Question

I asked him "Can you join the team today". Change the sentence into reported speech.

• A. I asked him if he can join the team today.
• B. I asked him that can he join the team that day.
• C. I asked him if he joined the team on that day.
• D. I asked him if he could join the team on that day.

Answer 1

Answer:

D. I asked him if he could join the team on that day.

• A) if he can → no backshift in tense (acceptable if reporting very soon after, but in standard grammar exams, backshift is required)

• B) that can he join → word order wrong, “that” incorrect for yes/no question reporting

• C) if he joined → changes meaning (suggests past joining, not ability/future)

• D) if he could join the team on that day ✅ correct backshift, correct word order, correct time change