Changing Speech /Narration

  Question Pattern for Examination

        Change the narrative style by using direct/indirect speeches:-

          "How much do you want?" said the Mayor. "A thousand guilders", said the pied piper. "All right", said the Mayor. "We'll pay you a thousand guilders. When will you set to work?" "Now", said the pied piper.

·         What is Narration?

The way of reporting the speech of a speaker is called narration. 

·         Types of Speech

Direct speech: Speech spoken directly by the speaker is direct speech.

Indirect speech: Speech spoken indirectly by another is indirect speech.

·         There are two parts of a direct speech.

Reporting verb: Out of inverted comma.   He said,                       

 Reported speech: Inside of inverted comma.    “ You are my best friend.”                         

·         Basics of Speech / Narration:

Change of Verbs

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Am/ is/are	was/ were
Was/ were	had been
Shall/ will	would
Can	could
May	Might
must/have to/has to	had to
Should/would/ could /might	no change

Change of Adverbs

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
now	then
tomorrow	The next day
tonight	That night
today	That day
yesterday	The previous day
last night	The previous night
last week	The previous week
here	there
this	that
these	those

Change of Tense

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Simple Present	Simple Past
Present Continuous	Past Continuous
Present Perfect	Past Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous
Simple Past	Past Perfect
Past continuous	Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect	(No Change)
Past Perfect Continuous	(No Change)

Reporting Verbs

Assertive	Said  /told
Interrogative	Asked,  enquire
Imperative	Advised, requested, ordered [ Without Let] Proposed, suggested, told [With Let]
Optative	told
Exclamatory	Exclaimed, wondered, told

·         More Reporting Verbs that are used to make the passage narration more impressive:

accused	admitted	alleged	agreed	apologized
begged	boasted	complained	denied	explained
implied	invited	offered	promised	replied

Conjunction used in Speech

Assertive	that
Interrogative	If, whether
Imperative	To [ Without Let] That  [With Let]
Optative	That
Exclamatory	That

Assertive Sentence:

Note to remember: Reporting verb-

·         say to shall be changed into tell

·         says to into tells

·         said to into told

·         will/shall say to into will/shall tell

·         Say/ Says/Said will remain same.

·         Inverted Commas into that

Example:

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
He said, ” I  go  to school regularly.”	He said that he  went  to school regularly.
She said to me, “ I was ill.”	She told me that she had been ill.
Sumon said, “I  will meet you  tomorrow.”	Sumon said/told that he  would  meet me  the next day.
He said to me, “ I have done my job.”	He told me that he had done his job.
He said,“Mr. Bean  did  the best  last night.”	He told that Mr. Bean  had  done  the best   the previous night.

·         Exception:

If the reporting verb is in present & future tense, there will be no change of the verb of reported speech.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
He says, “ My mother loves me more than her life.”	He  says that his mother loves him more than her life.
The student says, “ I have completed my home work.”	The student says that he has completed his home work.

·         Note to Remember:

Universal truth will not be changed in indirect speech.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
My father  said, “Evil always remains in evil.”	My father  told that evil always remains in evil.
The teacher said, “The sinner will suffer in the long run.”	The teacher told that the sinner will suffer in the long run.

Interrogative Sentence:

Rule	Example
Note that the interrogative sentences in the direct speech will change into assertive sentences in the indirect speech.	Direct:  She said to me, ‘Are you coming with us?’ Indirect: She asked me if I was going with them. Direct: The woman asked the stranger, ‘Should I help you?’ Indirect: The woman asked the stranger whether she should help him.
In Interrogative sentence WH-words can’t be replaced and the direct speech will change into assertive sentences in the indirect speech.	Direct: "How much do you want?" said the Mayor. Indirect: The Mayor asked him how much he wanted. Direct: When will you set to work?" said the Mayor. Indirect: The Mayor asked him when he would set to work.

Imperative Sentence:

·         An imperative sentence expresses ideas such as advice, order, request, suggestion, instruction, permission, allowance etc.

