Target Exam

CUET

Subject

English

Chapter

Direct/indirect

Question:

Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.

He said, “I decided not to purchase the house, because it was near the railway track.”

Options:

He said that he had decided not to purchase the house because it was near the railway track.

He said that he had decides to not purchase the house because it was near the railway track.

He said that he had decided not to purchased the house because it were near the railway track.

He told that he had decided not to purchase the house because it was near the railway track.

Correct Answer:

He said that he had decided not to purchase the house because it was near the railway track.

Explanation:

The correct indirect form of the given sentence is: OPTION 1

He said that he had decided not to purchase the house because it was near the railway track.

  1. Reporting verb ("said"): The reporting verb "said" is appropriate for conveying what someone stated.

  2. Tense change ("decided" to "had decided"): The verb "decided" in the present changes to "had decided" in the past perfect tense when reported.

  3. Correct structure: The phrase maintains the structure and meaning of the original statement while using "that" to introduce the reported speech.

  4. Thus, the correct option is:
    He said that he had decided not to purchase the house because it was near the railway track.

    Incorrect options explained:

    • Option 2 ("had decides"): Incorrect because "decides" should be in the past participle form "decided."
    • Option 3 ("purchased"): Incorrect because "purchased" is the wrong form; it should be "purchase" as it follows "to."
    • Option 4 ("told"): Incorrect because "told" should be followed by an object (e.g., "him" or "me") when reporting speech.