Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

He told his boss to pardon him for what he said.

  1. He told his boss to pardon him for what he said.

  2. He asked his boss to pardon him for what he said.

  3. He asked his boss to pardon him for what he had said.

  4. He told his boss to pardon him for what he had said.

  5. He requested his boss to pardon him for what he said.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 

Justification for (3): The reporting verb is in simple past tense, and so the reported speech, ‘he said’ in indirect form should be changed to,’ he had said’. Also tell is as good as ‘order’ in the context, which is incorrect address to a boss. ‘Asked’ is acceptable address if one is asking for a favor.
 

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