Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct voice. The historian asserted that the ruins were much older than previously thought and that new research had been continually proving it for years.
The historian said, "The ruins are much older than previously thought, and new research has been continually proving it for years."
When reported speech is turned back into direct speech, the tenses are moved forward again: past simple becomes present simple, and past perfect continuous becomes present perfect continuous.
"the ruins were much older" becomes "The ruins are much older", and "new research had been continually proving it" becomes "new research has been continually proving it for years". The reporting verb "asserted" can be given as "said" with inverted commas.
The choices that keep "were" or "had been" inside the inverted commas retain the reported-speech tenses, so they are not proper direct speech.
Direct speech: The historian said, "The ruins are much older than previously thought, and new research has been continually proving it for years."
Hence, The historian said, "The ruins are much older than previously thought, and new research has been continually proving it for years.".
Similar Questions
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Important Questions from Direct and Indirect Speech
- Choose the correct idiom for the word highlighted in bold.
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Directions: A sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct speech.
The duty officer said, "It is unlikely that fulfillment of these criteria and conditions can be accomplished in less than 48 hours".
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She said to me, “You will speak at the conference tomorrow.”
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A new student said to me, "Where is the Principal's office?"
