Question:

A part of the sentence is underlined which may contain an error. Replace the underlined part with the right choice.

He said that he is angry with us because we did not applaud his speech.

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A past reporting verb pushes present tense one step back into the past.
Updated On: Jul 21, 2026
  • He said that he has been angry.
  • He said that he was angry
  • He said that he had been angry.
  • He said that he is angry.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense (said), the verb in the that-clause moves one step back. Present tense is angry becomes past tense was angry.

  • He said that he was angry is correct because said is past, so the present is angry must shift to was angry to match the sequence of tenses.
  • He said that he has been angry is wrong because present perfect does not follow a past reporting verb in this backshift.
  • He said that he had been angry is wrong because past perfect suggests the anger was over before he spoke, which changes the meaning; simple past is what is needed.
  • He said that he is angry is wrong because it keeps the present tense that clashes with the past said.

The tenses agree only in He said that he was angry.

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