Question : Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct speech.
The little boy asked his teacher if she had always been good as a child.
Option 1: The little boy said to his teacher, "You have always been good as a child?"
Option 2: The little boy said to his teacher, "Ma'am, always you were good as a child?"
Option 3: The little boy said to his teacher, "Ma'am, were you always good as a child?"
Option 4: The little boy said to his teacher, "Are you always good as a child?"
Correct Answer: The little boy said to his teacher, "Ma'am, were you always good as a child?"
Solution : The correct solution is the third option.
Explanation : When converting reported speech to direct speech, it is crucial to choose an appropriate reporting verb, make necessary changes in pronouns and tenses, and ensure the structure of the question is accurate.
The steps of conversion are as follows:
- The reporting verb "asked" is changed to "said".
- The past perfect tense "had been" is changed to the simple past tense "were".
- The statement is changed to an interrogative sentence starting with "were".
- The third-person pronoun "she" is changed to the second-person pronoun "you".
- The words of the speaker are enclosed in the inverted commas.
So, the correct sentence would be: The little boy said to his teacher, 'Ma'am, were you always good as a child?
Related Questions
Know More about
Staff Selection Commission Combined Grad ...
Result | Eligibility | Application | Selection Process | Preparation Tips | Admit Card | Answer Key
Get Updates Brochure
Your Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level Exam brochure has been successfully mailed to your registered email id “”.
