📝 1. In which of the following sentences is the sequence of tense correct?
a) He said that he is happy. • b) He said that he was happy. • c) He says that he was happy. • d) He says that he will happy.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he was happy.
✍️ Explanation: When the main clause is in the past (“said”), the subordinate clause generally takes a past tense (“was happy”).
📝 2. Identify the sentence that violates the rule of sequence of tense.
a) He said that the sun rises in the east. • b) He said that he had completed the work. • c) He said that he was busy. • d) He said that he will met me yesterday.
✅ Answer: (d) He said that he will met me yesterday.
✍️ Explanation: “Will met” is wrong. After a past verb, the subordinate should not have future. Correct: He said that he would meet me yesterday.
📝 3. Choose the correct option following sequence of tense.
a) She said she is going. • b) She said she was going. • c) She says she was going. • d) She says she will going.
✅ Answer: (b) She said she was going.
✍️ Explanation: Past main verb (“said”) requires past continuous in subordinate (“was going”).
📝 4. “He said that Napoleon died at St. Helena.” – Here which rule is applied?
a) Past → Past • b) Exception: Historical Past retained • c) Universal Truth • d) Conditional Exception
✅ Answer: (b) Exception: Historical Past retained.
✍️ Explanation: Historical facts are retained in past tense even in reported speech.
📝 5. Which is correct according to sequence of tenses?
a) He said that he has done the work. • b) He said that he had done the work. • c) He said that he will do the work. • d) He said that he do the work.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he had done the work.
✍️ Explanation: Past main clause → subordinate clause in past perfect (“had done”).
📝 6. In “No sooner had he left than it began to rain,” which tense is used in first clause?
a) Past Indefinite • b) Past Perfect • c) Past Continuous • d) Present Perfect
✅ Answer: (b) Past Perfect.
✍️ Explanation: “No sooner/Hardly/Scarcely” constructions take Past Perfect in the first clause.
📝 7. Identify the correct sequence in conditional sentence:
“If he ______ harder, he would have passed.”
a) works • b) worked • c) had worked • d) will work
✅ Answer: (c) had worked.
✍️ Explanation: 3rd Conditional → If + Past Perfect → would have + V3.
📝 8. Which sentence expresses universal truth correctly?
a) He said that water boiled at 100°C. • b) He said that water boils at 100°C. • c) He said that water had boiled at 100°C. • d) He said that water was boiling at 100°C.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that water boils at 100°C.
✍️ Explanation: Universal truths remain in present tense even after a past verb.
📝 9. Select the sentence that maintains proper tense sequence:
a) He said that he is feeling well. • b) He said that he was feeling well. • c) He said that he will feel well. • d) He said that he feels well yesterday.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he was feeling well.
✍️ Explanation: Past → Past Continuous maintains proper sequence.
📝 10. “I wish I ____ a king.” Fill with correct tense.
a) am • b) was • c) were • d) had been
✅ Answer: (c) were.
✍️ Explanation: After “I wish,” unreal present conditions take Past Subjunctive (were).
📝 11. Which is correct according to sequence of tense?
a) He said that he will go tomorrow. • b) He said that he would go tomorrow. • c) He said that he goes tomorrow. • d) He said that he went tomorrow.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he would go tomorrow.
✍️ Explanation: Future in past → “will” changes to “would” after a past main clause.
📝 12. “He said that honesty is the best policy.” Why is ‘is’ used?
a) Because of habitual truth • b) Because of politeness • c) Because of future reference • d) Because of past habit
✅ Answer: (a) Because of habitual truth.
✍️ Explanation: Universal or habitual truths remain present tense irrespective of main clause tense.
📝 13. Fill in: “She said that she ____ finished her homework.”
a) has • b) had • c) will • d) is
✅ Answer: (b) had.
✍️ Explanation: Past main clause (“said”) → subordinate in past perfect.
📝 14. Which sentence breaks sequence of tense?
a) He said that he had gone there. • b) He said that the earth moves around the sun. • c) He said that he was going home. • d) He said that he will went there.
✅ Answer: (d) He said that he will went there.
✍️ Explanation: “Will went” is incorrect. Correct: would go.
📝 15. Identify correct sequence in this reported speech:
Direct: He said, “I am reading now.”
a) He said that he is reading then. • b) He said that he was reading then. • c) He said that he has been reading then. • d) He said that he had read then.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he was reading then.
✍️ Explanation: Present Continuous → Past Continuous in reported speech.
📝 16. Choose the correct option:
“If you ____ hard, you will succeed.”
a) worked • b) work • c) had worked • d) were working
✅ Answer: (b) work.
✍️ Explanation: 1st Conditional → If + Present Indefinite → Future Indefinite.
📝 17. “It is time you ____ to bed.” Correct option?
a) go • b) goes • c) went • d) had gone
✅ Answer: (c) went.
✍️ Explanation: After “It is time,” we use past tense for present obligation.
