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Question

Read the following pairs :
Direct SpeechIndirect Speech
I. The policeman said to us, "Where are you going?"The policeman asked where were we going.
II. "Call the first witness", said the Judge.The Judge said them to call the witness first.

Identify the pair(s) wherein the Indirect Speech is correctly stated and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

This question was previously asked in
NDA 2 2026 GAT Question Paper (13-Sep-2026)
The correct answer is
Neither I nor II

Analyzing Direct and Indirect Speech Pairs

This question asks to identify correctly converted pairs of Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.

Pair I: Interrogative Sentence Analysis

Direct Speech: The policeman said to us, "Where are you going?"

Provided Indirect Speech: The policeman asked where were we going.

Evaluation:

  • The reporting verb 'said to' is correctly changed to 'asked'.
  • The interrogative adverb 'Where' is correctly used to connect the clauses.
  • The tense shift from present continuous ('are going') to past continuous ('were going') is correct.
  • Error: In indirect questions, the word order should follow the normal sentence structure (Subject-Verb), not inversion. The phrase "where were we going" incorrectly uses inversion.
  • Correct Form: The policeman asked where we were going.

Therefore, Pair I is stated incorrectly.

Pair II: Imperative Sentence Analysis

Direct Speech: "Call the first witness", said the Judge.

Provided Indirect Speech: The Judge said them to call the witness first.

Evaluation:

  • The sentence is an imperative command.
  • Reporting verbs for commands often change to 'told', 'ordered', or 'requested', followed by an object and 'to' + infinitive.
  • Error: The structure 'said them' is grammatically incorrect for reporting a command directed at 'them'. It should be 'told them' or 'ordered them'.
  • The infinitive phrase 'to call the witness first' is correctly formed from the command.
  • Correct Form: The Judge ordered them to call the witness first.

Therefore, Pair II is stated incorrectly.

Final Conclusion

Both Pair I and Pair II demonstrate incorrect conversions from Direct to Indirect Speech based on standard grammar rules.

The correct response is that Neither I nor II are correctly stated.

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Similar Questions

  1. Convert from direct into indirect speech.
    Ayushi said to the group, "We have had enough of suffering today. It is time to march forward."
  2. Convert from direct speech into indirect speech.
    "Alas! We lost the match by one point," said the Captain
  3. Convert from direct speech into indirect speech.
    "Where were you last week?" Alok asked Sheela
  4. Convert from indirect speech to direct speech:
    The teacher asked her students why they had been quiet in the previous class.

  5. Convert from direct speech to indirect speech:
    Charu said to her friend, “I want you to be here at 6.00 p.m. tomorrow for the meeting.”

  6. Convert from direct speech to indirect speech:
    Nitin said to his brother, “What a beautiful painting it is!”


Important Questions from Direct and Indirect Speech

  1. Direction : Choose the option that is in the indirect form of the sentence.

    He said to his boss, "I had completed my task before the end of the day."

  2. Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.

    The manager said to the staff, “Please work with dedication. You will be paid overtime whenever you work late.”

  3. Identify the direction narration of the given sentence.

    Rahul said, "What a pleasant surprise!"

  4. Directions: Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.

    The lion asked the lioness, "Where will you hide yourself, until I return?”

  5. Select the correct indirect narration of the given sentence.

    Sushant said to the elderly lady, “Madam, you can take my place and stand here in the queue.”

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NDA 2026 Mock Test Series (Latest Pattern)
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