Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct speech.
He asked me affectionately what he could do for me.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e.:He said to me, “What can I do for you, dear?”
The reported sentence is:
He asked me affectionately what he could do for me.
To convert it back into direct speech, follow these steps:
Identify the reporting clause:
“He asked me affectionately” becomes “He said to me,” with “affectionately” reflected as a term of endearment (“dear”) within the quote.
Reconstruct the question structure:
Use the question form: Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + verb.
“What he could do for me?” → “What can I do for you?” (inversion and tense shift).
Adjust pronouns and tense:
“he” (reporter in indirect) → “I” in direct speech.
“me” (listener) → “you”.
“could” (past) shifts back to “can” in direct.
Include the affectionate term (“dear”) inside the quotation to reflect tone.
So, the most accurate direct speech form is:
He said to me, “What can I do for you, dear?”
Why the other options are incorrect:
Option 1: “What can be done for me?” – uses passive voice and changes the meaning.
Option 2: “What should be done for you?” – alters both modal and pronouns.
Option 3: “What could he do?” – wrong person and tense.