A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech. Rita said, ”Please close the window.”
- (a)Rita asked to close the window.
- (b)Rita said to close the window.
- (c)Rita requested that the window is closed.
- (d)Rita requested to close the window.
Answer
Why
Correct — D. The spoken words are an imperative, and Please makes the command a request. A reported request takes a verb that names it, and the imperative close becomes the to-infinitive to close.
Please itself is dropped, because requested now carries it: Rita requested to close the window → option (d).
Why the others are wrong
- (a)Rita asked to close the window. — asked can report a request, but it loses the courtesy that Please adds. Requested keeps it, and that verb is the only difference between this sentence and the keyed one.
- (b)Rita said to close the window. — said is the direct sentence's verb carried over unchanged. A reported request swaps it for a verb that shows the request, such as requested, and said to close loses the Please altogether.
- (c)Rita requested that the window is closed. — is closed is present tense after a past reporting verb, and it states a fact rather than a request. After requested that, formal English uses be: requested that the window be closed.
Concept
Reporting a command or request changes its shape, not just its tense.
The reporting verb becomes one that names the act: requested, ordered, advised, told.
The imperative becomes a to-infinitive: close → to close.
A negative takes not to: She said to me, 'Please don't shout' → She requested me not to shout.
Please is dropped once requested carries its meaning.
Strictly, request takes the listener before the infinitive: Rita requested him to close the window. Without one, requested to close can also read as Rita asking permission to close it herself.
The direct sentence names no listener and no option adds one, so the reporting verb decides this item.
Key facts
- A reported request: requested + listener + to-infinitive, as in She requested me to wait.
- A negative request or command takes not to: He told me not to shout.
- Please is dropped in indirect speech once the reporting verb, such as requested, carries it.
- After requested that, formal English uses the base form be: She requested that the window be closed.
Study next
Common traps
- Choosing (a) because asked also reports requests: the Please points to requested
- Choosing (c) for its that-clause without checking the verb: is closed states a fact, not a request
- Keeping said, the direct sentence's verb, instead of a verb that names the request
A command without please is keyed at 14 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.22: She said to me, 'Open the window' → She told me to open the window.
At 24 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.23, Let us start early takes a different verb: I suggested that we should start early.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.