Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.
The forest ranger said to the tourists, “Do not feed the monkeys on this trail.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The forest ranger warned the tourists not to feed the monkeys on that trail.
Changing a warning into indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said to the tourists | warned the tourists | The ranger tells the tourists not to do something that may cause trouble. So “said to” becomes “warned”. |
| To + verb | Do not feed | not to feed | “Do not” is dropped. “Not” comes before “to” + verb: “not to feed”. |
| Place word | this | that | The words are reported later, away from the trail. So “this trail” becomes “that trail”. |
| Full sentence | The forest ranger said to the tourists, “Do not feed the monkeys on this trail.” | The forest ranger warned the tourists not to feed the monkeys on that trail. |
A warning to do something takes “warned” + person + to + verb. Example: The guide said to us, “Hold the railing tightly.” → The guide warned us to hold the railing tightly.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The forest ranger warned to the tourists not to feed the monkeys on that trail. — Incorrect. “Warned to the tourists” is wrong. “Warned” takes the person straight after it: “warned the tourists”.
Option 2: The forest ranger warned the tourists that do not feed the monkeys on that trail. — Incorrect. “That do not feed” keeps the order form after “that”. An order or warning is reported with “not to” + verb.
Option 4: The forest ranger warned the tourists not to feed the monkeys on this trail. — Incorrect. “This” is not changed. In the report it becomes “that”.