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Indirect. -- I said I didn't believe him.
Direct. -- I said to you, “I don't believe you.”
Indirect. -- I said I didn't believe you.
102. Words expressing nearness in time or place are generally changed into words
expressing distance. Thus :-
now -- becomes -- then
here -- becomes -- there
ago -- becomes -- before
thus -- becomes -- so
today -- becomes -- that day
tomorrow -- becomes -- the next day
yesterday -- becomes -- the day before
last night -- becomes -- the night before
Direct. -- He says, “I am glad to be here this evening.”
Indirect. -- He says that he was glad to be there that evening.
The changes do not occur if the speech is reported during the same period or at the same
place ; e.g.,
Direct. -- He said, “I am glad to be here this evening.”
Indirect. -- He said that he was glad to be there that evening.
103. Similarly, this and these are changed to that and those unless the thing pointed out is
near at hand at the time of reporting the speech.
A work from S, CHAND & COMPANY LTD.
Questions
104. In reporting questions the Indirect Speech is introduced by some such verbs as
asked, inquired, etc.
When the question is not introduced by an interrogative word, the reporting verb is
followed by whether or if.
Direct. -- He said to me, “What are you doing ?”
Indirect. -- He asked me what I was doing.
Direct. -- “Where do you live?” asked the stranger.
Indirect. -- The stranger enquired where I lived.
Direct. -- The policeman said to us, “Where are you going ?”
Indirect. -- The policeman enquired where we were going.
Direct. -- He said, “Will you listen to such a man?”
Indirect. -- He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
[Or] Would they, he asked, listen to such a man ?
Direct. – “Do you suppose you know better than your own father?”
jeered his angry mother.
Indirect. -- His angry mother jeered and asked whether he supposed that he knew better
than his own father.
Commands and Requests
105. In reporting commands and requests, the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb
expressing command or request, and the imperative mood is changed into the Infinitive.
Direct. -- Rama said to Arjun, “Go away.”
Indirect. -- Rama ordered Arjun to go away.
Direct. -- He said to him, “Please wait here till I return.”
Indirect. -- He requested him to wait there till he returned.
Direct. -- “Call the first witness,” said the judge.
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Indirect. -- The judge commanded them to call the first witness.
Direct. -- He shouted, “Let me go.”
Indirect. -- He shouted to them to let him go.
Direct. -- He said, “Be quiet and listen to my words.”
Indirect. -- He urged them to be quiet and listen to his words.
Exclamations and Wishes
106. In reporting exclamations and wishes the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb
expressing exclamation or wish.
Direct. -- He said, “Alas! I am undone.”
Indirect. -- He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
Direct. -- Alice said, “How clever I am!”
Indirect. -- Alice exclaimed that she was very clever.
Direct. -- He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
Indirect. -- He applauded him, saying that he had done well.
Direct. -- “So help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again.”
Indirect. -- He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to steal again.
Exercise 104.
Turn the following into Indirect Speech:-
1. He said to me, “I have often told you not to play with fire.”
2. “You have all done very badly!” remarked the teacher.
3. They wrote, “It is time we thought about settling this matter.”
4. The teacher promised, "If you will come before school tomorrow, I will explain it.
5. She wrote, “I am waiting and watching and longing for my son's return.”
6. The examiner's orders were, “No one is to bring books into the room nor ask me
questions about what I have told you to do.”
7. The dwarf said to her, “Promise me that when you are Queen you will give me your
first-born child.”
8. “That is my horse,” said he, “and if I do not prove it in a few minutes I will give up my
claim.”
9. “I will avenge your wrongs,” he cried, “I will not enter Athens until I have punished
the king who had so cruelly treated you."
10. He wrote and said, “I am unable to come just now because I am ill, but I will certainly
start as soon as I am well enough to do so.”
11. One day he sent for Cassim and said to him, “You are now old enough to earn your
living, so you must set off, and make your own way in the world.”
Exercise 105.
Turn the following into Indirect Speech:-
1. “What do you want?” he said to her.
2. He said, “How's your father?”
3. “Are you coming home with me?” he asked.
