Page 139 - New Grammar with a Smile 7

Reporting Imperatives

1. When we report commands and requests, the indirect speech is introduced by
verbs expressing a command or request. The reporting verb said is changed to
ordered, requested or advised, warned, invited, etc. For example,
y The man said to the salesman, ‘Go away.’
The man ordered the salesman to go away.

y The boy said to them, ‘Please wait here till I return.’
The boy requested them to wait there till he returned.

2. When we report exclamations and wishes the reporting verb, said is changed
to exclaimed, wished, prayed, blessed. Interjections such as oh, alas, oh no, my
goodness, are removed but the emotions behind these are conveyed by using such
expressions as exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed with joy, etc. For example,

y Mahima said, ‘I wish I lived in the mountains.’
Mahima said she wished she lived in the mountains.

y He said, ‘Hurrah, we have won!’
He exclaimed with joy that they had won.

B. Change these sentences into indirect speech.

1. John said, ‘Oh no, I’ve lost my driving license!’

2. ‘Thank you very much,’ I said to my friend.

3. Smita said, ‘What a pity you did not visit the sick man!’
4. He said, ‘I will be in London for three weeks.’

5. ‘Did you enjoy the party?’ asked the stranger.

6. ‘What are you doing?’ he asked him.

7. ‘Are you going out?’ she asked me.

8. The instructor said, ‘You should exercise regularly.’

9. ‘Have you come from India?’ said the Englishman to the girl.

10. The old man pleaded, ‘Will someone help me?’
11. ‘Which road should I take?’ asked the driver.

12. ‘Don’t you know the way to your school?’ I said to him.

13. ‘Do you write newspaper articles?’ the journalist said to the student.

14. ‘Do you have anything to say?’ said the police.

15. ‘Can you solve this sum?’ the teacher asked me.
139