Select the correct direct form of the given sentence. He exclaimed sadly that it was a pity that so many lives had been lost in the floods. (a) He said sadly, "It is a pity that so many lives had been lost in the floods." (b) He said sadly, "What a pity that so many lives are being lost in the floods!" (c) He said sadly, "What a pity that so many lives have been lost in the floods." (d) He said sadly, "It was a pity that so many lives were loss in the floods."

Options

A. He said sadly, "It is a pity that so many lives had been lost in the floods."
B. He said sadly, "What a pity that so many lives are being lost in the floods!"
C. He said sadly, "What a pity that so many lives have been lost in the floods."
D. He said sadly, "It was a pity that so many lives were loss in the floods."

Answer

C

Explanation

He said sadly, "What a pity that so many lives have been lost in the floods." (Correct)
(a) He said sadly, "It is a pity that so many lives `ul("had")` been lost in the floods." ("had" is incorrect)
(b) He said sadly, "What a pity that so many lives `ul("are being lost")` in the floods!" (Incorrect tense in reported speech)
(d) He said sadly, "It was a pity that so many lives were `ul("loss")` in the floods." (change of reported speech to simple past)