Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.
She said to me, “What can I do for you?”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → She asked me what she could do for me.
Changing a "what" question into indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said to me | asked me | She puts a question. So "said to" becomes "asked". |
| Joining word | " " (quotation marks) | what | The question word "what" itself joins the two parts. No "that" or "if" is added. |
| Word order | can I do | she could do | The question order "can I" changes to the plain order, subject first. The "?" goes. |
| Tense change | can | could | "Can" becomes "could" (could + base form (V1)) because "said" is in the past. |
| Pronoun change | I, you | she, me | She is the speaker, so "I" becomes "she". I was the listener, so "you" becomes "me". |
| Full sentence | She said to me, "What can I do for you?" | She asked me what she could do for me. |
Who, when, where, why and how join a reported question the same way. Example: Dad said to me, "When will you be back?" → Dad asked me when I would be back.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: She asked me what she can do for me. — Incorrect. "Can" stays as it was. After a past reporting verb it should be "could".
Option 2: She asked me whether she can do anything for me. — Incorrect. "Whether" is used for a yes/no question. This question begins with "what", so "what" must join it.
Option 3: She asked me what can she do for me. — Incorrect. "Can she" keeps the question order. A reported question puts the subject first.