Select the option that expresses the given sentence in reported speech. Munna…
2019
Select the option that expresses the given sentence in reported speech.
Munna asked me. "When will you visit us again?"
- A.
Munna enquired of me when will you visit us again.
- B.
Munna enquired of me when I would visit them again
- C.
Munna enquired of me when I will visit them again.
- D.
Munna enquired of me when he would visit us again.
Attempted by 28 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct reported speech: Munna enquired of me when I would visit them again.
Explanation:
Backshift the tense: 'will' changes to 'would' in reported speech.
Change pronouns according to the reporter's perspective: the original 'you' (the person Munna addressed) becomes 'I' when reported by the addressee; 'us' (Munna and others) becomes 'them'.
Use statement word order for reported wh-questions (e.g., 'when I would...'), not the question word order 'when will you...'.
Why the other given sentences are incorrect:
A sentence that keeps 'will' and 'you' is wrong because it fails to backshift the tense and to change pronouns.
A sentence that uses 'will' with the pronoun changes present is still wrong because the auxiliary must be backshifted to 'would'.
A sentence that changes the subject to 'he' and keeps 'us' is wrong because it alters who is being referred to; the person asked becomes 'I' in reported speech and 'us' (Munna and others) becomes 'them'.