mpt · CSS study notes
Part 5 — Solved MPT Examples & Practice MCQs
Solved examples
Statement
He said, “I am tired.”
He said that he was tired.
Statement with listener
She said to me, “I will help you tomorrow.”
She told me that she would help me the next day.
Present perfect
He said, “I have finished my work.”
He said that he had finished his work.
Universal truth
The teacher said, “The earth revolves around the sun.”
The teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.
Yes/no question
She asked, “Are you coming?”
She asked whether I was coming.
WH-question
He asked, “Where do you live?”
He asked where I lived.
Negative question
She asked, “Why did you not call me?”
She asked why I had not called her.
Command
The officer said, “Stand up.”
The officer ordered him to stand up.
Negative command
He said, “Do not make noise.”
He told them not to make noise.
Request
She said, “Please help me.”
She requested me to help her.
Advice
The doctor said, “Avoid oily food.”
The doctor advised him to avoid oily food.
Suggestion
He said, “Let’s play cricket.”
He suggested that they should play cricket.
Joy
She said, “Hurrah! We have won.”
She exclaimed with joy that they had won.
Wish
He said, “May you succeed!”
He wished that I might succeed.
Practice MCQs
Question 1
He said, “I can swim.”
A. He said that he can swim.
B. He said that he could swim.
C. He told that he could swim.
D. He said me that he could swim.
Question 2
She said to me, “I am busy.”
A. She said me that she was busy.
B. She told me that she was busy.
C. She told that she is busy.
D. She asked me that she was busy.
Question 3
She asked me, “Where are you going?”
A. She asked me where was I going.
B. She asked me where I was going.
C. She asked me if where I was going.
D. She said to me where I went.
Question 4
He asked, “Do you like tea?”
A. He asked if I liked tea.
B. He asked that I liked tea.
C. He asked did I like tea.
D. He told me if I like tea.
Question 5
The teacher said, “Water boils at 100°C.”
A. The teacher said that water boiled at 100°C.
B. The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
C. The teacher told that water had boiled at 100°C.
D. The teacher asked whether water boils at 100°C.
Question 6
He said to me, “Do not be late.”
A. He said me not to be late.
B. He told me not to be late.
C. He told me to not late.
D. He asked me that I was not late.
Question 7
She said, “Please help me.”
A. She requested me to please help her.
B. She requested me to help her.
C. She suggested me to help her.
D. She asked that I help me.
Question 8
He said, “Let’s go home.”
A. He suggested us to go home.
B. He suggested to go home.
C. He suggested that they should go home.
D. He told that they go home.
Question 9
She said, “Alas! I have lost my purse.”
A. She said alas that she lost her purse.
B. She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
C. She exclaimed with joy that she lost her purse.
D. She asked whether her purse was lost.
Question 10
He said, “May you live long!”
A. He said that I may live long.
B. He wished that I might live long.
C. He ordered me to live long.
D. He asked if I lived long.
Question 11
He asked, “Who broke the window?”
A. He asked who had broken the window.
B. He asked who had the window broken.
C. He asked that who broke the window.
D. He asked who did break the window.
Question 12
He said, “I had completed the work.”
A. He said that he had completed the work.
B. He said that he has completed the work.
C. He told that he had been completing the work.
D. He said that he completed the work tomorrow.
Answers
- B. Can normally backshifts to could.
- B. Said to + listener becomes told + listener.
- B. Reported questions use statement order.
- A. Yes/no question uses if/whether.
- B. Universal truths do not backshift.
- B. Negative command uses told + object + not to.
- B. Drop please; request + object + to-infinitive.
- C. Suggest does not take object + to-infinitive.
- B. Alas shows sorrow; present perfect backshifts to past perfect.
- B. May-wish becomes wished + might.
- A. Who remains the subject; no question inversion.
- A. Past perfect remains past perfect.
Final error checklist
- Do not write said me.
- Do not omit the object after told.
- Do not use that for a yes/no question.
- Do not use if/whether before a WH-word.
- Do not keep question word order.
- Do not write suggested me to.
- Do not retain please, alas, hurrah mechanically.
- Do not backshift a universal truth.
- Do not change pronouns without identifying speaker and listener.
- Do not change time/place words when the context has not changed.