Interrogative Sentences
- In interrogative sentences, the reporting verb is changed to ask, inquire, demand, etc.
- When the sentence starts with question words like who, which, what, where, whose, whom, why, when, no conjunction is used.
- We use if or whether as a conjunction if the sentence begins with verbs like is, are, am, were, do, does, did, will, would, shall, should, can, could, etc.
Examples:
(i) Direct : He said, “Why are you so sad?”
Indirect : He asked me why I was so sad.
(ii) Direct : The man said to me, “What does your father do?”
Indirect : The man asked me what my father does.
(iii) Direct : The teacher said to me, “What are you doing?”
Indirect : The tea cher asked me what I was doing.
(iv) Direct : He said to me, “Where is the purse?”
Indirect : He asked me where the purse was.
(v) Direct : Father said to me, “Is Amit playing?”
Indirect : Father asked me if Amit was playing.
(vi) Direct : Garvit said to me, “Are you going abroad?”
Indirect : Garvit asked me whether I was going abroad.
(vii) Direct : Arpit said to me, “Have you a pen?”
Indirect : Arpit asked me if I had a pen.
(vii) Direct : The teacher said, “Were students alright?”
Indirect : The tea cher asked me whether students were alright.Commands, Requests, Advice
- In commands, requests, and advice, the reporting verb changes to request, order, command, advise, etc.
- Words like ‘please’ and ‘kindly ’ are omitted in indirect speech.
- After the reporting verb, put ‘to ’.
Positive Commands
Examples:
(i) Direct : The poor boy said to the man, “Please give me ten rupees.”
Indirect : The poor requested the man to give him ten rupees.
(ii) Direct : The teacher said to the students, “Be quiet.”
Indirect : The teacher ordered the students to be quiet.
(iii) Direct : Ben said to Tom, “Please give me a chance.”
Indirect : Ben requested Tom to give him a chance.
(iv) Direct : The doctor said to the patient, “Take medicines in time.”
Indirect : The doctor advised the patient to take medicines in time.
(v) Direct : The teacher said to me, “Work hard.”
Indirect : The teacher advised me to work hard.
Negative Commands
Examples:
(i) Direct : The teacher said to the students, “Don’t talk in the class.”
Indirect : The teacher asked the students not to talk in the class.
(ii) Direct : My father said, “Don’t be foolish.”
Indirect : My father told me not to be foolish.
(iii) Direct : The man said to me, “Please don’t shout loudly.”
Indirect : The man requested me not to shout loudly.
(iv) Direct : My brother said, “Don’t indulge in bad habits.”
Indirect : My brother advised me not to indulge in bad habits.
(v) Direct : The old man said to me, “Please don’t walk so fast.”
Indirect : The old man requested me not to walk so fast