Question : In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best express the same sentence in Indirect/Direct speech.
Mother told him, "Why did you failed in the exam?"
Option 1: Mother asked him why he failed in the exam.
Option 2: Mother asked him why had he failed in the exam.
Option 3: Mother asked him why he had failed in the exam.
Option 4: Mother asks him why he failed in the exam.
Correct Answer:
Mother asked him why he had failed in the exam.
Solution : The correct answer is option 3.
Mother asked him why he had failed in the exam.
Explanation:
The given sentence cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."
Therefore, we won't use "if" or "whether" here.
Instead, the word "WH" will continue to be used in its indirect form, and the interrogative sentence will be changed to an assertive one (without a question mark) as part of the speech conversion.
As a result, "had" will come right after the subject "he."
Therefore, choice 3 is the right response.
Direct Speech : Mother told him, "Why did you failed in the exam?"
Indirect Speech: Mother asked him why he had failed in the exam.