·         In order to change an imperative sentence into the indirect speech, we use a to-infinitive.

·         A –that clause is also possible in some cases.

·         Note that instead of ‘said’ we use one of the following reporting verbs: Advise, command, request, suggest, threaten, order, forbid, propose,, pardon, beg, instruct etc.

Example:

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
The old woman said to the boy, ‘Please help me.’	The old woman requested the boy to help her.
I said to him, ‘Love and obey your parents.’	I advised him to love and obey his parents.
The teacher said to the students, ‘Work hard.’	The teacher advised the boys to work hard.
The officer said to the clerk, ‘Do it immediately.’	The officer ordered the clerk to do it immediately.
The teacher said to the boy, ‘Come in, please.’	The teacher allowed (or asked) the boy to come in.
I said to the children, ‘Do not make a noise.’	I forbade the children to make a noise.
He said to me, "Let us go home."	He proposed (or, suggested) to me that we should go home.
I said to him, "Let us have some music."	I proposed (or, suggested) to him that we should have some music.
He said, "Let him do whatever he likes."'	He said that he might/might be allowed to do whatever he liked.
He said, "Let me come in."	He requested that he might be allowed to go in.

Optative Sentence:

·         The sentences which express wish or desire or pray etc are called Optative sentences.

·         These sentences generally begin with May.

·         We change Reporting verbs like say / says/ said in to wish/ wishes/ wished or pray/prays/prayed etc as per the meaning in the reported speech.

·         We replace inverted commas " " by that .

·         In direct speech, the structure is - May + Sub ........! whereas in indirect speech it is Sub + Might .....

Example:

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
He said to me, "May you be happy.”	He wished that I might be happy.
He said to you, "May God bless you."	He prayed that God might bless you.
The old woman said," May you live long."	The old woman wished that I might live long.

Exclamatory Sentence:

·         Exclamatory sentences express a sudden outburst of some emotions such as joy, sorrow, contempt, regret, surprise etc.

·         Common explanatory phrases are given below:

            Hurrah!  (Express joy)
            Alas! Oh! (Express sorrow, regret, or loss)
            Bravo! (Express Applause)
            What! How! (Express surprise).

·         An exclamatory sentence has a sign of exclamation after it which changes into a full stop in the indirect speech.

·         In indirect speech, the exclamatory phrase or word (interjection) is replaced by ‘exclaimed with joy, sorrow, regret, surprise, contempt etc.’

Example:

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
The boy said, ‘Hurrah! We have won the match.’	The boy exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
The old man said, ‘Alas! I have lost my purse.’	The old man exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost his purse.
The child said, ‘What a beautiful sight!’	The child exclaimed with delight that it was a very beautiful sight. OR  The child exclaimed with delight that the sight was very beautiful.

·         Special Rules for Passage Narration:

Rule	Example
Read the passage narration from first to last and try to understand the speakers and their speeches. You have to differentiate each speech and its speaker. You may not get the name of speaker in each speech. But observing the context of speeches, you have to mark that . Passage narration	“You have lost my new bag today. Why have you gone outside leaving it then?”, asked the Master. “I went outside for drinking a glass of water sir”, said the Servant. “But you could go after my coming. Now pay for the bag.” “Yes, I am guilty for my carelessness but now I have no money”, replied the servant.
You have to write the name of speaker and listener of each speech before the speech during changing. In question, you may not get the name with each sentence and you may get the name of speaker at first or last. But during the changing into indirect, you have to put the name of speaker and listener at first.	Direct: “I have called you today. Were you so much busy?”, he said. “I was busy with some official works”, said I. Indirect:  He said to me that he had called me that day. He asked me if I was so much busy. I replied that I had been busy with some official works.
You will mention the name of both speaker and listener for the first time. Next, you have to address them by pronoun word such as: “he, she, and they,”. If the pronoun of the two persons become same, you will mark the pronoun words with the first alphabet in a bracket after it such as: “He (M)/ He (S)”.  but if there is the name mentioned after any speech, you will also mention the name again.	Direct: “You have lost my new bag today. Why have you gone outside leaving it then?”, asked the Master. “I went outside for drinking a glass of water sir”, said the Servant. Indirect: The master told the servant that he(S) had lost his (M) new bag that day. He (M) asked him (S) why he(S) had gone outside leaving it then. The Servant respectfully replied that he(S) had gone outside for drinking a glass of water.
In passage, if there are two or more sentences of the same speaker together, you have to use the expression: “said to/told” for the first speech. But for the second  speech, you will use the expression: “again said/told/asked, added, and further said/told/asked”. But remember, if the sentences are of similar categories, you will do it. If one sentence is assertive and another one is interrogative or imperative , you need not apply this method.	Direct: “You have selected the boy for the job. You will take his responsibility from now”, said the Officer. Indirect: The officer said to me that I had selected the boy for the job. He again said that I would take his responsibility from then.
When the reporting verb is placed in the middle or at the last of the sentence while converting it into Indirect you have to put it after the subject in starting of the sentence.	Direct: "I have completed the work. I can come tomorrow in the morning” said he. Indirect: He said that he had completed the work and he could go the following day in the morning.

