NARRATION

Assertive Sentence 

Reported Verb: Say, tell  

Linker: That

EX:

Direct: He said to me,” I am happy”

Indirect: He told me that he was happy.

Direct: She says, “I can do it.”

Indirect: She says that she can do it.

Interrogative Sentence

Reported Verb: Ask, Enquire  

Linker: If, Whether, Wh-word

Ex:

Direct: She said, “ why are you calling me?”

Indirect: She asked why I was calling her.

Direct: They said to me, “Are you happy?”

Indirect: They asked/enquired me if/whether I was happy.

*A Wh-question doesn’t need other linker except that given Wh. 

*Instead of 'enquire', the verb 'inquire' can be used as a reported verb but the sense must be formal investigation type, not that general 'ask' sense.

Exclamatory Sentence

Reported Verb: Exclaim  

Linker: That

Ex:

Direct: He said, “Yes! We have won the match.”

Indirect: She exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.

Imperative Sentence

Reported Verb: Advise, Request, Order, Forbid, Command 

Linker: To

Ex:

Direct: Father said to me, “ Do not go out.”

Indirect: Father advised me not to go out.

Direct: Mohit said to Shreya, "Don't make a noise."

Indirect: Mohit forbade Shreya to make a noise.

Direct: He said, “Please help me.”

Indirect: He requested to help him.

Direct: Joy said, “Leave it”

Indirect: Joy ordered to leave it.

Optative Sentence

Reported Verb: Wish, Pray  

Linker: That

Ex:

Direct: The old man said, “May God bless you.”

Indirect: The old man prayed that God might bless me.

Exceptional

Let:  Reported Verb: Suggest/ Propose/ Request  

Linker: That

Ex:

Direct: He said, “Let’s play a game.”

Indirect: He suggested that they should play a game.

Direct: Rinki said to her, "Let's have a dinner together."

Indirect: Rinki proposed her that they should have a dinner together.

Direct: Rimi said to me, “Let me go there.”

Indirect: Rimi requested me that she might be allowed to go there.