Question : Select the option that expresses the given sentence in reported speech.
David said, "Can someone please explain what is going on?"
Option 1: David asked whether someone could explain what was going on.
Option 2: David said can someone please explain what is going on.
Option 3: David asked that if someone could explain what is going on.
Option 4: David asked if someone can please explain what was going on.
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Correct Answer: David asked whether someone could explain what was going on.
Solution : The correct choice is the first option.
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech or indirect discourse, is a way of reporting what someone else has said without quoting their exact words.
Narration conversion:
- The reporting verb "said" is changed to "asked".
- In yes-or-no questions, the connector "if/whether" is used to introduce the reported clause in order to convert the questions into statements.
- The present tense "is" is changed to the past tense "was".
- The modal verb "can" is changed to "could".
Therefore, the correct answer is: David asked whether someone could explain what was going on.
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