The correct option on changing the given sentence to indirect speech will be:
I said to my friend, 'Please help me in checking the accounts'.

The correct answer is '4' i.e. I requested my friend to help me in checking the accounts.

Key Points

• The given sentence is an example of a polite request, indicated by the use of the word “please.”
• When changing direct speech to indirect speech, “please” is omitted, and the verb is changed appropriately to reflect the request.
• The correct verb for expressing a polite request in indirect speech is “requested.”
• The indirect speech structure is: Subject + requested + object + to-infinitive.

Correct sentence: I requested my friend to help me in checking the accounts.

Additional Information

• When converting direct speech to indirect speech, the following changes are made:
  • Pronouns: The pronouns are adjusted according to the context of the sentence.
  • Verb: The verb is changed to match the reporting verb (e.g., “requested” for polite requests).
  • Quotation marks: Quotation marks are removed, and the sentence is restructured.
• Incorrect options:
  • Option 1: “Ordered” implies authority, which doesn’t align with the polite tone of the sentence.
  • Option 2: Retains “please,” which is not used in indirect speech.
  • Option 3: Sentence structure is incorrect and doesn’t convey the intended meaning.