SSC IMD SA 2017 – Question 70

In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct / Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best
expresses the same sentence in Indirect / Direct speech.
“That is the best part.” she told them.

• She told them that that is the best part.
• She tells them that that was the best part.
• She tells them that that is the best part.
• She told them that that was the best part.

Detailed Explanation:

The correct indirect speech sentence is d) She told them that that was the best part.

• Rules of Indirect Speech:
  • Reporting Verb: The reporting verb “told them” is in the past tense, requiring the tense of the reported speech to undergo backshifting.
  • Conjunction: The statement is joined using the subordinating conjunction “that”.
  • Demonstrative Pronoun: The subject inside the quotation marks is the demonstrative pronoun “That”. In indirect speech, the conjunction that precedes the demonstrative pronoun that, resulting in the valid grammatical structure “that that” (the first is a conjunction; the second is a pronoun).
  • Tense Shift: Simple present verb “is” changes to simple past “was”.
• Option Breakdown:
  • Option a: Leaves “is” in the present tense without backshift.
  • Options b & c: Incorrectly change the past reporting verb “told” to present “tells”.
  • Option d: Correctly maintains “told them”, connects with “that that”, and shifts “is” to “was”.

Hence, Option d is the correct answer.