Rewrite the following sentences after making necessary corrections. Do not make unnecessary changes in the original sentence : (iii) He asked me what was my profession.

How to Approach

This question tests the understanding of indirect speech and correct grammatical construction. The approach involves identifying the error in the reported speech, specifically the incorrect use of the interrogative pronoun 'what' and the subsequent word order. The correction requires transforming the sentence into a reported question with the correct subject-verb order and the removal of the unnecessary 'was'. The answer should focus solely on the correction, avoiding any extraneous explanation.

Model Answer

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Introduction

Grammatical accuracy is a fundamental aspect of effective communication, particularly crucial in a competitive examination like the UPSC Civil Services Exam. This question assesses the candidate’s ability to identify and rectify errors in sentence construction, specifically focusing on the rules governing reported speech. Correctly transforming direct speech into indirect speech requires a thorough understanding of pronoun usage, verb tense changes, and word order adjustments. The given sentence presents a common error in reporting questions.

The original sentence is: "He asked me what was my profession."

Correction:

The corrected sentence is: "He asked me what my profession was."

Explanation of the Correction:

Word Order in Reported Questions: In indirect questions, the subject comes before the verb. The original sentence incorrectly placed the verb 'was' before the subject 'my profession'.
Removal of 'was': The auxiliary verb 'was' is redundant in the indirect question. The interrogative 'what' already indicates a question, and the verb 'was' disrupts the correct grammatical structure.

The corrected sentence adheres to the standard rules of reported speech, ensuring clarity and grammatical accuracy. The transformation maintains the original meaning while correcting the structural error.

Note: No other changes were made to the original sentence as per the instructions.

Conclusion

The correction of the given sentence demonstrates a clear understanding of the rules governing indirect speech and proper sentence construction. Maintaining grammatical accuracy is essential for effective communication and is a key skill assessed in the UPSC English Compulsory paper. The corrected sentence, "He asked me what my profession was," accurately reflects the intended meaning while adhering to standard grammatical conventions.

Answer Length

This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.

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Additional Resources

Key Definitions

Direct Speech

Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by someone, enclosed in quotation marks (" "). It represents a verbatim account of the original statement.

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys the meaning of what someone said without using their exact words. It typically involves changes in verb tense, pronoun usage, and word order.

Key Statistics

According to a 2023 analysis of previous UPSC English papers, approximately 15-20% of the marks are allocated to questions testing grammar and vocabulary.

Source: UPSC Previous Year Question Paper Analysis (2013-2023)

A study by Cambridge Assessment English found that errors in grammar and sentence structure are among the most common mistakes made by non-native English speakers in formal writing.

Source: Cambridge Assessment English Research Reports (2022)

Examples

Direct to Indirect Speech - Statement

Direct: She said, "I am going to the market." Indirect: She said that she was going to the market.

Direct to Indirect Speech - Command

Direct: The teacher said, "Close the door." Indirect: The teacher ordered the students to close the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

▶What are the key changes when converting a direct question to an indirect question?

The key changes include removing the question mark, using 'if' or 'what/how/when/where' to introduce the question, changing the verb tense, and inverting the subject-verb order to follow statement order.

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