GATE Electrical 2023 | GA | Question: 1

Question

Rafi told Mary, "I am thinking of watching a film this weekend." The following reports the above statement in indirect speech:

Rafi told Mary that he _______ of watching a film that weekend. 

• A. thought 
• B. is thinking 
• C. am thinking 
• D. was thinking 

Answer 1

In indirect speech, we change the pronouns and tense. ${\color{Red} \text{“I"}}$ becomes ${\color{Red} \text{“he",}}$ and ${\color{Blue} \text{“am thinking"}}$ changes to ${\color{Blue}\text{“was thinking"}}$ because we shift the tense back one step to the past. The time expression ${\color{Magenta}{\text{“this weekend"}}}$ changes to ${\color{Magenta}{\text{“that weekend"}}}$ to reflect the change from direct speech to indirect speech.

Rafi told Mary that he ${\color{Purple}{\text{was thinking}}}$ of watching a film that weekend.

Reference: https://senenglish.webs.com/direct%20indirect.pdf

Correct Answer: D

Answer 2

Ans. In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense (like "told"), the tense of the reported speech usually shifts back one step.

So, "I am thinking" in direct speech becomes "he was thinking" in indirect speech.

Indirect speech: Rafi told Mary that he was thinking of watching a film that weekend.

Answer 3

Option A,  Rafi told Mary that he thought of watching a film that weekend