Question

Transform the following from direct to indirect speech-
Joe said to Mary, “Dinner was ready at eight o'clock.”
a) Joe said to Mary that dinner was ready at eight o’clock.
b) Joe said to Mary that dinner is ready at eight o'clock.
c) Joe said to Mary that dinner had been ready at eight o'clock
d) Joe said to Mary that dinner will be ready at eight o'clock.

Answer 1

Hint: The given sentence is in a speech format and is being said to another person. We have to change the form of this speech. Pay attention to the parts of speech used in the dialogue as well.

Complete answer:
 In the given question, we have to transform this given word from direct speech to indirect speech. It is said from “Joe” to “Mary”. Indirect speech is a means of expressing the content of statements, questions, or other utterances, without quoting them explicitly as is done indirect speech. For example, He said “I’m coming” is direct speech, whereas He said he was coming is indirect speech.
Now, let us examine all the given options to find out the correct answer-
Option ‘a' – it is the correct option as it has just changed the given sentence in the simple past tense, without changing its meaning.
Option ‘b’ – it is also an incorrect option as it is simple present tense and simple past indirect speech does not take a simple present verb form in indirect speech.
Option ‘c’ – it is an incorrect answer as it uses the verb form (had been) in the past perfect tense. This is correct as this satisfies the rule of conversion for simple past sentences.
Option ‘d’ – it is an incorrect option because it changes the verb tense to future continuous.
Hence, option ‘a’ is the correct option.

Note:
 In such types of questions, you must keep in mind that you don’t change the meaning of the already given sentence. Understand the tone of the given sentence, clearly.