A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech.
The teacher advised the student not to waste time.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
The teacher said, "Do not waste time."
Explanation
The indirect sentence reports a negative imperative command or advice ("advised... not to waste time"). To convert this back into direct speech, the reporting phrase "advised the student" reverts to the standard reporting verb "said," and the infinitive phrase "not to waste" is restored to its original negative imperative structure "Do not waste."
Key Points
Core Definition Direct speech restores an indirect piece of advice or command back into its original imperative form using quotation marks.
Grammatical Role Direct transformation of a negative reported command requires converting the "not to + verb" structure into a "Do not + verb" imperative clause.