Question:

Identify the correct indirect speech form of the following sentence: The old woman said to the boy, 'Please help me till he returns.'

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When you see the word "Please" in direct speech, immediately look for options that use the reporting verb "requested" and the infinitive "to + verb". Also, always check the end of the sentence for the mandatory tense shift in the subordinate clause.
Updated On: Apr 1, 2026
  • The old woman told the boy, Please help me till he returns.'
  • The old woman said that she may please help till he returns.
  • The old women asked that a boy may help her till he returns.
  • The old woman ordered the boy to help him till he returned.
  • The old woman requested to the boy to help her till he returned.
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Solution and Explanation

Concept: Converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech involves several key changes:
Reporting Verb: Changes based on the tone (e.g., "said to" becomes "requested" for "please").
Conjunction: For imperative sentences (requests/orders), we use "to + verb".
Pronouns: "me" (first person) changes to "her" (referring to the old woman).
Tense: "returns" (present simple) changes to "returned" (past simple) because the reporting verb is in the past.
Step 1:
Identifying the sentence type.
The sentence "Please help me..." is an Imperative Sentence expressing a request. Therefore, the reporting verb "said to" must change to "requested."

Step 2:
Applying the transformation rules.
Remove "Please": The word "requested" already conveys the polite tone. Infinitive Mood: The verb "help" becomes "to help." Pronoun Change: "me" refers to the speaker (the old woman), so it becomes "her." Tense Shift: The subordinate clause "till he returns" contains a present tense verb. Since the main reporting verb "said" is in the past, "returns" must shift to the past tense "returned." Combining these, we get: "The old woman requested to the boy to help her till he returned."
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