Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Tina requested him to wait there till she returned.
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Reported speech or indirect speech questions test the learner's ability to convert a sentence from direct quotation form into a narrative form. This includes changes in pronouns, verb tenses, and time or place adverbs. In this item, Tina speaks politely using the word Please, which indicates a request. We must therefore preserve both the meaning and the sense of politeness while forming the correct indirect speech.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
When converting requests from direct to indirect speech, said to is usually replaced by requested or asked, depending on the tone. The word Please is dropped and the infinitive form to plus the base verb is used. Pronouns and adverbs change according to the new point of view: I becomes she because Tina is female, here becomes there because of the shift in reference point, and the present tense verb return is typically backshifted to returned in indirect speech introduced by a past reporting verb. The sentence must remain grammatically correct and preserve the polite request.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Replace said to with an appropriate reporting verb of request. Since the original uses Please, we choose requested.
Step 2: Remove the quotation marks and the word Please, and introduce the infinitive phrase to wait.
Step 3: Change the adverb here to there to reflect the indirect speaker's perspective.
Step 4: Change the pronoun I to she, referring back to Tina.
Step 5: Backshift the verb return to returned because the reporting verb is in the past tense.
Step 6: Combine all elements to form: Tina requested him to wait there till she returned.
Verification / Alternative check:
The resulting sentence preserves the meaning of the original: Tina makes a polite request that he wait in the same place until she comes back. The reporting verb requested reflects politeness, the infinitive structure to wait is correct for a reported request, and all pronoun and adverb changes follow standard rules of reported speech. Tense backshift is also maintained. Therefore the sentence is a faithful and grammatically correct indirect version of the direct speech.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tina asked him to stay there is incomplete because it omits the time condition till she returned. Tina request him to wait until she comes is ungrammatical because request should be requested and comes does not reflect correct backshift. Tina says he should wait there till her returned is wrong due to tense mismatch, incorrect pronoun her instead of she, and incorrect verb form returned in this position. Thus, these alternatives are not acceptable indirect speech transformations.
Common Pitfalls:
Students often forget to adjust adverbs like here, now, and today or to change pronouns according to the new subject. Another frequent error is neglecting tense backshift when the reporting verb is in the past. Finally, many learners keep the word Please inside indirect speech even though it should be replaced by a polite reporting verb such as requested. Reviewing these rules and practising several examples helps avoid such mistakes in exams.
Final Answer:
The correct indirect speech form is Tina requested him to wait there till she returned.
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