Question:
Choose the correct form of indirect speech of the following: He said, "Alas ! I am undone."
AHe said sadly that he was undone.
BHe said sadly that I am undone.
CHe exclaimed sadly that he is undone.
DHe exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
Answer:
D. He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
Explanation:
- "He said sadly that he was undone," is also grammatically correct. However, it doesn't fully capture the emotional intensity conveyed by the exclamation "Alas!" in the original sentence.
- The word "Alas!" is an exclamation that expresses sorrow or regret ( ദുഃഖമോ ഖേദമോ പ്രകടിപ്പിക്കുന്ന വാക്ക്)
- In indirect speech, we often use reporting verbs like "exclaimed" to convey the emotional tone of the original statement. Hence, "exclaimed" is appropriate.
- In indirect speech, the first-person pronoun "I" changes to the third person "he" to match the subject of the reporting verb ("He").
- The present tense "am" changes to the past tense "was" to reflect the shift from direct to indirect speech.
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