4. He enquired, “When do you intend to pay me?”
5. He said to us, “Why are you all sitting about there doing nothing?”
6. “Do you really come from China?” said the prince.
7. The poor man exclaimed, “Will none of you help me?”
8. “Which way did she go?” asked the young Rakshas.
9. Aladdin said to the magician, “What have I done to deserve so severe a blow?”
10. “Don't you know the way home?” asked I.
11. “Do you write a good hand?” he said.
12. “Have you anything to say on behalf of the prisoner ?”said the judge finally.
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13. “Which is the proper way to answer this question, father?” the boy enquired.
14. “Have you anything to tell me, little bird?”. asked Ulysses.
15. The young sparrow said, “Mother, what is that queer object?”
16. Then aloud he said, “Tell me, boy, is the miller within?”
17. “Who are you, sir, and what do you want?” they cried.
18. “Dear bird,” she said, stroking its feathers, “have you come to comfort me in my
sorrow?”
19. The Rajah was deeply grieved, and said to his wife, “What can I do for you?”
20. When the sun got low, the king's son said, “Jack, since we have no money, where can
we lodge this night ?”
21. She said to him, “What is it that makes you so much stronger and braver than any
other man ?”
22. When the Brahmin approached, the first thief said, “Why do you carry a dog on your
back ? Are you not ashamed ?”
Exercise 106.
Put the following in Indirect Speech:-
1. “Bring me a drink of milk,” said the swami to the villagers.
2. “Sit down, boys,” said the teacher.
3. “Halt!” shouted the officer to his men.
4. “Take off your hat,” the king said to the Hatter.
5. The teacher said to him, “Do not read so fast.”
6. He said to me, “Wait until I come.”
7. “Hurry up,” he said to his servant, “do not waste time.”
8. “Run away, children,” said their mother.
9. He said, “Daughter, take my golden jug, and fetch me some water from the Well.”
10. “Go down to the bazaar. Bring me some oil and a lump of ice.” ordered his master.
Exercise 107.
Put the following in Indirect Speech:-
1. “What a rare article milk is, to be sure, in London !” said Mr. Squeers with a sigh.
2. “What a stupid fellow you are!” he angrily remarked.
3. He said, “My God! I am ruined.”
4. He said, “Alas! our foes are too strong.”
5. He said, “What a lazy boy you are! How badly you have done your work!”
6. “How smart you are!” she said.
7. He said. “Oh ! that's a nuisance.”
8.He said, “How cruel of him!”
9. He said, “What a pity you did not come!”
10. “Ah me!” exclaimed the Queen. “What a rash and bloody deed you have done!”
Conversion of Indirect into Direct
107. The conversion of Indirect into Direct generally presents no special difficulties, as
the following examples will show :-
Indirect. -- He inquired whether his name was not Ahmed.
Direct. -- He said to him, “Is not your name Ahmed ?”
Indirect. -- As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked him
if he was a traveller. He replied carelessly that it would appear so.
Direct. -- As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked, “Are
you a traveller?” “So it would appear,” he answered carelessly.
Indirect. -- She asked how she, a girl, who could not ride or use sword or lance,
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could be of any help. Rather would she stay at home and spin beside her dear mother.
Direct. -- She said, “How can I, a girl, who cannot ride or use sword or lance, be
of any help? Rather would I stay at home and spin beside my dear mother?”
Exercise 108.
