Question

Change the following statement into indirect speech.

He said to me, "Please lend me your fountain pen."

• A. He ordered me to lend me your fountain pen.
• B. He requested me to lend me your fountain pen.
• C. He suggested me to lend me your fountain pen.
• D. He requested me to lend him my fountain pen.

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

He requested me to lend him my fountain pen.

The two ways of relating what a person has said are 1)direct and 2)indirect (reported).

In the direct speech, the exact words of the original speaker are repeated.

In the indirect speech (reported speech), the exact meaning of what the speaker told is expressed but not necessarily in the speaker’s exact words.

Option D is correct as the sentence in the inverted commas is in the simple present tense and the appropriate introductory verb 'requested' is used.

Options A, B, and C are wrong as 'ordered', 'your' and 'suggested' cannot be used respectively.

The correct answer is D) He requested me to lend him my fountain pen.