Target Exam

CUET

Subject

English

Chapter

Direct/indirect

Question:

Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.

My cousin said, "My room-mate had snored throughout the night."

Options:

My cousin said that her room-mate had snored throughout the night.

My cousin told me that her room-mate snored throughout the night.

My cousin complained to me that her room-mate is snoring throughout the night.

My cousin felt that her room-mate may be snoring throughout the night.

Correct Answer:

My cousin said that her room-mate had snored throughout the night.

Explanation:

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

My cousin said that her room-mate had snored throughout the night.

  1. Retention of Tense: Since the original statement is in the past perfect tense ("had snored"), it remains unchanged in the indirect form. There is no need to shift the tense because the reporting verb "said" is also in the past tense.

  2. Pronoun Change: The pronoun "my" changes to "her" to reflect that it is being reported from the perspective of the cousin.

Thus, the best choice that accurately reflects the original meaning in indirect speech is: "My cousin said that her room-mate had snored throughout the night."

OTHER OPTIONS

  • My cousin told me that her room-mate snored throughout the night: Incorrect because "snored" shifts the tense from past perfect to simple past, which does not accurately reflect the original statement.

  • My cousin complained to me that her room-mate is snoring throughout the night: Incorrect because it changes the tense from past perfect to present continuous and alters the meaning.

  • My cousin felt that her room-mate may be snoring throughout the night: Incorrect as it changes the tense and meaning, suggesting an ongoing action rather than a completed action.