Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.
The officer said to the guard, “Shut the main gate and do not let anyone in.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The officer ordered the guard to shut the main gate and not to let anyone in.
Changing an order into indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said to the guard | ordered the guard | The officer gives a firm order. So “said to” becomes “ordered”. |
| To + verb | Shut | to shut | An order is reported with “to” + verb. So “Shut” becomes “to shut”. |
| Not to + verb | do not let | not to let | “Do not” is dropped. The second order becomes “not to” + verb. |
| Full sentence | The officer said to the guard, “Shut the main gate and do not let anyone in.” | The officer ordered the guard to shut the main gate and not to let anyone in. |
“Commanded” takes the person and “to” + verb in the same way. Example: The captain said to the players, “Stand in a line.” → The captain commanded the players to stand in a line.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: The officer ordered to the guard to shut the main gate and not to let anyone in. — Incorrect. “Ordered” takes the person straight after it. The “to” before “the guard” is wrong.
Option 3: The officer ordered the guard to shut the main gate and do not let anyone in. — Incorrect. “Do not let” keeps the spoken form. In the report it must be “not to let”.
Option 4: The officer asked the guard if he would shut the main gate and not let anyone in. — Incorrect. “Asked ... if he would” turns the order into a question. The officer gave an order. He did not ask a question.