12. She said, "Alas! I have failed." Indirect form:

(a) She said that she had failed. (b) She exclaimed with sorrow that she had failed. (c) She exclaimed with joy that she failed. (d) She told that she has failed.
Answer: (b) She exclaimed with sorrow that she had failed.
Explanation: Alas! shows sorrow; backshift have → had.

13. He said, "I can solve this sum." Indirect form:

(a) He said that he can solve this sum. (b) He said that he could solve that sum. (c) He said that he could solve this sum. (d) He told that he can solve that sum.
Answer: (b) He said that he could solve that sum.
Explanation: can → could; this → that.

14. She said, "I am reading now." Indirect form:

(a) She said that she is reading now. (b) She said that she was reading then. (c) She said that she reads then. (d) She told that she was reading now.
Answer: (b) She said that she was reading then.
Explanation: Backshift + now → then.

15. He said, "Honesty is the best policy." Indirect form:

(a) He said that honesty was the best policy. (b) He said that honesty is the best policy. (c) He said that honesty had been the best policy. (d) He told that honesty is best.
Answer: (b) He said that honesty is the best policy.
Explanation: Habitual/universal truth — no backshift.

Moderate (16–35)

16. He said to her, "Did you finish the report yesterday?" Indirect form:

(a) He asked her if she finished the report yesterday. (b) He asked her if she had finished the report the previous day. (c) He asked her that she had finished the report. (d) He asked her did she finish the report.
Answer: (b) He asked her if she had finished the report the previous day.
Explanation: Past → past perfect; yesterday → the previous day; remove did.

17. The captain said, "Let's attack at dawn." Indirect form:

(a) The captain said that we attack at dawn. (b) The captain suggested that they should attack at dawn. (c) The captain ordered to attack at dawn. (d) The captain said let's attack.
Answer: (b) The captain suggested that they should attack at dawn.
Explanation: Let's → suggested that we should; we → they (third-person reporter).

18. He said, "What a wonderful idea this is!" Indirect form:

(a) He said that it was a wonderful idea. (b) He exclaimed that that was a very wonderful idea. (c) He exclaimed what a wonderful idea it was. (d) He told that this is wonderful.
Answer: (b) He exclaimed that that was a very wonderful idea.
Explanation: Exclamation; what a → very; this → that; is → was.

19. The priest said, "May God bless you!" Indirect form:

(a) The priest said that God blessed me. (b) The priest prayed that God might bless me. (c) The priest wished that God blesses me. (d) The priest said may God bless me.
Answer: (b) The priest prayed that God might bless me.
Explanation: Optative May… → prayed that … might.

20. She said to me, "I shall help you if I can." Indirect form:

(a) She said she shall help me if she can. (b) She told me that she would help me if she could. (c) She told me that she will help me if she can. (d) She said that she would help you.
Answer: (b) She told me that she would help me if she could.
Explanation: shall → would, can → could; you → me.

21. He said, "I must go now." (reporting in past) Indirect form:

(a) He said that he must go now. (b) He said that he had to go then. (c) He said that he has to go then. (d) He told that he must go then.
Answer: (b) He said that he had to go then.
Explanation: Obligation must → had to; now → then.

22. He said to me, "Will you help me?" Indirect form:

(a) He asked me if I will help him. (b) He asked me whether I would help him. (c) He asked me that I would help him. (d) He asked would I help him.
Answer: (b) He asked me whether I would help him.
Explanation: Yes/no question → whether; will → would; me → him.

23. She said, "How beautiful these flowers are!" Indirect form:

(a) She said that these flowers were beautiful. (b) She exclaimed that those flowers were very beautiful. (c) She exclaimed how beautiful those flowers were. (d) She told that these flowers are beautiful.
Answer: (b) She exclaimed that those flowers were very beautiful.
Explanation: How → very; these → those; are → were.

24. He said, "Let him do whatever he likes." Indirect form:

(a) He suggested that he should do whatever he liked. (b) He proposed that he might do whatever he liked. (c) He ordered him to do whatever he likes. (d) He said let him do.
Answer: (b) He proposed that he might do whatever he liked.
Explanation: Let him → proposed/wished that he might; backshift likes → liked.

25. The mother said to her child, "Don't play with fire." Indirect form:

(a) The mother told her child to not play with fire. (b) The mother warned her child not to play with fire. (c) The mother said that don't play with fire. (d) The mother requested to not play.
Answer: (b) The mother warned her child not to play with fire.
Explanation: Negative command → not to; warned suits the caution.

