Question

Complete the sentence using the most appropriate option:
I wonder where Sue is. She _______ she would be here at 8 o'clock.

• A. said
• B. say
• C. told
• D. tell

Answer 1

The correct option is A said

'Say' means 'to utter something'.

'Tell' means 'to utter or say something to someone'.

The difference is minor but it changes the meaning and grammar of the sentence.

The given sentence is in past tense as suggested by the words 'she would be here'. 'Would' is the past form of 'will' and presents an action that is most likely to happen.

Options A and C: 'Said' is the past tense of 'say'. It agrees with the sentence in meaning. 'Sue' uttered that she would be 'here', but she didn't direct the utterance toward someone ('told' which is the past form of 'tell').

Hence option A is correct and C is wrong.

Options B and D: 'Say' and 'tell' are the base verbs and do not present any tense. Since the sentence presents a past action, the base verbs are not appropriate options.

Hence B and D are wrong.