Changing Speech/ Narration

Change the narrative style by using indirect speeches. 5

01. [DB '17]

"Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for luncheon." "I'll do better than that," I retorted. "I'll eat nothing for dinner to-night."

"Humorist," she cried gaily, jumping into a cab.

01. As we shook hands, she advised me to follow her example and never to eat more than one thing for luncheon. I retorted that I would do better than that and added that I would eat nothing for dinner that night. Jumping into a cab, she cried gaily and called me a humorist.

02. [RB '17]

"Whose picture is it?" I asked.

"A little girl's of course," said Grandmother.

"Can't you tell?"

"Yes, but do you know the girl?"

"Yes, I knew her," said Granny "but she was a very wicked girl and I shouldn't tell you about her."

02. I asked Grandmother whose picture it was. Grandmother replied that undoubtedly it was a picture of a little girl. Then she asked me if I could not tell. She replied that she could but I asked her if she knew the girl. She assured me that she had known her (girl) but added that she (girl) had been a very wicked girl and she (G) should not tell me about her (girl).

03. [DinajB '17]

He said to me, "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I shall be much obliged if you will kindly lend me your dictionary." "I shall be very glad to be of service to you, and you are welcome to any of my books that you think of use to you," said I.

03. He told me that he was very sorry to trouble me but assured me that he would be much obliged if I would kindly lend him my dictionary. I told him that I would be very glad to be of service to him and added that he was welcome to any of my books that he thought of use to him.

04. [JB '17]

The teacher asked the students if they had heard the name of Aesop. The students respectfully replied that they had not and asked the teacher who he had been. The teacher advised them to listen to his lecture attentively and they would be able to know about him. He also exclaimed with wonder that his fables were very interesting and instructive.

04. The teacher said to the students, "Have you heard the name of Aesop?" The students said, "No sir, we have not. Who was he?" The teacher told them, "Listen to my lecture attentively and you will be able to know about him. How interesting and instructive his fables are!"

05. [CB '17]

"Have you saved something for the future?" said the richman. "No," said the cobbler. "I am happy with the present and think little about tomorrow." "No, that would not do," said the richman. "I like to see you above want. Have this money and keep it."

05. The richman asked the cobbler if he (c) had saved something for the future. The cobbler replied that he (c) had not and added that he (c) was happy with the present and thought little about tomorrow. The richman disagreed and said that that would not do. He (r) further said that he (r) liked to see him (c) above want and told him to have the money and keep it.

06. [CtgB '17]

The witness told the international crimes tribunal that he had suddenly heard a gunshot and gone towards the door. He added that he had seen many Al-Badr men and the members of the Pakistani army on his house premises. The judge asked him if he had recognized some of the Al-Badr men. The witness answered that he could recognize one Hamid in his village who had brought the members of the Pakistani army to the village.

06. The witness said to the international crimes tribunal, "I suddenly heard a gunshot and went towards the door. I saw many Al-Badr men and members of the Pakistani army on my house premises." The judge said to him, "Did you recognize some of the Al-Badr men?" The witness said, "I can recognize one Hamid in my village who brought the members of the Pakistani army to the village."

07. [SB '17]

"Why are you crying? Do you have any problem?" asked the passerby. "I am crying because I have none to look after me" said the street child. "Are you hungry?" "Yes I am," said the boy.

07. The passer-by asked the street child why he was crying. He again asked if he had any problem. The street child said that he was crying because he had none to look after him. The passer-by asked him if he was hungry. The boy replied that he was.

08. [BB '17]

"Please give me your English grammar book," said Fahim, "I can not give it," said Arman. "I have to take it with me in the class." "I shall return the book before the class starts," said Fahim. "Take it" said Arman. "Thanks," said Fahim.

08. Fahim requested Arman to give him (F) his (A) English grammar book. Arman said that he (A) could not give it. He (A) added that he (A) had to take it with him (A) in the class. Fahim said that he (F) would return the book before the class started. Arman told Fahim to take it. Fahim thanked Arman.

