Introduction / Context:
This question tests transformation of a yes/no question from direct speech into indirect (reported) speech. The learner must pay attention to the reporting verb, the change in word order, the appropriate conjunction (if or whether), and the sequence of tenses. The sentence is a simple present continuous question spoken in the past, reported by a past reporting verb “said”.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Direct speech: “Abhay said to Veena, 'Are you coming to the Reception?'”
- Reporting verb: “said to” which usually becomes “asked” for a question.
- The question is a yes/no type, not a wh-question.
- We follow normal rules of backshifting tense in reported speech.
- The Reception is a specific event and is kept as “the Reception”.
Concept / Approach:
When converting a direct yes/no question into reported speech, the main steps are: change “said to” into “asked”, remove the question mark, use the conjunction “if” or “whether”, change the word order from question form to statement form, and adjust the tense according to the sequence of tenses rule. Since the reporting verb “said” is in the past, the present continuous “are you coming” generally changes to past continuous “she was coming”, while pronouns are adjusted from “you” to “she”.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Change the reporting verb: “said to” becomes “asked” because a question is being reported: “Abhay asked Veena …”.
Step 2: Introduce the connector for a yes/no question: use “if” or “whether”. Both are acceptable, but we must also maintain correct tense. We will work with “if”: “Abhay asked Veena if …”.
Step 3: Convert the question “Are you coming to the Reception?” into a statement word order. Change “Are you coming” to “she was coming”.
Step 4: Apply backshift of tense because of the past reporting verb. Present continuous “are coming” becomes past continuous “was coming”.
Step 5: Replace “you” with “she” (Veena) and remove the question mark: “Abhay asked Veena if she was coming to the Reception.”
Verification / Alternative check:
Check option (c): “Abhay asked Veena if she was coming to the Reception.” This uses “asked”, the conjunction “if”, correct backshift from “are coming” to “was coming”, and correct pronoun change.
Confirm that the sentence is in statement order (subject before verb) and no question mark remains. All rules are satisfied.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: “Abhay told Veena if she was coming to the Reception.” The verb “told” is not normally used with “if” to introduce a question; “asked” is required.
Option B: “if she will be coming” keeps future meaning, but the original was present continuous. With a past reporting verb, we expect a shift to “was coming”, not “will be coming”.
Option D: “whether she is coming” keeps present continuous tense “is coming” after a past reporting verb, which breaks the usual sequence of tenses rule in such neutral context.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often forget to change “said to” into “asked” when reporting questions.
Another mistake is to retain question word order (“if was she coming”) instead of changing into statement order.
Learners sometimes do not apply backshift consistently or over-backshift in cases where it is not needed. Here, standard exam grammar expects “was coming”.
Final Answer:
The correct reported speech sentence is “Abhay asked Veena if she was coming to the Reception.”
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