Question:
Change into Indirect Speech:
The officer said to the witness, "Did you see the accident?"
Change into Indirect Speech:
The officer said to the witness, "Did you see the accident?"
The officer said to the witness, "Did you see the accident?"
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Remember: Never use 'that' and 'if/whether' together in indirect speech.
Additionally, always shift a simple past tense ('did see') to past perfect ('had seen') when converting to indirect speech.
Additionally, always shift a simple past tense ('did see') to past perfect ('had seen') when converting to indirect speech.
Updated On: Jun 8, 2026
- The officer asked the witness if he had seen the accident.
- The officer said that did you see the accident.
- The officer asked the witness that he saw the accident.
- The officer told the witness if he saw the accident.
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question requires converting an interrogative sentence from direct speech into indirect speech.
This involves applying specific grammar rules for reporting questions, changing tenses, and adjusting pronouns.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Identifying the Reporting Verb: The phrase 'said to' is used in a question format, which must be changed to 'asked' or 'enquired of' in indirect speech.
• Selecting the Conjunction: Because the direct speech contains a polar (yes/no) question starting with the auxiliary verb 'Did', we must use the conjunction 'if' or 'whether' to join the clauses. The conjunction 'that' must not be used.
• Applying Tense Conversion Rules: The verb tense in direct speech is Simple Past ('Did you see'). In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense, Simple Past must be converted to Past Perfect ('had seen').
• Applying Pronoun Conversion Rules: The second-person pronoun 'you' refers to the listener 'the witness', so it changes to the third-person singular pronoun 'he' (or 'she').
• Evaluating the Options: Option (A) correctly changes 'said to' to 'asked', uses 'if', changes 'you' to 'he', and shifts 'Did see' to 'had seen'. Options (B), (C), and (D) fail on these counts by using incorrect conjunctions or incorrect verb tenses.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, the correct indirect speech form is represented in option (A).
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