Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct speech.
He asked the cashier if he could get a new bundle of notes.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. He said to the cashier, "Can I get a new bundle of notes?"
Changes required:
Conjunction: In direct speech, the conjunction “that” used in indirect speech is removed and quotation marks (“ ”) are introduced to enclose the exact words spoken.
Verb: The reporting verb “asked” changes to “said to” when converting to direct speech with a question, as the original question was polite and not a formal request.
Tense: In indirect speech, the modal verb “could” changes back to “can” in direct speech.
Pronoun: The third person pronoun “he” becomes the first person “I” in direct speech, as the speaker is referring to himself.
Others: The word “if” used in reported/indirect speech is omitted in direct speech, and the sentence becomes a question.
Converted sentence: He said to the cashier, "Can I get a new bundle of notes?"
Hence, the chosen option is correct.