Narration Change: Practice Set for Class IX & Class X

Advanced Narration Change Quiz (CBSE)

Master Direct & Indirect Speech. You have 30 minutes to complete the challenge!

1. The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun."

• The teacher said that the Earth revolved around the Sun.
• The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
• The teacher said the Earth has revolved around the Sun.
• The teacher says that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Rule: When the reported speech states a universal truth or a scientific fact, the tense does not change, even if the reporting verb is in the past tense.

2. He said to me, "What are you doing here now?"

• He asked me what I was doing here then.
• He asked me what I am doing there now.
• He asked me what was I doing there then.
• He asked me what I was doing there then.

Rule: In an interrogative sentence, the reporting verb becomes 'asked'. The question is changed into a statement (subject 'I' before verb 'was'). Tenses are backshifted (are -> was), and adverbs of time and place are changed (now -> then, here -> there).

3. She said, "Alas! I have lost my purse."

• She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
• She exclaimed with sorrow that she has lost her purse.
• She said with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
• She exclaimed that alas she had lost her purse.

Rule: For exclamatory sentences showing sorrow, the reporting verb is 'exclaimed with sorrow/grief'. The interjection 'Alas' is removed. The tense is backshifted (have lost -> had lost).

4. The captain commanded the soldiers, "March forward and do not look back."

• The captain commanded the soldiers to march forward and told them to not look back.
• The captain commanded the soldiers that they should march forward and not look back.
• The captain commanded the soldiers to march forward and not to look back.
• The captain commanded the soldiers to march forward and forbade them to looking back.

Rule: Imperative sentences (commands) are changed using an infinitive ('to' + V1). For a negative command, the structure is 'not to' + V1. Both commands are joined by 'and'.

5. "Let's go for a picnic tomorrow," said Anjali to her friends.

• Anjali ordered her friends to go for a picnic the next day.
• Anjali told her friends that they should go for a picnic tomorrow.
• Anjali suggested to her friends that they should go for a picnic the next day.
• Anjali suggested her friends that let's go for a picnic the next day.

Rule: 'Let's' indicates a suggestion or proposal. The reporting verb becomes 'suggested' or 'proposed'. The reported clause uses 'that they should...' and adverbs of time are changed (tomorrow -> the next day).

6. The boy said, "Sir, please may I come in?"

• The boy asked his sir if he may come in.
• The boy requested his sir to let him come in.
• The boy respectfully asked his teacher to come in.
• The boy respectfully asked his teacher if he might come in.

Rule: Words like 'Sir' are replaced with adverbs like 'respectfully'. The sentence is a Yes/No question asking for permission, so we use 'if' and backshift the modal 'may' to 'might'.

7. He says, "I will not go there as I am not feeling well."

• He says that he would not go there as he was not feeling well.
• He said that he would not go there as he was not feeling well.
• He says that he will not go there as he is not feeling well.
• He says that I will not go there as I am not feeling well.

Rule: When the reporting verb is in the present tense ('says'), the tenses inside the reported speech do not change. Only the pronouns are changed ('I' -> 'he').

8. "What a clever idea!" she remarked. "Why didn't I think of it?"

• She remarked that it was a very clever idea and wondered why she hadn't thought of it.
• She remarked on a very clever idea and asked why she didn't think of it.
• She remarked that it was a very clever idea and wondered why she hadn't thought of it.
• She exclaimed what a clever idea it was and wondered why hadn't she thought of it.

Rule: This is a mixed sentence. The exclamatory part ('What a...') is changed to a statement ('it was a very...'). The interrogative part is reported by backshifting the tense (didn't think -> hadn't thought) and changing the word order.

9. My father said to me, "If I were you, I would not take such a risk."

• My father advised me that if he had been me, he would not have taken such a risk.
• My father advised me that if he were me, he would not take such a risk.
• My father told me that if he was me, he would not have taken such a risk.
• My father advised me that if he were me, he would not take such a risk.

