Choose the correct transformation of the given sentence in Indirect Speech:
The headmaster said, “Let the children leave early because of the heavy rain.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The headmaster ordered that the children should be allowed to leave early because of the heavy rain.
Changing a “Let the children ...” sentence into indirect speech:
| Change | Direct | Indirect | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | said | ordered | The headmaster is not speaking to the children. Through these words he gives an order to the staff. So “said” becomes “ordered”. |
| Joining word | “ ” (quotation marks) | that | “That” joins the order. |
| Let → should be allowed to | Let the children leave | the children should be allowed to leave | “Let” here means “allow”. The children receive the permission, so the report uses “should be allowed to” + verb. |
| Full sentence | The headmaster said, “Let the children leave early because of the heavy rain.” | The headmaster ordered that the children should be allowed to leave early because of the heavy rain. |
“Let him” and “Let them” change in the same way. Example: The captain said, “Let them bat first.” → The captain said that they should be allowed to bat first.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: The headmaster ordered that let the children leave early because of the heavy rain. — Incorrect. “Let” is kept as in the spoken words. In the report it becomes “should be allowed to”.
Option 3: The headmaster ordered that the children should allow to leave early because of the heavy rain. — Incorrect. “Should allow” makes the children the ones who give permission. They receive it, so the verb must be “should be allowed”.
Option 4: The headmaster ordered that the children are allowed to leave early because of the heavy rain. — Incorrect. “Are allowed” states a fact in the present. A reported order needs “should be allowed”.