Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech.
The swallow asked the skylark, “Will we be able to shift the eggs from this tree by tomorrow?”
- AThe swallow asked the skylark whether they would be able to shift the eggs from that tree by the next day.
- BThe swallow asked the skylark whether they could be able to shift the eggs from this tree by tomorrow.
- CThe swallow asked the skylark whether they would have been able to shift the eggs from the tree by the next day.
- DThe swallow asked the skylark whether they will be able to shift the eggs from that tree by the next day.
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
Rules for changing into indirect speech:
Reporting verb "asked" remains unchanged.
The question is a yes/no question, so conjunction "whether" or "if" is used.
The pronoun "we" changes to "they".
The modal "will" changes to its past form "would".
The demonstrative adjective "this" changes to "that".
The time phrase "tomorrow" changes to "the next day" or "the following day".
Option A implements all these modifications perfectly: "The swallow asked the skylark whether they would be able to shift the eggs from that tree by the next day."
Reporting verb "asked" remains unchanged.
The question is a yes/no question, so conjunction "whether" or "if" is used.
The pronoun "we" changes to "they".
The modal "will" changes to its past form "would".
The demonstrative adjective "this" changes to "that".
The time phrase "tomorrow" changes to "the next day" or "the following day".
Option A implements all these modifications perfectly: "The swallow asked the skylark whether they would be able to shift the eggs from that tree by the next day."