A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech.
He wondered whether he could ever master quantum theory.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. He wondered, 'Can I ever master quantum theory?'.
Rules for Conversion to Direct Speech:
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Reporting Verb: The verb 'wondered' indicates a question or a reflective thought. In direct speech, this is followed by a comma and the actual question in inverted commas.
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Conjunction Removal: The word 'whether' (or 'if') is used in indirect speech to introduce yes/no questions. It must be removed and replaced with the question mark structure in direct speech.
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Pronoun Change: The third-person pronoun 'he' in the reported part refers back to the subject. In direct speech, the speaker refers to himself, so it changes to 'I'.
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Tense Change: * In indirect speech, 'could' is the past form used to match the reporting verb 'wondered.'
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When converting back to direct speech, the modal verb reverts to its original present form: 'can'.
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Sentence Structure: Since 'whether' indicates a question, the direct speech must follow the interrogative form (Verb + Subject): 'Can I...' instead of 'I can...'.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.