Choose the most appropriate option that has the following sentence from Direct to Indirect Speech:
Lila asked, "Isn't skydiving a dangerous sport?"
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Lila inquired whether skydiving wasn't a dangerous sport.
Indirect speech of a yes/no question:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | asked | inquired | “Asked” may stay or become inquired. “Said” or “told” is never used for a question. |
| Linking word | – | whether | A question without a question word is joined with whether or if. |
| Tense change | isn't | wasn't | The reporting verb is in the past, so “isn't” changes to wasn't. |
| Word order and punctuation | Isn't skydiving ...? | skydiving wasn't ... | The question becomes a statement (subject before verb: “skydiving wasn't”), so there is no question mark. |
| Full sentence | Lila asked, “Isn't skydiving a dangerous sport?” | Lila inquired whether skydiving wasn't a dangerous sport. |
Example: He asked, “Is the shop open?” → He asked whether the shop was open.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Lila asked me whether skydiving was dangerous? — Incorrect.
- It drops the negative and the words "a ... sport", so it does not report what Lila said.
- An indirect question ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
Option 2: Lila told me that skydiving is very dangerous sport. — Incorrect.
- It turns Lila's question into a statement with "told ... that".
- The tense is not changed (is), "very" is added and the article "a" is missing.
Option 4: Lila asked me whether skydiving wasn't a dangerous sport? — Incorrect. The wording is reported correctly, but an indirect question is a statement and must not end with a question mark.
Contrast: a direct question ends with a question mark. An indirect question is a statement and ends with a full stop.