Choose the correct transformation of the given sentence in Indirect Speech:
The PT teacher said, “Boys, line up quietly behind the red flag.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Addressing them as boys, the PT teacher told them to line up quietly behind the red flag.
Changing an order with a calling word into indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calling word | Boys, | Addressing them as boys, | “Boys” is the word used to call the listeners. It cannot stay alone in the report, so it becomes “addressing them as boys”. |
| Reporting verb | said | told them | “Line up” is an order. So “said” becomes “told”, followed by the persons, “them”. |
| To + verb | line up | to line up | An order is reported with “to” + verb. No “that” is used. |
| Full sentence | The PT teacher said, “Boys, line up quietly behind the red flag.” | Addressing them as boys, the PT teacher told them to line up quietly behind the red flag. |
The calling word can also become the person told. Example: The coach said, “Girls, drink some water.” → The coach told the girls to drink some water.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: Addressing them as boys, the PT teacher told them that line up quietly behind the red flag. — Incorrect. “That line up” joins an order with “that”. An order needs “to” + verb: “to line up”.
Option 3: Addressing them as boys, the PT teacher told to them to line up quietly behind the red flag. — Incorrect. “Tell” takes the person straight after it, with no “to”: “told them”.
Option 4: Boys, the PT teacher told them to line up quietly behind the red flag. — Incorrect. “Boys” is kept as a calling word. In the report it must become “addressing them as boys”.