A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech. The librarian said that silence must be maintained in the library.
- (a)“Silence should be maintained in the library,” said the librarian.
- (b)“You will maintain silence in the library,” the librarian said.
- (c)“Maintain silence in the library,” said the librarian.
- (d)“Must you maintain silence in the library?” asked the librarian.
Answer
Why
Correct — C. Work backwards from the modal must. In reporting, should stays should and will becomes would, so a quote with either would have left that word in the report, not must.
A question would be reported with asked, not said that.
That leaves the command Maintain silence in the library, an order whose force the report carries as silence must be maintained → option (c).
Why the others are wrong
- (a)“Silence should be maintained in the library,” said the librarian. — Should stays should in reported speech, so this quote would be reported as silence should be maintained. The report says must, a stronger obligation.
- (b)“You will maintain silence in the library,” the librarian said. — Will becomes would when reported, so this quote would give would maintain silence, not must. The report also names no you.
- (d)“Must you maintain silence in the library?” asked the librarian. — A question is reported with asked whether or asked if, not with said that. The report states a rule, and nothing in it is being asked.
Concept
Going from indirect to direct speech, work backwards: remove the reporting frame, then ask what the speaker's own words must have been.
The modal is the clue. In reporting, will becomes would and can becomes could, but should stays should, and must stays must or becomes had to. A report with must therefore came from words that carried an obligation.
A report introduced by said that is not a question: a direct question is reported with asked whether or asked if.
The closest word-for-word direct form, "Silence must be maintained in the library," said the librarian, is not offered. Among the four, the key takes the command, which keeps the full force of must; the should version weakens it to advice.
Key facts
- In reported speech, will becomes would, but should stays should.
- Must usually stays must in reported speech, or becomes had to.
- A question is reported with asked whether or asked if.
- An imperative such as Maintain silence is a command with no stated subject.
Study next
Common traps
- Picking the should version because it keeps the report's passive shape. Should and must are different modals, and reporting does not turn one into the other.
- Treating Must you… as a match for must. The report uses said that, so the original was not a question.
At 13 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.23 a version keeping must is offered and keyed: The judge said that justice must be served at any cost becomes "Justice must be served at any cost," the judge said.
In the other direction, 14 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.22 reports the command Open the window as She told me to open the window.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.