09. [DB '16]

"Where do you come from?" I asked him. "From San Carlos," he said and smiled. "I was taking care of animals." "Oh," I said, not quite understanding. "yes," he said, "I stayed, you see, taking care of animals. I was the last one to leave the town of San Carlos." 

09. I asked him where he came from. He replied with a smile that he came from San Carlos and added that he had been taking care of animals. Not quite understanding, I expressed my indifference to him. With emphasis he said that he had stayed, I saw, taking care of animals. He added that he had been the last one to leave the town of San Carlos. 

10. [RB '16]

"Have you cut your nails short?" The teacher said to Maruf. "No, I've forgotten, Sir," said Maruf. "That's very bad. You must be more careful about neatness and cleanliness. By doing so, you can prevent diarrhoea and some other diseases too," said the teacher. 

10. The teacher asked Maruf if he (M) had cut his (M) nails short. Maruf replied respectfully that he had not and added that he (M) had forgotten. The teacher said that that was very bad. He (t) also said that he (M) had to be more careful about neatness and cleanliness. He (t) added that by doing so, he (M) could prevent diarrhoea and some other diseases too. 

11. [DinajB '16]

"Have you saved something for future?" said the rich man. "No," said the cobbler. "I am happy with the present and think little about tomorrow." "No, that would not do," said the rich man. "I like to see you above want. Have this money and keep it." 

11. The rich man asked the cobbler if he (c) had saved something for future. The cobbler replied that he had not and said that he was happy with the present and thought little about tomorrow*. The rich man disagreed and said that that would not do. He (r) further said that he (r) liked to see him (c) above want. He (r) told him to have that money and keep it. 

12. [JB '16]

I told the rickshaw puller that he had carried me a longway. Then I asked him how much I should pay him. I further asked him if fifty taka would do. He replied that anything was all right.

12. I said to the rickshaw puller, "You have carried me a long way. How much shall I pay you? Will fifty taka do?" He said, "Anything is all right."

13. [CB '16]

One day Hazrat Omar (R) became shocked to see the sufferings of a woman and said, "Where do you live?" The woman said, "I live in a poor hut south end to this town. I'm hungry but there is no food in my house. Will you give me something to eat?" Hazrat Omar (R) said, "Go back home. I'm coming with food and money for you." 

13. One day Hazrat Omar (R) became shocked to see the sufferings of a woman and asked where she lived. The woman replied that she lived in a poor hut south end to that town. She again said that she was hungry but there was no food in her house. She then asked Hazrat Omar (R) if he would give her something to eat. Hazrat Omar (R) told her to go back home. He added that he was going with food and money for her.

14. [CtgB '16]

"Why are your children crying, my daughter?" said the Caliph. "They have been starving" said the woman. "Have you none else in the world?" "My husband died some months ago. He left them neither money nor any property. So, they are in great distress. They have to starve sometimes." "Oh! Let me see, how I can help you," said the Caliph.   

14. Addressing the woman as his daughter, the Caliph asked her why her children were crying. The woman replied that they had been starving. The Caliph again asked her if she had none else in the world. The woman replied that her husband had died some months before and he (h) had left them neither money nor any property. She again said that they were in great distress. She further said that they had to starve sometimes. Expressing sadness, the Caliph said that he might be allowed to see how he could help them/ her.

15. [SB '16]

Once I asked a little girl what her mother's name was. She replied that she could remember her mother's name but she would not tell me that. She added that she did not tell her mother's name to anyone whom she did not know. I exclaimed with admiration that she was a very clever girl.

15. Once I asked a little girl, "What is your mother's name?" She replied, "I can remember my mother's name but I will not tell you that." She again said, "I do not tell my mother's name to anyone whom I do not know." I said, "What a clever girl you are!"

