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All questions of Direct and Indirect Speech for CLAT Exam

His father ordered him to go to his room and study.
  • a)
    His father said, "Go to your room and study."
  • b)
    His father said to him, "Go and study in your room."
  • c)
    His father shouted, "Go right now to your study room"
  • d)
    His father said firmly, "Go and study in your room."
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Arya Roy answered
When converting statements from reported speech to direct speech, "was, were" becomes "am, is, are"/ "him, her" becomes "you"/"had" becomes "has, have"/words like "ordered, sternly spoke, shouted" becomes exclamation mark.

She said that her brother was getting married.
  • a)
    She said, "Her brother is getting married."
  • b)
    She told, "Her brother is getting married."
  • c)
    She said, "My brother is getting married."
  • d)
    She said, "My brother was getting married."
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
 In reported speech, "you" becomes "him, her"/ "is, am, are" becomes "was, were"/ "have, has" becomes "had" and exclamation marks become "ordered or shouted". "Please" becomes "pleaded, requested".
She said, "My brother is getting married."

I told him that he was not working hard.
  • a)

    I said to him, "You are not working hard."
  • b)
    I told to him, "You are not working hard."
  • c)
    I said, "You are not working hard."
  • d)
    I said to him, "He is not working hard."
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

When converting statements from reported speech to direct speech, "was, were" becomes "am, is, are"/ "him, her" becomes "you"/"had" becomes "has, have"/words like "ordered, sternly spoke, shouted" becomes exclamation mark.

Kavita has said, I have gone go to the zoo. 
  • a)
    Kavita has said that she has gone to the zoo. 
  • b)
    Kavita have said that she has gone to the zoo. 
  • c)
    Kavita has told that she has gone to the zoo. 
  • d)
    Kavita has said that she have  gone to the zoo. 
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Vivek Patel answered
 Reporting verb 'has said' is in present tense, so tense in reported speech doesn't change. Pronoun 'I' changes to 'she'
In option B tense is changed. So, it is incorrect.
In option C tense of reporting verb is changed. So, it is incorrect.
In option D tense is changed. So, it is incorrect.
hence, the correct option is A 

The teacher says to me very angrily, Why have you come? Have I not told you to never come again? 
  • a)
    The teacher asks me very angrily why I had come and if she had not told me to never come again. 
  • b)
    The teacher asked me very angrily why I had come and if she had not told me to never come again. 
  • c)
    The teacher asks me very angrily why I have come and if she had not told me to never come again. 
  • d)
    The teacher asks me very angrily why you had come and if she had not told me to never come again. 
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Pooja Dasgupta answered
Understanding the Correct Option
The question revolves around converting direct speech into indirect speech. Let's analyze why option 'C' is correct.
Direct Speech Breakdown
- The teacher expresses anger by asking why the student has come.
- The teacher also reminds the student about a prior instruction to never return.
Analysis of Each Option
- Option A: "The teacher asks me very angrily why I had come and if she had not told me to never come again."
- Incorrect tense: "had come" suggests past perfect, which does not fit the context of the current inquiry.
- Option B: "The teacher asked me very angrily why I had come and if she had not told me to never come again."
- Incorrect verb tense: "asked" changes the context to the past, while the teacher's anger is in the present.
- Option C: "The teacher asks me very angrily why I have come and if she had not told me to never come again."
- Correct verb tense: "asks" maintains the present tense, fitting the immediate context.
- The phrase "have come" accurately reflects the present situation.
- Option D: "The teacher asks me very angrily why you had come and if she had not told me to never come again."
- Incorrect pronoun: "you" changes the perspective from first person (me) to second person, which is not appropriate.
Conclusion
Option 'C' is correct because it maintains the present tense and proper perspective, making the transformation from direct to indirect speech accurate and coherent.

In the questions below the sentences have been given in Direct/Indirect speech. From the given alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the given sentence in Indirect/Direct speech.
Poonam says, Cats are very clean animals.. Her friend asks,  Do you like them?
  • a)
    Poonam said that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asked her if she liked them. 
  • b)
    Poonam says  that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asked her if she likes them. 
  • c)
    Poonam told that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asked her if she liked them. 
  • d)
    Poonam said that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asked her if she likes them. 
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Explanation:

In the given sentence, Poonam says that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asks her if she likes them. We need to convert this sentence into indirect speech.


