Select the most appropriate option as the interchange of the following sentence to exclamatory:
"It is sad that a friend should be false."
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Alas! That ever a friend should be false.
Assertive to exclamatory:
| Change | Assertive | Exclamatory | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interjection | It is sad | Alas! | A statement of sorrow (“It is sad that ...”) becomes an exclamation that begins with the interjection “Alas!”. “It is sad” is dropped. |
| That-clause | that a friend should be false | That ever a friend should be false | The that-clause is kept, and “ever” may be added for emphasis. |
| Full sentence | It is sad that a friend should be false. | Alas! That ever a friend should be false. |
Example: It is a pity that the old temple should lie in ruins. → Alas, that the old temple should lie in ruins!
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Alas! A friend like you should be false — Incorrect. It adds "like you", which is not in the original, and turns a general remark into an accusation.
Option 3: Alas! Indeed a friend of you is false — Incorrect. It states that a particular friend is false, and "a friend of you" is wrong (a friend of yours).
Option 4: Alas! A friend in need is false — Incorrect. It brings in the proverb "a friend in need" and changes the meaning altogether.