Question: Identify the error in this sentence: She asked me if I can help her.
Options:
No error.
Change \'can\' to \'could\'.
Change \'asked\' to \'ask\'.
Change \'if\' to \'that\'.
Correct Answer: Change \'can\' to \'could\'.
Solution:
In indirect speech, \'can\' should change to \'could\' to reflect the past tense.
Identify the error in this sentence: She asked me if I can help her.
Practice Questions
Q1
Identify the error in this sentence: She asked me if I can help her.
No error.
Change 'can' to 'could'.
Change 'asked' to 'ask'.
Change 'if' to 'that'.
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Identify the error in this sentence: She asked me if I can help her.
Step 1: Read the sentence carefully: 'She asked me if I can help her.'
Step 2: Identify that this is indirect speech because someone is reporting what another person said.
Step 3: Note that the reporting verb 'asked' is in the past tense.
Step 4: Understand that in indirect speech, the verb 'can' should change to 'could' to match the past tense.
Step 5: Rewrite the sentence correctly: 'She asked me if I could help her.'
Indirect Speech – Indirect speech involves reporting what someone else has said without quoting their exact words, often requiring changes in verb tense.
Verb Tense Agreement – In indirect speech, the verb tense must align with the time frame of the reporting verb, which may require shifting from present to past tense.
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