Choose the correct option to transform the sentence into indirect speech :-
“Beware, there is a danger”, the captain said to his soldiers.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The captain warned the soldiers to beware of the danger.
Imperative sentence (a warning) in indirect speech:
An order, request or warning is reported with the to-infinitive.
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said to | warned | “Said to” becomes a verb that suits the kind of command. “Beware” is a warning, so it becomes warned. |
| Joining word | Beware | to beware | “Beware” becomes to beware. The inverted commas go and no “that” is used. |
| Tense change | there is a danger | of the danger | The clause “there is a danger” is folded into the warning as “of the danger”, so no separate tense change is needed. |
| Full sentence | The captain said to his soldiers, “Beware, there is a danger.” | The captain warned the soldiers to beware of the danger. |
Example: The teacher said to the boys, “Be quiet.” → The teacher ordered the boys to be quiet.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The captain told the soldiers that there is a danger. — Incorrect.
- The warning "Beware" is lost. "Told ... that" reports a plain statement.
- After the past reporting verb, "is" is not changed to "was".
Option 3: The soldiers are warned about the danger. — Incorrect.
- It turns the sentence into the present-tense passive voice.
- The speaker, the captain, disappears from the sentence.
Option 4: The captain advised the soldiers of the danger. — Incorrect. "Advised ... of" means "informed about". It reports the information but loses the force of the warning "Beware" (be careful).
Contrast: a warning in direct speech is reported with a verb such as warned + the to-infinitive.