Choose the correct form of reported speech from the options given below :
Rakesh said, "Shall I play the movie?"
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Rakesh asked if he should play the movie.
A yes/no question in indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said | asked | “Said” becomes “asked”, because a question is reported. |
| Connector | “ ” (quotation marks) | if | A yes/no question is joined with “if” or “whether”. |
| Pronoun change | I | he | “I” becomes “he” (Rakesh). |
| Tense change | shall | should | The modal “shall”, used to ask for advice or to offer, becomes “should”. |
| Word order | Shall I play | he should play | The question becomes a statement (“he should play”), and the question mark is dropped. |
| Full sentence | Rakesh said, “Shall I play the movie?” | Rakesh asked if he should play the movie. |
Example: She said, “Shall I open the door?” → She asked if she should open the door.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Rakesh said if he could play the movie? — Incorrect.
- A question is reported with asked, not "said".
- Could asks about permission or ability. "Shall" becomes "should".
- Indirect speech ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
Option 2: Rakesh asked that he should play the movie. — Incorrect. A yes/no question is introduced by if/whether, not "that".
Option 3: Rakesh said if he should play the movie. — Incorrect. The reporting verb must change from "said" to asked for a question.