Choose the option which correctly changes the given sentence from Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.
I said to him, "I don't agree with what you are saying."

Appeared in: NVS- 2025

Explanation

The reporting verb 'said to' correctly changes to 'told' because it is followed by an object ('him').
Since the reporting verb ('said') is in the past tense, the tenses of the reported speech must shift to their corresponding past forms.
The Simple Present tense ('don't agree') correctly changes to the Simple Past tense ('didn't agree').
The Present Continuous tense ('are saying') correctly changes to the Past Continuous tense ('was saying').
The pronouns are correctly updated: 'I' remains 'I' (referring to the speaker), and 'you' becomes 'he' (referring to the listener, 'him').

Option B: The pronouns 'he' and 'I' are incorrectly swapped. This reverses the meaning of the original sentence, suggesting the listener disagrees with the speaker.
Option C: This is a summary or paraphrase of the sentence's meaning, not a grammatical conversion into indirect speech. It changes the sentence structure completely.
Option D: The tenses of the verbs ('don't agree' and 'is saying') have not been shifted to the past. This is a mandatory change when the reporting verb is in the past tense.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Conversion of Direct Speech to Indirect Speech as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a grammar question, the principle of accurate reporting is vital in nursing. Clear, precise communication prevents misunderstandings in patient care.
In nursing documentation, accurately quoting or reporting what a patient has said (e.g., 'Patient stated he was feeling dizzy') is crucial for legal and clinical purposes. Correct grammar ensures the record is unambiguous.
What if? If a nurse documents, 'Patient says he has chest pain' instead of 'Patient said he had chest pain,' it could create confusion about the timeline of the symptom, potentially affecting the urgency of response during a chart review.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the reporting verb ('said to') and its tense (past). Note that 'said to' followed by an object usually changes to 'told'.
Next, analyze the pronouns within the quotation marks ('I', 'you') and determine how they should change based on the speaker ('I') and the listener ('him').
Examine the verbs inside the quotation marks ('don't agree', 'are saying') and their tenses (Simple Present, Present Continuous).
Apply the rule of 'back-shifting' tenses: because the reporting verb is in the past, the tenses in the reported speech must shift to their corresponding past forms.
Evaluate each option to find the one that correctly applies all these changes: reporting verb, pronouns, and verb tenses.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Conversion of Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
Stem keywords: Direct Speech, Indirect Speech, I said to him, I don't agree with what you are saying
Lead-in keywords: Choose the option which correctly changes

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Practise the full NVS- 2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.