Reported speech [ direct and indirect speech ] by bo$ki

Reported speech 

Read the given sentences carefully :

1. Sarika said , '' I am weak in English ''. [ direct speech ]

2. Sarika said that she was weak in English . [ Indirect speech ]

There are two ways to convey a particular statement :

1. Direct speech :  Quoting  exactly the same words spoken by the speaker .

as in sentence 1 , given above .

In this type of speech  , the actual statement or words spoken by the narrator  is quoted within inverted commas .

2. Indirect speech : Conveying the same message without using the exact words spoken by the speaker . as in sentence 2 , given above .

In this type of speech , there is no requirement of inverted commas .

instead conjunction '' that '' is used after reporting verb .

Rules for changing Direct speech into Indirect speech 

A.  The tense may not change if the statement is a universal truth , habitual fact or a proverb .

for eg :  1. They said, '' Barking dogs seldom bite ''.[ direct]

              1. They said that barking dogs seldom bite .[ Indirect ]

2. He said, '' India got independence in 1947''. [ direct ]

2. He said that India got independence in 1947. [ Indirect ]

B. When the reporting verb  is in past tense , then all the present tenses of the direct are changed into the corresponding past tenses .

for eg :1.  He said , '' I am glad to be here ''. [ Direct ]

            1. He said that he was glad to be there . [ Indirect ]

C. The pronouns of the direct speech are changed , so that their relations with the reporter and hearer are indicated . for eg : 1. She said to him , '' I don't believe you '' [ direct ]

                             1. She said she didn't believe him . [ indirect ]

                                                                                                            

D. Words expressing nearness in time or place generally changed into words expressing distance. 

for eg : 1. He said ,'' I am glad to be here this evening ''. [ direct ]

                         1.  He said that he was glad to be there that evening . [ indirect ] 

* The changes do not occur if the speech is reported during the same period or at the same place .

  * this and these are changed to that and those 

E . If the reporting verb [ says /said ] is in present tense , then the tense of the direct speech do not change . for eg :

1. He says , '' I am unwell '' . [ direct ]

1. He says that he is  unwell. [ Indirect ] 

2. She says , '' I am doing my work ''.[ direct ]

2. She says that she is doing her work .[ Indirect ]

  Changes need to be done in terms of Questions

* If the direct speech is in interrogative form , we change the reporting verb said to asked , inquired.

* If the question is not introduced by an interrogative word , the reporting verb is followed by
whether or if .
* Question mark is replaced with a full stop.
* General rules related pronouns ,tenses are applied .

for eg :

1. He said to me , '' What are you eating ? '' [ direct ]

1. He asked me What I was eating . [ indirect ]

2. The teacher said to me ,''Is Abhi absent today ?'' [ direct ]
2. The teacher asked me if Abhi was absent that day .[ indirect ]

 Changes need to be done in terms of Command / Request 

* reporting verb changes into ordered , commanded , urged , begged, requested .

* The sentences begin with ''let'' in direct speech ,' let 'is replaced by' suggested ' or' proposed '.

* In place of infinitives ' should + verb ' is used.

* The infinitive verb is used for direct command or request .

for eg :

1. He said to the peon , ''shut the door ''. [ direct ] 

1. He ordered the peon to shut the door . [ indirect ]

2. He said , '' Let us go out for a walk ''.[ direct ] 

2. He suggested that we should go out for a walk .[ indirect ]

Changes need to be done in terms of Exclamation / wishes 

* The reporting verb is changed into ' exclaimed', 'declared', ' wished', etc according to the tone of the speaker .
*The exclamation mark disappears in the reported speech.
* Exclamations with 'what', 'how' are changed into : He said it was ....
* Exclamations  like oh!, ah!, alas! etc are  changed into exclaimed with disgust / surprised/ sorrow etc.and exclamation ' hurray!' is changed into : He exclaimed with joy .

for eg :
1. He said , '' What a dreadful thing !''[ direct ]
1. He said with disgust that it was a dreadful thing .[ indirect]

2. She said , '' How intelligent I am !''[ direct]
2. She exclaimed that she was intelligent. [ indirect ]


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EXERCISE 1

Change the following sentences into reported speech :

1. I said , '' Sheetal is not well .''
2. She said , '' He may go home soon .''
3. I said , '' They are playing cricket .''
4. Mark said , ''Mickey waited for her all day .''
5. I said , ''They will turn left .''
6. '' I do not like cold drinks ,'' I said .
7. She said , '' I am feeling very sad .''
8. She said , '' It was raining heavily.''
9. I said, '' He runs fast .''
10. I said , '' Rohan is crying .''

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EXERCISE 2

Fill in the blanks with the correct tense of the verb in the reported sentence 

1 He says , '' Reena is a dull girl .

1.He says that Reena ____ a dull girl .

2. Varun said to me ,'' Barking dogs seldom bite .''

2. Varun told me that _____________________.

3. Teacher said to us , '' The Sun rises in the east .''

3. Teacher told us that the Sun _____ in the east .

4. She says ,'' Dad is watering the plants .''

4. She says that dad ____ watering the plants .

5. Rohit says , '' Richa is glad to be here .''

5. Rohit says that Richa ____ glad to be here.

6. She said , '' I am happy .''

6. She said that she ____ happy .

7. He said , '' They like to travel in a group .''

7. He said that they ______ to travel in a group.

8. The teacher said ,'' Mahatma Gandhi is known as father of nation .''

8. The teachers said that Mahatma Gandhi ___ known as father of nation .

9 . He said , '' Ram has not turned up yet .''

9. He said that Ram ____ not turned up yet .

10. She said ,'' Neha can swim very well .''

10. She said that she _____ swim very well.

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EXERCISE 3

Rewrite the following sentences in indirect speech :

1. He said to me ,'' You have cheated me .''
2. Vidhi said , '' Raj likes hot coffee .''
3. Sachin said, '' I have seen this movie before .''
4. Mr. gupta said , '' I went home late yesterday .''
5. Rajni said , '' Boys were making noise .''
6. Mrs. Jain said , ''I have been practising Kathak for years .''
7. Kiran said , '' I'll become a doctor one day .''
8. You said to her , '' I am waiting for your result .''
9. Ram said , '' I met him last year .''
10. She said to him ,''I don't believe you .''

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EXERCISE 4

Change the following into indirect speech :

1. He said to me , '' I have often told you not to play with fire .'
2. ''Sit down boys '',said the teacher .
3. He said to me , '' Wait untill I come .''
4. ''How smart you are !'' she said .
5. He said ,'' We are all sinners .''
6. He said , '' I have passed the examination .''
7. Rama said , '' I am very busy now .''
8. Arjun said to Ram ,'' Go away ''.
9. He said , '' Let us wait for the result .''
10. He said , '' The Earth moves round the Sun .''

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