Choose the correct option to fill in the blank:
“Shall I book the bus tickets for Munnar?” Rakesh asked his father.
Rakesh asked his father whether he ______ book the bus tickets for Munnar.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → should
Complete sentence: Rakesh asked his father whether he should book the bus tickets for Munnar. The reporting verb “asked” is in the past, so “Shall I” becomes “he should”.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) shall | stays only in the speaker’s own words; after a past reporting verb, it changes to “should” | “Shall I switch off the fan?” asked Reena. |
| (2) should (answer) | after a reporting verb in the past, shall changes to should in reported speech | Meena asked her mother whether she should bring sweets for the puja. |
| (3) will | the future; not the reported form of “shall” | “I will help you with the boxes,” said Arun. |
| (4) may | permission or possibility; not the reported form of “shall” | You may sit in the front row today. |