PPSC English MCQs

A wish about an unreal present situation traditionally uses the past subjunctive 'were.'
This form is used with all persons in formal English.

'Alas' expresses sorrow and is replaced by an appropriate reporting phrase.
The present perfect backshifts to the past perfect.

A regret about the past uses 'wish' plus the past perfect.
'Had known' shows the unreal earlier situation.

A wish or prayer is reported with 'wished' or 'prayed.'
'May' commonly changes to 'might' in indirect speech.

'Wish + would' can express annoyance about another person's repeated behavior.
The desired change concerns the future.

'Let us' expressing a proposal is reported with 'suggested.'
A that-clause with 'should' correctly conveys the suggestion.

After expressions of necessity, formal English may use the mandative subjunctive.
The base form 'submit' is used regardless of the subject.

Reported questions use statement word order after the wh-word.
The present tense backshifts to the past.

Verbs of recommendation can introduce the mandative subjunctive.
The subordinate verb remains in the base form.

With a present reporting verb, tense backshift is generally unnecessary.
The statement keeps the present tense because it remains current.

'Said to' becomes 'told' with an object, and 'can' backshifts to 'could.'
Pronouns change according to the participants.

Obligatory 'must' often changes to 'had to' in past reported speech.
'Now' changes to 'then.'