·         There are some certain words or phrases in direct speeches which will be changed in indirect speeches. Now, I will show you a chart of those phrases. Here it is:

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Yes	Replied in the affirmative….
No	Replied in the negative…
Sir	Respectfully/politely…
By Allah	Swearing by Allah…
Please	Requested…
So	For that reason/ That’s why …
Good bye	Subject + bade + object+ good bye
Replied/asked/cried/uttered/muttered	No change
Sorry	Apologized…
Of course	Agreed with….
Sure	Giving assurance….
well/ oh/ I see	Expressing surprise/ agreement/indignation….
Excuse me	Seeking an excuse /apologized….
Congratulations	Congratulated….
But	With dissatisfaction……
Ok	Subject+ agreed that……
Hello/hi	Subject+ greeted that…
Thanks	Subject + thanked+ object

Example:

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
The boy said, “Sir, I will attend the classes regularly.”	The boy respectfully said that he would attend the classes regularly.
Direct: You said, “Yes, it is my lost bag.”	You replied in the affirmative  that it was your lost bag.
Direct:  He said to me, “No,  I cannot help you now.”	He replied in the negative that he could not help me then.
You said to me, “Thanks, you have done the job.”	You thanked me and said that I had done the job.
He said to you, “Good morning, how are you?”	He wished you good morning and asked how you were.
He said to me, “Good bye, meet me tomorrow”	He bade me good bye and told to meet him the next day.
She said to me , “By Allah, I will meet you.”	Swearing by Allah he told me that he would meet me.
Rajib said to me, “Ok, I am going there now.”	Rajib agreed with me and said that he was going there then.
He said to her, “Hello, how are you?”	He greeted her  and asked how she was.

Rule	Example
If there is any addressing word in a sentence such as “friend/king/comrades/viewers”, you will use a different structure during changing into indirect. Here is the structure: Addressing+ object+ as+ friend+ subject+ verb………	Direct: “Friend, give me this book for reading.” Indirect: Addressing me as friend he told me to give him that book for reading.

Exercise on changing narrative style

Change the narrative style by using direct/indirect speeches:-

1.         "How much do you want?" said the Mayor. "A thousand guilders", said the pied piper. "All right", said the Mayor. "We'll pay you a thousand guilders. When will you set to work?" "Now", said the pied piper.

Ans: The Mayor asked the pied piper how much he (pied piper) wanted. The pied piper replied that he (pied piper) wanted a thousand guilders. The Mayor agreed and said that they would pay him (pied piper) a thousand guilders. He (M) also asked him (pied piper) when he (pied piper) would set out to work. The pied piper replied that he (pied piper) would set to work then.

2.         “Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. “Take your hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it." "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practiced hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della.

