Select the correct option for the Direct Speech conversion of the sentence below. The primatologist pointed out that grooming behaviour would diminish if the troop hierarchy were destabilised.
The primatologist said, "Grooming behaviour would diminish if the troop hierarchy were destabilised.
The reported sentence is a second (hypothetical) conditional: "would diminish if the troop hierarchy were destabilised". Hypothetical conditionals with would + base verb and the subjunctive "were" are not changed when moving between direct and indirect speech.
So the direct speech keeps the same verb forms: The primatologist said, "Grooming behaviour would diminish if the troop hierarchy were destabilised." Only the reporting part changes from "pointed out that" to "said" with inverted commas.
"Will be diminished ... is destabilised" turns it into a real (first) conditional and also into the passive. "Had been destabilised ... would have diminished" makes it a third conditional about the past. "Must diminish" changes the meaning from possibility to necessity.
Hence, the direct speech is: The primatologist said, "Grooming behaviour would diminish if the troop hierarchy were destabilised."
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Important Questions from Direct and Indirect Speech
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Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.
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Rahul said, "What a pleasant surprise!"
Directions: Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.
The lion asked the lioness, "Where will you hide yourself, until I return?”
Select the correct indirect narration of the given sentence.
Sushant said to the elderly lady, “Madam, you can take my place and stand here in the queue.”
