Select the correct direct form of the given sentence.Devi replied that she was sorry but she could not go. (a) Devi replied, "She was sorry I could not go." (b) Devi replied, "Sorry she could not go." (c) Devi replied, "I'm sorry but I cannot go." (d) Devi replies, "I could not went but sorry."

Options

A. Devi replied, "She was sorry I could not go."
B. Devi replied, "Sorry she could not go."
C. Devi replied, "I'm sorry but I cannot go."
D. Devi replies, "I could not went but sorry."

Answer

C

Explanation

Devi replied, “I’m sorry but I cannot go.” (Correct)
(a) Devi replied, “ `ul("She was sorry I could not go.")` ” (Change of reported speech to simple past is incorrect.)
(b) Devi replied, “ `ul("Sorry she could not go.")`” (Incorrect structure in reported speech.)
(d) Devi `ul("replies")`, “ `ul("I could not went but sorry.")`” (Incorrect reported verb “replies” and also incorrect tense and structure in reported speech.)