In the following question, a sentence in Direct speech is implied. Choose the option that best represents it in Indirect or reported speech. "I cannot stand on my head because I am not well."

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: He said that he could not stand on his head because he was not well.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Here the focus is on reporting a statement about physical inability and health. The unsaid Direct speech sentence is "I cannot stand on my head because I am not well." The question checks if you can correctly form Indirect speech with suitable tense changes, pronoun changes, and a natural reporting verb. It is a typical pattern in English grammar questions for competitive exams.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Implied Direct speech: "I cannot stand on my head because I am not well."
  • The speaker is male and is referred to as "he" in Indirect speech.
  • The sentence expresses inability "cannot stand" and a reason "because I am not well".
  • The reporting verb is assumed to be in simple past, such as "He said".
  • There is no time expression indicating future or past reference beyond the statement itself.


Concept / Approach:
When a present tense modal "cannot" is reported from a past viewpoint, it usually changes to "could not". Similarly, "am not well" becomes "was not well" when reported in the past. The subject pronoun "I" changes to "he", and the possessive "my" changes to "his". The reporting verb "said" is a neutral and common choice when no special manner of speaking is indicated. The clause is introduced by "that" in standard written English, though in spoken English it is sometimes omitted.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Start with the reporting clause "He said that". Step 2: Change the subject pronoun "I" to "he" and the possessive "my" to "his". Step 3: Backshift the modal "cannot" to "could not" because the reporting verb is in simple past. Step 4: Backshift "am not well" to "was not well" to maintain correct sequence of tenses. Step 5: Keep the clause structure with "because" unchanged. Step 6: Combine all parts into: "He said that he could not stand on his head because he was not well."


Verification / Alternative check:
The resulting Indirect sentence reads smoothly and logically. It shows the man is reporting his earlier inability and the reason for it. All pronouns, modals, and the present tense of "be" have been correctly backshifted. There is no unnecessary change of meaning from the original statement. This is exactly what examiners look for in such questions.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B keeps "cannot" while changing "was not well", which mixes time references and breaks the rule of consistent backshift. Option C uses "He told that", which is incorrect because "told" normally takes an object, for example "He told me that", not just "He told that". Option D uses "declared", which gives a strong formal or public feeling to the statement and is not suggested by the original simple personal remark. Therefore, option A is the best and grammatically correct choice.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes leave modals unchanged when the reporting verb is in past tense, or they forget to backshift the verb "am" to "was". Another common error is incorrect use of "told" without an object, a mistake that appears frequently in exam papers. Remember that "said" can be used without an object, but "told" cannot. Paying attention to these small grammar points helps avoid marks lost on otherwise simple questions.


Final Answer:
The correct Indirect speech form is He said that he could not stand on his head because he was not well.

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