Question
He said to them, "Don't make a noise."
Change the narration.
Answer
He forbade them to make a noise.(Alternative acceptable answer: He told them not to make a noise.)
Rule Applied: Imperative Sentence (Negative Command / Prohibition)
When converting imperative sentences from Direct to Indirect Speech, we follow a specific set of rules that differ from assertive or interrogative sentences.
| Rule | Application in this sentence |
|---|---|
| Change the reporting verb | "said to" becomes forbade (because it is a prohibition) |
| Remove commas and inverted commas | Replace them with the infinitive marker |
| Use the correct infinitive | For negative commands, use not to + V1 |
| Do not use "that" | Imperative sentences take to or not to, never "that" |
| Pronoun adjustment | "them" remains "them" as the object of "forbade" |
Step-by-Step Conversion
| Step | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the type of sentence | Negative imperative (command) |
| 2 | Change the reporting verb | "said to" → "forbade" (since it prohibits) |
| 3 | Remove the comma and inverted commas | Delete , " " |
| 4 | Convert the command into infinitive | "Don't make" → "not to make" |
| 5 | Combine all parts | He + forbade + them + not to make + a noise |
Final output: He forbade them to make a noise.
Why "Forbade" is Preferred Over "Told not to"
| Reporting Verb | Tone | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| told ... not to | Neutral, informal | Acceptable but weak |
| ordered ... not to | Authoritative command | Works but less precise for prohibition |
| forbade ... to | Strong prohibition | Best choice – exactly matches the negative command |
Exam tip: Whenever the direct speech contains "Don't" as a strict order, "forbade" is the most accurate and frequently tested reporting verb in competitive exams.
Additional Examples for Practice
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| He said to me, "Don't run." | He forbade me to run. |
| The teacher said to the boys, "Don't shout." | The teacher forbade the boys to shout. |
| She said to him, "Don't touch the wire." | She forbade him to touch the wire. |
| The officer said to the guard, "Don't sleep." | The officer ordered the guard not to sleep. |
Important Grammar Rules for Imperative Narration
1. Reporting Verbs Change Based on Mood
| Mood | Reporting Verb Used |
|---|---|
| Command / Order | ordered, commanded, directed |
| Prohibition | forbade, prohibited |
| Request | requested, begged, implored |
| Suggestion | suggested, advised, proposed |
| Encouragement | urged, encouraged, persuaded |
2. Structure
-
Affirmative command:
Subject + reporting verb + object + to + V1
Example: He said to me, "Go there." → He told me to go there. -
Negative command:
Subject + reporting verb + object + not to + V1
Example: He said to me, "Don't go there." → He forbade me to go there. / He told me not to go there.
3. No Conjunction
Unlike assertive sentences (which use "that") and interrogative sentences (which use "if/whether"), imperative sentences use the infinitive marker directly – no conjunction is added.
Why This Matters for Exams
This exact sentence – "He said to them, 'Don't make a noise.'" – is a classic question that appears in:
- SSC CGL / CHSL (Tier 1 & 2)
- Banking (IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Assistant)
- UPSC CDS / NDA (English section)
- State PSC exams (including Assam PSC)
- Army / Navy / Air Force entrance tests
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why it is wrong |
|---|---|
| He said to them to not make a noise. | Incorrect placement of "not" – should be "not to make" |
| He said them not to make a noise. | Missing "to" after "said" – "said to" must change to a transitive verb like "told" or "forbade" |
| He told them that don't make a noise. | "That" is never used with imperatives; also "don't" is not used in indirect speech |
| He forbade them from making a noise. | Though used in colloquial English, the standard grammar rule for "forbade" is forbade + object + to + V1, not from + V-ing |
PYQ Practice
Q1: He said to them, "Don't make a noise." (Change the narration)- A) He said to them to not make a noise.
- B) He forbade them to make a noise. ✅
- C) He told them that don't make a noise.
- D) He said them not to make a noise.
- A) The teacher forbade the students to waste their time. ✅
- B) The teacher said to the students to not waste their time.
- C) The teacher told the students that don't waste their time.
- D) The teacher forbade the students from wasting their time.
- A) She said to me to not touch that wire.
- B) She forbade me to touch that wire. ✅
- C) She told me that don't touch that wire.
- D) She forbade me from touching that wire.
- A) that
- B) if
- C) whether
- D) No conjunction (infinitive is used) ✅
Summary for Quick Revision
| Item | Answer |
|---|---|
| Direct Speech | He said to them, "Don't make a noise." |
| Type of sentence | Negative imperative (prohibition) |
| Reporting verb changed to | forbade |
| Conjunction used | None (infinitive "to" is used) |
| Negative command converted to | not to make |
| Final Indirect Speech | He forbade them to make a noise. |
Final Answer (One-Liner for Exams)
He forbade them to make a noise.
Just remember: forbade + object + to + V1 for negative commands.