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.
My friend said that he could meet me after lunch.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
"My friend said, 'I can meet you after lunch,'" is the correct direct speech form of the indirect sentence: "My friend said that he could meet me after lunch.
Explanation:
Tense Change: In indirect speech, the modal verb "could" is often the back shifted form of the present tense modal "can" used in direct speech.
Pronoun Shift: The first-person pronoun "I" in the direct quote correctly refers to the speaker ("My friend"), which shifts to "he" in indirect speech.
Mood Consistency: The original statement is a declarative sentence expressing ability or possibility. Options using "Shall," "May," or questions change the original intent and tone of the statement.