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.
She said that she had finished her work.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
She said, "I have finished my work."
Explanation
Tense Reversal Rule: When converting from indirect speech back to direct speech, the past perfect tense ("had finished") used after a past-tense reporting verb ("said") typically shifts forward to its original present perfect tense ("have finished").
Pronoun Realignment: The third-person pronouns "she" and "her" in the indirect clause refer back to the speaker. Inside the quote of the direct speech, these must change to the first-person pronouns "I" and "my" to accurately capture the speaker's original perspective.
Key Points
Word: She said, "I have finished my work."
Meaning: The grammatically precise direct transformation that restores the original first-person viewpoint and present perfect aspect.
Grammatical Role: Direct speech construction (functions to enclose the exact words of the speaker within quotation marks).