Question

Mettez au discours direct/indirect : M. Renault dit à sa femme: « Ne marche pas sur le rocher ! »

Hint:

Remember that in negative infinitival clauses, both negative adverbs (ne pas, ne jamais, ne plus) are placed together immediately preceding the infinitive verb (e.g., de ne pas marcher, NOT de ne marcher pas).

Answer 1

Step 1: Identifying the Sentence Style:
The sentence is in the Discours Direct (Direct Speech). The reported speech is a negative command in the imperative mood (Ne marche pas...). We must convert it to Discours Indirect (Indirect Speech).

Step 2: Applying the Rule for Imperative Speech:
In indirect speech, commands or requests in the imperative mood are transformed into an infinitival clause:
• Positive Imperative: de + Infinitive
• Negative Imperative: de ne pas + Infinitive

Step 3: Transforming the Verb:
The negative imperative is Ne marche pas.
• The infinitive of the verb is marcher.
• Place the negative adverbs ne pas together before the infinitive: de ne pas marcher.

Step 4: Compiling the Indirect Sentence:
Assemble the elements cleanly:
• Direct: M. Renault dit à sa femme: « Ne marche pas sur le rocher ! »
• Indirect: M. Renault dit à sa femme de ne pas marcher sur le rocher. Final Answer: M. Renault dit à sa femme de ne pas marcher sur le rocher.