Ans: Della asked Madame whether she (M) would buy her (D) hair. In reply Madame told her (D) that she bought hair and told her (D) to take her (D) hat off and proposed that they should have a sight at the looks of it. Lifting the mass with a practiced hand, Madame wanted to give her (D) twenty dollars. Della told her to give it to her (D) quick.

3.         "Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for luncheon." "I’ll do better than that," I retorted. "I'll eat nothing for dinner tonight.". "Humorist!", she cried gaily, jumping into a cab.

Ans: As we shook hands, she advised me to follow her example and never to eat more than one thing for luncheon. Then I retorted that I would do better than that. 1 added that I would eat nothing for dinner that night. Jumping into a cab she cried gaily and called me a humorist.

4.         "Whose picture is it?" 1 asked.

"A little girl's, of course," said Grandmother.

"Can't you tell?"                                       

“Yes, but do you know the girl?"

“Yes, I knew her", said Granny "but she was a very wicked girl and I shouldn’t tell you about her."

Ans: I asked grandmother whose picture it was. In reply grandmother told me that of course it was a little girl's picture and asked me whether I could tell about it. I replied in the affirmative and asked her whether she knew the girl. Grandmother replied in the affirmative and said that She had known her (girl). Then she added that she (girl) had been a very wicked girl. She further added that she (G) shouldn't tell me about her.

5.         The teacher asked the students if they had heard the name of Aesop. The students respectfully replied that they had not and asked the teacher who he had been. The teacher advised them to listen to his lecture attentively and they would be able to know about him. He also exclaimed with wonder that his fables were very interesting and instructive.

Ans: "Have you heard the name of Aesop?" asked the teacher. "No, sir, who was he?" "Listen to my lecture attentively and then you will be able to know about him. How interesting and instructive his fables are!" said the teacher.

6.         "Have you saved something for the future?" said the rich man. "No," said the cobbler. "I am happy with the present and think little about tomorrow." "No, that would not do," said the rich man. “1 like to see you above want. Have this money and keep it."

Ans: The richman asked the cobbler if he had saved something for future. The cobbler replied in the negative and said that he was happy with the present and thought little about the next day. The rich man disagreed with the cobbler and said that that would not do. He added that he (rich man) liked to see him (cobbler) above want. Then he told him to have the money and keep it.

7.         The witness told the international crimes tribunal that he had suddenly heard a gunshot and gone towards the door. He added that he had seen many Al-Badr men and the members of the Pakistani army on his house premises. The judge asked him if he had recognized some of the Al-Badr men. The witness answered that he could recognize one Hamid in his village who had brought the members of the Pakistani army to the village.

Ans: "I suddenly heard a gunshot and went towards the door. I saw many Al Badr men and the members of the Pakistani army on my house premises," the witness said to the international crimes tribunal. "Did you recognize some of Al Badr men?" said the judge. "I can recognize one Hamid in my village who brought the members of the Pakistani army to the village," said the witness.

8.         "Why are you crying? Do you have any problem?" asked the passer-by. "I am crying because I have none to look after me", said the street child. "Are you hungry?" "Yes, I am," said the boy.

Ans: The passer-by asked the street child why he was crying. He also asked the boy if he had any problem. The street child replied that he was crying because he had none to look after him. The passer-by again asked the boy whether he was hungry. The boy replied in the affirmative and said that he was hungry.

9.         "Please, give me your English grammar book," said Fahim. "I cannot give it," said Arman. "I have to take it with me in the class." "I shall return the book before the class starts," said Fahim. “Take it," said Arman. "Thanks," said Fahim.

Ans: Fahim requested Arman to give him (F) his (A) English grammar book. Arman said that he (A) could not give it. He also said that he (A) had to take it with him (A) in the class. Fahim said that he (F) would return the book before the class started. Then Arman told Fahim to take it. Fahim thanked Arman.

10.     He said to me, "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I shall be much obliged if you kindly lend me your dictionary." "I shall be very glad to be of service to you, and you are welcome to any of my books that you think of use to you," said I.

