The Reported Speech topic holds significant importance in the CDS 1 2025 English section, testing candidates’ grammatical proficiency and sentence transformation skills. To excel in this section, candidates must have a strong command of the rules for changing sentences from direct to indirect (reported) speech and vice versa. Proficiency in this area is essential for scoring well in the exam, as questions on reported speech frequently appear in grammar-based sections.
Directions: The following questions have been given in direct/indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one, which best expresses the same sentence in indirect/direct speech.
Q) Moti asked Gangu whether the latter was in his sense.
(a) “Hey Gangu, are you in your senses now?” asked Moti
(b) “Gangu, have you lost your senses?” asked Moti
(c) “Gangu, are you in your senses’’? asked Moti
(d) “Are you senseless, Gangu?” asked Moti
Ans. (c)
Q) “Who now,” they had asked, “will listen to our troubles and protect us from the crocodiles?”
(a)They had wanted to know who would listen to their troubles and protect them from the crocodiles
(b)They had wanted to know who then would listen to their troubles and protect them from the crocodiles
(c)They had wanted to know who will now listen to their troubles and protect them from the crocodiles
(d)They wanted to know who will listen to their troubles and protect them from the crocodiles
Ans. (b)
Q) Suresh asked Prasad whether he had watched the cricket match on television the previous night.
(a)Suresh asked Prasad, “Have you watched the cricket match on television last night?”
(b)Suresh said to Prasad, “Had you watch the cricket match on television last night?”
(c)Suresh said to Prasad, “Did you watch the cricket match on television last night?”
(d)Suresh asked Prasad, “Did you watch the cricket match on television previous night?”
Ans. (c)
Q) He said, “Garima wants to take up a job while her husband wants her to look after the family.”
(a)He said that Garima wanted to take up a job while her husband wanted her to look after the family
(b)He said that Garima wants to take up a job while her husband wanted her to look after the family
(c)He told that Garima wanted to take up a job while her husband wants her to look after the family
(d)He said to Garima that though she wanted to take up a job while her husband wanted her to look after the family
Ans. (a)
Q) She said, “When I was a child, I wasn’t afraid of ghosts.”
(a) She said that when she was a child she wasn’t not afraid of ghosts
(b) She said that when she was a child she hadn’t been afraid of ghosts
(c) She said that when she had been a child she hadn’t been afraid of ghosts
(d) She said that when she had been a child she wasn’t afraid of ghosts
Ans. (c)
For more questions, CDS 1 2025 Exam English Live – Reported Speech MCQ – Class 1
Why is Reported Speech Important?
🔹 Frequently Asked in CDS Exams: Questions based on direct and indirect speech are a staple in the CDS English section, making it a must-prepare topic.
🔹 Tests Grammatical Knowledge: Reported speech questions assess a candidate’s understanding of tense changes, pronoun adjustments, and sentence restructuring, which are vital for accuracy and fluency in English.
🔹 Boosts Overall Score: With clear concepts and regular practice, candidates can solve these questions accurately, enhancing their overall exam score.
🔹 Useful for Real-life Communication: Proficiency in reported speech is not only essential for the CDS exam but also beneficial for effective communication in real-life scenarios, including interviews, discussions, and formal writing.
Key Areas in Reported Speech Questions
1️⃣ Direct and Indirect Speech Transformation: Candidates must know how to convert sentences from direct to indirect speech and vice versa, applying the appropriate grammar rules.
- Direct Speech: The exact words of the speaker are quoted.
- Indirect Speech (Reported Speech): The speaker’s words are paraphrased with necessary grammatical modifications.
- Example:
- Direct: She said, “I am going to the market.”
- Indirect: She said that she was going to the market.
- Example:
2️⃣ Changes in Tenses: When transforming direct speech into indirect speech, candidates must apply tense backshifting rules.
- Examples:
- Direct: He said, “I am reading a book.”
- Indirect: He said that he was reading a book.
- Direct: She said, “I will call you later.”
- Indirect: She said that she would call me later.
3️⃣ Pronoun Changes: The pronouns in the sentence must be modified appropriately in indirect speech.
- Examples:
- Direct: He said, “I like ice cream.”
- Indirect: He said that he liked ice cream.
- Direct: She said, “We will go to the park.”
- Indirect: She said that they would go to the park.
4️⃣ Time and Place Modifiers: When transforming sentences into reported speech, the time and place references need to be changed accordingly.
- Examples:
- Direct: She said, “I will meet you tomorrow.”
- Indirect: She said that she would meet me the next day.
- Direct: He said, “I was here yesterday.”
- Indirect: He said that he had been there the day before.
5️⃣ Reporting Verbs and Sentence Types:
- Statements: Use verbs like said, told, mentioned, stated, etc.
- Questions: Use asked, inquired, wondered, etc.
- Commands and requests: Use ordered, requested, advised, etc.
- Exclamations: Use exclaimed, shouted, etc.
Effective Preparation Strategies for Reported Speech
✅ Learn the Transformation Rules: Understand and memorize the rules for converting direct to indirect speech, including changes in tenses, pronouns, and time expressions.
✅ Practice with Previous Year Papers: Solve CDS previous year question papers to familiarize yourself with the pattern and level of difficulty of reported speech questions.
✅ Strengthen Grammar Basics: Brush up on grammar rules related to tenses, pronouns, and sentence types, as they form the foundation for reported speech transformations.
✅ Use Grammar Books and Exercises: Practice with standard grammar books that offer a variety of exercises on reported speech.
✅ Take Timed Mock Tests: Attempt timed mock tests to improve your accuracy and speed in solving reported speech questions under exam conditions.
Reported Speech MCQ Class – Boosting Exam Readiness
In the Reported Speech MCQ Class 1, I conducted an MCQ session where candidates practiced important and exam-relevant questions designed specifically for the CDS 1 2025 exam. This session enabled candidates to:
🔹 Strengthen their understanding of reported speech rules.
🔹 Enhance accuracy and speed in identifying and solving reported speech questions.
🔹 Gain confidence by solving exam-level MCQs.
🔹 Learn practical tips and shortcuts for faster and error-free conversions.
The interactive and practical approach of the session helped candidates build accuracy and confidence, ensuring they are well-prepared for the CDS 1 2025 exam.
Conclusion
The Reported Speech topic is a frequently tested and high-scoring section in the CDS 1 2025 English paper. With a clear understanding of the rules, consistent practice, and application of exam strategies, candidates can effectively solve these questions with precision and confidence.
