Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option.
He has just said, "I want to speak to you".
He has just said ____________________.

• A. he wants to speak to me
• B. he wanted to speak to me
• C. I want to speak to her
• D. he had wanted to speak to me
• E. he will want to speak to me

Answer 1

The correct option is B he wanted to speak to me

The two ways of relating what a person has said are 1)direct and 2)indirect (reported speech).In direct speech, the original speaker's exact words are repeated. In indirect/reported speech, the exact meaning is expressed but not necessarily using the original speaker's exact words. Pronouns and possessive adjectives usually change from first or second person to the third person except when the speaker is reporting his own words. Sometimes a noun can be inserted to avoid doubt.

When we turn direct questions and exclamations into indirect speech, they are converted to affirmative statement .( ? and ! is not used).

Option B is correct as when we convert the given direct statement to indirect speech , want is changed to wanted, and I to he.

The other options are wrong as he wants, I want to, he had wanted, and he will want can't be used.

The correct answer is B)he wanted to speak to me