Daily Olympiad: English - Reported Speech [20260511]

Solution

Correct: B

When the reporting verb is in the past tense (said), the present continuous tense 'am writing' changes to past continuous 'was writing' and 'today' changes to 'that day'. The correct indirect speech is: She said that she was writing a letter that day.

Solution

Correct: B

When reporting a universal truth or a scientific fact, the tense does not change. The sentence 'The Earth revolves around the Sun' is a universal truth, so it remains in the present tense even in indirect speech.

Solution

Correct: A

The reporting verb 'said to' changes to 'told'. The future tense 'will finish' changes to 'would finish'. 'Tomorrow' changes to 'the next day'. The correct answer is: He told me that he would finish the work the next day.

Solution

Correct: B

The present perfect continuous tense 'have been waiting' changes to past perfect continuous 'had been waiting' in indirect speech because the reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense. 'For two hours' remains unchanged as it is a duration.

Solution

Correct: B

The pronoun 'our' changes to 'their' in indirect speech because 'our team' refers to the captain's team. The future tense 'will win' changes to 'would win'. The correct answer is: The captain said that their team would win the match.

Solution

Correct: B

The simple present negative 'don't like' changes to simple past negative 'didn't like'. The demonstrative pronoun 'this' changes to 'that'. The correct answer is: He said that he didn't like that film.

Solution

Correct: B

This is an optative sentence (wish/expression). Optative sentences are changed using 'wished' or 'prayed' as the reporting verb, and 'may' remains unchanged. 'You' changes to 'I' (as the speaker is the subject of the wish). The correct answer is: My mother wished that I might live long.

Solution

Correct: A

Yes/No questions in indirect speech are introduced by 'if' or 'whether' and the reporting verb changes to 'asked'. The modal 'can' changes to 'could'. 'Now' changes to 'then'. The correct answer is: The gardener asked if he could water the plants then.

Solution

Correct: B

WH-questions in indirect speech use 'asked' and the word order becomes statement order (subject + verb). 'Why is the library closed' becomes 'why the library was closed'. 'Today' changes to 'that day'. The correct answer is: The student asked why the library was closed that day.

Solution

Correct: B

Imperative sentences are reported using reporting verbs like 'ordered', 'commanded', 'requested', etc., followed by 'to + verb'. 'March' becomes 'to march'. 'Immediately' can change to 'at once' or remain, but 'at once' is more appropriate in indirect speech. The correct answer is: The officer ordered the soldiers to march to the field at once.

Solution

Correct: B

When 'said' is used with an object (me), it changes to 'told'. The object pronoun 'you' changes to 'I' (since the doctor is speaking to the patient). The reporting verb 'said' becomes 'told' and requires an indirect object (me). The correct answer is: The doctor told me that I needed to take rest.

Solution

Correct: B

The reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense, so 'wish' remains in the same form. The subjunctive mood 'were' is retained as it expresses an unreal wish. The correct answer is: She said that she wished she were taller.

Solution

Correct: B

The present perfect tense 'have been' changes to past perfect 'had been' in indirect speech because the reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense. 'Twice' remains unchanged as it is an adverb of frequency. The correct answer is: He said that he had been to Paris twice.

Solution

Correct: A

Imperative sentences are reported using reporting verbs like 'ordered', 'told', or 'commanded' followed by the object and 'to + base verb'. 'Sit down' becomes 'to sit down'. The correct answer is: The teacher ordered the children to sit down.

Solution

Correct: A

When the main reporting verb is in the past tense ('said'), the clause 'I am sure' changes to 'he was sure'. The future 'will come' changes to 'would come'. The correct answer is: He said that he was sure that he would come.

Solution

Correct: A

A request in reported speech uses 'requested' followed by the person and 'to + verb'. 'Please help me carry' becomes 'requested me to help her carry'. 'Me' changes to 'her' and 'this' changes to 'that'. The correct answer is: She requested me to help her carry that bag.

Solution

Correct: A

The past simple tense 'bought' changes to past perfect 'had bought' in indirect speech. 'Last week' changes to 'the previous week' or 'the week before'. The correct answer is: He said that he had bought a new car the previous week.

Solution

Correct: A

The verb 'let us' is used for suggestions. In indirect speech, it is commonly reported using 'suggested + verb-ing' or 'suggested that + subject + should + verb'. 'Suggested going for a walk' is the most concise and appropriate form. 'Suggested that we should go for a walk' is also acceptable, but 'suggested going for a walk' is the standard reporting form.

Solution

Correct: A

In indirect speech, the past unreal conditional (Type 2) retains the same structure: 'if + subject + were + verb' and 'would + verb'. The tense does not change because the entire sentence is a hypothetical statement. The correct answer is: The man said that if he were rich, he would travel the world.