📝 18. Correct sentence according to tense rules:
a) He said he was ill yesterday. • b) He said he is ill yesterday. • c) He says he was ill yesterday. • d) He will said he was ill yesterday.
✅ Answer: (a) He said he was ill yesterday.
✍️ Explanation: Past main verb → subordinate in past (“was ill”).
📝 19. Choose correct option:
“If you ____ earlier, we would have reached on time.”
a) start • b) had started • c) started • d) have started
✅ Answer: (b) had started.
✍️ Explanation: 4th Conditional → If + Past Perfect → would have + V3.
📝 20. Fill in: “He said that he ____ English for five years.”
a) studies • b) had been studying • c) has studied • d) will study
✅ Answer: (b) had been studying.
✍️ Explanation: Past continuous action before past reference → Past Perfect Continuous.
📝 21. Correct tense after ‘as if’:
“He speaks as if he ____ everything.”
a) knows • b) knew • c) had known • d) will know
✅ Answer: (b) knew.
✍️ Explanation: After “as if/as though,” use past tense for unreal situations.
📝 22. Which option follows sequence of tense?
a) He said that he eats mangoes. • b) He said that he was eating mangoes. • c) He said that he had ate mangoes. • d) He said that he eat mangoes.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he was eating mangoes.
✍️ Explanation: Past → Past Continuous is correct.
📝 23. Fill with correct tense:
“He told me that he ____ the letter already.”
a) has posted • b) had posted • c) posted • d) was posting
✅ Answer: (b) had posted.
✍️ Explanation: Past perfect is required for an action completed before the past moment.
📝 24. Choose correct conditional form:
“If she ____ here tomorrow, I will be happy.”
a) comes • b) came • c) had come • d) will come
✅ Answer: (a) comes.
✍️ Explanation: 1st Conditional → If + Present Indefinite → Future Indefinite.
📝 25. Which is correct?
a) He said that he had been to Delhi last year. • b) He said that he went to Delhi last year. • c) He said that he goes to Delhi last year. • d) He said that he will gone to Delhi last year.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he went to Delhi last year.
✍️ Explanation: Definite time in past → Simple Past, not Past Perfect.
📝 26. Correct completion:
“If I ____ rich, I would travel the world.”
a) am • b) was • c) were • d) had been
✅ Answer: (c) were.
✍️ Explanation: Unreal present conditions → Subjunctive “were.”
📝 27. Correct tense after “lest”:
“He ran fast lest he ____ miss the train.”
a) should • b) will • c) would • d) might
✅ Answer: (a) should.
✍️ Explanation: After “lest,” we use should + V1.
📝 28. Which is correct sequence?
a) He said that he has been working. • b) He said that he had been working. • c) He said that he will been working. • d) He said that he have been working.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he had been working.
✍️ Explanation: Past → Past Perfect Continuous.
📝 29. Which sentence maintains proper tense sequence?
a) He said that he will done it. • b) He said that he would do it. • c) He said that he would did it. • d) He said that he will do it yesterday.
✅ Answer: (b) He said that he would do it.
✍️ Explanation: “Will” → “Would” in indirect speech after past.
📝 30. Which is the correct conditional sentence?
a) If you had helped me, I will be grateful. • b) If you help me, I would be grateful. • c) If you helped me, I would be grateful. • d) If you helps me, I will grateful.
✅ Answer: (c) If you helped me, I would be grateful.
✍️ Explanation: 2nd Conditional → If + Past Indefinite → would + V1.
📝 31. He said that he _____ his homework.
a) finish b) finishes c) finished d) has finished.
✅ Answer: (c) finished.
✍️ Explanation: Main clause in past (“said”), so subordinate clause usually shifts to past (“finished”).
📝 32. He said that the Earth _____ round the Sun.
a) moved b) moves c) was moving d) has moved.
✅ Answer: (b) moves.
✍️ Explanation: Universal truths remain in present tense, even if main verb is past.
📝 33. He told me that Napoleon _____ at St. Helena.
a) dies b) died c) had died d) is dying.
✅ Answer: (b) died.
✍️ Explanation: Historical past events are retained as past tense, not changed.
📝 34. He said that he _____ to school daily.
a) go b) goes c) went d) will go.
✅ Answer: (c) went.
✍️ Explanation: Past reporting verb “said” → habitual present changes to habitual past.
📝 35. He said that he _____ the book the previous day.
a) reads b) read c) had read d) will read.
✅ Answer: (c) had read.
✍️ Explanation: When reporting past with reference to another past, we use Past Perfect.
📝 36. He said that he _____ the letter when I arrived.
a) writes b) wrote c) had written d) will write.
✅ Answer: (c) had written.
✍️ Explanation: Past Perfect is used for the earlier of two past actions.
📝 37. She said that she _____ the work tomorrow.
a) do b) does c) did d) would do.
✅ Answer: (d) would do.
✍️ Explanation: Future in indirect speech (past reporting verb) changes to would + V1.