Put the following in Direct Speech:-
1. He asked Rama to go with him.
2. Rama replied that he could not do so.
3. He asked his father when the next letter would come.
4. His father replied that there might not be another that year.
5. Rama asked me what had become of Hari.
6. I told him that I had not seen him for months.
7. The master requested that they would attend carefully to what he was saying.
8. I wrote that I would visit him next day.
9. He observed that he had never liked doing that.
10. I told them to be quiet.
11. He asked me if I had anything to say.
12. Rama asked Hari if he would change places with him.
13. He said that he was tired, and that he wished to go to bed.
14. An old mouse asked who would bell the cat.
15. John said that he wanted to be a soldier.
16. He asked me where I was going.
17. He asked me what I wanted.
18. Abdul said that he had seen that picture.
19. The boy said that he would go with us.
20. He said that the earth moves round the sun.
21. The stranger asked Alice where she lived.
22. I asked Mary if she would lend me a pencil.
23. He told us that he had waited an hour.
24. The lady inquired if he was now quite well again.
25. He said that he had come to see them.
26. He said that though he had come, it was against his will.
27. The speaker said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
28. He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
29. He asked me if I would accompany him.
30. He ordered him to leave the room and forbade him to return.
31. The mother asked her boy where he had been all the afternoon.
32. Hari asked Rama if he had read the letter.
33. The King asked the philosopher whom he considered the happiest man living.
34. The magistrate asked the prisoner what he was doing with his hand in the gentleman's
pocket.
35. The fox cried out to the goat that a thought had just come into his head.
36. He advised his sons not to quarrel amongst themselves, when he was dead but to
remain united.
37. The lion told the fox that he was very weak, that his teeth had fallen out, and that he
had no appetite.
38. He replied that he had promised to reward his soldiers and that he had kept his word.
108. Study the following examples, and in each case carefully note the changes made
while turning from Direct into Indirect Speech:-
Direct. -- The Prince said, “It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening.”
Indirect. -- The Prince said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
Direct. -- He said, “I shall go as soon as it is possible”
Indirect. – He said that he would go as soon as it was possible.
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Direct. -- He said, “I do not wish to see any of you; go away.”
Indirect. -- He said that he did not wish to see any of them and ordered them to go away.
Direct. -- My teacher often says to me, “If you don't work hard, you will fail.”
Indirect. -- My teacher often says to me that if I don't work hard I shall fail.
Direct. -- He said, “We are all sinners.”
Indirect. -- He said that we are all sinners.
Direct. -- The lecturer said, “Akbar won the respect of all races and classes by his
justice.”
Indirect. -- The lecturer said that Akbar won the respect of all races and classes by his
justice.
Direct. -- He said, “Let us wait for the award.”
Indirect. -- He proposed that they should wait for the award.
Direct. – “Saint George strike for us!” exclaimed the Knight, “do the false yeomen give
way?”
Indirect. -- The Knight prayed that Saint George might strike for them and asked whether
the false yeomen gave way.
Direct. – “Curse it!” exclaimed the driver. “Who could have foreseen such ill-luck? But
for accident we should have caught the train easily.”
Indirect. -- The driver exclaimed with an oath that nobody could have foreseen such ill-
luck. But for the accident they would have caught the train easily.
Direct. -- The general, addressing his mutinous troops said, “You have brought disgrace
upon a famous regiment. If you had grievances, why did you not lay them before your
own officers? Now you must first suffer punishment for your offence, before your
complaints can be heard.”
Indirect. -- The general told his mutinous troops that they had brought disgrace upon a
famous regiment. If they had grievances, why had they not laid them before their own
officers? Now they must suffer punishment for their offence before their complaints
could be heard.
Direct. -- The traveller said, “Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?” “Yes,” said the
peasant, “do you want one in which you can spend the night?” “No,” replied the traveller,
“I only want a meal.”
Indirect. -- The traveller asked the peasant if he could tell him the way to the nearest inn.
The peasant replied that he could, and asked whether the traveller wanted one in which he
could spend the night. The traveller answered that he did not wish to stay there, but only
wanted a meal.
Remark. -- It will be noticed that we have avoided the ugly phrases “replied in the
affirmative” and “replied in the negative.”
Exercise 109.
Turn the following into Indirect Speech:-
1. “Cheer up, mother, I'll go and get work somewhere,” said Jack.
2. But the sea-god cried, “Do not be afraid, noble prince. I have taken pity on you and
will help you.”
3. “No,” said the child; “I won't kneel, for if I do, I shall spoil my new breeches.”
4. “What a horse are they losing for want of skill and spirit to manage him!” exclaimed
Alexander.
5. Telemachus replied, "How can I drive away the mother, who bore me and nourished
me?"
6. “Call no man happy,” was the reply of the philosopher, “until he has ended his life in a
fitting manner.”
7. Then said the wolf to the fox, “Now either yield thyself as vanquished, or else certainly
I will kill thee.”
8. “I believe,” said he, “that we are in this country among a people whom we like and
who like us.”
