Question

I said to my little brother, "turn off the tap."

Change in reported speech​

Answer 1

Reported speech

• The given direct speech: I said to my little brother, "Turn off the tap." is asked to change in reported speech.

• And the answer is: I ordered my little brother to turn off the tap.
• One can write it like this: I requested my little brother to turn off the tap.
• The given speech is an example of imperative sentences. Here reporting verb 'said to' has changed into 'ordered' and 'to' has added as a 'linker' .

Answer 2

Narration Change

Answer :

• I ordered/ urged my little brother to turn off the tap.

Explanation :

• To change the mood of Narration for Imperative Sentences, the Imperative Mood of Reported Speech has to be changed into Infinitive Mood.

• The change of Reporting Verb will be in accordance to the meaning of the sentence.

• We use order, tell, request, ask politely, beg, advice etc. Verbs in order to replace "say to/ says to".

• There is no use of the linker "that" in Imperative Sentences.

Take for an example :

• Direct: The teacher said to the students, "Sit down."

• As you can see that the teacher is ordering his students to sit, we use the verb "told" to replace "said to" because "ordered" isn't appropriate in relation between a teacher and the students.

• Indirect: The teacher told his students to sit down.