Ans: He told me that he was very sorry to trouble me, but he added that he would be much obliged if I kindly lent him my dictionary. I said that I would be very glad to be of service to him, and added that he was welcome to any of my books that he thought of use to him.

11.     "Where do you come from?" I asked him. "From San Carlos," he said, and smiled. "I was taking care of animals." "Oh," I said, not quite understanding. “Yes," he said, "I stayed, you see, taking care of animals. I was the last one to leave the town of San Carlos.”

Ans: I asked him where he came from. He replied with a smile that he came from San Carlos. He added that he had been taking care of animals. Not quite understanding I said that it might be. He assured me that he had stayed taking care of animals. He added that he had been the last one to leave the town of San Carlos.

12.     "Have you cut your nails short?" The teacher said to Maruf. "No, I’ve forgotten, Sir," said Maruf. “That’s very bad. You must be more careful about neatness and cleanliness. By doing so, you can prevent diarrhoea and some other diseases too," said the teacher.

Ans: The teacher asked Maruf whether he (M) had cut his nails short. Maruf respectfully replied in the negative and added that he had forgotten. Then the teacher said that it was very bad and added that he (M) had to be more careful about neatness and cleanliness. He (t) further said that he (M) could prevent diseases and some other diseases too by doing so.

13.     I told the rickshaw puller that he had carried me a long way. Then I asked him how much I should pay him. I further asked him if fifty taka would do. He replied that anything was all right.

Ans: I said to the rickshaw puller, 'You have carried me a long way. How much shall I pay you? Will fifty taka do?" "Anything is all right," he said.

14.     One day Hazrat Omar (R) became shocked to see the sufferings of a woman and said, "Where do you live?" The woman said, "I live in a poor hut south end to this town. I'm hungry but there is no food in my house. Will you give me something to eat?" Hazrat Omar (R) said, "Go back home. I'm coming with food and money for you."

Ans: One day Hazrat Omar (R) became shocked to see the sufferings of a woman. So he asked the woman where she lived. The woman replied that she lived in a poor hut south end to that town. She also added that she was hungry but there was no food in her house. The woman then asked Hazrat Omar (R) if he would give her something to eat. Hazrat Omar (R) told her to go back home. He also told her that he was coming with food and money for her.

15.     "Why are your children crying, my daughter?" said the Caliph. “They have been starving," said the woman. "Have you none else in the world?" "My husband died some months ago. He left them neither money nor any property. So, they are in great distress. They have to starve sometimes." "Oh! Let me see, how I can help you?" said the Caliph.

Ans: Addressing the woman as his daughter, the Caliph asked her why her children were crying. The woman replied that they had been starving. The Caliph again asked the woman if she had none else in the world. The woman replied that her husband had died some months ago. She added that he had left them neither money nor any property and so they were in great distress. She further added that they had to starve sometimes. Feeling pity the Caliph told the woman to let him see how he could help her.

16.     Once I asked a little girl what her mother's name was. She replied that she could remember her mother's name but she would not tell me that. She added that she did not tell her mother's name, to anyone whom she did not know. I exclaimed with admiration that she was a very clever girl.

Ans: Once I said to a little girl, "What is your mother's name?"

She said, "I can remember my mother's name but I will not tell you that.

I don't tell my mother's name to anyone whom I don’t know." I said, “what a clever girl you are!"

17.     "Do you know Bangladesh Open University offer an English self-learning course?" Sejan said to Shawan. “Yes, I have heard it from my father who works as a tutor of the course. It is a six-month course known as CELP," said Shawan.

Ans: Sejan asked Shawan whether he (Shawan) knew Bangladesh Open University offered an English self­-learning course. Shawan replied in the affirmative and said that he (Shawan) had heard it from his (Shawan) father who worked as a tutor of the course. He added that it was a six-month course known as CELP.

18.     The Mayor asked the piper if he had killed the mice. The piper admitted having killed the mice and told him (M) to give him the money he (M) had promised. The Mayor exclaimed with wonder that he was very funny. Then he told him (P) to take only fifty.

