Question

Read the conversation given below and fill in the blanks in indirect speech:
Sarah- I say, Jane, just bring me a sheet of writing- paper, will you? I must write a letter.
Jane: Where am I to find it?
Sarah: Why there is plenty in my mistress’s letter case in the parlor.
Indirect speech:
Sarah called out to Jane and asked her ____ bring her a sheet of writing paper, as ___ had to write a letter. Jane asked her ___ she was to find it? Sarah replied that there ____ plenty in _____ mistress’s letter case in the parlor.

Answer 1

Hint: Some of the rules to be kept in mind while changing the direct speech into indirect speech-
● The quotations marks are replaced with ‘that’.
● We change the tenses of the verbs. (Usually in the past tense)
● Make sure to use the appropriate pronouns.

Complete step-by-step answer:

Direct speech refers to the original words of a speaker in quotation marks, whereas Indirect speech refers to the words spoken by the speaker in the past, therefore there is a change in the tense of the verbs.
Example:
Direct speech- Jessi said to Nellie,” I will bring this bag”
Indirect speech- Jessi said to Nellie that she would bring that bag.
Now, let’s solve the question:
Sarah called out to Jane and asked her to bring her a sheet of writing-paper, as she had to write a letter. Jane asked her where she was to find it? Sarah replied that there was plenty in her mistress’s letter case in the parlor.

Note: We do not change the tense of the verb, if the reporting verb is in the present tense or future tense (say, will say).