So help me, Heaven !' he cried, ‘I will never steal again.'
Choose the correct indirect speech of the above sentence :

Question

Accepted Answer

Option 2 is the correct choice for converting the given direct speech into indirect speech. Let's break down why this is the case and why the other options are incorrect.

1. **Explanation for Option 2:**
   - The original sentence is a direct speech where the speaker is making a solemn promise or resolution, invoking Heaven as a witness to his vow. In indirect speech, this is effectively conveyed by saying, "He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to steal again."
   - The phrase "to witness his resolve" accurately captures the speaker's intention of making a solemn promise or declaration, which is a key element of the original sentence.
   - The use of "never to steal again" correctly reflects the speaker's commitment to not engaging in the act of stealing in the future.

2. **Why Option 1 is incorrect:**
   - Option 1 states, "He called upon Heaven that I would never steal again." This is incorrect because it uses "I" instead of "he," which changes the subject of the sentence. In indirect speech, the pronoun should be adjusted to match the original speaker, which is "he" in this context.

3. **Why Option 3 is incorrect:**
   - Option 3 states, "He called upon Heaven to never steal again." This option is incorrect because it omits the crucial part of the sentence that indicates the speaker's intention to make a solemn vow or promise. The phrase "to witness his resolve" is missing, which is essential to convey the full meaning of the original sentence.

4. **Why Option 4 is incorrect:**
   - Option 4 states, "He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve not to never steal again." This option is incorrect due to the double negative "not to never," which creates confusion and contradicts the intended meaning. The original sentence clearly indicates a promise to refrain from stealing, and the double negative alters this meaning.

In summary, Option 2 is the correct choice because it accurately reflects the speaker's intention and the solemn nature of the vow made in the original sentence, while the other options fail to do so due to incorrect pronoun usage, omission of key elements, or grammatical errors.