English Grammar - Narration

English Grammar
English Grammar - Narration

A sentence is provided in indirect speech. Choose the option that most accurately conveys it in direct speech: The manager told the staff that deadlines must be followed strictly.


Options:

  1. "Deadlines must be followed strictly," said the manager.
  2. "You should follow deadlines strictly," said the manager.
  3. "Follow deadlines strictly," the manager said.
  4. "Deadlines are to be followed," said the manager.

Right Answer: "Deadlines must be followed strictly," said the manager.

While converting indirect speech into direct speech, the exact words of the speaker must be reproduced within quotation marks, and the modal verb and voice of the original statement should be preserved. The reported clause here is 'deadlines must be followed strictly', which uses the modal 'must' in the passive voice. Option one keeps this wording unchanged, so it conveys the message most accurately. Option two replaces 'must' with the weaker 'should' and changes the voice, option three turns the statement into an imperative command, and option four drops the modal completely. Hence option one is correct.

This question is part of English Grammar - Narration, which has 48 practice questions with answers.

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