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

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 .

Ravi said, "I like this pen."

1. A. Ravi said he liked that pen. (Correct answer)
2. B. Ravi said he like that pen.
3. C. Ravi said he liked this pen.
4. D. Ravi said he likes that pen.

Correct Answer

Option A — Ravi said he liked that pen.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Ravi said he liked that pen.

Key Points

• The reporting verb said is past, so the reported verb backshifts: present *like* becomes past liked.
• The pronoun shifts from I to he.
• The demonstrative also shifts: this becomes that, since the speaker's immediate context is no longer present.
• Option B fails to backshift the verb, C keeps *this*, and D leaves the verb in the present.

Additional Information

• Demonstrative and adverb shifts in reported speech: *this → that*, *these → those*, *here → there*, *now → then*, *today → that day*, *tomorrow → the next day*, *yesterday → the previous day*, *ago → before*.
• All three changes — tense, pronoun and demonstrative — must be applied together; each distractor here omits exactly one, which is how the options are constructed.
• No backshift applies when the reporting verb is present, or when the reported statement is a universal truth.