You: Are you going on a holiday?
Charlie: I want to go on a holiday but I can't afford it.

This is the conversation between Charlie and You yesterday.
Later that day you tell another friend about what Charlie said.
Use reported Speech:

He said that he wants to go on a holiday but he couldn't afford it.

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He said that he wanted to go on holiday but he couldn't afford it.

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He said that he wants to go on holiday but he can't afford it.

No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!

He said that I want to go on holiday but I can't afford it.

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Solution

The correct option is D He said that he wanted to go on holiday but he couldn't afford it.
Indirect Speech is used to report something in our own words.
In the case of present simple tense, reported speech is formed by using the simple past tense. Inverted commas are removed and 'that' is used as a conjunction. 'Can' changes to 'could' in indirect speech.
The sentence would become - He said that he wanted to go on holiday but he couldn't afford it.
Thus, option B is the correct answer according to the rules.

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Similar questions

‘While you were upstairs, I have been thinking a lot about your Papa and Mamma.’

What is the discrepancy between what Gaston said earlier and what he says now?

(i) Earlier he did not want Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he is showing concern for them.

(ii) Earlier he wanted Jeanne’s parents to stay with them but now he does not want them to come over.

(iii) Earlier he wanted to buy a house for them but now he wants them to come and stay in their villa.

(iv) Earlier he stayed in Jeanne’s parents’ villa but now he wants them to stay with him and Jeanne.

Here are some questions in direct speech. Put them into reported speech.

(i) Penny said, “Do you really want it son?”

(ii) Mill-wheel said, “Will he ride back with me?”

(iii) He said to Mill-wheel, “Do you think the fawn is still there?”

(iv) He asked Mill-wheel, “Will you help me find him?”

(v) He said, “Was it up here that Pa got bitten by the snake?”

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