Discuss the changes in reported speech when reporting indirect commands.

Direct And Indirect Speech Questions Long



19 Short 55 Medium 80 Long Answer Questions Question Index

Discuss the changes in reported speech when reporting indirect commands.

When reporting indirect commands, there are several changes that occur in the reported speech. These changes involve the verb tense, pronouns, adverbs, and word order. Let's discuss each of these changes in detail.

1. Verb Tense:
In reported speech, the verb tense of the reported command is usually changed to the past tense. For example, if the direct command is "Close the door!", the reported command would be "He told me to close the door." Here, the verb "close" changes from the present tense to the infinitive form "to close" in the reported speech.

2. Pronouns:
In indirect commands, the pronouns also undergo changes. The pronouns in the reported speech are adjusted according to the subject of the reporting verb. For instance, if the direct command is "Give me the book!", the reported command would be "He asked me to give him the book." Here, the pronoun "me" changes to "him" to match the subject of the reporting verb.

3. Adverbs:
Adverbs of place and time may also require changes in reported speech. For example, if the direct command is "Come here!", the reported command would be "He told me to go there." Here, the adverb "here" changes to "there" in the reported speech.

4. Word Order:
The word order in reported speech is often different from that in direct speech. In indirect commands, the word order is usually subject + reporting verb + infinitive verb + object. For instance, if the direct command is "Open the window!", the reported command would be "She asked me to open the window." Here, the word order changes from "Open the window!" to "She asked me to open the window."

It is important to note that the reporting verb used in indirect commands can vary, such as "tell," "ask," "order," "command," etc. Additionally, modal verbs like "can," "should," "must," etc., may also be used to report indirect commands.

In conclusion, when reporting indirect commands, changes occur in verb tense, pronouns, adverbs, and word order. These changes help to convey the original command in a reported manner while maintaining the appropriate grammatical structure.