Free Grammar MCQs with Answers

161. Choose the correct option which reflect the same sense as in the captioned sentence: "Our guest let us know that he would be arriving next week in his last letter."

• A. Our guest let us know that he was arriving next week in his last letter.
• B. Our guest let us know that's he are arriving in his last letter.
• C. Our guest let us know in his last letter that he would be arriving next week.
• D. Done of the above

Explanation: Option C preserves the meaning while placing the time phrase naturally after the reporting clause. Option A is possible in some contexts, but “would be arriving” most faithfully retains the original reported future-in-the-past form.

162. Sara said,"Alas! I have lost my diamond ring."

• A. Sara exclaimed with sorrow that I have lost my diamond ring.
• B. Sara exclaimed with sorrow that she have lost her diamond ring.
• C. Sara exclaimed with sorrow that I had lost my diamond ring.
• D. Sara exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her diamond ring.Learning A New Language Online

Explanation: In indirect speech, the exclamation Alas becomes exclaimed with sorrow, I changes to she, and have lost backshifts to had lost. The possessive pronoun also changes from my to her because Sara is the speaker.

163. They said, "Hurrah!we won the match."

• A. They said that they won the match.
• B. They exclaimed with joy that they won the match.
• C. They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
• D. They exclaimed with joy that we had won the match.Downloading Digital Educational Resources

Explanation: Hurrah expresses joy, so said changes to exclaimed with joy. Since the reporting verb is in the past, won changes to had won, and they remains the subject.

164. She Said, "My parents are going to karachi".

• A. She said that my parents were going to karachi.
• B. She said that my parents gone to karachi.
• C. She said that her parents were going to karachi.
• D. She said that her parents are going to karachi.Booking Historical Guided Tours

Explanation: In reported speech, “my” changes to “her” because the speaker is she, “are going” backshifts to “were going,” and the place name remains Karachi. Thus, option c correctly preserves the meaning with the required pronoun and tense changes.

165. My friend says, "I can't help you, sorry. I have a lot of work to do."

• A. My friend says I can't help you because I have a lot of work to do.
• B. My friend says he can't help me because he has a lot of work to do.
• C. My friend says he can't help me because he have a lot of work to do.
• D. My friend says that I can't help you I have a lot of work to do.

Explanation: Because the reporting verb “says” is present, the tense need not backshift, but the pronouns change: “I” becomes “he” and “you” becomes “me.” “Has” agrees with the singular subject “he,” making option b correct.

166. My friend said to me," I will meet you tonight."

• A. My friend told me that I will meet you tonight.
• B. My friend told that he will meet me tonight.
• C. My friend told me that he would meet me that night.
• D. My friend said to me that he will meet me that night.

Explanation: After the past reporting verb “said,” “will” changes to “would,” “you” becomes “me,” and “tonight” changes to “that night.” Option c applies all three changes correctly.

167. She said," I visited Peshawar yesterday."

• A. She said that she had visited Peshawar the previous day.
• B. She said that I had visited Peshawar yesterday.
• C. She said that she visited Peshawar yesterday.
• D. She said that she has visited Peshawar the previous day.

Explanation: The past simple “visited” normally backshifts to past perfect “had visited” after “said,” while “yesterday” becomes “the previous day.” The pronoun “I” also changes to “she,” so option a is correct.

168. Ahmad said," I have a dental appointment this evening."

• A. Ahmad said that he have a dental appointment this evening.
• B. Ahmad said that he had a dental appointment this evening.
• C. Ahmad said that he has a dental appointment this evening.
• D. Ahmad said that he had a dental appointment that evening.Educational Resources

Explanation: With the past reporting verb “said,” “have” changes to “had,” and the time expression “this evening” changes to “that evening.” Option d includes both required changes.

169. He said, "I need your help now."

• A. He said he need my help now.
• B. He said that he needed my help then.
• C. He said that I needed your help now.
• D. None of these

Explanation: The past reporting verb causes “need” to backshift to “needed,” while “your” changes to “my” and “now” to “then.” Option b correctly makes these changes.

170. My friend said," I will meet you tomorrow."

• A. My friend said that he will meet me tomorrow.
• B. My friend said that he would meet me the next day.
• C. My friend said he would meet me tomorrow.
• D. My friend said that he will meet me tomorrow.

Explanation: “Will” changes to “would” after the past reporting verb, and “tomorrow” becomes “the next day.” Since the speaker said “you” to the friend, it becomes “me,” making option b correct.