(Continued from Previous Chapter)
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Interrogative sentences are of two types.
A. First, sentences starting with helping verbs like is, am, are, were, was, Do , Does, Did, had, have, Can. Could, shall, will, should or would etc.
The second type of interrogative sentences are which start with words like – What,Which,Why,Who,Whose,Where,When,How and Whom etc.
Sometimes there are combined sentences of two or more types in one sentence.
These two sentences are changed from direct into indirect form of speech according to the rules of narration applicable to them.
Some examples of such sentences are explained here under for practice.
1. My friend said to me, “ Where are you putting up these days? Will you be free today in the evening? Why don’t you join us over dinner tonight?”
The sentences in the reported speech are of interrogative nature. So ‘said to’ in the reporting speech will change into 'asked' according to interrogative sentence. Further these sentences will be changed separately as per rules required for them.
My friend asked me where I was putting up those days and if I would be free that day in the evening and enquired further why I did not join them over dinner that night.
2. The customer said to the vendor, “What articles do you have for sale ? Are all of these items of food fresh? Do you have any fresh fruit with you ? May I have one of these articles ?
These are interrogative sentences but first sentence starts with ‘What’ and the second with ‘Are’ the third with 'Do' and the fourth with 'May'. All these sentences will be changed in their own ways. ‘said to’ will change into ‘asked’. In case of first sentence, no word is required to replace inverted commas but for the remaining sentences, the same will be replaced by ‘if’. These sentences will be as under:
The customer asked the vendor what articles he had for sale and if all of those items of food were fresh. He asked him further if he had any fresh fruit with him and if he might have one of those articles ?
Note : In the sentences written above the word 'have' is used as a main verb meaning 'to possess'. So 'may have' changed into 'might have' . There should be no confusion about changing it into 'might had' which will be incorrect.
3. One of her friends said to her, “Why are you crying over such a trivial matter? Don't you feel that you are making fuss over a small affair? Does it not look shabby you behave like this? Will you stop crying now ?”
These sentences are interrogative sentences of mixed nature and will be treated accordingly. So ‘said to’ will change into ‘asked’ and no word is required while removing inverted commas in case of 'Why' but for the words 'Don't', 'Does' and 'Will' the word 'If' will be used.
One of her friends asked her why she was crying over such a trivial matter and if she didn't feel that she was making fuss over a small affair. She asked her further if it did not look shabby she behaved like that and if she would stop crying then.
4. The old man said, “What are you doing here, children ? Are you not going to your school today ? Is there a holiday today ? Why don't you attend to your studies?
The old man asked children what they were doing there and if they were not going to their school that day and if there was a holiday that day. He asked them further why they didn't attend to their studies.
5. The father said," Haven't I been warning you time and again to be careful, my son ? Why didn't you take my advice seriously? Do you still rely on him for any help?
The father asked his son if he hadn't been warning him time and again to be careful and why he hadn't taken his advice seriously. He enquired further if he still relied on him for any help.
6. The farmer said, " Friends, It has been raining heavily for the last couple of days. Do you expect it will stop soon? It must stop raining otherwise all the crops will be destroyed.”
Out of these, two sentences, first and third are simple assertive sentences and the second is an interrogative sentence starting with word ‘Do’. For the first and third, ‘said to’ will change into ‘told’ or ‘informed’ and for the second sentence it will change into ‘asked’. Inverted commas for the first and third will change into ‘that’ and for second ‘if’.
The farmer told his friends that it had been raining heavily for the last couple of days.He asked them if they expected it would stop soon. He told them further that it must stop raining otherwise all the crops would be destroyed.
7. "My daughter," said she, “You have travelled a long distance during the day. Do you not feel tired ? Will you take a rest for a while? If you continue your journey, you may fall sick.”
Two sentences, first and last one, are assertive sentences whereas second and third are interrogative sentences. ‘said to’ will change for the first and fourth into told and for the second and third into asked. Inverted commas for assertive sentences will change into ‘that’ and for interrogative sentences into ‘if’ .
She told her daughter that she had travelled a long distance during the day. She asked her if she did not feel tired and if she would not take rest for a while. She told her further that if she continued her journey she might fall sick.
8. His mother said to him, “I have been waiting for you since morning. Why are you so late today?”
For the first sentence ‘said to’ will change into ‘told’ and for the second into ‘asked’. Inverted commas for the first sentence will change into ‘that’ and for the second no word is required in place of commas.
His mother told him that she had been waiting for him since morning and asked why he was so late that day.
9. The little girl said, " Mother, why do we wear woollen clothes in winter and cotton clothes in summer? Why is it colder in winter than summer?
The little girl asked her mother why they wore woollen clothes in winter and cotton clothes in summer and why it was colder in winter than summer.
10. His friend said to him, “ When do you get up in the morning? Do you go out for a walk in the morning? Would you like to go along with me for a wlk in the morning tomorrow?
His friend asked him when he got up in the morning and if he went out for a walk in the morning. He asked him further if he would like to go with him for a walk in the morning.
11.The boss said to the official," Why are you sitting so late in the office today ?Why didn't you go home ? Are you having any problem in finishing your work ?"
The boss asked the official why he was sitting so late in the office that day and why he had not gone home. He asked him further if he was having any problem in finishing his work.
12.The lady said to the gentleman, "Are the children not addicted to television viewing these days ? Do they have any interest in out door games? Is this life style of the children not a health hazard for them?"
The lady asked the gentleman if the children were not addicted to television viewing those days and if they had any interest in out door games and if that life style of the children was not a health hazard for them.
13.The shepherd said to the village priest, " Who are all these persons and where are these coming from ? "
The shepherd asked the village priest who all those persons were and where those were coming from.
14. The clown said to the old man," Whom are you looking for? Do you expect a guest today ? What is the reason of your anxiety?
The clown asked the old man whom he was looking for and if he expected a guest that day and what the reason of your anxiety was.
15.The lion said to the rabbit," Why are you so late ? Can't you be punctual? Do you expect me to wait for you for such a long time ?"
The lion asked the rabbit why he was so late and if he could not be punctual and if he expected him to wait for him for such a long time.
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