Choose the correct direct speech of the given sentence from the options that…
2022
Choose the correct direct speech of the given sentence from the options that follow:
The teacher said that oil floats on water.
- A.
The teacher said, "Oil floats on water".
- B.
The teacher says, "Oil floats on water."
- C.
The teacher says, "Oil floated on water".
- D.
The teacher said, "Oil floated on water".
Attempted by 9 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
To convert the sentence "The teacher said that oil floats on water" into direct speech, we follow specific rules regarding reporting verbs and verb tenses.
Explanation of the Conversion
Reporting Verb: The original sentence uses "said," which is in the past tense. Therefore, the direct speech must also use "said" to maintain consistency.
Universal Truths: The phrase "oil floats on water" is a scientific fact or a universal truth. When reporting a universal truth, the tense of the statement does not change, even if the reporting verb is in the past tense. It must remain in the present simple tense.