Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech.
They said to him, "Do not jump into the pond today."
- AThey told him from jumping into the pond the same day.
- BThey told him not to jump into the pond that day.
- CThey told him to jump into the pond the previous day.
- DThey told him not jumped into the pond that day.
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
To change the direct speech into indirect speech, follow these standard grammar rules for negative imperative sentences:
The reporting verb "said to" is changed to "told" (or "forbade" / "advised" / "ordered").
A negative command beginning with "Do not" is changed into not + to-infinitive (not to + V_1). So, "Do not jump" becomes "not to jump".
Time expressions change relative to the reporting context: today changes to that day.
Applying these changes:
They told him not to jump into the pond that day.
This perfectly matches Option B. Option D is incorrect because it uses the past tense form 'jumped' instead of the base verb form 'jump' after 'to'.
The reporting verb "said to" is changed to "told" (or "forbade" / "advised" / "ordered").
A negative command beginning with "Do not" is changed into not + to-infinitive (not to + V_1). So, "Do not jump" becomes "not to jump".
Time expressions change relative to the reporting context: today changes to that day.
Applying these changes:
They told him not to jump into the pond that day.
This perfectly matches Option B. Option D is incorrect because it uses the past tense form 'jumped' instead of the base verb form 'jump' after 'to'.