Rule: In unreal/hypothetical conditionals (second conditional), the tense in the 'if' clause ('were') and the main clause ('would not take') does not change during reporting. 'Said to' can be changed to 'advised' to reflect the tone.

10. The beggar said, "O Lord, have mercy on my soul."

• The beggar prayed to God to have mercy on his soul.
• The beggar prayed that God might have mercy on his soul.
• The beggar told God that he might have mercy on his soul.
• The beggar prayed that God would have mercy on his soul.

Rule: For Optative sentences (prayers, wishes), we use reporting verbs like 'prayed' or 'wished'. The reported clause is introduced by 'that' and often uses the modal 'might'.

11. "Who has been using my computer without permission?" the manager said angrily.

• The manager angrily asked who was using his computer without permission.
• The manager angrily asked who had been using my computer without permission.
• The manager asked angrily who has been using his computer without permission.
• The manager angrily asked who had been using his computer without permission.

Rule: The Present Perfect Continuous tense ('has been using') changes to the Past Perfect Continuous tense ('had been using'). The pronoun 'my' changes to 'his' according to the subject (manager).

12. The teacher said, "Students, you must submit your projects by this Friday."

• The teacher instructed the students that they had to submit their projects by that Friday.
• The teacher instructed the students that they must have submitted their projects by that Friday.
• The teacher told the students that you must submit your projects by this Friday.
• The teacher instructed the students that they had to submit their projects by this Friday.

Rule: When 'must' indicates necessity or compulsion, it is changed to 'had to'. The pronoun 'you/your' changes to 'they/their', and the adverbial 'this Friday' changes to 'that Friday'.

13. "I came here yesterday to return your book," she said to him.

• She told him that she had come there the previous day to return his book.
• She told him that she came here the day before to return his book.
• She told him that she had came there the previous day to return his book.
• She told him that she had come there the previous day to return his book.

Rule: The Past Simple tense ('came') changes to Past Perfect ('had come'). Adverbs of place and time are changed (here -> there, yesterday -> the previous day/the day before). Pronouns are changed (your -> his).

14. The guide said to the tourists, "This is the spot where the battle was fought."

• The guide told the tourists that this was the spot where the battle had been fought.
• The guide told the tourists that that was the spot where the battle had been fought.
• The guide told the tourists that that had been the spot where the battle was fought.
• The guide told the tourists that was the spot where the battle had been fought.

Rule: The pronoun 'this' changes to 'that'. The Past Simple ('was') in the main clause changes to Past Perfect ('had been'), and the Past Simple Passive ('was fought') also changes to Past Perfect Passive ('had been fought').

15. "Let me go home now, I am feeling tired," pleaded the servant to his master.

• The servant pleaded his master that he should be allowed to go home then as he was feeling tired.
• The servant pleaded to his master to let him go home now as he was feeling tired.
• The servant pleaded to his master that he wanted to go home then as he felt tired.
• The servant pleaded with his master to allow him to go home then as he was feeling tired.

Rule: 'Let me...' indicating a request for permission is best reported using 'requested/pleaded... to allow him/her'. All tenses, pronouns, and adverbs are changed accordingly.

16. The fox thought, "I must be careful; this crow seems very clever."

• The fox thought that he had to be careful as that crow seemed very clever.
• The fox thought that I must be careful as this crow seemed very clever.
• The fox thought that he had to be careful as that crow seemed very clever.
• The fox thought that he must have been careful as that crow had seemed very clever.

Rule: Internal thoughts are reported like speech. 'Must' for necessity changes to 'had to'. 'This' changes to 'that'. The tense 'seems' (Past Simple in context, as the verb is implied) changes to 'seemed'. The option correctly captures this.

17. "Shall I bring you a glass of water?" the waiter asked the guest.

• The waiter asked the guest if he should bring him a glass of water.
• The waiter offered to bring the guest a glass of water.
• The waiter asked the guest if he would bring him a glass of water.
• The waiter asked the guest shall he bring him a glass of water.

