Exams › SSC CGL (Prelims) › General

Select the correct option for the direct speech conversion of the sentence below: He remarked that, if the proposal were approved, the implementation would commence immediately.

1. He said, “If the proposal was approved, the implementation will commence immediately.”
2. He said, “If the proposal is approved, the implementation will commence immediately.”
3. He said, “If the proposal had been approved, the implementation would have commenced immediately.”
4. He said, “If the proposal were approved, the implementation would commence immediately.”

Correct answer: He said, “If the proposal were approved, the implementation would commence immediately.”

Solution

The reported sentence uses a second conditional structure: "if the proposal were approved" and "would commence." In direct speech, this same structure is retained. Therefore, the correct conversion is the option that keeps the sentence unchanged in meaning and tense.

Related SSC CGL (Prelims) General questions

• A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech. The supervisor told the staff that the submission deadline had been pushed back by two days.
• A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech: The manager said that the employees were adapting to the new system quickly.
• A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech: He said to her, “Please shut the door.”
• A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech. The coach said that they had played well and would win the match.
• A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech. Meera said, "I can finish the task today."
• A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech: She said that she wanted to meet the principal.

⚔️ Practice SSC CGL (Prelims) General free + battle 1v1 →