Select the option that expresses the given sentence in Direct Speech.
They said that they were supposed to arrive earlier.

Correct option is D

The correct option is D) They said, "We are supposed to arrive earlier."

Step-by-Step Conversion Rules

1. Reporting Verb & Conjunction:

   Remove the conjunction "that" and insert a comma followed by quotation marks:

   • Indirect: They said that...Direct: They said, "..."

2. Pronoun Conversion:

   The pronoun "they" refers to the original speakers, so it shifts back to the first-person plural pronoun "We" inside the quote.

3. Tense Backshifting Rule:

   When converting from indirect speech back to direct speech under a past reporting verb (said), the past tense verb is restored to its original present tense.

   • Present Simple/Continuous (are supposed to)  Backshifts to Past Simple/Continuous (were supposed to) in reported speech.

   • Reversing this gives: "were supposed to" -  "are supposed to".