Question

The principal asked me, "What is your name?"
Change the following from direct to reported speech
A) The principal asked me what my name was.
B) The principal asked me what was my name.
C) The principal asked me what is my name.
D) The principal asked me what is your name.

Answer 1

Hint: A way of communicating information without explicitly citing the words is known as indirect speaking. Always remember to follow the grammatical patterns and rules while changing directly to indirect discourse. Not only that, but while changing from an interrogative to an assertive, remember to keep the "interrogative" pattern in mind. The most crucial element is that while transforming direct speech to indirect speech, the meaning must remain the same.

Complete answer:
There are two methods to relate what someone has said: 1) directly and 2) indirectly (reported speech). The precise words of the original speaker are repeated in direct voice. In plays and quotes, direct speech is used. The precise meaning is communicated in indirect/reported speech, although not always using the original speaker's exact words. Except when the speaker is recounting his own words, pronouns and possessive adjectives generally move from first to the third person. To eliminate ambiguity, a noun might be introduced.

When we convert direct questions into direct speech, we must make the following adjustments: As in the assertions, tenses, pronouns, possessive adjectives, and time and place adverbs change. The verb's interrogative form becomes the affirmative form. In indirect inquiries, the question mark (?) is thus omitted. The question word is repeated in the indirect question when the direct speech begins with a question word (when, where, who, why, etc.).

If no inquiry word (why, how, etc.) is present, the words if or whether must be used.
Now look at option A) The principal asked me what my name was.
Following the rules of direct/indirect speech, the question mark has been removed while converting direct speech to indirect. Also, the pronoun your has changed to my. There has also been a changed in the tense of the speech, it has changed from present tense to past tense. In addition, the introductory verb “ask” has been used. Since this option has followed all the rules, thus, it is correct,

Thus, the correct answer is Option A) The principal asked me what my name was.

Note: The following are the rules for switching from direct to indirect speech:
- The comma and inverted commas should be removed from the statement.
- Between the reporting and the remarks that were reported, insert "that."
(It's up to you whether you put "that" between the reporting and the reported speech.)
- Change the initial letter of the reported speech to a small letter except for "I."