Question

Change the following statement into indirect speech.
He said to me, "Why do you want to go home?"
A. He told me that why did you wanted to go home.
B. He asked me that why I wanted to go home.
C. He asked if why I wanted to go home.
D. He asked why I wanted to go home.

Answer 1

Hint: To change a sentence to an indirect speech, we need to convey the meaning of the sentence in our own words correctly. We will look for an option in which the meaning of the given sentence is conveyed without any error or changing its meaning.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse each option individually in detail to figure out the correct option with the help of the above stated hint.
He told me that why did you wanted to go home: The phrase “why did you” indicates a direct speech. This sentence is not in indirect speech completely. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

He asked me that why I wanted to go home: When we are conveying something that is said by someone else, we just convey the meaning in our own words. The words ‘me’ and ‘that’ are not required here. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

He asked if why I wanted to go home: This sentence is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

He asked why I wanted to go home: This option conveys the meaning of the given sentence correctly and precisely. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Note: There are two ways in which a sentence can be presented. Direct and Indirect speech. A direct speech is one in which the exact words of the speaker are repeated. As it is in the given sentence. An indirect speech is the one in which only the meaning of the sentence is conveyed correctly in our own words.