In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct speech.
The clerk said, "What can I do for you?"
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. The clerk asked what he could do for me.
- As the reported speech is consist of two sentences we need to change both the sentence according to their rules.
- 'Inverted comma' will be removed.
- 'Said' will change into 'asked' as the sentence is interrogative.
- 'I' will change into 'he' as the first person changes according to the subject of the reporting verb.
- 'You' will change into 'me' as the second person changes according to the object of the reporting verb. When object is absent, we consider it 'me'.
- 'Can' will change into 'could' as 'said' is in the past tense.
As the chosen option follows the given rules it will be correct.