Sentences of simple narration
Answers
1. Pronoun:
In an indirect speech the pronoun changes according to the speaker whether s/he is referring himself/herself or a third person. We can make this clearer if we learn this with some examples:
Direct: George said, “I cannot be with you.”
Indirect: George said that he could not be with me.
Direct: I said, “Leave me”
Indirect: I ordered to leave me alone. (Note: in this sentence the speaker is same, so there is no change in the indirect speech.)
Direct: They said, “We will be partying tonight.”
Indirect: They said that they would be partying that night.
Direct: I told George, “You should stay.”
Indirect: I told George that he should stay.
Direct: She asked, “How are you doing today?”
Indirect: She asked me how I was doing that day.
Direct: Robert said, “Can you pull me up?”
Indirect: Robert asked if I could pull him up.
2. Type of sentences:
a. Reporting Interrogative sentences:
I) If there is a yes-no question in the direct speech, then the reported speech will start with whether/if and the reported clause form will be (subject+verb).
Example:
Direct: Peter said, “Are you from Australia?”
Indirect: Peter asked if I was from Australia.
Direct: Tom asked, “Do you want to sit here?”
Indirect: Tom asked whether I wanted to sit there.
II) In indirect speech questions starting with who, whom, when, how, where and what the wh-word would be the subject or the object of the reported clause:
Example:
Direct: Brad said, “Who will come with me?”
Indirect: Brad asked who would go with him.
Direct: Tina said, “What will be the charges?”
Indirect: Tina inquired what the charges would be.
Direct: I said the man, “Where is the hotel?”
Indirect: I asked the man where the hotel was.
Direct: Mother said, “How is the chicken?”
Indirect: Mother asked me how the chicken was.
b. Reporting statement sentences:
In a statement speech, we will use ‘that’ before the reported statement and the reported verb will be ‘told’ (followed by an object) or ‘said’ (will not be followed by an object).
Example:
Direct: Edward said, “I like the book.”
Indirect: Edward said that he liked the book.
Direct: Alice said, “I want you to sing.”
Indirect: Alice told me to sing.
c. Reporting imperative sentences:
We will use ‘to’ as joining clause before the reported command or request, and the reported verb will be changed according to the moods of the sentence (e.g., ordered, requested, urged, advised, forbade or begged)
Example:
Direct: The man said, “Please, bring me a chair.”
Indirect: The man requested to bring him a chair.
Direct: The officer said, “Fall back!”
Indirect: The officer ordered to fall back.
Direct: Mother said, “Listen to your elders.”
Indirect: Mother advised me to listen to my elders.
Direct: Mr. Murphy said, “Do not go near the house.”
Indirect: Mr. Murphy forbade going near the house.
Answer:
*Direct speech: He said, “I am happy”
*Indirect Speech: He said that he was happy