Question

Change the following statement into indirect speech.

My friend said to the Station Master, "When does the Punjab Mail reach Agra?"

• A. My friend asked the Station Master when the Punjab Mail reached Agra.
• B. My friend told the Station Master when the Punjab Mail reached Agra.
• C. My friend asked to the Station Master when the Punjab Mail reached Agra.
• D. My friend asked the Station Master when did the Punjab Mail reach Agra.

Answer 1

The correct option is A My friend asked the Station Master when the Punjab Mail reached Agra.

The two ways of relating what a person has said are 1)direct and 2)indirect (reported).

In the direct speech, the exact words of the original speaker are repeated.

In the indirect speech (reported speech), the exact meaning of what the speaker told is expressed but not necessarily in the speaker’s exact words.

Option A is correct as the appropriate introductory verb 'asked' is used and 'reached' is used because the given question is in the simple present tense.

Options B, C, and D are wrong as 'told','to', and 'reach' cannot be used respectively.

The correct answer is A)My friend asked the Station Master when the Punjab Mail reached Agra.