Reported Speech
Rules to change Direct into Reported speech
1.Inverted commas are removed.
The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting verb with what is said.( simple
sentences)
2.Changes in reporting verbs
Simple sentences: said, told
Interrogative sentences: asked, inquired
Imperative sentences: commanded, ordered, requested, advised, suggested
Exclamatory sentences : exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed with wonder
Rohit said ,” Where are the apples kept?”
Rohit asked/inquired where the apples were kept
The man said,” Get out of my office”
The man ordered his servant to get out of his office.
The teacher said, “ Please keep the notebooks in my room”
The teacher requested her student to keep the notebooks in her room.
3.If the Reporting Verb is in the Present or Future Tense, the Tense of the Verb in
the Reported Speech does not change.
He says, “ The weather is perfect for picnic”
He says that the weather is perfect for picnic
4. Change of tenses
If the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense, the tense of the verb in the Reported
Speech must be changed into the corresponding Past Tense.
Simple present – simple past
Present continuous – past continuous
Present perfect – past perfect
Simple past – past perfect ( HAD). Worked ---- had worked
5. The tense will not change in case of Universal truth
e.g Slow and steady wins the race.
The sun sets in the west.
6.Change of Pronouns
First-person and second-person generally change to third person (depending upon the
speaker)
3 kinds of Pronouns
1st Person 2nd Person 3rd person
I, we , my , mine , us you, your he, she,it, they, them
it, they , them
He said, “ I can do this easily”
He said that he could do that easily.
The children said,” We won’t be able to do the task”
The children said that they wouldn’t be able to do the task.
7. Change of situations
When we report sentences in indirect speech, the words denoting places or time are
change
This/these That/those
last week the previous week
Here there
Now then
today that day
yesterday the day before/the previous day
tomorrow the next/coming day
last week the week before/the previous week
8. Interrogative Sentences
Rules :
1. The Reporting Verb is changed into ‘asked/enquired
2. No conjunction (THAT) is used
3. If or whether is used when the question starts with an
auxiliary verb
4. Change the questions into statements. Use full stop in
place of question mark.
5.Position of the subject and verb will change
Kinds of sentences –
1. Declarative/simple sentence
2. Interrogative sentences ( questions)
3. Imperative sentences – command,request
4. Exclamatory sentence –( !)strong emotions
Examples
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
The teacher said, ‘The earth is round.’ The teacher said that the earth is round.
Questions and answers
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Rahul asked his sister, ‘Have you taken your purse?’
Rahul asked his sister if/whether she had taken her p
(Yes/No question)
Rahul asked his sister, “Where are the keys?’ (Wh-
Rahul asked his sister where the keys were.
question)
Commands, orders and requests
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
The teacher said, “You must be honest.” The teacher advised the students to be honest.
The policeman said to the driver, “Drive The policeman ordered the driver to drive
cautiously.” cautiously.
The Inspector said to the crowd, “Tell the
The Inspector asked the crowd to tell the
details.”
details.
“Why don’t you take up acting?” I said to
I suggested to my sister to take up acting.
my sister.
1. Change the following sentences into
Reported speech
1. She said, “I will do this work
2. Sunita said, “He can come and stay in my flat.”
3. Amrita told Hari, “I am taking my lunch now.”
4. Nancy said, “I am going to Paris next month.”
5. Vikas said, “I worked hard on this project today.”
6. She said, “This book is mine.”
7. Aunt Kajol said to me, “You will send these books to my place tomorrow.”
8. Chetan said to mother, “I told the truth yesterday.”
9. I told him, “My father is a doctor.”
2.Change the following sentences into Reported speech
1.You said, “He is a very good athlete.”.
2.I said, “I have finished my work today”
3.He said, “Her parents will pay a visit to Delhi tomorrow”
4.She said, ‘You will be helping me.”
5.They said, “We will have won the race.”
6.We said, “We shall have been swimming since morning.” ( shall
into would)
7.She said, “I am a top-class singer now.”
8. We said, “He wrote a poem yesterday.”
9.He said, “It may rain tonight.”
3.Change the following into reported speech.
1. Nikhil said, “I will come tomorrow.”
2. Paras said, “I have passed the examination.”
3. He said, “We are going for a picnic today.”
4. She said, “Aayush is working hard.”
5. She said, “I have been writing for an hour.”
6. Rita said, “The girls were singing in the music period.”
7. The teacher says, “Sehaj does not work hard.”
8. I said to her, “I can solve the sum.”
9. Aman said, “Vinay may not come to school today.”
10. The teacher said, “The earth is round.”
4.Change the following into reported speech.
1. Ankit: “I work in an office.”
Ankit told me ____________ .
2. Lalit and Puneet: “We play football.”
Lalit and Puneet told me (that) ____________
3. Anjali: “I like my cat.”
Anjali told me (that) ____________
4. Sanju: “ Wow ! How beautiful is the rain”
Sanju ___________ ____________. Exclaimed with wonder that the rain was very
beautiful
5. Kanika : “I will have to borrow your pencil.”
Kanika told me ___________.
6. Meera: “My father has lived in America since 2019.”
Meera told me ____________.
7. Pooja said to Rajni: “Can we use your camera?”
Pooja asked Rajni _______________
8. Raja: “How is your journey?”
Raja asked ____________________.
9. The captain said to the soldiers “ March forward”
The captain__________________
10. Grandmother: “Please bring me a cup of tea.”
Grandmother _______________
Exercises 5
Finish the sentences using Reported speech.
Question 1.
Niru: Will you please give me your notebook?
Indu : Yes, which one do you need? Affirmative
Niru asked Indu if ……………………………….. Indu replied ………………………………… She
asked ………………………………..
Question 2.
Mohini said, “Where can I find the post office?”
The policeman said, “It is on the road behind the clock tower.”
Mohini said, “Thank you. I have been looking for it for a while.”
Mohini asked the policeman ………………………………. . The policeman said
………………………………. . Mohini ……………………………….. him and added that she had
………………………………..
Question 3.
Teacher: Rohan, what are you thinking? Hurry up and finish your work.
Rohan: Ma’am, I have almost finished. I was trying to recall my last week’s lessons.
The teacher ……………………………….. Rohan ……………………………….. She told him to
……………………………….. Rohan replied ……………………………….. He said that he
………………………………..
Question 5.
Father: You look worried. What’s the matter?
Son: It’s about my admission to an engineering college.
Father: When are your results expected?
Son: Within a week, Father.
The father noticed that his son ……………………………….. He asked him ……………………………….
. The son replied ………………………………. . The father asked ………………………………. . The son
replied ………………………………..
Question 6.
Jenny: Let’s go for a walk.
Susan: Yes. Give me ten minutes.
Jenny: Let’s go now.
Susan: I will just take a few more minutes.
Jenny: Why must you delay?
Susan: What makes you so impatient?
Jenny asked Susan ……………………………….. Susan replied politely ………………………………..
Jenny was, however, impatient and said ……………………………….. Susan
………………………………..