📝 38. He told me that he _____ the next day.
a) will come b) would come c) comes d) came.
✅ Answer: (b) would come.
✍️ Explanation: “Will” in reported speech (past reporting verb) changes to would.
📝 39. He said that he _____ there the previous week.
a) goes b) has gone c) had gone d) will go.
✅ Answer: (c) had gone.
✍️ Explanation: Past Perfect is used when expressing an action already completed before another past reference.
📝 40. He said, “I am ill today.” → Reported: He said that he _____ ill that day.
a) is b) was c) has been d) had been.
✅ Answer: (b) was.
✍️ Explanation: Present continuous (“am”) changes to past continuous (“was”) when reporting in past.
📝 41. She said that honesty _____ the best policy.
a) is b) was c) has been d) had been.
✅ Answer: (a) is.
✍️ Explanation: Universal truths remain in present tense, not shifted.
📝 42. He said that he _____ English for two years.
a) learns b) learned c) had been learning d) is learning.
✅ Answer: (c) had been learning.
✍️ Explanation: Past continuous duration (“for two years”) changes to Past Perfect Continuous.
📝 43. He said that he _____ a book then.
a) reads b) is reading c) was reading d) has read.
✅ Answer: (c) was reading.
✍️ Explanation: Present continuous (“is reading”) shifts to Past continuous.
📝 44. He said that he _____ tired.
a) feels b) felt c) has felt d) had felt.
✅ Answer: (b) felt.
✍️ Explanation: Present simple in direct speech usually shifts to Past simple.
📝 45. He said that he _____ a car if he had money.
a) will buy b) would buy c) buys d) has bought.
✅ Answer: (b) would buy.
✍️ Explanation: Second conditional uses would + V1 in the main clause.
📝 46. He said that he _____ if it rained.
a) will stay b) would stay c) stays d) has stayed.
✅ Answer: (b) would stay.
✍️ Explanation: First conditional (will) shifts to would in past reporting.
📝 47. He said that he _____ the exam if he had studied.
a) would pass b) passes c) passed d) will pass.
✅ Answer: (a) would pass.
✍️ Explanation: Third conditional: If + Past Perfect → would have + V3, but shortened in indirect.
📝 48. He said that he _____ hard if he had time.
a) will work b) would work c) works d) worked.
✅ Answer: (b) would work.
✍️ Explanation: Unreal condition uses would + V1 after “if.”
📝 49. He said that if he had worked hard, he _____ succeeded.
a) would have b) will have c) has d) would.
✅ Answer: (a) would have.
✍️ Explanation: Fourth conditional (If + Past Perfect → would have + V3).
📝 50. He said that he wished he _____ a bird.
a) were b) was c) had been d) is.
✅ Answer: (a) were.
✍️ Explanation: Subjunctive mood for unreal wishes always takes “were.”
📝 51. He said it was time we _____ to bed.
a) go b) went c) had gone d) will go.
✅ Answer: (b) went.
✍️ Explanation: After “It is time/It was time,” we use Past tense for present meaning.
📝 52. He said that if he _____ harder, he would have passed.
a) works b) worked c) had worked d) has worked.
✅ Answer: (c) had worked.
✍️ Explanation: Third conditional: If + Past Perfect → would have + V3.
📝 53. He said that he _____ if he were rich.
a) will travel b) would travel c) travels d) has travelled.
✅ Answer: (b) would travel.
✍️ Explanation: Unreal present condition uses Past tense in if-clause and would + V1 in main clause.
📝 54. He said that he _____ if it rained.
a) will stay b) would stay c) stays d) stayed.
✅ Answer: (b) would stay.
✍️ Explanation: First conditional when reported in past shifts to would.
📝 55. He said that he _____ waiting for me since morning.
a) is b) was c) has been d) had been.
✅ Answer: (d) had been.
✍️ Explanation: Present Perfect Continuous shifts to Past Perfect Continuous.
📝 56. He said that he _____ the letter.
a) writes b) is writing c) wrote d) was writing.
✅ Answer: (c) wrote.
✍️ Explanation: Simple present → simple past in indirect speech.
📝 57. He said that he _____ the work before I arrived.
a) does b) did c) had done d) will do.
✅ Answer: (c) had done.
✍️ Explanation: Past perfect expresses an action completed before another past reference.
📝 58. He said that he _____ a car the previous year.
a) buys b) bought c) had bought d) will buy.
✅ Answer: (c) had bought.
✍️ Explanation: Past perfect is used for action completed before past reference.
📝 59. He said that he _____ ready by next week.
a) will be b) would be c) is d) was.
✅ Answer: (b) would be.
✍️ Explanation: “Will” in indirect speech (past reporting verb) changes to “would.”
📝 60. He said that the train _____ at 5 o’clock.
a) leaves b) left c) will leave d) would leave.
✅ Answer: (a) leaves.
✍️ Explanation: Fixed timetables are kept in present tense, even after past reporting.
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