English question from Laboratory Attendant exam, 2026 by JKSSB
Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence. "Hello", he said to his friend. "What can I do for you"?
Last updated Jun 19, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option C —
He greeted his friend and asked what he could do for him.
Here is why this is the most grammatically accurate indirect form:
The Greeting: The exclamation "Hello" is best expressed in indirect speech by using the reporting verb "greeted" (e.g., He greeted his friend).
Tense Change: The modal verb "can" in direct speech must shift back to its past form, "could", in indirect speech.
Sentence Structure: In indirect questions, the sentence structure changes from interrogative (verb before subject: can I) to assertive (subject before verb: he could). Also, a conjunction like "that" should never be placed right before a Wh-question word (which rules out option A).
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
