A sentence has been given in Direct Speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in Indirect Speech: Rohan said, 'I am going'.

Introduction / Context:

Reported speech questions require you to convert a quoted statement (Direct Speech) into an indirect form while maintaining tense consistency and correct pronoun use. In this item, the original sentence is Rohan said, ‘‘I am going’’. You must select the option that reports this statement correctly, with appropriate backshift of tense and correct word order.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Direct speech: Rohan said, ‘‘I am going’’.

- Reporting verb: said (simple past).

- Reported clause: I am going (present continuous tense).

- Subject inside the quote: I, referring to Rohan himself.

- We follow the standard rule that when the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense inside the reported speech usually shifts one step back.

Concept / Approach:

When changing from direct to indirect speech with a past tense reporting verb, present continuous tense in the quoted part normally changes to past continuous. The subject pronoun I becomes he because Rohan is being spoken about in the third person. The conjunction that is commonly introduced after said. So, I am going becomes he was going. Combining this with the reporting clause produces Rohan said that he was going.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Check whether the final sentence preserves the original meaning. Both sentences communicate that, at the time Rohan was speaking, he was in the process of going somewhere. The indirect form Rohan said that he was going correctly reflects a past report of a then current action. The tense change does not alter the basic meaning, but it aligns with standard grammatical rules for reported speech.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, Rohan had said he is gone, mixes past perfect and present forms and also changes going to gone, which refers to a completed action rather than an ongoing one. Option B, Rohan is going, does not report the speech at all; it simply repeats a statement in the present tense without indicating that it is reported. Option C, Rohan said that he is gone, again uses is gone, which suggests a present perfect or stative meaning and fails to apply the correct tense shift from am going to was going.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes forget to adjust the tense in reported speech or mistakenly change the verb to a different aspect, such as from going to gone. Others omit the conjunction that, which is often acceptable in spoken English but is generally expected in exam answers. To avoid these issues, remember the standard mapping: present continuous to past continuous, and adjust pronouns according to the speaker and listener.

Final Answer:

The correct indirect speech form is Rohan said that he was going.