Select the correct direct form of the given sentence.
I asked my friend how one could be merry when everything was so messed up.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1 i.e. I said to my friend, “How can one be merry when everything is so messed up?”
Introduction of Direct Speech: The reporting phrase "I said to my friend" introduces the direct quotation.
Direct Question Formation: The indirect question "how one could be merry when everything was so messed up" is converted into a direct question "How can one be merry when everything is so messed up?". The tense is adjusted from "could be" to "can be" and "was" to "is" to reflect the direct speech format.
Quotation Marks: The direct question is enclosed in quotation marks to indicate the exact words spoken.