16. [BB '16]

"Do you know Bangladesh Open University offers an English self-learning course?" Sejan said to Shawan. "Yes, I have heard it from my father who works as a tutor of the course. It is a six month course known as 'CELT'," said Shawan.  

16. Sejan asked Shawan if he (Se) knew Bangladesh Open University offered an English self-learning course. Shawan replied that he (Sh) did and said that he (Sh) had heard it from his father who worked as a tutor of the course. He (Sh) added that it was a six-month course known as 'CELT'.

17. The teacher said to the boy, "Do you think that honesty is the best policy?" The boy said, "Yes, sir, I think so. " "Then, learn to be honest from your boyhood," said the teacher. "Thank you sir," said the boy. "May Allah grant you a long life," said the teacher to the boy. 

17. The teacher asked the boy if he (b) thought that honesty is the best policy. The boy respectfully replied that he thought so. The teacher then advised him (b) to learn to be honest from his boyhood. The boy respectfully/ politely thanked him (t). Finally, the teacher prayed that Allah might grant him (b) a long life.

18. The writer said to Jerry, "Your roller-skates look very nice. Who has bought them for you?"

"My mother"

"Is she alive?"

"Yes, she is. She lives in Mannville."

18. The writer told Jerry that his (Jerry) roller-skates looked very nice. She (the writer) again asked him (Jerry) who had bought them for him (Jerry). He (J) replied that his (J) mother had bought them for him (J). She (w) further/ again asked him (J) if/ whether she was alive. He (J) replied that she was and added/ said that she lived in Mannville.

19. He said, "I can chop some wood today." I said, "But I have a boy coming from the orphanage." "I'm the boy." "You? But you're small." "Size don't matter chopping wood," he said. 

19. He said that he could chop some wood that day. But I said that I had a boy coming from the orphanage. He said that he was the boy. But being surprised, I asked him if he was the boy and added that he was small. He replied that size didn't matter chopping wood.

20. "My sons" said he, "A great treasure lies hidden in the estate. I am about to leave you." "Where is it hidden?" said the sons. "I am about to tell you," said the old man. "But you must dig for it."

20. The old man affectionately told his sons that a great treasure lay hidden in the estate and added that he was about to leave them. The sons asked him where it was hidden. The old man replied that he was about to tell them but added that they had to dig for it.

21. Rahim said to Hamid, "How are you? I went to your hostel yesterday, but did not find you. Where did you go?" "I went to the station,' said Hamid, 'I had to receive my maternal uncle there."

21. Rahim asked Hamid how he (H) was. He (R) said that he (R) had gone to his (H) hostel the previous day but had not found him (H). He (R) further asked him (H) where he (H) had gone. Hamid replied that he (H) had gone to the station because he had to receive his (H) maternal uncle there.

22. "Take the fan", said Edna, offering a fan to him. "Oh, no! Thank you. It does no good. You have to stop fanning some time, and feel all the more uncomfortable afterward." 

22. Offering a fan Edna told him to take the fan. He expressed his wonder in the negative and thanked her/ him. He added/ also said that it did no good. He further said that she/ he had to stop fanning some time and felt all the more uncomfortable afterward.

23. "Oh, my Lord, please do not kill the child," said the woman. "Let her have him" the king said. "Now everything is clear to me." Pointing to the woman, he said to the servant, "Give her the child. She is the mother of the baby." 

23. Expressing her grief and addressing him as her Lord, the woman requested the king not to kill the child. The woman also asked the king to let her have him. The king said that everything was clear to him then. Pointing to the woman, the king told the servant to give her the child because she was the mother of the baby.

24. "Have you heard the name of Aesop?" asked the teacher. "No, sir, who was he?" "Read the lesson attentively and then you will be able to know about him. How interesting and instructive his fables are!" said the teacher. 

24. The teacher asked the student if he (s) had heard the name of Aesop. The student respectfully replied in the negative that he (s) did not and asked the teacher who he (A) was. Then the teacher advised the student to read the lesson attentively so that he could be able to know about him. The teacher also exclaimed that his fables were very interesting and instructive.