9. he said, “Take that bird away. Its gilded cage reminds me of my father whom I
imprisoned.”
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10. “I have just one word to say to you,” said the dealer. “Either make your purchase, or
walk out of my shop.”
11. “My hour is come,” thought he. “Let me meet death like a man.”
12. “Be not cast down,” said Mentor, “remember whose son thou art, and all shall be well
with thee.”
13. Bhishma said: “Boys! boys ! remember you play a game. If it be Arjuna's turn let him
have it.”
14. “Friends,” said the old man, “sit down and rest yourselves here on this bench. My
good wife Baucis has gone to see what you can have for supper.”
15. “Ah! you don't know what these beans are, said the man; if you plant them over-
night, by morning they grow right up to the sky.”
16. “How clever I am !” he said. “All my life I have been talking prose without knowing
it.”
17. “I am old and lonely,” said she. “Hast thou no pity on my lonelines? Stay with me,
my best son, for thou art yet more boy than man.”
18. “I do not practice”, Goldsmith once said; "I make it a rule to prescribe only for my
friends." "Pray, dear doctor," said Beauclerk, "alter your rule, and prescribe only for your
enemies."
19. He said: "Who are you to speak to me like this? I am the master. Why should I help
you? It is your work, not mine, to draw the cart."
20. "I cannot hope to see these trees which I am planting come in perfection," said the
duke, "but it is right for me to plant for the benefit of my successors."
21. "Are you angry, my friends," said the king, "because you have lost your leader? I am
your king; I will be your leader."
22. Said an old Crab to young one, "Why do you walk so crooked, child? Walk straight!"
"Mother," said the young Crab, "show me the way, will you?"
23. "Who are you?" said the Deer. The Jackal replied: "I am Kshudrabuddhi the Jackal. I
live in this forest all by myself; I have neither friend nor relation."
24. One summer some elephants were very much distressed by the heat, and said to their
leader: "We are absolutely perishing, for want of water. The smaller animals have
bathing-places but we have none. What are we to do? Where are we to go?"
25. When the king saw him coming he said, "Pray who are you, and what do you want ?"
The Rabbit said, "I am an ambassador from His Majesty Chandra - the Moon." The
Elephant King replied, "Declare your errand."
26. A young Rajah once said to his Vizier, "How is it that I am so often ill? I take great
care of myself; I never go out in the rain; I wear warm clothes; I eat good food. Yet I am
always catching cold or getting fever."
27. "My sons," said he, "a great treasure lies hidden in the estate I am about to leave
you." "Where is it hid?" said the sons. "I am about to leave you." said the old man, "but
you must dig for it."
28. "How very well you speak French!" Lady Grizzel said. "I ought to know it," Becky
modestly said. "I taught it in a school, and my mother was a Frenchwoman."
29. "What are you going to do with the tinder-box?" asked the soldier. "That's no
business of yours," said the witch; "You've got your money; give me my tinder-box."
30. "My name is Noman," said Ulysses, "my kinsmen and friends in my own country call
me Noman." "Then," said the Cyclops, "this is the kindness I will show thee, Noman; I
will eat thee last of all thy friends."
31. "I am a dead man, Hardy," said Nelson; "I am going fast; it will be all over with me
soon. Come nearer to me. Let my dear Lady Hamilton have my hair, and all other things
belonging to me."
32. He said to the shoemaker: "You are a big blockhead; you have done the reverse of
what I desired you. I told you to make one of the shoes larger than the other, and, instead
of that, you have made one of them smaller than the other."
A work from S, CHAND & COMPANY LTD.
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33. “I can extend no other mercy to you,” said the Raja, “except permitting you to choose
what kind of death you wish to die. Decide immediately, for the sentence must be carried
out.” “I admire your kindness, noble Prince,” said the jester, “I choose to die of old age.”
34. Her mother said, "You must go straight to your grandmother's cottage and not loiter
on the way. There is a wolf in the wood through which you are going; but if you keep to
the road he won't do you any harm/Now, will you be a good girl and do as I tell you ?"
35. Next morning at breakfast his wife said to him, "George, I think I can tell what is
amiss with our clock." "Well, what is it?" he sharply asked. "It wants winding up," said
his partner.
