Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech.
She said, “How beautiful is the rain!”
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. She exclaimed with joy that the rain was beautiful.
The direct speech sentence “How beautiful is the rain!” is an exclamatory sentence expressing joy.
In indirect speech, exclamatory sentences are reported using verbs like exclaimed with joy, exclaimed in delight, etc.
The present tense 'is' changes to past tense 'was' because the reporting verb (said) is in the past.
Option 4 correctly keeps the meaning, emotion, and tense change.
Option 1 keeps 'is' in present tense, which is incorrect in normal backshifting.
Option 2 uses 'has been,' which changes the meaning to a recent experience.
Option 3 uses 'had been,' which suggests the beauty was only in the more distant past, changing the sense of the statement.