Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech.
The passenger says to the railway clerk, “Is the train late?”
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. The passenger asks the railway clerk if the train is late.
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Identify the reporting verb and the reported speech:
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Reporting verb: "says to"
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Reported speech: "'Is the train late?'"
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Begin the indirect speech with the reporting verb and introduce it with an appropriate reporting clause (e.g., "asks," "inquires," "wants to know," etc.) based on the tone and context of the original sentence.
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Pronouns and verb tenses should be adjusted as necessary to reflect the movement from the speaker's perspective to the reported perspective when repeating the reported speech within quote marks.
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Pay attention to any necessary changes in time expressions, such as tense shifts.
Now, let's apply these rules to make Indirect speech: "The passenger asks the railway clerk if the train is late."