Question

Select the correct option to complete the sentence in indirect speech:
Arjun said, “Raju plays badminton everyday.”
Arjun said that Raju __________ badminton everyday.
A) Plays
B) Played
C) Will play
D) Is playing

Answer 1

Hint: When we want to report what someone said without speech marks and without necessarily using the same words, we can use indirect speech.

Complete answer:
Option A) Plays – is an incorrect answer ‘plays’ is used with the 3rd person pronouns in singular and it will take plays. Thus, this is an incorrect use in the blank.
Option B) Played – is an incorrect answer because ‘played’ is the past tense of play and the use of played is inappropriate in the sentence. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option C) Will play – is an incorrect answer because ‘will play’ implies the future tense and this sentence is in simple present tense. Thus, this is incorrect to be used in the blank. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option D) Is playing – is the correct answer because ‘playing’ is present continuous tense and is the most appropriate in the blank in the sentence. Thus, this is the correct answer.

Hence, the correct answer is Option ‘ D’.

Note: Indirect speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words. In indirect speech, the structure of the reported clause depends on whether the speaker is reporting a statement, a question or a command. Here, the speaker is reporting a sentence, so option D is the most appropriate answer and rest is wrong.