Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a way of reporting what someone else said without using their exact words. It involves changes to verb tenses, pronouns, and time/place references to reflect the shift in perspective from the original speaker to the reporter. Accurate conversion between direct and indirect speech is a fundamental skill in English grammar and is often tested in competitive examinations to assess language proficiency. This question requires the application of these rules to a simple imperative sentence.
The given sentence in direct speech is: "Rama said to Arjuna, 'Go away'." To convert this into indirect speech, we need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Change the Reporting Verb
The reporting verb is 'said'. When reporting an imperative sentence (a command or request), 'said' is typically changed to 'told' or 'ordered'. In this case, 'told' is appropriate.
Step 2: Change the Reported Speech
Imperative sentences in direct speech are converted into 'to + infinitive' form in indirect speech. Therefore, 'Go away' becomes 'to go away'.
Step 3: Combine the Clauses
We use the conjunction 'to' to connect the reporting verb and the transformed reported speech.
The complete indirect speech sentence is:
Rama told Arjuna to go away.
Detailed Explanation of Changes:
- Reporting Verb: 'said' changed to 'told'
- Imperative Sentence: 'Go away' changed to 'to go away'
- Pronoun: No change in pronouns is required as the sentence already uses proper nouns (Rama and Arjuna).
- Tense: No tense change is required as the imperative mood doesn't have a tense in the same way as other verb forms.
Illustrative Table of Direct to Indirect Speech Rules (Imperative Sentences):
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| He said, "Close the door." | He told me to close the door. |
| She said, "Don't make noise." | She told me not to make noise. |
| The teacher said, "Be quiet." | The teacher told the students to be quiet. |
It's important to note that the use of 'me' or 'him/her' depends on who is being addressed. In this case, Arjuna is being addressed, so no pronoun change is needed within the indirect speech.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correct indirect speech form of "Rama said to Arjuna, 'Go away'" is "Rama told Arjuna to go away." This transformation demonstrates a fundamental understanding of grammatical rules governing the conversion of direct speech to indirect speech, specifically for imperative sentences. Mastering these rules is crucial for effective communication and accurate language usage.
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.