Steps to convert direct speech into indirect speech:

1. Reporting verb should be changed according to the tense of the reporting verb and the reporting speech should be changed to reported speech.

2. The tense of the reported speech should be changed according to the rules of sequence of tenses.

3. Pronouns, demonstratives and possessives should be changed according to the subject of the reporting speech.

4. Time and place should also be changed.


Option A: Poonam said that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asked her if she liked them.

There is no error in option A. It correctly follows all the steps to convert direct speech into indirect speech. This option is correct.


Option B: Poonam says that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asked her if she like them.

Option B is incorrect because the tense of the reported speech is not changed according to the rules of sequence of tenses. It should be "liked" instead of "like" to match the tense of the reporting verb "asked".


Option C: Poonam told that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asked her if she liked them.

Option C is incorrect because the reporting verb "told" is not appropriate. "Said" is more appropriate in this context.


Option D: Poonam said that cats are very clean animals. Her friend asked her if she like them.

Option D is incorrect because it has the same error as option B. The tense of the reported speech is not changed according to the rules of sequence of tenses. It should be "liked" instead of "like" to match the tense of the reporting verb "asked".


Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

The teacher said to the students, "Have you completed your homework?"
  • a)
    The teacher said to the students if they complete their homework.
  • b)
    The teacher told the students if they had completed their homework.
  • c)
    The teacher asked the students if they had completed their homework.
  • d)
    The teacher asked the students if they have completed their homework.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Rhea Reddy answered
The correct transformation of the given sentence would be: "The teacher asked the students if they had completed their homework." The reporting verb "asked" is used to indicate a question, and the conjunction "if" is used to introduce the indirect question. Additionally, the verb tense changes from "have" to "had" to maintain the past tense.

"Please don't go away", she said.
  • a)
    She said to please her and not go away.
  • b)
    She told me to go away.
  • c)
    She begged me not to go away.
  • d)
    She begged that I not go away.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Ashwini Desai answered
Explanation:

Context:
The speaker is asking someone not to leave, indicating a desire for them to stay.

Interpretation:
The statement "Please don't go away" implies a sense of urgency or importance attached to the person staying.

Explanation of Options:
  • Option A: This does not accurately represent the situation as the speaker is not requesting for the other person to please them but rather asking them not to leave.
  • Option B: This directly contradicts the original statement as the speaker is asking the person not to go away.
  • Option C: This is the correct answer as it accurately reflects the speaker's plea for the other person to stay.
  • Option D: This is similar to option C but places more emphasis on the request being a plea rather than a simple statement.



Conclusion:
In this scenario, the speaker is expressing a desire for the other person to stay, as evidenced by the statement "Please don't go away." The accurate interpretation of this statement is reflected in option C, where the speaker is begging the other person not to leave.

He said to me, "Will you come to the party?"
  • a)
    He told me if I would come to the party.
  • b)
    He asked me if I would come to the party.
  • c)
    He said to me if I come to the party.
  • d)
    He asked me if I come to the party.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rhea Reddy answered
The correct transformation of the given sentence would be: "He asked me if I would come to the party." The reporting verb "asked" is used to indicate a question, and the conjunction "if" is used to introduce the indirect question. The modal verb "will" changes to "would" to indicate a polite request.

John says to Sam, You should meet me immediately. Sam asks, Is it important?
  • a)
    John told Sam that he should meet him immediately.Sam asked if it is important. 
  • b)
    John told Sam that he should met him immediately.Sam asked if it is important. 
  • c)
    John told Sam that he should meet him immediately.Sam told if it is important. 
  • d)
    John tells Sam that he should meet him immediately.Sam asked if it is important. 
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Vivek Patel answered
If the reporting verb is in the Present Tense, the tense of the verb in the reported speech remains unchanged.
Here, option D is correct. Reporting verb 'says to' and 'asks' are in present tense. 'Says to' changes to' tells'. Pronoun changes accordingly.
In option A tense of reporting verb is changed. So, it is incorrect.
In option B tense changes. So, it is incorrect.
In option C pronoun doesn't change. So, it is incorrect.
 
so the correcct option is D 

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