Question 1 - Dialogue Reporting (with Past Year Questions) - Grammar - English Class 10

Read the dialogue given below and then complete the Report by choosing the correct options. Write  your answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers.

Ram: I want to meet the Principal. 

Peon: Sir, he is not in his Office. He has gone to attend a Meeting. 

Ram: When will he come back to the Office? 

Peon: I think in another ten minutes. 

Ram: What are the Meeting hours? 

Ram went to the Principal’s Office and told the Peon 1. __________ the Principal. Respectfully, the Peon  told him that 2. __________ and 3. __________. So Ram asked him 4. __________. The Peon replied that  5. __________ minutes. Ram again enquired from the Peon 6.  __________. 

1.(A) that he wanted to meet (B) that he wants to meet 

(C) that he is wanting to meet (D) that him wanted to meet 

2.(A) he is not in his Office (B) he was not in his Office 

(C) he was not in him Office (D) he will not be in his Office 

3.(A) he has gone to attend a meeting (B) he is going to attend a meeting 

(C) he had gone to attend a Meeting (D) he will be attending a meeting 

4.(A) when he would come back to the Office (B) when he could come back to the Office  (C) when he is coming back to the Office (D) when he will come back to the Office 

5.(A) he could be back in another ten (B) he would be back in another ten 

(C) he will be back in another ten (D) he is going to be back in another ten 

6.(A) that what the meeting hours is (B) that what the meeting hours will be 

(C) that what the meeting hours were (D) that what the meeting hours could be

Answer:

Note/Rule: Reporting is always done in the passive voice . So, only the past perfect tense will be used along with the third form of the verb.

For part 1

Since, reporting is done in a passive voice,  

• We use wanted , as wanting is present participle and wants is infinitive.
• Thus, we are left with two options (a) and (d ), as option (b) and (c) are not in correct form 

Now, out of (a) and (d)

• The difference between him and he is
• Who is doing the action and who is receiving the action
• Him is used when the person is receiving the action
• He is used when is person is doing the action
• Since the person is doing the action in the above question, so we use he

Thus, the correct answer is (a) he wanted to meet.

For part 2

Since reporting is done in past tense, option (d) will be eliminated as it is in future tense   and option (a) will be eliminated as it is in present tense and now, for (c)

• The difference between him and he is
• Who is doing the action and who is receiving the action
• Him is used when the person is receiving the action
• He is used when is person is doing the action
• Since the person is doing the action in the above question, so we use he

So, the correct option would be (b) he was not in his office.

For part 3

Since reporting is done in past tense, option (d) and (b) will be eliminated as they are in future tense   and option (a) will be eliminated as it is in present tense . 

So the correct option would be (c) he had gone to attend a meeting.

For part 4

Since reporting is done in past tense, option (d) will be eliminated as it is in future tense   and option (c) will be eliminated as it is in present tense and  

As for option (b) , it will be eliminated as ‘could’ is not the correct verb as ‘ can’ talks about physical capability of a person.

So, the correct option would be (a) when he would come back to his office.

For part 5

Since reporting is done in past tense, options (d) and (c) will be eliminated as they are in future tense and  

As for option (a) , it will be eliminated as ‘could’ is not the correct verb as ‘ can’ talks about physical capability of a person.

 So, the correct option would be (b) he would be back in another ten.

For part 6

Since reporting is done in past tense, option (b) will be eliminated as it is in future tense   and  for option (a) , it will be eliminated as ‘hours’ are plural whereas ‘is’ is used with singular  

As for option (d) , it will be eliminated as ‘could’ is not the correct verb as ‘can’ talks about the physical capability of a person.

 So, the correct option would be (c) that what the meeting hours were.

1. (A) that he wanted to meet
2. (B) he was not in his Office
3. (C) he had gone to attend a meeting
4. (A) when he would come back to the Office
5. (B) he would be back in another ten
6. (C) that what the meeting hours were

Thus the correct paragraph is

Ram went to the Principal’s Office and told the Peon he wanted to meet the Principal. Respectfully, the Peon  told him that he was not in his office and he had gone to attend a meeting . So Ram asked him when he would come back to his office The Peon replied that  he would be back in another 10 minutes. Ram again enquired from the Peon 6.  __________.