TestUstad
Very hard

Change the narration. You said, "They were busy the whole day."

Correct answer: C. You said that they had been busy the whole day.

  • A. You said that they had busy the whole day.
  • B. You said that they were busy the whole day.
  • C. You said that they had been busy the whole day.
  • D. You said that they have been busy the whole day.

Explanation

With the past reporting verb “said,” the past continuous “were busy” is backshifted to the past perfect “had been busy.” This preserves the earlier time relationship in indirect speech.

Written and checked by , editorLast updated
Report an error

The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.

Prefer email? support@testustad.com

About Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct speech gives a speaker’s exact words, whereas indirect speech reports the meaning without quotation marks. Questions cover reporting verbs, pronoun changes, tense backshift, time and place expressions, punctuation, and the transformation of questions, commands and requests, including cases where backshift is not required.

Practise Grammar

6,178 free Grammar MCQs from English, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Start a free Grammar testAll Grammar MCQs

Discussion

Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.

No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.

Exams that ask English questions like this

English is on 129 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

CA QAT English40 MCQsCSS MPT English40 MCQsDET English40 MCQsGAT General English40 MCQsIELTS Academic English40 MCQsIELTS General Training English40 MCQsOET English40 MCQsPTE Academic English40 MCQsTOEFL iBT English40 MCQsATS English30 MCQsCSS English30 MCQsCTS English30 MCQsETEA Recruitment Tests English30 MCQsNAT English30 MCQsNTS English30 MCQsOTS English30 MCQsPTS English30 MCQsSTS English30 MCQsUTS English30 MCQsBCAT English25 MCQsPMS English25 MCQsPost RN BSN English25 MCQsAJKPSC English20 MCQsAssistant BS-16 Test English20 MCQsBPSC English20 MCQsComputer Operator Test English20 MCQsDEO English20 MCQsECP English20 MCQsEducators ESE Test English20 MCQsEducators SESE Test English20 MCQsEducators SST Test English20 MCQsFBR English20 MCQsFIA English20 MCQsFPSC English20 MCQsGAT Subject English20 MCQsGBPSC English20 MCQsHeadmaster and Headmistress Test English20 MCQsIB English20 MCQsISSB English20 MCQsJEST English20 MCQsJunior Clerk Test English20 MCQsKPPSC English20 MCQsLAT English20 MCQsLecturer Recruitment Test English20 MCQsMES English20 MCQsNAB English20 MCQsNADRA English20 MCQsNational Highways and Motorway Police Test English20 MCQsNET English20 MCQsPAF English20 MCQsPAF Airman English20 MCQsPakistan Army Commissioned Officer Test English20 MCQsPakistan Navy Test English20 MCQsPakistan Railways Recruitment Test English20 MCQsPCS English20 MCQsPIA English20 MCQsPMA Long Course Test English20 MCQsPMD English20 MCQsPPSC English20 MCQsPST English20 MCQsPunjab Police ASI Test English20 MCQsPunjab Police Sub Inspector Test English20 MCQsSNGPL English20 MCQsSPSC English20 MCQsSub Registrar Test English20 MCQsTehsildar and Naib Tehsildar Test English20 MCQsWAPDA English20 MCQsBSN Entry Test English15 MCQsNUMS English15 MCQsPatwari Test English15 MCQsANF English10 MCQsASF English10 MCQsCTD English10 MCQsECAT English10 MCQsElite Police Force Test English10 MCQsETEA Engineering Admission Test English10 MCQsGIKI English10 MCQsNED English10 MCQsPakistan Army Soldier Test English10 MCQsPakistan Rangers Test English10 MCQsPERA Force Test English10 MCQsPIEAS English10 MCQsPunjab Police Constable Test English10 MCQsRescue 1122 Test English10 MCQsDUHS English9 MCQsETEA MDCAT English9 MCQsKMU English9 MCQsMDCAT English9 MCQsAgriculture Officer Test English5 MCQsAssistant Engineer Chemical Test English5 MCQsAssistant Engineer Civil Test English5 MCQsAssistant Engineer Electrical Test English5 MCQsAssistant Engineer Mechanical Test English5 MCQsDental Surgeon Test English5 MCQsForest Ranger Test English5 MCQsGovernment Software Engineer Test English5 MCQsHead Nurse English5 MCQsLecturer Biology Test English5 MCQsLecturer Chemistry Test English5 MCQsLecturer Commerce Test English5 MCQsLecturer Computer Science Test English5 MCQsLecturer Economics Test English5 MCQsLecturer Education Test English5 MCQsLecturer English Test English5 MCQsLecturer International Relations Test English5 MCQsLecturer Islamiat Test English5 MCQsLecturer Mathematics Test English5 MCQsLecturer Pakistan Studies Test English5 MCQsLecturer Physical Education Test English5 MCQsLecturer Physics Test English5 MCQsLecturer Political Science Test English5 MCQsLecturer Psychology Test English5 MCQsLecturer Sociology Test English5 MCQsLecturer Statistics Test English5 MCQsLecturer Urdu Test English5 MCQsLHV Test English5 MCQsMO English5 MCQsStaff Nurse English5 MCQsSub Engineer Civil Test English5 MCQsSub Engineer Electrical Test English5 MCQsSub Engineer Mechanical Test English5 MCQsSubject Specialist Biology Test English5 MCQsSubject Specialist Chemistry Test English5 MCQsSubject Specialist Computer Science Test English5 MCQsSubject Specialist English Test English5 MCQsSubject Specialist Islamiat Test English5 MCQsSubject Specialist Mathematics Test English5 MCQsSubject Specialist Physics Test English5 MCQsSubject Specialist Urdu Test English5 MCQs

More Direct and Indirect Speech questions

Change the narration. I asked him where he would stay.

Change the narration. Sana said, "I have already written a letter to my family."

Change the narration of (He said to the judge, "I did not commit this crime.")

I enquired of him __________________________________?

When I asked him ______ the keys , Bilal said he had no idea where they were.

John said he __________to play at home.