Choose the correct sentence in indirect speech for the following sentence in direct speech:
He said, "Congratulations! You have done well."
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → He congratulated him and added that he had done well.
Direct to indirect speech (exclamation + statement):
- Reporting verb: the exclamation "Congratulations!" is reported by a suitable verb: congratulated him.
- Joining the statement: the second part is a statement, joined by and added that.
- Tense change: present perfect "have done" → past perfect had done.
- Pronoun changes: "You" → he.
- Words of nearness (time and place): none in this sentence.
Example: He said, "Bravo! You have won." → He applauded him and said that he had won.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: He said congratulations, you have done well. — Incorrect. It keeps the direct words unchanged: no reporting verb for the exclamation, no pronoun or tense change.
Option 2: He congratulated him that he has done well. — Incorrect.
- Congratulate is not followed by a that-clause; the statement needs its own link ("and added that").
- "has done" is not changed to had done.
Option 3: He applauded him and said you have done well. — Incorrect.
- "Congratulations" is reported by congratulated; to applaud is to clap or praise in general.
- "you have done" keeps the direct pronoun and tense.