A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in…

Question

A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech.

She said, "He doesn't listen to me."

1. A. She said he don't listen to her.
2. B. She said that he doesn't listened to her.
3. C. She said that he didn't listen to her. (Correct answer)
4. D. She said that he didn't listened to her.

Correct Answer

Option C — She said that he didn't listen to her.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is She said that he didn't listen to her.

Key Points

• The reporting verb said is past, so the reported clause backshifts: present simple *doesn't listen* becomes past simple didn't listen.
• The pronoun changes with the speaker: me becomes her.
• After the auxiliary *did*, the main verb takes its base form — *listen*, not *listened* — which is what makes options B and D ungrammatical.

Additional Information

• The full backshift chain: present simple → past simple, present continuous → past continuous, present perfect → past perfect, past simple → past perfect, will → would, can → could, may → might, must → had to.
• Time and place markers shift too: *now* → *then*, *today* → *that day*, *here* → *there*, *this* → *that*.
• No backshift is applied when the reporting verb is present, or when the statement remains a universal truth.