Select the correct indirect form of the given sentence.
Rhea said to her grandfather, “Let me read the newspaper to you.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Rhea offered to read the newspaper to her grandfather.
Changing a “Let me” sentence into indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said to her grandfather | offered | “Let me read” is an offer of help. So “said to” becomes “offered”. |
| To + verb | Let me read | to read | “Let me” is dropped. “Offered” is followed straight by to + verb: “to read”. |
| Pronoun change | to you | to her grandfather | “You” is the grandfather. The person now comes at the end: “to her grandfather”. |
| Full sentence | Rhea said to her grandfather, “Let me read the newspaper to you.” | Rhea offered to read the newspaper to her grandfather. |
A suggestion for both people is different. It takes “suggested” + that + they should. Example: Amit said to Joy, “Shall we play chess?” → Amit suggested to Joy that they should play chess.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Rhea offered her grandfather to read the newspaper to him. — Incorrect. “Offered her grandfather to read” puts the person between “offered” and to + verb. “Offered” is followed straight by “to read”.
Option 3: Rhea suggested to her grandfather that they should read the newspaper. — Incorrect. “Suggested ... that they should” reports a suggestion for both people. “Let me” is an offer by Rhea alone.
Option 4: Rhea offered reading the newspaper to her grandfather. — Incorrect. “Offered reading” uses the -ing form. “Offered” takes to + verb: “offered to read”.