Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech.
The teacher said, “There are 8 planets in the solar system.”

Correct option is D

✔️ Option (d) The teacher said that there are 8 planets in the solar system is correct.
· Definition of Direct and Indirect Speech:
· Direct Speech: The exact words of the speaker are quoted using quotation marks.
· Indirect Speech: The speech is paraphrased, often with changes in tense, pronouns, and word order.
· Explanation:
· The original sentence conveys a scientific fact — “There are 8 planets”.
· Scientific/universal truths remain in the present tense in indirect speech even if the reporting verb is in the past.
· Grammatical rule used:
· When converting direct to indirect speech:
· Universal truths are not backshifted in tense.
· Pronouns and time expressions are changed as required, but not the tense for universal facts.
· Hindi Explanation: यदि वाक्य में सार्वभौमिक सत्य हो, तो indirect speech में भी present tense का ही प्रयोग होता है, भले ही reporting verb past में हो।
· Meanings of all the other options:
· (a) – ❌ “must be” implies speculation, not a factual statement.
· (b) – ❌ “were” shifts the tense incorrectly; scientific facts don’t change.
· (c) – ❌ “will be” indicates a future prediction, not a present truth.