Choose the correct form of the given sentence in Direct Speech from the options given below:
He said that the clerk would not attend office.
A. He said, "The clerk had not attended office."
B. He said, "The clerk will not attend office."
C. He said, "The clerk has not attended office."
D. He said, "The clerk is not attending office."
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → B
Indirect to direct speech:
- Reporting verb: "said that" becomes said, "..." with inverted commas.
- Tense change: the tense that was moved back in indirect speech is brought forward again: would → will.
- Pronoun changes: none in this sentence.
- Words of nearness (time and place): none in this sentence.
- This sentence: He said, "The clerk will not attend office."
(A) He said, "The clerk had not attended office." — Incorrect.
- "Had not attended" speaks of a past action.
- The reported speech is about the future (would not attend).
(B) He said, "The clerk will not attend office." — Correct.
- Would in reported speech goes back to will in the speaker's own words.
(C) He said, "The clerk has not attended office." — Incorrect.
- The present perfect speaks of something already done.
- In indirect speech it would become "had not attended", not "would not attend".
(D) He said, "The clerk is not attending office." — Incorrect.
- The present continuous would become "was not attending" in indirect speech, not "would not attend".