In the questions below the sentences have been given in Direct/Indirect…
2023
In the questions below the sentences have been given in Direct/Indirect speech. From the given alternatives, . choose the one which best expresses the given sentence in Indirect/Direct speech. Nita ordered her servant to bring her cup of tea.
- A.
Nita told her servant, "Bring a cup of tea."
- B.
Nita said, "Bring me a cup of tea."
- C.
Nita said to her servant, "Bring me a cup of tea."
- D.
Nita told her servant, "Bring her that cup of tea."
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Correct answer: C
Answer: Nita said to her servant, "Bring me a cup of tea."
Explanation: Convert the reported/request sentence back into direct speech preserving the original meaning.
Identify the reference: the indirect phrase 'her cup of tea' refers to Nita, so in direct speech this becomes the first-person pronoun 'me' (Bring me a cup of tea).
Keep the addressee: the original names 'her servant', so include 'to her servant' in the reporting clause to show who was addressed.
Use the imperative form for the command: the direct speech should be the command itself, enclosed in quotation marks: "Bring me a cup of tea."
Reporting verb: 'said to' or 'told' can be used as reporting verbs; the key requirement is that the quoted command matches the speaker's original intention. Here, 'Nita said to her servant' followed by the quoted command accurately preserves meaning.