Choose the correct alternative which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect speech.
“Take care on the steps”, said the guide to the tourists.

Correct option is C

✔️ The correct indirect speech is (c) The guide warned the tourists to take care on the steps.
Explanation: The sentence in direct speech is an imperative sentence (a command or advice): “Take care on the steps.” The verb take is in its base form, making it a direct instruction.
In indirect speech, imperative sentences do not retain the imperative mood. Instead, they are converted using a reporting verb that fits the tone of the instruction:
· Since the tone here is cautionary, “warned” is the correct reporting verb.
· The command “take care” becomes “to take care” (infinitive form) in indirect speech.
Grammatical Rule Used:
Imperative Sentences in Indirect Speech
Structure:
· Reporting verb (asked/told/warned/advised) + object + to + V1 (infinitive)
This structure replaces the imperative verb (like take, sit, listen) with “to + base verb”.
Explanation in Hindi:
✔️ जब वाक्य में आदेश, सलाह या चेतावनी हो (imperative sentence), तो indirect speech में वाक्य का स्वरूप बदल जाता है।
✔️ "Take care" जैसा वाक्य, जिसमें निर्देश हो, उसे "to take care" में बदला जाता है।
✔️ "Warned" शब्द का प्रयोग तब किया जाता है जब वक्ता सावधानी बरतने के लिए कह रहा हो।
�� उदाहरण:
· Direct: He said, “Be careful.”
· Indirect: He warned me to be careful.
❌ Meanings of Other Options:
· (a) Asked that they should mind – “asked” is too neutral and doesn’t fit the warning tone.
· Hindi: “Asked” अनुरोध का भाव देता है, चेतावनी का नहीं।
· (b) Warned that they should mind – lacks direct object and infinitive construction.
· Hindi: रचना अधूरी है; object और “to” structure नहीं है।
· (d) Requested – implies polite asking, not warning.
· Hindi: “Requested” का अर्थ निवेदन है, चेतावनी नहीं।