Ans: "Have you killed the mice?" said the Mayor. “Yes, I have," said the piper. "Give me the money you have promised." "How funny you are!" said the Mayor. "Take only fifty."

19.     I faintly asked the person spoken to if he/ she was still hungry. He/ she denied that he/ she was hungry and added that he/ she did not eat luncheon. He/ she further added that he/ she had a cup of coffee in the morning and then dinner, but he/ she never ate more than one thing for luncheon. He/ she further added that he/ she had been speaking for me. I responded to his/ her speech.

Ans: "Are you still hungry?" I asked faintly. "Oh, no, I'm not hungry, you see, I don't eat luncheon. I have a cup of coffee in the morning and then dinner, but I never eat more than one thing for luncheon. I was speaking for you," "Oh, I see."

20.     "Why are you putting the foods in your pocket; sir? Why don’t you eat?" asked theleman. "I’m doing the right thing. My dress deserves these rich dishes." replied Sheikh Saadi. "I’m sorry. I don’t understand what you mean to say,” said the nobleman.

Ans: The nobleman respectfully asked Sheikh Saadi why he was putting the foods in his pocket and why he didn't eat. Sheikh Saadi replied that he was doing the right thing as his dress deserved those rich dishes. The nobleman made an apology and told him that he didn't understand what he (S) meant to say.

21.     Zayed asked Robi if he (R) had any dream. He further asked him what his (R) dream. Robi admitted having a dream. He added that he (R) liked to have a plate full of rice. At this Zayed got surprised. Then with an affectionate note in his voice he told (R) that he (Z) would make his (R) dream come true.

Ans: "Do you have any dream? What is your dream?" said Zayed. "Yes, I have a dream," said Robi. "I like to have a plate full of rice." Zayed got surprised. "I will make your dream come true," Zayed said with an affectionate note in his voice.

22.     "Have you cut your hair off?" asked Jim. "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don’t you like me just as well, anyhow? I’m me without my hair, aren't I?"

Ans: Jim asked Della if she had cut her hair off. Della replied that she had cut it off and sold it and asked him if he didn't like her just as well. She added that she was she without her hair and asked him if she was not.

23.     The ticket seller asked the stranger respectfully where he (S) lilted to go. The stranger replied that he wanted to go to Chattogram. The ticket seller again asked him how many tickets he (S) needed. The stranger replied that he (S) needed- five tickets. Then the ticket seller said that there were the tickets and they would cost o thousand taka.

Ans: "Where do you like to go, sir?" asked the ticket seller. "I want to go to Chattogram," said the stranger. "How many tickets do you need?" The stranger replied, "Five tickets." "Here are the tickets. They will cost two thousand taka", said the ticket seller.

24.     "Have you seen your mother, Jerry?"      '

"I see her every summer. She sends for me."     

“I wanted to cry out, "Why are you not with her? How can she let you go away again?" He said, "She comes up here from Mannville whenever she can. She does not have a job now."

Ans: I asked Jerry if he had seen his mother. Jerry replied that he saw her every summer. He added that she sent for him. I wanted to cry out and asked him why he was not with her and how she could let him go away again. Jerry replied that she went up there from Mannville whenever she could. He added that she did not have a job then.

25.     "You look a little bit like my mother," he said, "especially in the dark by the fire." "But you were only four Jerry, when you came here. You have remembered how she looked all these years?" "My mother lives in Mahnville," he said.

Ans: Jerry told the person spoken to that she looked a little bit like his mother, especially in the dark by the fire. But she (person spoken to) told him that he had been only four when he went there and asked him whether he had remembered how she had looked all those years. In reply Jerry told her that his mother lived in Mannville.

26.     The beggar asked the housewife if she could give him some food to eat. He added that he had been without food for two days. The housewife asked him why he didn’twork. She also told him that he could earn his own food. At this the beggar said swearing by God that he was disabled and so he couldn't work.

Ans: The beggar said, "Will you give me some food to eat? I have been without food for two days". The housewife said, "Why don't you work? You can earn your own food." "By God," said the beggar, "I am disabled. I can't work.”

