Optative Sentences
Definition:- Sentences showing prayer, curse and wish are called optative sentences.
Model Sentences
| Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech |
| 1. My sister said to me,"May you be happy ever!" |
My sister prayed for me that I might be happy ever. (Pray) |
| 2. He said to her,"May you overcome every difficulty!" |
He prayed for her that she might overcome every difficulty. |
| 3. The saint said to sinner, "May you go to hell and face the wrath of God!" |
The saint cursed sinner that he might go to hell and face the wrath of God. (Cursed) |
| 4. They said,"would that we had known her name and address!" |
They wished that they had known her name and address. (Wish) |
| 5. Mother said to me,"God bless you!" |
Mother prayed for me that God might bless me. |
Rules of Conversion:- To convert these sentences into indirect narration following instructions must be observed.
- Change said into prayed, cursed and wished according to the sense of sentence.
- Replace inverted commas with conjunction that.
- Change pronouns of reported speech according to rules stated in change of pronouns lesson.
- Change tenses of reported speech according to rules stated in change of tenses lesson.
- Use might in every sentence even if may is not used in reported speech. (Sentence No.6)
- Delete would that from sentences of wish.
- Reported speech will be changed into positive /affirmative sense.
- Replace Exclamation Mark with Full Stop.
How to prepare IELTS for 8+ bands
Exercise No.12
Change the voice.
- He said to me,"May you secure top position in final exams!"
- She said to me,"God bless me with the son!"
- His grandmother said to him,"May you live long!"
- She said,"God reward him success for his goodness!"
- He said,"May I get through my exam with good marks!"
- The mother said to his son,"May you be safe and protected from danger!"
- The saint said to the needy boy,"May you live happy, prosper and peaceful life!"
- She said to the patient,"May you be healthly and strong!"
- My mother said to me,"May you succeed in the test!"
- You said to me,"May you find your lost camera!"
- Ali said to me,"May you complete your journey successfully!"
- The old man said to the boy,"May Kashmir become the part of Pakistan!"
- The teacher said to the student,"May you pass the examination with the flying colors!"
- The father said to his son,"God bless you with good health!"
- He said to me,"May you receive blessings of God!"
How to prepare IELTS for 8+ bands
Advance exercise No.13
Change the voice.
- The patient said,"May God forgive me my misdeeds!"
- The poet said,"O that I were a child!"
- He said to boy,"May you live the rest of your days in jail!"
- I said to him,"Would that you were here at that time!"
- The doctor said to the patient,"May I see you healthy tomorrow!"
- The opponent said,"May he lose his stamina in game!"
- We said to them,"May Alla save you from danger!"
- The child said,"O that I had the wings of birds!"
- They said to him,"May you stay forever young!"
- The beggar said,"Would that I were rich!"
- The enemy said,"May she face big difficulties in her life!"
- People said after the funeral,"May his soul rest in peace!"
- She said to her son,"May Allah Almighty help you in the tragedy!"
- They said,"Would that the developments had been so easy!"
- The poor boy said,"I wish I were born of an elite family!"