In the following question, a sentence is given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives choose the one which best expresses the sentence in Indirect/Direct Speech. The old man said to the jailer, "Please let me go and see my son."

In the following question, a sentence is given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives choose the one which best expresses the sentence in Indirect/Direct Speech. The old man said to the jailer, "Please let me go and see my son." Correct Answer The old man requested the jailer to permit him to go and see his son.

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. "​The old man requested the jailer to permit him to go and see his son."

Key Points

• The imperative sentence is given in indirect speech and we need to convert into direct speech.
• According to the conversion rules, as imperative sentences have a command, a request ('please') or advice or a suggestion, to change them into indirect speech, some specific verbs i.e. 'requested, order, advised, suggested' replace the verbs like 'said, told'.
• 'Please' used in the given direct speech is generally used for the request.
• No change in tense takes place in speech conversion of imperative sentences.
• After analyzing all the options, only option 1 is showing expression of the request; "The old man requested the jailer..."
• Moreover, the first form of the pronoun ('me' & 'my son') is also converted into the third form of the pronoun ('him' & 'his son') here.
• Thus, we are left with only option 1 which is the correct option to choose from.

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Hence, the correct sentence will be - "The old man requested the jailer to permit him to go and see his son."