27.     "You look a little bit like my mother," he said. "But you were only four, Jerry. When you came here? Do you remember her face all these years?" "My mother lives in Mannville." "Have you seen her lately?" I said.

Ans: He told me that I looked a little bit like his mother. I addressed him as Jerry and said that he was only four when he went there. I again asked him if he remembered her face all those years. He told me that his mother lived in Mannville. I asked him if he had seen her lately.

28.     The teacher asked Mina if she had done her English lesson that day. Mina respectfully replied in the affirmative and said with dissatisfaction that she had not understood one grammatical point. The teacher told Mina not to worry. He also assured her that he would help her understand it. Mina respectfully thanked her teacher.

Ans: "Mina, have you done your English lesson today?" said the teacher. "Yes, sir," she replied. "But I haven't understood one grammatical point." "Don't worry. I'll help you understand it," said the teacher.

Thank you, sir", she said.

29.     The teacher asked the boy if he thought that honesty is the best policy. The boy respectfully replied in the affirmative and said that he thought so. The teacher then advised/ suggested him to learn to be honest from his (S) boyhood. The boy thanked the teacher respectfully. Then the teacher wished that Allah might grant him (S) a long life.

Ans: The teacher said to the boy, "Do you think that honesty is the best policy?" The boy said. "Yes, sir, I think so." "Then learn to be honest from your boyhood," said the teacher. “Thank you, sir," said the boy. "May Allah grant you a long life," said the teacher to the boy.

30.     The writer said to Jerry, “Your roller-skates look very nice. Who has bought them for you"?

"My mother."

"Is she alive?”

“Yes, she lives in Mannville".

Ans: The writer told Jerry that his roller-skates looked very nice. Then she asked him who had bought them for him. In reply he told her that his mother had done so. At this the writer asked him whether she was alive. He replied in the affirmative and said that she lived in Mannville.

31.     The old man affectionately told his sons that a great treasure lay hidden in the estate he was about to leave them. The sons asked him where that was hidden. The old man replied that he was about to tell them but they had to dig for that.

Ans: "My sons," said he, "a great treasure lies hidden in the estate I am about to leave you." "Where is it hidden?" said the sons. "I am about to tell you," said the old man. "But you must dig for it."

32.     The traveler said to the peasant, "Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?" The peasant said, “Yes, I can. Do you want one in which you can spend the night?" "I do not wish to stay there, but I only want a meal."

Ans: The traveller asked the peasant if he (P) could tell him (T) the way to the nearest inn. The peasant replied in the affirmative and said that he (p) could. He (p) also asked him (t) if he (t) wanted one in which he (t) could spend the night. The traveller replied that he did not wish to stay there, but he only wanted a meal.

33.     He said, "I can chop some wood today." I said, "But I have a boy coming from the orphanage." "I’m the boy." "You? But you're small." "Size don’t matter chopping wood," he said.

Ans: He told me that he could chop some wood that day. But I said that I had a boy coming from the orphanage. He said that he was the boy. Being astonished, I asked him if he was the boy and said with doubt/ hesitation that he was small. At this he assured me that size didn't matter chopping wood.

34.     "Oh, my Lord, please do not kill the child," said the woman. "Let her have him." The king said, "Now everything is clear to me." Pointing to the woman, he said to the servant, "Give her the child. She is the mother of the baby."

Ans: Addressing the king as her Lord the woman requested him not to kill the child and said that she (other woman) might be allowed to have him. The king said that everything was clear to him then and pointing to the woman he ordered the servant to give her the child. He added that she was the mother of the baby.

35.     The teacher asked the student if he had heard the name of Aesop. The student respectfully replied in the negative and asked him who he had been. In reply the teacher advised him to read the lesson attentively and said that thus he would be able to know about him. He also exclaimed with joy that his fables are very interesting and instructive.

Ans: Have you heard the name of Aesop?" asked the teacher. "No, sir. Who washe?" "Read the lesson attentively. Thus you will be able to know about him. How interesting and instructive his fables are!" said the teacher.

