Question

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence in indirect speech.
The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the sun.”
The teacher said that the Earth____________ around the sun.
a. Revolving
b. Had revolved
c. Revolves
d. Does revolve

Answer 1

Hint: Universal Truths are treated differently when used in indirect speech compared to the normal situation. They do not change in any speech they are used in.

Complete Solution: Rules for sentences with universal truths:
1. The reported speech remains the same.
2. The conjunction ‘that’ is used to connect the reporting and the reported speech.
3. If the reported speech is a part of an interrogative sentence, the conjunction ‘that’ is replaced with ‘if/whether asked/inquired, etc.
Option a ‘Revolving’ is in present continuous tense while the reported speech is in simple present. In the case of universal truth, the reported speech remains the same. So, this option is incorrect.
Option b ‘Had revolved’ is in the present perfect tense. The reported speech is an example of universal truth that cannot be changed even if it is used in indirect speech because universal truth is a proven truth and remains the same irrespective at any time. So, this option is also incorrect.

Option c ‘Revolves’ is the correct option because the universal truth in indirect speech is meant to be treated in the same way as it is done in direct speech. The universal truth remains the same because it does not change irrespective of anything; it is a proven fact. ‘The earth revolves around the sun’ remains true in whatever part of speech it is used. So, this option is correct.

Option d ‘Does revolve’ is incorrect because no changes are allowed in the verb in case of universal truth. The reported speech should exactly be the same.

Note: The universal truth is an accepted fact, a general truth, or a habituated action.