Question

Convert them from direct to indirect.

1. Ann said to Frank, “I can't see you this afternoon because I've got a lot to do."
2. "My grandmother has been painting the canvas since morning”, said Fiona.
3. The Prime Minister said, “We shall abide by the rules together."
4. "My sister will probably go to New York, she isn't sure”, said Rakesh.
5. Mita said, "The kids were watching TV when I entered the house."
6. "I am having a party next week”, Sarah said to Sheena.​

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Ann said to Frank that she couldn't see him that afternoon because she had got a lot to do.

2. Fiona said that her grandmother had been painting the canvas since morning.

3. The Prime Minister said that they should abide by the rules together.

4. Rakesh said that his sister would probably go to New York, but that she wasn't sure.

5. Mita said that the kids had been watching TV when she entered the house.

6. Sarah told Sheena that she was having a party the following week.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Indirect/Reported Speech refers to a dialogue being told to a third person/reporting what happened to a third person.

Example: She said, "I'm busy now." (Direct)

                 She said that she was busy then.  (Indirect)

In the above example, when writing in indirect/reported form, the sentence changes according to its tense. Also, modifications regarding certain words like 'this' changes to 'that', 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day', 'will' changes to 'would', 'can' changes to 'could' and many other words will have to be made. Also, if the sentence contains an interrogation, then 'said' changes to 'asked'. Punctuation marks other than a full stop (.) cannot be used in indirect/reported speech.

1. Ann said to Frank, “I can't see you this afternoon because I've got a lot to do." (Direct)

• Ann told Frank that she couldn't see him that afternoon because she had got a lot to do. (Indirect)

2. "My grandmother has been painting the canvas since morning”, said Fiona. (Direct)

• Fiona said that her grandmother had been painting the canvas since morning. (Indirect)

3. The Prime Minister said, “We shall abide by the rules together." (Direct)

• They Prime Minister said that they shall abide by the rules together. (Indirect)

4. "My sister will probably go to New York, she isn't sure”, said Rakesh. (Direct)

• Rakesh said that his sister would probably go to New York. He further added that she wasn't sure. (Indirect)

5. Mita said, "The kids were watching TV when I entered the house." (Direct)

• Mita said that the kids were watching TV when she entered the house. (Indirect)

6. "I am having a party next week”, Sarah said to Sheena.​ (Direct)

• Sarah told Sheena that she was having a party the next week. (Indirect)