36.     Being astonished Jim asked Della if she had cut her hair off. Della replied that she had cut it off and sold it. Then she enquired of him if he didn’t like her just as well anyhow. She again enquired of him if she was not herself without her hair.

Ans: "Oh! You've cut your hair off?" asked Jim. "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, aren't I?"

37.     "I came here yesterday from my village", he said. “Why did you come?" I asked. "My mother sent me to you with this letter." "How is your mother? I have not seen her a for a long time. I hope she is quite well."

Ans: He told me that he had come here the previous day from his village. I asked him why he had come. He replied that his mother had sent him to me with that letter. Then I asked him how his mother was. I added that I had not seen her for a long time and hoped that she was quite well.

38.     The receptionist asked the man respectfully if he (r) could help him (m). The man replied in the affirmative and said that he wanted to meet the Managing Director of the company. Then the receptionist asked him if he (m) had an appointment. The man replied that he had.

Ans: "Could I help you, Sir?" said the receptionist.

The man replied, "Sure, I want to meet the Managing Director of the company."

The receptionist said, "Do you have an appointment?"

"Yes, I do," he said.

39.     The stranger said to the boy, "Will you tell me the way to the nearest hotel?" Yes, I will. Do you want a residential one in which you can spend the night?" the boy said, "I do not want to stay here, but I only want a meal," the stranger replied. The boy said," Follow me."

Ans: The stranger asked the boy if he (p) would tell him (s) the way to the nearest hotel. The boy replied that he would. Then he asked him (s) if he wanted a residential one in which he could spend the night. The stranger replied that he did not want to stay there but he only wanted a meal. Then the boy told him to follow him.

40.     “Where are you going?" said the merchant. "I was coming to see you." “What do you want?" "To earn my bread by the labour of my hands." "Do you really want work?" said the merchant. “Yes, if you have any". "Then follow me and carry a box from a shop to my house." "I do not see how I can do that," said the youth.

Ans: The merchant asked the youth where he was going. The youth replied that he had been going to see him (m). The merchant then asked him what he wanted. The youth replied that he wanted to earn his bread by the labour of his hands. The merchant again asked him if he really wanted work. The youth replied in the affirmative and said that he really wanted work if he (m) had any. At this, the merchant ordered him to follow him (m) and carry a box from a shop to his house. The youth said that he (y) did not see how he could do that.

41.      “Will you go to college today?" the mother said to her son.

"No, mother. Our classes are suspended."

"Then go to the market and bring some vegetables."

"Let me be ready and give me money."

Ans: The mother asked her son whether he would go to college that day. The son replied in the negative and said that their classes were suspended. Then the mother asked him to go to the market and bring some vegetables. At this the son told his mother to let him be ready and give him money.

42.     "Why don't you attend classes regularly?" the teacher said to the student, "You can't expect good results unless you attend classes as I tell you". "I am sorry sir, I have offended you." said the student.

Ans: The teacher asked the student why he did not attend classes regularly and  said that he (student) could not expect good results unless he (student) attended classes as he (teacher) told him (student). The student courteously apologised because he (student) had offended him (teacher).

43.     "Where is my son?" said the Grocer. "A crow carried your son away" said the fruit "You liar. How can a crow carry away such a big boy?" "Just the same way as mice can eat away the balance and weights."

Ans: The grocer asked the fruitseller where his son was. The fruitseller replied that a crow had carried his (g) son away. Hearing it the grocer called him a liar and enquired of him how a crow could carry away such a big boy. The fruitseller replied that it was Just the same way as mice could eat away the balance and weights.

44.     "My sons," said he, "A great treasure lies hidden in the estate I am about to leave you." "Where is it hidden?" said the sons. "I am about to tell you," said the old man. "But you must dig for it."

Ans: The old man told his sons that a great treasure lay hidden in the estate he was about to leave them. The sons wanted to know where it was hidden. The old man replied that he was about to tell them but they had to dig for that.