36. A fawn one day said to her mother, "Mother, you are bigger than a dog, and swifter
and better winded, and you have horns to defend yourself; how is it that you are so afraid
of the hounds?" She smiled and said, "All this, my child, I know fully well; but no sooner
do I hear a dog bark, than, somehow or other, my heels take me off as fast as they can
carry me."
37. Said a young mole to her mother, "Mother, I can see." So her mother put a lump of
frank incense before her, and asked her what it was. "A stone," said the young one. "O
my child !" said the mother, "not only do you not see, but you cannot even smell."
38. "What are you doing, good old woman ?" said the princess. "I'm spinning, my pretty
child." "Ah, how charming ! Let me try if I can spin also."
39. "You say," said the judge, "that the bag you lost contained one hundred and ten
pounds." "Yes, your honour," replied the miser. "Then as this one contains one hundred
pounds it cannot be yours."
40. He answered slowly, "Alas ! my dear son, why do you ask the one thing I cannot
grant you ? Your hands are too weak to rein those fiery beasts ; you do not know the path.
Come, ask something else, anything but that,"
41. The speaker said, "I entirely object to the proposal. I object to it as founded on a
wrong principle, and I object to it as highly inconvenient at this time. Have you
considered all that this proposal involves ? Gentlemen, I entreat you to be cautious."
42. Kausalya said to Rama, "Do not desire, O my child, to possess the moon, because it is
thousands of miles off, and it is not a plaything for children and no child ever got it. If
you wish I will bring some jewels that are brighter than the moon, and you can play with
them."
43. The hen bird was just about to lay, and she said to her mate: "Cannot you find me
some place convenient for laying my eggs?" "And is not this," he replied, "a very good
place for the purpose?" "No," she answered, "for it is continually overflowed by the tide."
"Am I, then, become so feeble," he exclaimed, "that the eggs laid in my house are to be
carried away by the sea ?" The hen bird laughed and said, "There is some considerable
difference between you and the sea."
44. A cat hearing that a hen was laid up sick in her nest, paid her a visit of condolence,
and creeping up to her, said: "How are you, my dear friend ? What can I do for you ?
What are you in want of ? Only tell me. Is there anything in the world that I can bring
you ? Keep up your spirits, and do not be alarmed." "Thank you," said the hen. "Do you
be good enough to leave me, and I have no fear but I shall soon be well."
45. "Sweet child," he answered, "do not fret, for I can make you happier here than ever
you could have been on the earth ; I will give you beautiful things to play with, which a
queen would envy. Rubies and diamonds shall be your toys, and your plates shall be of
solid gold. All the beautiful things you see, belong to me, for I am king of this rich
underworld." But she only replied, "I was happy playing with the pebbles on the
seashore, and I care only for the sparkle of the little waves on the shining sand. Here
there are no flowers, no sun," and she wept a new.
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PART II
CORRECT USAGE
CHAPTER 17
AGREEMENT OF THE VERB WITH THE SUBJECT
109. A Verb must agree with its Subject in Number and Person.
Often, by what is called the “Error of Proximity”, the verb is made to agree in number
with a noun near it instead of with its proper subject. This should be avoided as shown in
the following examples:-
The quality of the mangoes was not good.
The introduction of tea and coffee and such other beverages has not been without some
effect.
His knowledge of Indian vernaculars is far beyond the common.
The state of his affairs was such as to cause anxiety to his creditors.
If it were possible to get near when one of the volcanic eruptions takes place, we should
see a grand sight.
The results of the recognition of this fact are seen in the gradual improvement of the diet
of the poor.
110. Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by and require a plural verb; as,
Gold and silver are precious metals.
Fire and water do not agree.
Knowledge and wisdom have oft-times no connection.
Are your father and mother at home?
In him were centred their love and their ambition.
He and I were playing.
But if the nouns suggest one idea to the mind, or refer to the same person or thing, the
verb is singular; as,
Time and tide waits for no man.
The horse and carriage is at the door.
Bread and butter is his only food.
Honour and glory is his reward.
The rise and fall of the tide is, due to lunar influence.
