Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
"Why is he smiling?" I want to know __________.

• A. why he was smiling
• B. why was he smiling
• C. why is he smiling
• D. why he is smiling

Answer 1

The correct option is D why he is smiling

Option D is the correct answer. It follows the correct syntax for the indirect mode of narration, the question word followed by the pronoun, succeeded by the verb in the present tense compatible with the present tense in the first part of the sentence. Option A is incorrect for the tense is incorrect. Options B and C are also incorrect because they do not follow the correct syntax for indirect speech.