English question from Jr. Assistant exam, 2026 by JKSSB
Choose the option that correctly converts the following sentence into indirect speech:
The professor said, "I will review your thesis tomorrow."
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option C —
The professor said that he would review my thesis the next day.
Converting direct speech into indirect (reported) speech requires three specific "shifts": the tense, the pronoun, and the time expression.
The Breakdown of the Shifts
To get the correct answer, you have to apply these three rules simultaneously:
Tense Shift (Backshifting): The future tense "will" must change to the conditional "would" because the reporting verb (said) is in the past tense.
Pronoun Shift: The speaker ("I") becomes "he" (the professor). The possessive pronoun "your" changes to "my" (assuming the professor is speaking to you).
Time Expression Shift: Specific time markers must be generalized. "Tomorrow" becomes "the next day" or "the following day."
Why the other options are incorrect:
A) ...would review your thesis tomorrow: Fails to shift the time expression (tomorrow).
B) ...will review your thesis the next day: Fails to shift the tense (will should be would) and the pronoun (your).
D) ...that I would review your thesis...: Changes the meaning entirely; it suggests you are the one reviewing the thesis, not the professor.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
