8 English

Class Notes
Class: VIII Topic: CHANGE OF NARRATION

INTERROGATIVE AND IMPERATIVE SENTENCES
Subject: ENGLISH
DATE:19.01.2022
Rules of Narration Change of Interrogative Sentence

There are two main kinds of interrogative sentences. Those which start with an auxiliary verb and those which
start with a question word such as what, why, when, where, how, etc.
The following changes occur when an interrogative sentence in the direct speech is changed to the indirect
speech.
Interrogative sentences beginning with an auxiliary verb are changed into the indirect speech by using the
connective if or whether.
The reporting verb said (or any other word used as the reporting verb) changes to asked, queried,
questioned, demanded of or enquired of in the indirect speech.
Note that of is used after enquired and demanded only when the reporting verb has an object.
The most common reporting verbs used to report a question are asked and enquired of. The reporting
verb queried is somewhat investigative. Demanded of is the strongest of all reporting verbs mentioned above.
It is used when an explanation is desired.
Note that the indirect narration is always in the assertive form. In other words, the interrogative sentences in the
direct speech will change into assertive sentences in the indirect speech.
Study the following examples carefully to understand the rules mentioned above.
1. Direct: She said to me, ‘Are you coming with us?’

Indirect: She asked me if I was going with them. OR She asked them if I was coming with them.
2. Direct: She said to me, ‘Are you unwell?’
Indirect: She asked me if I was unwell.
3. Direct: She said to him, ‘Am I to wait for you till eternity?’
Indirect: She enquired of him if she was to wait for him till eternity.
4. Direct: I said to him, ‘Were you present at the meeting yesterday?’
Indirect: I asked him whether he had been present at the meeting the day before (or the previous
day).
5. Direct: The woman asked the stranger, ‘Should I help you?’
Indirect: The woman asked the stranger whether she should help him.
Note that the auxiliary verbs should, could, would, ought to and might do not change in the indirect speech.
6. Direct: I said to him, ‘Who are you?’

Indirect: I asked him who he was.
7. Direct: The mother said to the daughter, ‘Do you know where John is?’
Indirect: The mother asked the daughter whether she knew where John was.
8. Direct: ‘Have you anything to say on behalf of the accused?,’ said the judge to the lawyer.
Indirect: The judge enquired of the lawyer if he had anything to say on behalf of the accused.
Rules of Narration Change of Imperative Sentence

In converting the Imperative Sentence into Indirect Speech, the following rules should be maintained:
(i) The Reporting Verb is changed into a verb signifying order, request, advise etc. according to the sense.
Hence, 'said' is changed into ordered or requested or advised etc.
(ii) The verb of the Reported Speech is changed into an Infinitive. Hence, 'to' is used before the main verb of
the Reported Speech.
(iii) If the Reported Speech is in negative form, then the word 'not' is used before the Infinitive. The Reporting
Verb forbid, prohibit etc. may also be used without using 'not'.
Examples of Narration Change of Imperative Sentence:
(1) Direct: He said to me, "Help me in solving the sum."

Indirect: He requested me to help him in solving the sum.
(2) Direct: My friend said to me, "Please, accept the invitation. "
Indirect: My friend requested me to accept the invitation.
(3) Direct: The man said to me, "Make haste and clear the garbage now."
Indirect: The man ordered me to make haste and to clear the garbage then.
(4) Direct: The commander said to the soldiers, "March on."

Indirect: The commander ordered the soldiers to march on.
(5) Direct: He said to me, "Do not do it again."

Indirect: He advised me not to do it again.
Narration Change of Imperative Sentence with Let
(i) 'Let' is often used to make proposal. In such case, we may use 'should' for 'Let' and change the Reporting
Verb into suggest or propose.
(ii) The Imperative form in the Direct Speech is changed into Assertive form and 'that' linker is used.
Example:-
(1) Direct: I said to friends, "Let us go for a picnic. "

Indirect: I suggested my friends that we should go for a picnic.
(2) Direct: My parents said, "Let us invite some friends to our son's birthday."
Indirect: My parents suggested that they should invite some friends to their son's birthday.
(iii) But when 'Let' does not express a proposal, it should be changed into 'might' or 'might be allowed to'.
Example:-
(1) Direct: He said to his friend, "Let me go home."

Indirect: He requested his friend that he might be allowed to go home.
(2) Direct: I said to the old man, "Let me stay here for a while."
Indirect: I requested the old man that I might be allowed to stay there for a while.
Practise these questions in your copy.
Q I. Exercise of Narration Change of Interrogative Sentence:
(1) They said to him, "Which colour do you like?"
(2) She said to me, "Did you see or hear anything yesterday?"
(3) The old man said to me, "Will you help me to hold the box?"
(4) I said to him, "Can you wash these dirty clothes?"
(5) He said, "Why did you hit the boy?"
Q II. Exercise of Narration Change of Imperative Sentence:
(1) The boy said to his friend, "Please lend me your pen for a while."
(2) Father said to me, "Keep these boxes away from fire."
(3) The guards said to the visitors, "Don't take photographs inside the
museum."
(4) The boy said, "Let me try once again."
(5) The teacher said, "Children, do not run in the hall room."
CONTENT PREPARED AT HOME.

8 English

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

8 English

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

8 English

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Class Notes

Class: VIII Topic: CHANGE OF NARRATION

Rules of Narration Change of Interrogative Sentence

1. Direct: She said to me, ‘Are you coming with us?’

6. Direct: I said to him, ‘Who are you?’

Rules of Narration Change of Imperative Sentence

Examples of Narration Change of Imperative Sentence:

(1) Direct: He said to me, "Help me in solving the sum."

(4) Direct: The commander said to the soldiers, "March on."

(5) Direct: He said to me, "Do not do it again."

(1) Direct: I said to friends, "Let us go for a picnic. "

(1) Direct: He said to his friend, "Let me go home."

(1) They said to him, "Which colour do you like?"

(5) He said, "Why did you hit the boy?"

Q II. Exercise of Narration Change of Imperative Sentence:

(4) The boy said, "Let me try once again."

You might also like