25. "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take your hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it." "Twenty dollars," said Madame. "Give it to me quick" said Della. 

25. Della asked Madame if she (M) would buy her hair. Madame replied that she (M) bought hair. Madame also told Della to take her (D) hat off and suggested having a sight at the looks of it. Then Madame offered Della twenty dollars. Della told Madame to give it to her (D) quickly.

26. The traveller said to the peasant, "Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?" The peasant said, "Yes, I can. Do you want one in which you can spend the night?" The traveller said, "I do not wish to stay there, but I only want a meal." 

26. The traveller asked the peasant if he (p) could tell him (t) the way to the nearest  inn. The peasant replied that he (p) could and asked the traveller if he (t) wanted one in which he (t) could spend the night. The traveller replied that he (t) did not wish to stay there, but he (t) only wanted a meal.

27. "Why are you putting the foods in your pocket, Sir? Why don't you eat?" asked the nobleman. "I'm doing the right thing. My dress deserves these rich dishes," replied Sheikh Saadi. "I'm sorry. I don't understand what you mean to say," said the nobleman. 

27. The nobleman politely asked Sheikh Saadi why he (S) was putting his foods in his pocket and why he did not eat. Sheikh Saadi replied that he (S) was doing the right thing and added that his dress deserved the rich dishes. The nobleman apologized and added that he (m) did not understand what he (S) meant to say.

28. "You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim. "Cut if off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as well, any how? I'm me, without my hair, amn't I?" 

28. Being surprised, Jim asked Della if she had cut off her hair. Della replied that she had cut if off and sold it and asked Jim if he did not like her just as well, any how. Then Della asked Jim if she was not she without her hair and assured that she was.

29. "You look a little bit like my mother," he said, "especially in the dark by the fire." "But you were only four, Jerry, when you came here," the writer said. "My mother lives in Mannville." he said. 

29. Jerry said that she looked a little bit like his mother especially in the dark by the fire. But the writer said that he had been only four when he had gone there. Jerry said that his mother lived in Mannville.

30. "I came here yesterday from my village", he said. "Why did you come?" I asked. "My mother sent me to you with this letter." "How is your mother? I have not seen her for a long time. I hope she is quite well." 

30. He told me that he had come here the previous day from his village. I asked him why he had come. He replied that his mother had sent him to me with the letter. I asked him how his mother was and added that I had not seen her for a long time. I further added that I hoped she was quite well.

31. The stranger said to the boy, "Will you tell me the way to the nearest hotel?" "Yes, I will. Do you want a residential one in which you can spend the night?" the boy said, "I do not want to stay here, but I only want a meal" the stranger replied. The boy said, "Follow me." 

31. The stranger asked the boy if he (b) would tell him the way to the nearest hotel. The boy replied in the affirmative that he (b) would and asked the stranger if he (s) wanted a residential one in which he (s) could spend the night. The stranger replied that he (s) did not want to stay there, but he (s) wanted a meal only. The boy told the stranger to follow him (b).

32. "Porter, you may go," said the mistress of the house laughing, "You have gained your freedom." "By Allah," he replied, "I will not leave this house until I have heard the stories of my companions." 

32. The mistress of the house told the porter laughing that he might go and added that he had gained his freedom. Swearing by Allah, he (p) said that he would not leave the house until he (p) had heard the stories of his companions.  

33. "Will you come to my house tomorrow?" I asked the boy. "We can discuss terms and conditions then," I said. "I shall be very happy to meet you at your house. Thank you so much," he replied. 

33. I asked the boy if he would come to my house the following day. I told him that we could discuss terms and conditions then. The boy replied that he would be very happy to meet me at my house and thanked me so much.

34. "Could I help you, Sir?" said the receptionist.

The man replied, "Sure, I want to meet the Managing Director of the company."

