Change the following sentence into indirect speech choosing the correct answer from the given options:
The Lecturer said, "Children, let's wait for our turn to meet the Chief Guest".
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The Lecturer suggested to the children that they should wait for their turn to meet the Chief Guest.
"Let's" in indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said, “Children, | suggested to the children | “Let's” (let us) makes a proposal or suggestion. “Said” becomes “suggested / proposed”. The people addressed, “Children”, become “to the children”. |
| Verb | let's wait | that they should wait | “Let's wait” becomes “that they should wait”. |
| Pronoun change | our | their | “Our” becomes “their”. |
| Full sentence | The Lecturer said, “Children, let's wait for our turn to meet the Chief Guest”. | The Lecturer suggested to the children that they should wait for their turn to meet the Chief Guest. |
Example: Ravi said, “Let's play cricket.” → Ravi suggested that they should play cricket.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: The Lecturer asked the children to wait and meet the Chief Guest in returns. — Incorrect. "In returns" is not English (the phrase is "in return", meaning in exchange), and the idea of waiting for their turn is lost.
Option 3: The Lecturer proposed to meet the Chief Guest with children in their turn. — Incorrect. The lecturer now proposes a meeting. The waiting is dropped and the meaning changes.
Option 4: The Lecturer proposed the Chief Guest to meet the children on their turn. — Incorrect. The lecturer was speaking to the children, not to the Chief Guest, so the meaning is changed completely.