Grammar: Determiners, Reported Speech

Grammar

Determiners

Observe the nouns in the following sentences and words before them.

* An apple is a healthy fruit.

* Two cats have drunk a bowl of milk.

* My father has many cars.

Determiners are the words that introduce a noun and provide some information about it (but do not describe it).

Determiners are followed by a noun.

* The ball * Five cats

* His son * Some students  

Types of Determiners

* The quantifiers all, any, enough, less, a lot of, more, most, no, none of, some etc., are used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

* The quantifiers both, each, either, fewer, neither etc., are used only with countable nouns.

A. Choose the Correct Determiner

1.  Could you bring me those tools I left in the garden? (this, those, these)

2.  the Earth revolves around the sun. (the, a, an)

3.  I found a one rupee coin in the playground while playing. (a, an, the)

4.  There aren’t many students in the library. (much, many, a lot)

5.  It was an unforgettable experience. (a, an, the)

6.  I haven’t got any pictures in my bedroom. (some, any, many)

7.  He said that he wanted to become an engineer. (a, an, the)

8.  Kokila gave a pen to each child in the classroom on her birthday. (any, all, each)

9.  I’ve got to solve all math problems before I go to sleep. (all, some, any)

10.  India is the largest democracy in the world. (a, an, the)

11.  My father doesn’t drink much coffee. (much, many, a lot)

12.  I always keep some money in my wallet for emergencies. (any, every, some)

13.  This year we are celebrating my sister’s second birthday. (a, two, second)

14.  I have three pencils with me. (a, three, third)

15.  ‘What is that noise?’ I think it is an aeroplane. (a, an, the)

Reported Speech

Look at the following sentences

She said, “I have won the first prize.” (Direct Speech)

She said that she had won the first prize. (Indirect Speech)

* In the first sentence, the reporter conveys the message of the girl using her actual words i.e., (“I have won the first prize.”)

* In the second sentence, the reporter conveys her message but in his own words without any change in the meaning. (She said that she had won the first prize.)

* In direct speech, we reproduce the actual words of the speaker. We place spoken words within inverted commas (“ ”).

* In indirect speech (also called Reported Speech), we report the words of the speaker with a few changes.

Key Terminology

Direct Speech

She said, “I have won the first prize.”

Reporting Statements

We make the following changes when reporting the statements.

- Change the pronouns

- Reporting verb followed by ‘that’

- Change the tense, time and place

(e.g) Kowsalya said, “We watched a film yesterday.”

Kowsalya said that they watched a film the day before.

Reporting Imperatives

To report an imperative, use the pattern –

request/order/suggest + someone + to infinitive

(e.g.)Karthi said to Ram, “Please, switch on the fan.”

Karthi requested Ram to switch on the fan.

Reporting Questions

When reporting questions, we use the pattern:

asked/ wanted to know + question word + pronoun + verb

(e.g.) She said to me, “Where did you go?”

She asked me where I went.

Note: If the 'wh' question is missing, if or whether is added.

(e.g). Praveena asked, “Have you watered the plants?”

Praveena asked if/whether I had watered the plants.

Sometimes it is not necessary to report everything that is said word by word. It may be better to use ‘reporting verbs’ which summarise what was communicated.

Below are some of the most commonly used verbs of this kind.

accept, advise, apologise, ask, assure, blame, complain, complement, congratulate, explain, greet, hope, invite, offer, order, persuade, promise, remind, regret, say, suggest, tell, thank, answer, warn, encourage, regret, sympathize, refuse, instruct

Remember these rules of change

B. Observe the following call-outs. Reporter (C) has reported the sentences of Speaker (A). Now, help Reporter (C) report the rest of the sentences of Speaker (A).

Speaker: I have to go.

Questioner: What did he say?

Reporter: He said that he wanted to go.

Speaker: Can you hear me?

Questioner: What did she say?

Reporter: She asked if you could hear her.

Speaker: Consult the doctor.

Questioner: What did he say?

Reporter: He advised you to consult the doctor.

Speaker: I won't go to the party.

Questioner: What did he say?

Reporter: He said that he wouldn't go to the pasty.

Speaker: When did you come?

Questioner: What did she say?

Reporter: She asked when I had come

Speaker: Don't touch the wire.

Questioner: What did she say?

Reporter: She warned me not to touch the wire.

Speaker: Bring some water, please

Questioner: What did he say?

Reporter: He requested me to bring some water, (request)

Speaker: Will you help me?

Questioner: What did he say?

Reporter: He asked if I would help him. (ask)

C. Report the following sentences.

1. Pushpa said, “Do not spoil the eco-system.”

Answer: Pushpa advised not to spoil the eco-system.

2. Ebin said, “Have you booked the tickets to Delhi?”

Answer: Ebin asked if he had booked the tickets to Delhi.

3. Rehman said to Tilak, “When are we leaving to our native?”

Answer: Rehman asked Tilak when they were leaving to their native.

4. Maha said, “Lakshan, you should get up early in the morning.”

Answer: Maha told Lakshan that he should get up early in the morning.

5. Gladin said to his mother, “Can you, please, buy me a hot-chocolate?”

Answer: Gladin requested his mother if she could buy him a hot chocolate.

6. “Tomorrow I have to take a test in English”, said Sudha.

Answer: Sudha said that she had to take a test in English the next day.

7. Amali said to her sister, “I need your help to arrange the books in the shelf.”

Answer: Amali told her sister that she needed her help to arrange the book in the shelf.

8. “Why don’t you use crayons for colouring?” said Prabhu to his son.

Answer: Prabhu asked his son why he didn't use crayons for colouring.