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 asked me if I had completed the assignment.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
He said, "Have you completed the assignment?"
Explanation
The reporting verb "asked" and the conjunction "if" show that the indirect sentence is a inverted yes/no question, which requires standard question marks and introductory formatting when reversed. The Past Perfect tense ("had completed") backshifts to the Present Perfect tense ("Have you completed") in direct speech. The first-person pronoun "I" shifts back to the second-person pronoun "you" to properly address the listener.
Key Points
Indirect Structure Reporting Clause (He asked me if) + Past Perfect (I had completed...)
Direct Structure Reporting Clause (He said,) + Present Perfect Question ("Have you completed...?")
Grammatical Role Indirect to direct speech conversion for interrogative sentences.