Question

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence in indirect speech.
The teacher said, "Madhu is working sincerely."
The teacher said that Madhu ___________ sincerely.

• A. Has worked
• B. Has been working
• C. Was working
• D. Is working

Answer 1

The correct option is C Was working

As the given sentence in the direct speech is in the present continuous tense, we need to convert it into past continuous tense in the indirect speech.

Option A - 'Has worked' is used to represent the sentence in the present perfect tense. Thus option A is incorrect.

Option B - 'Has been working' is used to represent the sentence in the present perfect continuous tense. Thus option B is incorrect.

Option D - 'Is working' is used to form the sentence in the present continuous tense and we can't use the same tense in the indirect tense unless it is a universal truth. Thus option D is incorrect.

Option C - 'Was working' can be used here as 'was' is used to represent the past tense and 'working' is used to represent the continuous tense. Thus option C is the correct answer.

'The teacher said that Madhu was working sincerely.'