(Continued from Previous Chapter)
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Interrogative sentences are of two types.
A. First, sentences starting with helping verbs like is, am, are, were, was, had, have, shall, will
or would etc.
The second type of interrogative sentences are which start with words like – What,Which,Why,Who,Whose,Where,When,how and whom etc.
Sometimes there are combined sentences of two or more types in one sentence.
These two sentences are changed from direct into indirect form of speech accordingly.
Some examples of such sentences are given here under for practice.
1. My friend said to me, “Are you coming to us today in the evening? Why don’t you join us over dinner tonight?”
These two sentences in the reported speech are of interrogative nature. So ‘said to’ in the reporting speech will change according to interrogative sentence. It will change into ‘asked’. Further both of these sentences will be changed separately as required under rules for them.
My friend asked me if I was coming to them that day in the evening and enquired further why I did not join them over dinner that night.
2. The inn keeper said to the traveler, “Why have you come so late? Do you not know that I do not allow late entry to anybody at night?
These both sentences are of interrogative nature but first starts with ‘Why’ and the second with ‘Do’. Both these sentences will be changed differently in their own ways. ‘said to’ will change into ‘asked’. In case of first sentence, no word is required to replace inverted commas but for the second these will be replaced by ‘if’. These sentences will be as under:
The innkeeper asked the traveler why he had come so late and if he did not know that he did not allow late entry to any body at night.
3. The mother said to her son, “What is the matter? “Why are you crying?”
These both sentences are of interrogative nature of the same type. So ‘said to’ will change into ‘asked’ and no word is required while removing inverted commas.
The mother asked her son what the matter was and why he was crying.
4. The old man said to the children, “Why are you making a noise here? Do you not know that I am taking rest?”
The old man asked the children why they were making a noise there and if they did not know that he was taking rest.
5. The owner of the house said to the beggar, “Why are you knocking at my door? Do you need any help?”
The owner of the house asked the beggar why he was knocking at his door and if he needed any help.
6. The villager said to the minister, “The prices of all the essential commodities are getting higher and higher. Can you explain the reason for this?”
Out of these two sentences, one is a simple assertive sentence and the second is an interrogative sentence starting with word ‘Can’. For the first, ‘said to’ will change into ‘told’ or ‘informed’ and for into the second sentence it will change into ‘asked’. Inverted commas for the first will change into ‘that’ and for second ‘if’.
The villager told the minister that the prices of all the essential commodities were going higher and higher and asked if he could explain the reason for that.
7. His daughter said to her, “You have travelled a long distance during the day. Will you not take rest for a while?”
These two sentences are of assertive and interrogative nature respectively. ‘said to’ will change for the first into told and for the second into asked. Inverted commas for the first will change into ‘that’ and for the second into ‘if’ .
His daughter told her that she had travelled a long distance during the day and asked if she would not take rest for a while.
8. His mother said to him, “I have been waiting for you since morning. Why are you so late today?”
For the first sentence ‘said to’ will change into ‘told’ and for the second into ‘asked’. Inverted commas for the first sentence will change into ‘that’ and for the second no word is required in place of commas.
His mother told him that she had been waiting for him since morning and asked why he was so late that day.
9. The merchant said to the customer, “Do you need goods of a good quality? I shall provide you with very good quality goods.”
The merchant asked the customer if he needed goods of a good quality and told that he would provide him with very good quality goods.
10. His friend said to him, “You are looking unwell today. Why don’t you take any medicine?”
His friend told him that he was looking unwell that day and asked why he did not take any medicine.
11.The official said to the boss," Can I go home early today ? Shall I have to submit an application for this purpose?'
The official asked the boss if he could go home early that day and if he would have to submit an application for this purpose.
12.The crane said to the fox, " Where do you live ? Will you like to have your dinner with me tonight?"
The crane asked the fox where she lived and if she would like to have her dinner with him that night.
13.The priest said to the bridegroom, " Where do you come from ? Will you marry this girl? "
The priest asked the bridegroom where he came from and if he would marry that girl.
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