The receptionist said, "Do you have an appointment?" 

"Yes, I have," he said.

34. The receptionist respectfully asked the man whether he (r) could help him (m). The man replied that he (r) could and added that he (m) wanted to meet the Managing Director of the company. The receptionist asked the man if he (m) had an appointment. The man replied in the affirmative that he (m) had.

35. "Why don't you attend classes regularly?" the teacher said to the student, "You can't expect good results unless you attend classes as I tell you." "I am sorry, sir, I have offended you," said the student. 

35. The teacher asked the student why he (s) did not attend classes regularly and said that he (s) could not expect good results unless he (s) attended classes as he (t) told him. The student respectfully said that he (s) was sorry, because he (s) had offended him (t).

36. "I'll pay for it," he said. "I broke it. I brought the axe down careless."

"But no one hits accurately every time, Jerry. Moreover, the fault was in the wood of the handle. I'll see the man who I have bought it from." I told him. 

36. Jerry said that he would pay for it and added that he had broken it because he had brought the axe down careless. I told him that no one hits accurately every time and added that the fault had been in the wood of the handle. Then I assured him (Jerry) that I would see the man who I had bought it from.

37. "Have you seen your mother, Jerry?" ''I see her every summer. She sends for me." I wanted to cry out. "Why are you not with her? How can she let you go away again?" He said, "She comes up here from Mannville whenever she can. She does not have a job now." 

37. The speaker asked Jerry if he had seen his mother. Jerry replied that he saw her every summer and added that she sent for him. The speaker wanted to cry out and asked him why he was not with her. The speaker also asked him how she could let him go away again. He said that she came up there from Mannville whenever she could and added that she did not have a job then.

38. "Where are you from?" said the teacher. "I am from Nepal," said the student. "How did you find Dhaka when you first arrived?" said the teacher. "Well, I like it. I think the city is very beautiful," said the student. 

38. The teacher asked the student where he was from. The student replied that he was from Nepal. Then the teacher asked him (s) how he (s) had found Dhaka when he (s) had first arrived. The student replied satisfactorily that he liked it. He (s) added that he thought the city was very beautiful.

39. The grocer asked the fruit seller where his (g) son was. The fruit seller replied that a crow had carried his (grocer's) son away. Addressing him liar/ calling him a liar, the grocer asked the fruit seller how a crow could carry away such a big boy. The fruit seller replied that it could just the same way as mice could eat away the balance and weights.

39. "Where is my son?" the grocer said to the fruitseller the. "A crow carried your son away," said the fruitseller. "You liar. How can a crow carry away such a big boy?" "Just the same way as mice can eat away the balance and weights." 

40. Once I asked a sweet girl what her mother's name was. She replied cleverly that she knew her mother's name but she would not tell me that. I exclaimed that she was a very clever girl. 

With an air of confidence she said that she did not tell her mother's name to anybody whom she did not know.

40. Once I said to a sweet girl, "What is your mother's name?" She replied cleverly, "I know my mother's name but I won't tell you that." I said. ''What a clever girl you are!" "I don't tell my mother's name to anybody whom I don't know," she spoke with an air of confidence.

41. Lipi asked Mina where she (M) had gone the previous day. Mina replied that she (M) had gone to Chittagong to see her (M) mother. She added that she (Mina's mother) had been suffering from high blood pressure.

Lipi then asked her if she (Mina's mother) was sound then.

Mina replied that she was not.

41. "Where did you go yesterday?" said Lipi. "I went to Chittagong to see my mother," said Mina. "She has been suffering from high blood pressure." ''Is she sound now?" said Lipi. "No," said Mina. 

42. The ticket officer asked the passenger politely where he (p) liked to go. The passenger replied that he (p) wanted to go to Chittagong. Then the ticket officer asked how many tickets he (p) needed. The passenger replied that he (p) needed five tickets. The officer gave him (p) the tickets and said that they would cost one thousand taka.

