Choose the transformation of the following sentence from Direct to Indirect Speech from the options given below:
He said, "Let us wait for the award."
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → He proposed that they should wait for the award
"Let us" in indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said | proposed that | “Let us” expresses a proposal or suggestion, so “said” becomes “proposed” or “suggested”. The pattern is proposed / suggested + that + subject + should + base verb. |
| Tense change | Let ... wait | should wait | “Let ... wait” becomes “should wait”. |
| Pronoun change | us | they | “Us” becomes “they” (the people he spoke for). |
| Full sentence | He said, “Let us wait for the award.” | He proposed that they should wait for the award |
Example: She said, “Let us go for a walk.” → She proposed that they should go for a walk.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: He said to wait for the award — Incorrect. It drops the "us/they": the speaker now seems to order someone else to wait, and the sense of a joint proposal is lost.
Option 2: He said that let them wait for the award — Incorrect. It keeps the direct form "let" after "that". A that-clause needs a subject and a verb ("they should wait").
Option 3: He said that they waited for the award — Incorrect. It turns the proposal into a statement of past fact, which changes the meaning.