Grammar

Medium

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the following sentence:

The manager asked if they ______ complete the report by the end of the week.

will

could

would

should

✅ Correct Option: 2

Option 1 -> "will" doesn't follow backshift rules needed after the past tense "asked."

Option 2 -> "could" correctly follows reported speech rules, shifting from "can" in the original question.

Option 3 -> "would" would only work if the original question used "will," but asking about ability uses "can."

Option 4 -> "should" implies obligation/advice rather than asking about ability or possibility.

Hence, Option 2: could -> When converting direct speech ("Can you complete...?") to reported speech after a past tense reporting verb ("asked"), "can" shifts to "could" following standard backshift rules in English grammar -> correct

2025: 3 June Shift 1

Complete the sentences given in List-I with the Prepositional Phrases from List-II:

List-I	List-II
(Sentences)	(Prepositional Phrases)
(A) _________ he has a very important job, he isn't particularly well paid.	(I) in spite of
(B) I drew a map for Sarah __________ she couldn't find the house.	(II) although
(C) She accepted the job__________ the salary, which was rather low.	(III) because of
(D) I couldn't go to sleep _________ the noise.	(IV) in case

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

2023: 30 May Shift 1

Complete the following sentence by using a suitable question tag :

Few students knew the solution, _________.

2023: 24 May Shift 3

Choose the correct Exclamatory form of the following Assertive sentence from the options given :

It is a lovely weather.

2026: 25 May Shift 1

Identify the grammatically correct sentence from the options given:

2026: 11 May Shift 2

Choose the correct indirect construction of the following sentence:

"Leave the key under the mat if you go out," she said.

A. She told me if I am going out I should leave the key under the mat.

B. She told me to leave the key under the mat if I went out.

C. She said to leave the key under the mat as I will be going out

D. She said that if I went out I was to leave the key under the mat.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

2026: 25 May Shift 1

Choose the grammatically correct sentence from the options given:

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the following sentence: The manager asked if they ______ complete the report by the end of the week.

Solution

Related questions:

Keyboard Shortcuts

CUET English Past Year Questions (Topic-Wise)

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the following sentence:

The manager asked if they ______ complete the report by the end of the week.