Rule: "Shall I...?" when used to make an offer, can be best reported using the verb 'offered' followed by an infinitive ('to bring'). This is more concise and natural than using 'asked if he should...'.

18. The boy said, "I'd rather starve than beg for alms."

• The boy said that he would have starved than begged for alms.
• The boy said that he would rather starved than beg for alms.
• The boy said that he would rather starve than beg for alms.
• The boy said that he had rather starved than begged for alms.

Rule: The modal expression 'would rather' is not changed in reported speech. The verbs following it remain in the base form.

19. "Congratulations! You have topped the exam," the principal said to me.

• The principal congratulated me and said that you had topped the exam.
• The principal congratulated me on having topped the exam.
• The principal congratulated me for topping the exam.
• The principal congratulated me and said that I had topped the exam.

Rule: The word 'Congratulations' is converted into the reporting verb 'congratulated'. The rest of the sentence is joined by 'and said that...'. Tenses and pronouns are changed as usual (You -> I, have topped -> had topped). Option B is also grammatically correct but Option D is a more direct conversion of the full sentence.

20. "By God!" he swore, "I did not see this coming at all."

• He swore by God that he did not see that coming at all.
• He swore to God that he had not seen that coming at all.
• He swore by God that he had not seen that coming at all.
• He swore that he had not by God seen this coming at all.

Rule: The oath 'By God' is reported by 'swore by God'. The Past Simple ('did not see') changes to Past Perfect ('had not seen'), and 'this' changes to 'that'.

21. The accused said to the judge, "Your Honour, please forgive me this time."

• The accused told the judge to forgive him that time.
• The accused begged the judge respectfully that he might forgive him that time.
• The accused respectfully begged the judge to forgive him that time.
• The accused begged the judge to please forgive him that time.

Rule: The address 'Your Honour' is reported with 'respectfully'. The reporting verb 'begged' or 'pleaded' is used. Words like 'please' are removed. The imperative is changed to an infinitive ('to forgive').

22. "You must not break your promise," his father said to him.

• His father told him that he must not have broken his promise.
• His father forbade him to break his promise.
• His father told him that he must not break his promise.
• His father told him that he had not to break his promise.

Rule: When 'must not' expresses a strong prohibition or a moral duty, it usually remains unchanged in reported speech. 'Forbade him to break' is also a correct way to report it, but this option keeps the original modal's emphasis.

23. "I need not tell you how important this project is," the manager reminded us.

• The manager reminded us that he need not tell us how important that project was.
• The manager reminded us that he did not need to tell us how important that project was.
• The manager reminded us that he need not tell us how important this project is.
• The manager reminded us that he needed not to tell us how important that project was.

Rule: The modal 'need not' often remains unchanged in reported speech. Option B ('did not need to tell') is also a valid transformation, but keeping 'need not' is a direct and correct reporting. The other changes (this -> that, is -> was) must be made.

24. She said, "I have been waiting here for two hours. Where have you been?"

• She said that she had been waiting there for two hours and asked where he was.
• She complained that she had been waiting there for two hours and asked where he had been.
• She complained that she was waiting here for two hours and asked where he had been.
• She said she had been waiting there for two hours and asked where had he been.

Rule: A reporting verb like 'complained' fits the tone. Present Perfect Continuous ('have been waiting') changes to Past Perfect Continuous ('had been waiting'). Present Perfect ('have you been') also changes to Past Perfect ('had been'). The word order of the question must be changed to a statement (where he had been).

25. The hermit said, "May you all live long and prosper!"

• The hermit prayed that they all would live long and prosper.
• The hermit blessed them to live long and prosper.
• The hermit wished that may they all live long and prosper.
• The hermit prayed that they all might live long and prosper.

Rule: Optative sentences expressing blessings or wishes are reported using verbs like 'prayed', 'wished', or 'blessed'. The structure 'that... might...' is used to report the wish. 'You' changes to 'they'.

26. "Don't touch that wire! It's live," the electrician warned me.

• The electrician warned me not to touch that wire and said it is live.
• The electrician forbade me from touching that wire as it was live.
• The electrician warned me to not touch that wire because it was live.
• The electrician warned me not to touch that wire as it was live.

