He said,"I cannot help you at present because I am myself in difficulty."
A. He said that I cannot help you at present because I myself in difficulty.
B. He said that he could not help me at present because he was himself in difficulty.
C. He told that he could not help you at present because he was himself in difficulty.
D. He asked that he could not help you at present because he was himself in difficulty.
Answer: Option B
Solution (By Examveda Team)
Original Sentence (Direct Speech):He said, "I cannot help you at present because I am myself in difficulty."
Step-by-step Conversion:
1. Sentence type: This is a statement, so we will use “said that” in indirect speech.
2. Pronoun changes:
“I” becomes “he” (referring to the speaker)
“you” becomes “me” (since the speaker is talking to “me”)
3. Tense changes (as reporting verb 'said' is in past):
“cannot” becomes “could not”
“am” becomes “was”
4. Time expression: “at present” becomes “at that time” (to indicate a past reference)
Correct Sentence:
He said that he could not help me at that time because he was himself in difficulty.
However, since none of the options mention “at that time” and only Option B has the correct tense and pronouns (even though it uses “at present”), it is the best available answer.
Correct Answer: Option B
Why other options are incorrect:
Option A: “I cannot help you…” — ❌ Incorrect tense and pronouns are not changed.
Option C: “told” without an object — ❌ Incorrect structure. We say “told me” or “told him”, but not just “told”.
Option D: “asked” — ❌ Incorrect reporting verb. The sentence is a statement, not a question.
Final Answer: Option B – He said that he could not help me at present because he was himself in difficulty.
This Question Belongs to Competitive English >> Direct And Indirect Speech
Join The Discussion
Comments (4)
Kiran asked me, "Did you see the Cricket match on television last night?"
A. Kiran asked me whether I saw the Cricket match on television the earlier night.
B. Kiran asked me whether I had seen the Cricket match on television the earlier night.
C. Kiran asked me did I see the Cricket match on television the last night.
D. Kiran asked me whether I had seen the Cricket match on television the last night.
David said to Anna, "Mona will leave for her native place tomorrow."
A. David told Anna that Mona will leave for her native place tomorrow.
B. David told Anna that Mona left for her native place the next day.
C. David told Anna that Mona would be leaving for her native place tomorrow.
D. David told Anna that Mona would leave for her native place the next day.
I said to him, "Why are you working so hard?"
A. I asked him why he was working so hard.
B. I asked him why was he working so hard.
C. I asked him why had he been working so hard.
D. I asked him why he had been working so hard.
He said to her, "What a cold day!"
A. He told her that it was a cold day.
B. He exclaimed that it was a cold day.
C. He exclaimed sorrowfully that it was a cold day.
D. He exclaimed that it was a very cold day.
in the following Question you given the option "B" is correct but still its wrong in my opinion so plzz look at the below QESTION
He said,"I cannot help you at present because I am myself in difficulty."
B. He said that he could not help you at present because he was himself in difficulty. (wrong)
B. He said that he could not help me at present because he was himself in difficulty.(RIGHT)
If there is no object after Reporting verb there it should not be changed.
Why not option C, why is it option B ?
There should be 'me' in the place of 'you'.