Question

Convert the given sentence into indirect speech:
She said, ``I may buy a book on geography''

• A. She said that she will buy a book on geography.
• B. She says that she might be buying a book on geography.
• C. She said that she might be buying a book on geography.
• D. She said that she might buy a book on geography.

Hint:

Modal verbs change predictably in past reported speech: 'may' turns into 'might', 'can' turns into 'could', and 'will' turns into 'would'. Do not alter the primary action verb ('buy') that follows them.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: Converting declarative statements containing modal auxiliaries from direct to indirect speech requires applying rules for backshifting modals alongside pronoun switches.

Step 1: Rules for conversion.
When the reporting verb is in the past tense ("said"):

• The coordinating conjunction

that is introduced to link the independent clauses.

• The first-person pronoun "I" shifts based on the subject of the reporting verb ("She"), thus transforming into

she.

• The modal verb

may undergoes a past-tense backshift, transforming into

might. The base verb following it ("buy") stays unchanged.

Step 2: Processing the transformation.
Let us assemble the components piece-by-piece:

• "She said," $\rightarrow$ "She said that"

• "I may buy" $\rightarrow$ "she

might buy"

• "a book on geography" $\rightarrow$ "a book on geography."
Combining these yields: "She said that she might buy a book on geography."

Step 3: Eliminating incorrect options.

• Option (A): Converts "may" to "will", which changes the conditional meaning entirely.

• Option (B): Changes the reporting verb to the present tense "says", which is incorrect.

• Option (C): Changes the simple modal aspect into a continuous form ("might be buying"), which alters the original aspect of the sentence.

• Option (D): Follows every grammatical instruction perfectly.
Therefore, Option (D) is the correct choice.