Page 59 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 3: Functional English Grammar: Direct and Indirect Speech (Reported Speech)

Self-Assessment Notes
5. Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech:
(i) He said to the Inspector of Police, “Why do you cross question me as if I were a thief or
robber. I am travelling on a business of my own and there is no need to question me.”
(ii) I said to Mohan, “Can you come tomorrow?” Mohan said, “No, tomorrow I shall not be
here.”
(iii) “Father,” said the girl, “were you always good, when you were a boy?” I was generally
good,” said the father, “at least, when I was asleep.”
(iv) “Have you any news from my family?” asked the trader. “Yes,” replied the man. “Well!
How is my son? I am very anxious about him,” said the trader.
(v) The officer said to the merchant, “Where did you spend the night? Were you alone? Did you
see the other merchant this morning? Why did you leave the inn before dawn?”

From Indirect Speech to Direct Speech
Notes:
1. Reverse the rules for changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.
2. Do not forget to mark the sign of Interrogation at the end of a question.
EXAMPLES
1. Indirect : He asked her what he could do for her and if he might send for the doctor.
Direct : He said to her, “What can I do for you? May I send for the doctor?”
2. Indirect : His mother asked him where he was coming from and if he did not know that
she had been waiting for him for two hours.
Direct : His mother said to him, “Where are you coming from. Don’t you know that I
have been waiting for you for two hours?”
3. Indirect : He asked his customer if there was any woman in his family, might be even a
distant relative, who was not well-disposed towards him and further told him
that most of his troubles were due to his nature.
Direct : “Is there any woman in your family, may be even a distant relative, who is not
well-disposed towards you? Most of your troubles are due to your nature,” he
said to his customer.
Self-Assessment
6. Change the following sentences into Direct Speech:
(i) She asked me if I should call on her in the evening and assured me that we would have a jolly
time.
(ii) You asked her if she had a watch and what time it was then.
(iii) The teacher asked the boys why they did not look at the black-board and told them that they
would repent if they did not attend to their lesson then.
(iv) She asked Dinesh if he had not broken the jug and why he did not make a clean breast of his guilt.
(v) His father told him that he had heard that he had been punished for mis-behaviour and
asked him if it was really true.
3.3.8 Conversion of Imperative Sentences
Rules
Change the Reporting Verb according to the sense:
1. Request : request, beg, entreat, ask etc.
2. Advice : advise, forbid, urge, exhort etc.
3. Order : order, command, tell etc.
4. The Imperative word is changed into Infinitive one.

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