2020
English
POST UTME
The professor said, "The earth is spherical" in a reported speech will be written as
A.
the professor said the earth is spherical
B.
the professor said the earth was spherical
C.
the professor says the earth was spherical
D.
the professor said the earth has been spherical
Correct Answer: the professor said the earth is spherical
Explanation
This question is about reported speech. As a rule in a reported speech, a statement of generic, universal truth, and timeless significance does not backshift, that is, change from present to past tense. For instance: The pastor said Jesus is Lord, and NOT the pastor said Jesus was Lord; Jane said the Sun rises in the east, and NOT Jane said the Sun rose in the east. Option B is past tense, and thus wrong. Option C uses the reporting main verb 'says' instead of said', and thus also wrong. Option D changes the BE (is) auxiliary verb into HAVE (has) and BE (been), which is wrong. Option A is therefore correct because it retains the timeless significance of the speech.
This question is about reported speech. As a rule in a reported speech, a statement of generic, universal truth, and timeless significance does not backshift, that is, change from present to past tense. For instance: The pastor said Jesus is Lord, and NOT the pastor said Jesus was Lord; Jane said the Sun rises in the east, and NOT Jane said the Sun rose in the east. Option B is past tense, and thus wrong. Option C uses the reporting main verb 'says' instead of said', and thus also wrong. Option D changes the BE (is) auxiliary verb into HAVE (has) and BE (been), which is wrong. Option A is therefore correct because it retains the timeless significance of the speech.
THIS WEEK's
Latest Articles
Top-Scorer Okoro Uchechukwu Solomon Reveals How He Scored 337 in JAMB
by samuel olalekan adeyemi
Bouncing Back: How Samuel Isaac Overcame Setbacks to Score 265 in JAMB and What He Learned
by samuel olalekan adeyemi
Managing Stress During Exams: Practical Tips for Students
by samuel olalekan adeyemi