42. “Where do you like to go, sir?” said the ticket officer to the passenger. “I want to go to Chittagong,” said the passenger. “How many tickets do you need?” “I need five tickets.” “Here are the tickets. They will cost one thousand taka.”

43. The principal asked Tamanna what she wanted. Tamanna replied that she needed three days' leave. Hearing it, the principal further asked her why she needed it. She answered that the marriage ceremony of her elder sister would be held on the following Friday. The principal asked her where her application was. She gave it to him.

43. "What do you want, Tamanna?" said the principal. "I need three days' leave," said Tamanna. The principal said, "Why?" She said, "The marriage ceremony of my elder sister will be held on next Friday." The principal said, "Where is your application?" She said,  "Here it is."

44. The teacher asked the boy whether he thought that honesty is the best policy.  The boy answered respectfully that he thought so. Then the teacher advised the boy to learn to be honest from his boyhood. The boy thanked him (T) politely. The teacher prayed that Allah might grant him a long life.

44. The teacher said to the boy, "Do you think that honesty is the best policy?" The boy said, "Yes sir, I think so." "Then learn to be honest from your boyhood," said the teacher.

"Thank you sir," said the boy. "May Allah grant you a long life," said the teacher.

45. "How much do you want?" said the Mayor. "A thousand guilders," said the Pied Piper. "All right", said the Mayor, "We'll pay you a thousand guilders. When will you set to work?" "Now," replied the Pied Pieper.

46. The man next to me asked me if he could have a look at my paper for a moment. He also added that he just wanted to see the cricket result. I replied that I had not quite finished reading and requested him to wait a moment. He replied in the negative and added that he was getting off at the next stop.

46. "Can I have a look at your paper for a moment?" asked the man next to me. "I just want to see the cricket result." "I've not quite finished reading. Could you wait a moment?" "No, I'm getting off at the next stop."

47. Addressing as darling, Della told Jim not to look at her that way and said that she had had her hair cut off and had sold it because she could not have lived through Christmas without giving her a present. She further said that she just had to do it. Then she urged Jim to say Marry Christmas and suggested being happy.

47. "Jim, darling", cried Della, "don't look at me this way. I had my hair cut off and sold it because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. I just have to do it. Say Marry Christmas, Jim, and let's be happy".

48. I asked my friend if he would come to my house the following day. I also added that we could discuss the term and condition then. He gave me assurance and added that he would be very happy to meet me at my house. I thanked him. He told me that it was ok.

48. "Will you come to my house tomorrow, friend?" I asked, "We can discuss the term and condition then." "Sure," he told, "I'll be very happy to meet you at your house." "Thank you very much." "Ok."

49. Zayed asked Robi if he (R) had any dream. He (Z) again asked him (R) what his dream was. Robi replied in the affirmative that he (R) had a dream. He (R) added that he liked to have a plate full of rice. Zayed got surprised. He (Z) told him (R) with an affectionate note in his voice that he (Z) would make his dream come true.

49. "Do you have any dream? What is your dream?", Zayed said to Robi. "Yes, I have a dream", said Robi. "I like to have a plate full of rice." Zayed got surprised. "I will make your dream come true," Zayed said to Robi with an affectionate note in his voice.

50.  The librarian asked Rubel how he (li) could help him (R). Rubel said that he (R) wanted to have a library card. The librarian asked him (R) if he (R) had got his identity card. Rubel replied in the affirmative and said that it was there. Rubel asked him (li) how many books he (R) could borrow at a time. The librarian told him (R) that he (R) could borrow three books at a time. Rubel thanked him (li)

50. "How can I help you?" the librarian said to Rubel. "I want to have a library card." said Rubel. "Have you got your identity card?" said the librarian. "Yes, here it is. How many books can I borrow at a time?" said Rubel. The librarain said to him, "You can borrow three books at a time." Rubel said, "Thank you."