All Free English MCQs with Answers

4401. He said to us, "My dogs were not barking at you."

• A. He told us that his dogs had not been barking at us.
• B. He told us that his dogs were not barking at us.
• C. He told us that his dogs had not been barked at us.
• D. He told to us that his dogs have not been barking at us

Explanation: The original sentence "My dogs were not barking at you" is in the simple past tense, but when reported indirectly, the tense changes to the past perfect ("had not been barking") to indicate that the action of not barking occurred before the time of speaking.

4402. She said to me, "My father went to your house yesterday.

• A. She told to me that her father has been going to my house yesterday.
• B. You told him that her father had gone to your house yesterday.
• C. She told me that her father had gone to my house the previous day.
• D. She told me that her father had been going to my house the previous day.

Explanation: The original sentence is a direct quote, and option C is the most accurate indirect quote. It maintains the same meaning and changes the tense to the past perfect ("had gone") to indicate that the action of going to the house occurred before the time of speaking.

4403. You said to him, "Yes, I am writing a letter to him now."

• A. You told him that you were writing a letter to him then
• B. You told him that yes you were writing a letter to him then.
• C. You told him that you were writing a letter to him now.
• D. You told to him that you were writing a letter to him now

Explanation: When converting direct speech to indirect speech:- "Yes" is often omitted, as it's a response to a question and not essential to the main message.- "I" becomes "you" (the subject of the sentence).- "am writing" becomes "were writing" (change from present continuous to past continuous).- "now" becomes "then" (change from present time to past time).

4404. They said to us, "We were preparing for the examination."

• A. They told us that we were preparing for the examination.
• B. They told us that you had been preparing for the examination.
• C. They told us that they had been preparing for the examination.
• D. They told us that they were preparing for the examination.

Explanation: "We" becomes "they" (the subject of the sentence).- "were preparing" becomes "had been preparing" (change from past continuous to past perfect continuous).

4405. You said to him, "Why did you call me names yesterday?"

• A. You asked him why you called him names the previous day.
• B. You asked him that why you called him names the previous day.
• C. You asked to him why he had called you names the previous day.
• D. You asked him why he had called you names the previous day

Explanation: When converting direct speech to indirect speech:- "You" (the person spoken to) becomes "he" (the subject of the sentence).- "me" becomes "you" (the object of the sentence).- "yesterday" becomes "the previous day" (a more natural way to express past time in indirect speech).- "did you call" becomes "had he called" (change from simple past to past perfect).

4406. They said, "Good morning, sir!"

• A. They greated respectfully.
• B. They great respectfully.
• C. They said good morning.
• D. They greated good morning.

Explanation: The original sentence is a direct quote of a greeting, and option A is the most accurate indirect report of that greeting. It conveys the same level of respect and politeness as the original sentence.

4407. The policeman said to the boy, "where are you going?"

• A. The policeman asked the boy where was he going.
• B. The policeman asked the boy where he was going.
• C. The policeman asked the boy where he was coming.
• D. The policeman asked the boy that where he was going.

Explanation: When converting direct speech to indirect speech:- "where are you going" becomes "where he was going" (change from present to past and from "you" to "he")

4408. He said, "Alas, I am undone."

• A. He exclaimed with sorrow that he is undone.
• B. He exclaimed with sorrow that he did undone.
• C. He exclaimed with sorrow that he were undone.
• D. He exclaimed with sorrow that he was undone.

Explanation: When converting direct speech to indirect speech:- "Alas" is an exclamation of sorrow, so it's best to use "exclaimed with sorrow" to convey the same emotion.- "I am undone" becomes "he was undone" (change from first person to third person and from present to past)

4409. He said, "I have revised these notes."

• A. He said that he has revised those notes
• B. He said that he had revised the notes.
• C. He said that he had revised these notes.
• D. He said that he has revised these notes.

Explanation: When converting direct speech to indirect speech:- "I" becomes "he" (change from first person to third person)- "have revised" becomes "had revised" (change from present perfect to past perfect)- "these" becomes "the" (change from specific to general, as the notes are no longer being directly referred to)

4410. He said, "Let us not quarrel".

• A. He suggested that they should not quarrel.
• B. He suggested that they had not quarrel.
• C. He suggested that they did not quarrel.
• D. He suggested that they might not quarrel.

Explanation: When converting direct speech to indirect speech:- "Let us" becomes "they" (change from first person to third person)- "not quarrel" remains the same (the negative command remains a negative suggestion)- The command "let us" becomes a suggestion, so "suggested" is used instead of "said"