Identify the correct option to convert the given statement in Direct Speech to Indirect Speech.
"I am going to learn to drive", said Sonia.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Sonia said that she was going to learn to drive.
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| "I am going to learn to drive", said Sonia. | Sonia said that she was going to learn to drive. |
Statement in indirect speech:
- Reporting verb: "said" stays; a statement is introduced by that, and the inverted commas go.
- Tense change: the reporting verb "said" is in the past, so the present continuous am going becomes the past continuous was going; "to learn to drive" stays as it is.
- Pronoun changes: "I" refers to Sonia, so it becomes she.
- Words of nearness (time and place): the sentence has none.
Example: "I am going to buy a car," said Ravi. → Ravi said that he was going to buy a car.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Sonia said that she is going to learn to drive. — Incorrect. The tense is not changed; after "said", "am going" becomes "was going".
Option 3: Sonia said that she is learning to drive. — Incorrect. It changes the meaning: Sonia planned to learn; she had not started. The tense is also not changed.
Option 4: Sonia said that she was learning to drive. — Incorrect. The tense is right, but "was learning" says the learning had already begun; "going to learn" speaks of a future plan.