Unit 8 (The Sermon at Benares)
Antonyms, synonyms, reported speech and editing
Change direct speech into reported speech with suitable reporting verbs.
Antonyms from 'The Sermon at Benares'. Find the opposite word in the story:
- unfit → befitted ('as befitted royalty');
- joy → grief (or sorrow);
- contentment → lamentation (complaint);
- found → lost; cheered → grieved;
- lively → sick and pale; calm → troubled.
Near-synonyms. Use a dictionary or thesaurus. Example: wander — stroll, roam, drift.
- vow: pledge, promise, swear, oath;
- preserve: protect, keep, conserve (salt preserves pickle);
- enlighten: inform, teach, open the eyes of (the Buddha's enlightenment);
- also preach, awaken, reign.
Reported speech. We report what someone said, in our words:
- Pronouns change: I → he/she, my → his/her.
- Tenses move back: is → was, has done → had done, will → would.
- Nearness words change: this → that, here → there, today → that day, tomorrow → the next day.
- Yes/no questions use if or whether.
Choose a reporting verb. For orders and requests use told / asked / begged + to: Amita said, 'Please don't tell anybody.' → Amita asked me not to tell anyone. Other verbs: replied, warned, suggested, added.
Editing: The Wild Geese. Add the missing small words: going to the royal gardens on his way to the river; a flock of wild geese; shot an arrow; just in front of; filled with compassion; saw the poor bird; sent a messenger to claim; said that it belonged to him; tried to kill it.
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