Problem of Persons
| without – object | second person = first person or third person |
| RV: subject (1st person) + verb + (no object) | second person = third person |
Examples:
| Direct Narration | Indirect Narration |
| 1. He said, “You are an idiot, Suresh.”
= He said to Suresh, “You are an idiot.”
| He told Suresh that he (Suresh) was an idiot. |
| 2. He said, “You are telling a lie, Leela.”
= He said to Leela, “You are telling a lie.”
| He told Leela that she (Leela) was telling a lie. |
| 3. He said, “Where are you going, mother?”
= He said to mother, “Where are you going?”
| He asked mother where she was going. |
| 4. He said, “Don’t make a noise.”
= He said to me/him/her, “Don’t make a noise.”
| He asked me/him/her not to make a noise. |
| 5. He said, “Bring a chair.”
He said to me/him/her, “Bring a chair.”
| He ordered me/him/her to bring a chair. |
| 6. He said, “How are you?”
He said to me/him/her, “How are you?”
| He asked me/him/her how I/he/she was. |
| 7. He said, “Open the gate.”
He said to me/him/her/us/them, “Open the gate.”
| He told me/him/her/us/them to open the gate. |
| 1. He said, “Congratulations!” | He congratulated me. |
| 2. She said, “Liar!” | She called me a liar. |
In accordance with: W S Allen (Living English Structure)
| 1. He said, “Bring me a book.” | He asked her (him/us etc.) to bring him a book. |
| 2. He said, “Don’t do it.” | He asked me (her/us etc.) not to do it. |
| 3. He said, “Hello! Where are you going?” | He greeted me and asked (me) where I was going. |
In accordance with: A J Thompson A Practical English Grammar
| 1 . He said, “What have you got in your bag?” | He asked me what I had got in my bag. |
| 2. He said, “Why didn’t you put on the brake?” | He asked her why she hadn’t put on the brake. |
| 3. He said, “What do you want?” | He asked them what they wanted. |
| 4. He said, “Would you like a drink?” | He asked me if I would like a drink. |
| 5. “Shut the door, will you?” | He shouted. He told us to shut the door. |
| 6. “Will you stop talking?” | He said. He told them to stop talking. |
| 7. He said, “When you go out lock both doors.” | He told me to lock both doors when I went out. |
| 8. He said, ‘Thank you.” | He thanked me. |
| 9. He said, “Good morning!” | He wished me a good morning. |
| 10. He said, “Happy Christmas!” | He wished me a happy Christmas. |
| 11. He said, “Congratulations!” | He congratulated me. |
| 12. He said, “Liar!” | He called me a liar. |
Edited by: Ahammad Ulla
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