Class 8 Exam  >  Class 8 Questions  >  Change the direct speech into reported speech... Start Learning for Free
Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.
Q. Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."
Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.
  • a)
    was sleeping
  • b)
    has been sleeping
  • c)
    had been sleeping
  • d)
    were sleeping
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct opt...

To change the direct speech into reported speech, we need to make a few changes in the sentence.
Given direct speech: "I was sleeping when Swati called."
Reported speech: Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.
To choose the correct option, let's analyze the options one by one:
A: was sleeping - This is the correct option as it accurately represents the past continuous tense used in the direct speech. The verb "was sleeping" remains the same in reported speech as well.
B: has been sleeping - This option represents the present perfect continuous tense, which is not suitable in this context.
C: had been sleeping - This option represents the past perfect continuous tense, which is not appropriate in this case as it implies that the sleeping occurred before another past event.
D: were sleeping - This option uses the wrong subject-verb agreement. "Were" is the plural form of the verb "to be," but the subject in the reported speech is "she," which requires the singular form "was."
Therefore, the correct answer is option A: was sleeping.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct opt...
Understanding Reported Speech
When converting direct speech into reported speech, certain grammatical changes are necessary. In this case, Radhika's sentence needs to be transformed appropriately while maintaining the original meaning.
Original Direct Speech
Radhika said, "I was sleeping when Swati called."
Key Changes in Reported Speech
1. Shift in Tense:
- The verb tense typically shifts back in reported speech. The past continuous ("was sleeping") becomes "had been sleeping" in many cases. However, if the action is still relevant or if the context remains immediate, the original tense can often be retained.
2. Pronoun Changes:
- The first-person pronoun "I" changes to "she" when reported.
Correct Option Explained
- The correct answer is option 'a': "was sleeping."
Why Option 'a' is Correct
- In this context, "was sleeping" indicates an ongoing action at the time when Swati called. Since the call is a specific past event and Radhika's sleeping is also in the past, the past continuous tense can be maintained here without shifting to the past perfect ("had been sleeping").
- The use of "was sleeping" effectively conveys that Radhika was in the middle of an action when the call occurred, which aligns with the original statement she made.
Summary
In this case, retaining the past continuous tense "was sleeping" is appropriate because it reflects the timing of both actions (sleeping and calling) accurately. Thus, Radhika said that she was sleeping when Swati called.
Explore Courses for Class 8 exam

Top Courses for Class 8

Question Description
Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for Class 8 2025 is part of Class 8 preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the Class 8 exam syllabus. Information about Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for Class 8 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for Class 8. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for Class 8 Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Change the direct speech into reported speech choosing the correct option.Q.Radh ika said , "I was sleepin g wh en Swati called."Radhika said that she _______ when Swati called.a)was sleepingb)has been sleepingc)had been sleepingd)were sleepingCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice Class 8 tests.
Explore Courses for Class 8 exam

Top Courses for Class 8

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev