Choose the correct indirect (reported) speech for: She said, “I can’t come today.”
AShe said that she can't come today.
BShe said that she couldn't come today.
CShe said that she could not come that day.
DShe said that she cannot come that day.
Explanation
The negative modal ‘can’t,’ short for ‘cannot,’ backshifts to ‘could not’ in indirect speech, following the same pattern as the positive form ‘can’ backshifting to ‘could.’ The time word ‘today’ also correctly changes to ‘that day,’ since the report is being made from a later point in time. Explore more English MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.
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