In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one, which best express the same sentence in Indirect/Direct speech.
Mother said to you, "When will you start from Pune?"
- AMother asked you when you would start from Pune.
- BMother asked you when you will start from Pune.
- CMother asked you when you will be starting from Pune.
- DMother asked you when you will have started from Pune.
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
When converting an interrogative sentence from direct to indirect speech:
"said to" changes to "asked".
The reporting verb is in the past tense ("said"), so the tense inside the quotation marks changes: "will" becomes "would".
The second person pronoun "you" changes according to the object of the reporting verb, which is also "you", so it remains "you".
The question structure changes to an assertive statement format (Subject + Verb).
Thus, "When will you start..." becomes "...when you would start...".
Correct sentence: "Mother asked you when you would start from Pune."
"said to" changes to "asked".
The reporting verb is in the past tense ("said"), so the tense inside the quotation marks changes: "will" becomes "would".
The second person pronoun "you" changes according to the object of the reporting verb, which is also "you", so it remains "you".
The question structure changes to an assertive statement format (Subject + Verb).
Thus, "When will you start..." becomes "...when you would start...".
Correct sentence: "Mother asked you when you would start from Pune."