My friend and benefactor has come.
The novelist and poet is dead.
111. Words joined to a singular subject by with, as well as, etc., are parenthetical. The
verb should therefore be put in the singular; as,
• The house, with its contents, was insured.The Mayor, with his councillors, is to be
present.
• The ship, with its crew, was lost.
• Silver, as well as cotton, has fallen in price.
• Sanskrit, as well as Arabic, was taught there.
• Justice, as well as mercy, allows it.
• The guidance, as well as the love of a mother, was wanting.
112. Two or more singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb; as.
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No nook or corner was left unexplored.
Our happiness or our sorrow is largely due to our own actions.
Either the cat or the dog has been here.
Neither food nor water was to be found there.
Neither praise nor blame seems to affect him.
But when one of the subjects joined by or or nor is plural, the verb must be plural, and the
plural subject should be placed nearest the verb ; as,
Neither the Chairman nor the directors are present.
113. When the subjects joined by or or nor are of different persons, the verb agrees with
the nearer; as,
Either he or I am mistaken.
Either you or he is mistaken.
Neither you nor he is to blame.
Neither my friend not I am to blame.
But it is better to avoid these constructions, and to write:-
He is mistaken, or else I am.
You are mistaken, or else he is.
He is not to blame, nor are you.
My friend is not to blame, nor am I.
114. Either, neither, each, everyone, many a, must be followed by a singular verb; as,
He asked me whether either of the applicants was suitable.
Neither of the two men was very strong.
Each of these substances is found in India.
Every one of the prisons is full.
Every one of the boys loves to ride.
Many a man has done so.
Many a man does not know his own good deeds.
Many a man has succumbed to this temptation.
115. Two nouns qualified by each or every, even though connected by and, require a
singular verb; as,
Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets.
116. Some nouns which are plural in form, but singular in meaning, take a singular verb ;
as,
The news is true.
Politics was with him the business of his life.
The wages of sin is death.
Mathematics is a branch of study in every school.
117. Pains and means take either the singular or the plural verb, but the construction must
be consistent; as,
Great pains have been taken.
Much pains has been taken.
All possible means have been tried.
The means employed by you is sufficient.
In the sense of income, the word means always takes a plural verb; as,
My means were much reduced owing to that heavy loss.
His means are ample.
269
118. Some nouns which are singular in form, but plural in meaning take a plural verb; as,
According to the present market rate twelve dozen cost one hundred rupees.
119. None, though properly singular, commonly takes a plural verb (see § 132); as,
None are so deaf as those who wilt not hear.
Cows are amongst the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate
tenderness to their young.
120. A Collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as one
whole; plural verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of ; as,
The Committee has issued its report.
The Committee are divided on one minor point.
But we must be consistent. Thus, we should say :
The Committee has appended a note to its (not their) report.
121. When the plural noun is a proper name for some single object or some collective
unit, it must be followed by a singular verb; as,
• The Arabian Nights is still a great favourite.
• The United States has a big navy.
• Plutarch's Lives is an interesting book.
• Gulliver's Travels was written by Swift.
122. When a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a
whole, the verb is generally singular; as,
Fifteen minutes is allowed to each speaker.
Ten kilometers is a long walk.
Fifty thousand rupees is a large sum.
Three parts of the business is left for me to do.
Exercise 110
In each of the following sentences supply a Verb in agreement with its Subject :-
1. To take pay and then not to do work --- dishonest.
2. The cost of all these articles --- risen.
3. The jury --- divided in their opinions.
4. That night every one of the boat's crew --- down with fever.
5. One or the other of those fellows --- stolen the watch.
6. The strain of ail the difficulties and vexations and anxieties --- more than he could
bear.
7. No news --- good news.
8. The accountant and the cashier --- absconded.
9. A good man and useful citizen --- passed away.
10. The famous juggler and conjurer --- too unwell to perform.
11. The Three Musketeers --- written by Dumas.
12. Each of the suspected men --- arrested.
13. The ebb and flow of the tides --- explained by Newton.
14. Ninety rupees --- too much for this bag.
15. The cow as well as the horse --- grass.
16. Neither his father nor his mother --- alive.