Rule: The negative imperative is reported using 'warned... not to...'. The reason is joined using a conjunction like 'as' or 'because'. The tense of 'is' backshifts to 'was'.

27. My friend said, "I was playing chess when you called me."

• My friend said that he had been playing chess when I had called him.
• My friend said that he was playing chess when I called him.
• My friend said that he had been playing chess when I called him.
• My friend said that he was playing chess when I had called him.

Rule: The Past Continuous ('was playing') changes to Past Perfect Continuous ('had been playing'). The Past Simple ('called') in the 'when' clause also typically changes to Past Perfect ('had called') to maintain the sequence of tenses.

28. The wolf said to the lamb, "Why are you making the water dirty?"

• The wolf asked the lamb why was he making the water dirty.
• The wolf asked the lamb why he is making the water dirty.
• The wolf asked the lamb that why he was making the water dirty.
• The wolf asked the lamb why he was making the water dirty.

Rule: In a reported Wh-question, the conjunction 'that' is not used. The word order must be changed to subject + verb ('he was making'). The tense is backshifted (are -> was).

29. "Would you like another cup of coffee?" she asked him.

• She asked him if he would liked another cup of coffee.
• She asked him whether he would like another cup of coffee.
• She offered him another cup of coffee.
• She asked him would he like another cup of coffee.

Rule: "Would you like...?" is a polite offer. While reporting it as a question (Option B) is grammatically correct, it is more natural and concise to use the reporting verb 'offered'.

30. The teacher says to the students, "You have not completed your homework."

• The teacher tells the students that they have not completed their homework.
• The teacher tells the students that they had not completed their homework.
• The teacher said to the students that they had not completed their homework.
• The teacher tells the students that you have not completed your homework.

Rule: The reporting verb is in the present tense ('says to'). Therefore, 'says to' changes to 'tells' but the tense of the reported speech ('have not completed') does not change. Only pronouns change (You/your -> they/their).

31. He said, "I must go to the meeting now, otherwise I will be late."

• He said that he had to go to the meeting then, otherwise he will be late.
• He said he must go to the meeting then, otherwise he would be late.
• He said that he had to go to the meeting now, otherwise he would be late.
• He said that he had to go to the meeting then, otherwise he would be late.

Rule: 'Must' for compulsion changes to 'had to'. 'Now' changes to 'then'. 'Will' changes to 'would'. All changes must be applied correctly.

32. The passenger said to the clerk, "When does the next train to Mumbai arrive?"

• The passenger enquired of the clerk when the next train to Mumbai arrived.
• The passenger enquired of the clerk when does the next train to Mumbai arrive.
• The passenger enquired of the clerk when the next train to Mumbai would arrive.
• The passenger asked the clerk when the next train to Mumbai arrived.

Rule: This question is about a future scheduled event. While Present Simple is used in direct speech, it's best reported using 'would arrive' to reflect the future-in-the-past context. Option A is plausible, but C is better as it clearly indicates a future event from the past perspective.

33. "Thank you for your help," she said to me.

• She thanked me for my help.
• She said thank you for my help.
• She told me thank you for your help.
• She thanked me for your help.

Rule: Expressions like "Thank you" are reported by using the verb 'thanked' followed by the object.

34. He said, "I saw a snake in this room two days ago."

• He said that he had seen a snake in that room two days before.
• He said he saw a snake in this room two days before.
• He said that he had seen a snake in that room two days before.
• He said that he had seen a snake in that room two days ago.

Rule: Past Simple ('saw') becomes Past Perfect ('had seen'). 'This' becomes 'that'. 'Ago' becomes 'before'. All three transformations are necessary.

35. "So help me, Heaven!" he cried, "I will never steal again."

• He cried to heaven to help him and resolve that he would never steal again.
• He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve that he would never steal again.
• He called upon Heaven and resolved that he will never steal again.
• He requested heaven to help him and said he would never steal again.

