Select the option that correctly expresses the following sentence in indirect speech.
Ritu said, “I am eating apples.”
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Ritu said that she was eating apples.
The given sentence is in direct speech and uses the present continuous tense:
'I am eating apples.'
When we convert direct speech into indirect speech, we follow these rules:
The reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense.
The present continuous tense ('am eating') in direct speech changes to past continuous tense ('was eating') in indirect speech.
The pronoun 'I' (referring to Ritu) changes to 'she'.
Hence, the correct indirect speech is:
Ritu said that she was eating apples.
Why the other options are incorrect:
Option 1: 'Ritu told that she was eating apples.'
Incorrect because 'told' must be followed by an object (e.g., Ritu told me). It cannot stand alone like 'said'.
Option 3: 'Ritu said that she has been eating apples.'
Incorrect because 'has been eating' is present perfect continuous, which is not the correct tense shift from present continuous.
Option 4: 'Ritu said that she had been eating apples.'
Incorrect because 'had been eating' is past perfect continuous, which is not the correct change from present continuous. This would only be used if the original sentence was in the past continuous.