Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.
Our wicketkeeper says, “I may not come for practice today.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Our wicketkeeper says that he may not come for practice today.
Reporting verb in the present tense:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining word | " " (quotation marks) | that | "That" joins the statement in place of the quotation marks. |
| Pronoun change | I | he | The wicketkeeper is the speaker. So "I" becomes "he". |
| Full sentence | Our wicketkeeper says, "I may not come for practice today." | Our wicketkeeper says that he may not come for practice today. |
"Says" is in the present, so the words are reported at the same time they are spoken. That is why "may" stays "may" and "today" stays "today". The same holds after "tells", "has said" and "will say". Example: Meena says, "I am busy now." → Meena says that she is busy now.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: Our wicketkeeper says that he might not come for practice today. — Incorrect. After the present "says", "may" stays "may". "Might" is the change made only after a past reporting verb.
Option 3: Our wicketkeeper said that he might not come for practice that day. — Incorrect. The reporting verb is changed to "said". The present "says" must stay as it is.
Option 4: Our wicketkeeper told me he won’t come for practice. — Incorrect. "Won't" means he is sure not to come. "May not" only says that he might not come.