Rule: This type of oath is best reported by the phrase 'called upon... to witness his resolve'. This captures the formal and serious tone of the original sentence more effectively than other options.

36. The teacher said to Rohan, "Why were you absent yesterday? You missed an important test."

• The teacher asked Rohan why he had been absent the previous day and added that he missed an important test.
• The teacher asked Rohan why had he been absent the previous day and added that he had missed an important test.
• The teacher asked Rohan why he had been absent the previous day and added that he had missed an important test.
• The teacher asked Rohan why he was absent yesterday and added that he had missed an important test.

Rule: Past Simple 'were' changes to Past Perfect 'had been'. Past Simple 'missed' changes to Past Perfect 'had missed'. 'Yesterday' changes to 'the previous day'. The word order in the question part must be subject+verb.

37. "If you don't keep quiet, I shall have to punish you," the mother said to her son.

• The mother warned her son that if he didn't keep quiet, she would have to punish him.
• The mother warned her son that if he doesn't keep quiet, she will have to punish him.
• The mother told her son that if he didn't keep quiet, she shall have to punish him.
• The mother warned her son that if he didn't keep quiet, she would have to punish him.

Rule: This is a First Conditional sentence. The reporting verb 'warned' is appropriate. 'Don't keep' changes to 'didn't keep', and 'shall have to' changes to 'would have to'.

38. She said, "My friends, I am leaving the city for good next week."

• Addressing them as her friends, she said that she was leaving the city for good the following week.
• She told her friends that she is leaving the city for good the next week.
• Addressing her friends, she said that I was leaving the city for good the following week.
• She said to her friends that she was leaving the city for good next week.

Rule: A direct address like 'My friends' can be reported using a participle phrase ('Addressing them as...'). Tenses, pronouns, and adverbs of time ('next week' -> 'the following week') must be changed correctly.

39. The general said, "Bravo! A truly magnificent victory."

• The general exclaimed with joy that it was a truly magnificent victory.
• The general applauded them, saying that it was a truly magnificent victory.
• The general said bravo and that it had been a truly magnificent victory.
• The general applauded them, saying that it was a truly magnificent victory.

Rule: 'Bravo' is an expression of approval or applause. It is best reported using the verb 'applauded'. The exclamatory sentence is then changed into a statement.

40. The dying man said, "Goodbye, my dear friends! We shall never meet again."

• The dying man bade his dear friends goodbye and said that they would never meet again.
• The dying man said goodbye to his dear friends and told that they shall never meet again.
• The dying man bade his dear friends goodbye and said that they would never meet again.
• The dying man bade his dear friends goodbye and said that we would never meet again.

Rule: Words like 'Goodbye' are reported using the verb 'bade'. The pronoun 'we' changes to 'they' (referring to the man and his friends), and 'shall' changes to 'would'.

41. The preceptor said to his pupils, "Where there is a will, there is a way."

• The preceptor told his pupils that where there was a will, there was a way.
• The preceptor taught his pupils that where there had been a will, there had been a way.
• The preceptor taught his pupils that where there is a will, there is a way.
• The preceptor taught his pupils that where there would be a will, there would be a way.

Rule: The quoted sentence is a proverb or a universal saying. In such cases, the tense of the reported speech does not change. A more suitable reporting verb like 'taught' can be used instead of 'told'.

42. He said, "I needn't have worried so much about the test; it was quite easy."

• He said that he needn't have worried so much about the test as it had been quite easy.
• He said that he didn't need to worry so much about the test as it was quite easy.
• He said that he needn't have worried so much about the test as it was quite easy.
• He said that he needn't have worried so much about the test as it had been quite easy.

Rule: The modal structure 'needn't have + V3' (expressing a lack of necessity in the past) does not change. However, the tense of the second clause ('was') must be backshifted to Past Perfect ('had been').

43. The little girl said, "Let me have my doll. Will you give it to me?"

• The little girl insisted on having her doll and asked if he would give it to her.
• The little girl asked for her doll and asked would he give it to her.
• The little girl demanded her doll and asked if he would give it to her.
• The little girl told him to let her have her doll and asked if he will give it to her.

