Select the option that best expresses the given sentence in Indirect speech:
The interviewer said to the candidate, "Either perform or leave".
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The interviewer asked the candidate to either perform or leave.
Explanation:
- The original sentence is a direct quotation, where the interviewer directly addresses the candidate.
- When converting direct speech to indirect speech, we usually change the tense of the verb and pronouns accordingly.
- In this case, the verb "said" changes to "asked" because the interviewer is making a request rather than simply stating something.
- The phrase "to the candidate" is retained in the indirect speech to clarify who the interviewer is addressing.
- The phrase "Either perform or leave" is rephrased as "to either perform or leave" to fit grammatically into the indirect speech structure.
Therefore, "The interviewer asked the candidate to either perform or leave" is the best expression in indirect speech, as it accurately conveys the meaning of the original sentence in a grammatically correct manner.