26. He said, "I bought this car two years ago." Indirect form:

(a) He said that he bought this car two years ago. (b) He said that he had bought that car two years before. (c) He said that he had bought this car two years ago. (d) He told that he bought that car before.
Answer: (b) He said that he had bought that car two years before.
Explanation: Past → past perfect; this → that; ago → before.

27. She said to him, "Why are you laughing?" Indirect form:

(a) She asked him why was he laughing. (b) She asked him why he was laughing. (c) She asked him that why he was laughing. (d) She asked why is he laughing.
Answer: (b) She asked him why he was laughing.
Explanation: Wh-word kept; assertive order; no that.

28. The officer said to the men, "March forward!" Indirect form:

(a) The officer said that the men marched forward. (b) The officer commanded the men to march forward. (c) The officer requested the men to march. (d) The officer said the men to march.
Answer: (b) The officer commanded the men to march forward.
Explanation: Strong order → commanded + object + to-infinitive.

29. He said, "I have been waiting since morning." Indirect form:

(a) He said that he has been waiting since morning. (b) He said that he had been waiting since morning. (c) He said that he was waiting since morning. (d) He told that he had waited.
Answer: (b) He said that he had been waiting since morning.
Explanation: Present perfect continuous → past perfect continuous.

30. The teacher said, "Water boils at 100°C." Indirect form:

(a) The teacher said that water boiled at 100°C. (b) The teacher said that water boils at 100°C. (c) The teacher said that water had boiled at 100°C. (d) The teacher told water boils.
Answer: (b) The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
Explanation: Scientific fact — no backshift.

31. He said to me, "Wait here till I return." Indirect form:

(a) He told me to wait here till he returned. (b) He told me to wait there till he returned. (c) He said me to wait there. (d) He requested that I wait here.
Answer: (b) He told me to wait there till he returned.
Explanation: Command → to-infinitive; here → there; return → returned.

32. She said, "Hurrah! Our team has won the cup." Indirect form:

(a) She said that their team won the cup. (b) She exclaimed with joy that their team had won the cup. (c) She exclaimed with sorrow that her team had won. (d) She told that our team has won.
Answer: (b) She exclaimed with joy that their team had won the cup.
Explanation: Hurrah! = joy; our → their; has → had.

33. He said, "Can you drive a car?" Indirect form:

(a) He asked if I can drive a car. (b) He asked whether I could drive a car. (c) He asked that I could drive a car. (d) He asked could I drive a car.
Answer: (b) He asked whether I could drive a car.
Explanation: Yes/no question → whether/if; can → could.

34. He said to her, "You should respect your elders." Indirect form:

(a) He said that she should respect her elders. (b) He advised her that she should respect her elders. (c) He told her that she should respect her elders. (d) Both (b) and (c) are acceptable.
Answer: (d) Both (b) and (c) are acceptable.
Explanation: should does not backshift; you → she, your → her; told/advised both fit.

35. She said, "Let us not quarrel over this." Indirect form:

(a) She said that we should not quarrel over this. (b) She suggested that they should not quarrel over that. (c) She ordered not to quarrel over that. (d) She proposed that we should quarrel.
Answer: (b) She suggested that they should not quarrel over that.
Explanation: Let us not → suggested that we should not; we → they; this → that.

Difficult (36–50)

36. He said, "Galileo proved that the earth moves round the sun." Indirect form:

(a) He said that Galileo proved that the earth moved round the sun. (b) He said that Galileo had proved that the earth moves round the sun. (c) He said that Galileo proved that the earth had moved. (d) He told that Galileo proves the earth moves.
Answer: (b) He said that Galileo had proved that the earth moves round the sun.
Explanation: Reporting past → proved becomes had proved, but the embedded universal truth (moves) stays unchanged.

37. The stranger said to the boy, "Could you tell me the way to the station?" Indirect form:

(a) The stranger asked the boy if he could tell him the way to the station. (b) The stranger asked the boy could he tell the way. (c) The stranger told the boy that he could tell the way. (d) The stranger asked that the boy could tell the way.
Answer: (a) The stranger asked the boy if he could tell him the way to the station.
Explanation: Polite request as a question; could does not backshift; assertive order; me → him.

38. She said, "I wish I had studied medicine." Indirect form:

(a) She said that she wishes she studied medicine. (b) She wished that she had studied medicine. (c) She said that she had wished to study medicine. (d) She wished that she has studied medicine.
Answer: (b) She wished that she had studied medicine.
Explanation: An unreal wish in the past perfect remains had studied; reporting verb becomes wished.