Rule: 'Let me have' can be reported as a demand or insistence. The following question is a simple Yes/No question reported with 'if'. Option A is also good, but 'demanded' captures the childish insistence implied.

44. "You had better see a doctor," my friend suggested to me.

• My friend suggested to me that I must see a doctor.
• My friend suggested me that I should see a doctor.
• My friend suggested that I had better see a doctor.
• My friend suggested that I had better saw a doctor.

Rule: The modal phrase 'had better' (used for strong advice) does not change in reported speech. The verb following it remains in the base form ('see').

45. The traveller said, "Can you tell me the way to the nearest hotel? I am a stranger here."

• The traveller, who was a stranger there, asked if I could tell him the way to the nearest hotel.
• The traveller asked me can I tell him the way to the nearest hotel as he was a stranger there.
• The traveller asked me if I could tell him the way to the nearest hotel as he is a stranger there.
• The traveller asked if I could tell him the way to the nearest hotel because I am a stranger here.

Rule: This is a complex report where the second sentence can be integrated as a descriptive clause. 'Can' changes to 'could', and all pronouns, tenses, and adverbs ('here' -> 'there') are changed.

46. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said to her brother.

• She told her brother that she wouldn't have done that if she had been him.
• She advised her brother not to do that.
• She advised her brother that she wouldn't do that if she was him.
• She advised her brother not to do that.

Rule: The phrase "If I were you, I wouldn't..." is a common way to give strong advice. It can be reported concisely and effectively by using the verb 'advised' followed by a negative infinitive ('not to do that').

47. The politician said, "These are the promises I made yesterday and which I will fulfill tomorrow."

• The politician said that those were the promises he made the previous day and which he would fulfill the next day.
• The politician said that those were the promises he had made the previous day and which he would fulfill the next day.
• The politician said that these were the promises he had made yesterday and which he will fulfill tomorrow.
• The politician said that those were the promises he had made the previous day and which he would fulfill the next day.

Rule: A test of multiple changes. 'These' -> 'those', 'are' -> 'were'. Past Simple ('made') -> Past Perfect ('had made'). 'yesterday' -> 'the previous day'. 'will fulfill' -> 'would fulfill'. 'tomorrow' -> 'the next day'. Only the correct option applies all these changes.

48. The child said to her mother, "Why does the moon not have its own light?"

• The child asked her mother why the moon did not have its own light.
• The child asked her mother why the moon does not have its own light.
• The child asked her mother why didn't the moon have its own light.
• The child asked her mother that why the moon does not have its own light.

Rule: Exception to the rule. The statement "the moon does not have its own light" is a scientific fact. Therefore, the tense does not change, even though the reporting verb is in the past.

49. He said, "I must have left my wallet in the taxi; I remember having it just before."

• He said that he had to have left his wallet in the taxi as he remembered having it just before.
• He said that he must leave his wallet in the taxi as he remembered having it just before.
• He concluded that he must have left his wallet in the taxi as he remembered having it just before.
• He said that he must have had to leave his wallet in the taxi as he remembered having it just before.

Rule: When 'must have' is used for deduction or logical conclusion about a past event, it does not change in reported speech. A reporting verb like 'concluded' or 'deduced' can also be used to reflect this meaning.

50. The leader said, "Let us not be discouraged by this one failure. We must try again."

• The leader urged them not to be discouraged by that one failure and said that they must try again.
• The leader urged them not to be discouraged by that one failure and said that they had to try again.
• The leader told them not to be discouraged by this one failure and said that they must try again.
• The leader urged them to not be discouraged by that one failure and said that they had to try again.

Rule: 'Let us not...' in this context is an encouragement or exhortation, so 'urged' is a good reporting verb. The structure is 'urged them not to be...'. 'Must' for future necessity changes to 'had to', and 'this' changes to 'that'.

Score: 0

Attempts: 0/50

Time Left: 30:00