Question

The child asked his father when ______.

• A. will the war end.
• B. does the war end.
• C. is the war ending.
• D. the war would end.

Answer 1

Answer:

D. the war would end.

This sentence uses reported speech (indirect speech) to recount a past question. When transforming a direct question into reported speech, two main rules apply:

1. Tense Shift (Backshifting): Because the main verb (asked) is in the past tense, the future tense helper will shifts back to its past form, would.

2. Word Order: In reported speech, the question becomes a statement. Instead of using question word order (verb + subject), you must use statement word order (subject + verb).

• Direct speech: The child asked his father, "When will the war end?"

• Reported speech: The child asked his father when the war would end.