39. He said, "Would that I were young again!" Indirect form:

(a) He said that he was young again. (b) He wished that he had been young again. (c) He prayed that he might be young. (d) He exclaimed that he is young.
Answer: (b) He wished that he had been young again.
Explanation: Would that… expresses a wish → wished that; were → had been.

40. The boy said to his teacher, "Sir, may I come in?" Indirect form:

(a) The boy asked his teacher that he may come in. (b) The boy respectfully asked his teacher if he might come in. (c) The boy told his teacher that he might come in. (d) The boy asked might he come in.
Answer: (b) The boy respectfully asked his teacher if he might come in.
Explanation: Permission question; may → might; if; assertive order.

41. She said, "I had already left before he arrived." Indirect form:

(a) She said that she had already left before he arrived. (b) She said that she left before he had arrived. (c) She said that she has left before he arrived. (d) She told that she had already leave.
Answer: (a) She said that she had already left before he arrived.
Explanation: Past perfect cannot shift further back; both clauses stay as they are.

42. He said to me, "Don't you know the rule?" Indirect form:

(a) He asked me that I did not know the rule. (b) He asked me if I did not know the rule. (c) He asked me whether did I not know the rule. (d) He asked me don't I know the rule.
Answer: (b) He asked me if I did not know the rule.
Explanation: Negative yes/no question → if; remove do (know → did not know); assertive order.

43. The leader said, "Let freedom ring across the land." Indirect form:

(a) The leader said that freedom rings across the land. (b) The leader prayed (wished) that freedom might ring across the land. (c) The leader ordered freedom to ring. (d) The leader suggested that we should ring freedom.
Answer: (b) The leader prayed (wished) that freedom might ring across the land.
Explanation: Let + third person as a wish/hope → wished/prayed that … might.

44. He said, "I shall have completed the project by Monday." Indirect form:

(a) He said that he shall have completed the project by Monday. (b) He said that he would have completed the project by Monday. (c) He said that he had completed the project by Monday. (d) He told that he will complete by Monday.
Answer: (b) He said that he would have completed the project by Monday.
Explanation: Future perfect shall have completed → would have completed.

45. She said to them, "You all must submit your forms today." Indirect form:

(a) She told them that they all must submit their forms today. (b) She told them that they all had to submit their forms that day. (c) She said that you all had to submit forms that day. (d) She told them that they all have to submit their forms today.
Answer: (b) She told them that they all had to submit their forms that day.
Explanation: must → had to; your → their; today → that day.

46. He said, "How dare you enter my room!" Indirect form:

(a) He asked how I dared to enter his room. (b) He angrily asked how I dared (to) enter his room. (c) He exclaimed that I dare enter his room. (d) He told that I dared his room.
Answer: (b) He angrily asked how I dared (to) enter his room.
Explanation: Indignant exclamation reported with emotion; dare → dared; you → I, my → his.

47. The two friends said, "Let's meet here again next week." Indirect form:

(a) They said that they should meet here again next week. (b) They proposed that they should meet there again the following week. (c) They suggested that we should meet there next week. (d) They said let's meet there again.
Answer: (b) They proposed that they should meet there again the following week.
Explanation: Let's → proposed/suggested that we should; we → they; here → there; next week → the following week.

48. He said, "If I were rich, I would help the poor." Indirect form:

(a) He said that if he was rich he will help the poor. (b) He said that if he were rich he would help the poor. (c) He said that if he had been rich he would have helped. (d) He told that if he is rich he would help.
Answer: (b) He said that if he were rich he would help the poor.
Explanation: Second-conditional (unreal) were/would stays unchanged; no backshift.

49. The guide said, "Akbar ruled India in the sixteenth century." Indirect form:

(a) The guide said that Akbar had ruled India in the sixteenth century. (b) The guide said that Akbar ruled India in the sixteenth century. (c) The guide said that Akbar rules India. (d) The guide told that Akbar had ruled India.
Answer: (b) The guide said that Akbar ruled India in the sixteenth century.
Explanation: A definite historical fact need not shift to the past perfect.

50. He said to her, "Please don't tell anyone what I told you yesterday." Indirect form:

(a) He requested her not to tell anyone what he had told her the previous day. (b) He requested her to not tell anyone what he told her yesterday. (c) He said her not to tell what he had told yesterday. (d) He requested that she should not tell anyone.
Answer: (a) He requested her not to tell anyone what he had told her the previous day.
Explanation: Negative request → not to; told → had told; I → he, you → her; yesterday → the previous day.