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UPSC MainsENGLISH-COMPULSORY20211 Marks
Q44.

The judge said to the witness, “Were you present at the scene of crime ?” (Change into indirect speech)

How to Approach

This question tests the understanding of basic grammar, specifically the transformation of speech – direct to indirect. The approach should involve identifying the reporting verb ("said"), the reported speech, and then applying the rules of indirect speech, including changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions. The answer should be concise and grammatically correct. Focus on accurate application of rules rather than elaborate explanation.

Model Answer

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Introduction

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys what someone said without using their exact words. It's a fundamental aspect of English grammar and crucial for accurate communication, particularly in formal contexts like legal proceedings. Transforming direct speech into indirect speech requires adherence to specific grammatical rules concerning tense, pronouns, and time/place references. This question assesses the ability to apply these rules correctly in a simple declarative sentence.

The given sentence is in direct speech: "The judge said to the witness, “Were you present at the scene of crime ?”

Transformation to Indirect Speech

To convert this sentence into indirect speech, we need to make the following changes:

  • Reporting Verb: The reporting verb is "said". Since it's in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech will generally change.
  • Reported Speech: The reported speech is a question: "Were you present at the scene of crime?".
  • Tense Change: The past tense in the question ("Were") will change to the past perfect continuous tense in indirect speech.
  • Pronoun Change: Pronouns will need to be adjusted to reflect the change in perspective.
  • Question Word/Structure: The interrogative structure will be replaced with a statement structure, and the question mark will be removed. We will use "if" or "whether" to introduce the reported question.
  • Time and Place Expressions: No changes are needed in this specific sentence regarding time or place.

Step-by-Step Conversion

  1. Reporting Verb and Conjunction: The sentence begins with "The judge said to the witness". We add the conjunction "that" or "if/whether" to introduce the reported speech.
  2. Tense Change: "Were you" becomes "whether he/she was".
  3. Pronoun Change: "you" changes to "he/she" depending on the witness's gender.
  4. Complete Sentence: The final sentence in indirect speech is: "The judge asked the witness whether he/she was present at the scene of crime."

Therefore, the correct answer is: The judge asked the witness whether he/she was present at the scene of crime.

It's important to note that while "if" can sometimes be used interchangeably with "whether", "whether" is generally preferred when presenting alternatives or expressing doubt, which is subtly present in a courtroom question.

Conclusion

In conclusion, converting direct speech to indirect speech requires a systematic application of grammatical rules concerning tense, pronouns, and sentence structure. The key is to accurately reflect the original meaning while adapting the sentence to a different reporting context. Mastering this skill is essential for clear and precise communication, particularly in formal writing and legal documentation.

Answer Length

This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.

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Additional Resources

Key Definitions

Direct Speech
Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by someone, enclosed in quotation marks.
Indirect Speech
Indirect speech reports what someone said without using their exact words, often using a reporting verb and conjunctions like "that," "if," or "whether."

Key Statistics

A study by Cambridge Assessment English found that errors in reported speech are among the most common grammatical mistakes made by non-native English speakers.

Source: Cambridge Assessment English (Knowledge cutoff: 2021)

Approximately 60% of communication is non-verbal, but accurate reporting of verbal communication (like in legal settings) is crucial for clarity and justice.

Source: Mehrabian's Communication Model (1967)

Examples

Legal Testimony

In court, witnesses' statements are often recorded in direct speech during initial questioning, but summaries and interpretations presented as evidence are typically in indirect speech.

News Reporting

News articles frequently use indirect speech to report on statements made by individuals, attributing the information to the source without quoting them verbatim.

Frequently Asked Questions

▶What if the reporting verb is in the present tense?

If the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., "He says"), the tense of the reported speech generally does not change.

▶Do I always need to change pronouns?

Yes, pronouns must be changed to reflect the new perspective created by the shift from direct to indirect speech. The pronoun should refer to the correct person in the new context.

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