Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumDirect and Indirect (Reported) Speech

Consider the direct speech statement: The lead researcher remarked to the delegates, "We have completed the first phase of the clinical trial today."

Which of the following options correctly renders the statement above in reported speech?

  1. The lead researcher remarked to the delegates that they had completed the first phase of the clinical trial that day.Answer
  2. B
    The lead researcher remarked to the delegates that they have completed the first phase of the clinical trial that day.
  3. C
    The lead researcher remarked to the delegates that they had completed the first phase of the clinical trial today.
  4. D
    The lead researcher remarked to the delegates that we have completed the first phase of the clinical trial today.

Answer

The lead researcher remarked to the delegates that they had completed the first phase of the clinical trial that day.
The correct option properly changes the pronoun 'we' to 'they', backshifts the present perfect verb form 'have completed' to the past perfect 'had completed', and converts the time expression 'today' to 'that day'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the reporting verb and its tense
The reporting verb 'remarked' is in the past tense, requiring backshift of tenses and changes to pronouns and time words.
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, verbs and temporal markers in reported speech must be shifted back into the past.
2
Change pronouns and backshift verb tenses
'We' becomes 'they', and 'have completed' (present perfect) shifts to 'had completed' (past perfect).
Reported speech shifts perspective to third-person and moves the time frame back one step in the past.
3
Convert time adverbials
'Today' changes to 'that day'.
Adverbs of time must shift relative to the point of reporting when governed by a past-tense reporting verb.

Key Concept

Backshifting tenses, pronoun adjustment, and temporal adverb changes in reported speech
Rate this question

Topics

Direct and Indirect (Reported) Speech

More questions from this topic