Reported Speech
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message
said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be
said to be the third person view of what someone has said. ^
Reported speech hkq ;uka fyda fjk;a flfkl= lrk ,o m%ldYhla m%ldY lrk
wdldrhhs. ljqreka fyda mejiQ fohla ;=kajeks md¾Yjhl oelaulska m%ldY lsÍu f,i
ir<j oelaúh yel.
Examples:
direct speech: 'I love the Toy Story films,' she said.
indirect speech: She said she loved the Toy Story films.
Direct speech and Indirect speech
In English grammar, the term ‘speech’ refers to the process of
communicating or expressing one’s thoughts. It is an exchange of ideas or
even a conversation. There are two ways in which you can report speech –
direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is used to report or rather
repeat the words spoken by the speaker or writer in the way it is told by the
speaker, whereas indirect speech is the way in which you convey what
someone said to another person, not necessarily using the exact words of
the speaker.
bx.%Sis jHdlrKj, “Speech” hkafkka woyia lrkafka flfkl=f.a is;=ú,s ikaksfõokh
lsÍfï fyda m%ldY lsÍfï l%shdj,shhs. th woyia yqjudrejla fydA ixjdohla mjd úh
yel. idudkHfhka “Speech” hkak wdldr 02g oelaúh yel. tajd kï, (Direct speech)
iDcq l:kh iy (Indirect speech) jl% l:kh f,i yÿkajhs. lÓlhd fyda f,aLlhd l:d lrk jpk
ta wdldrhgu jd¾:d lsÍug fyda mqkqreÉpdrKh lsÍug (Direct speech) iDcq l:kh
Ndú;d lrhs. kuq;a jl% l:kh hkq ;uka fyda fjk;a flfkl= lrk ,o m%ldYhla m%ldY lrk
wdldrhhs. ljqreka fyda mejiQ fohla ;=kajeks md¾Yjhl oelaulska m%ldY lsÍu f,i
ir<j oelaúh yel. fuysoS m%ldYh isÿl< mqoa.,hdf.a, Tyq úiska m%ldY l< ksYaÑ;
jpk wjYH fkdfõ.
Indirect speech – Structure
Subject + said +that (report whatever the speaker said)
Transforming Direct Speech into Reported Speech – Rules
(You must practice these rules, Tn fuu Rules wksjd¾hfhkau mqreÿ mqyqKq
úh hq;=h)
Table 1 – Change of Pronouns
Direct Speech Reported Speech
I He, she
Me Him, her
We They
Us Them
You He, she, they
You Him, her, them
My His, her
Mine His, hers
Our Their
Ours Theirs
Your His, her, their
Yours His, hers, theirs
Table 2 – Change of Adverbs of Place and Adverbs of
Time
Direct Speech Reported Speech
This That
These Those
Adverbs of Place
Here There
Adverbs of Time
Now Then
Today That day
The next day / The following
Tomorrow
day
Yesterday The previous day
Tonight That night
Last week The week before
Next week The week after
Last month The previous month
Next month The following month
Last year The previous year
Next year The following year
Ago Before
Thus So
Table 3 – Change of Tense
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
Example: Preethi said, “I cook Example: Preethi said that she cooked
pasta.” pasta.
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Example: Preethi said, “I am Example: Preethi said that she was
cooking pasta.” cooking pasta.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Example: Preethi said, “I have Example: Preethi said that she had
cooked pasta.” cooked pasta.
Present Perfect Past Perfect Continuous
Example: Preethi said, “I have Example: Preethi said that she had
been cooking pasta.” been cooking pasta.
Simple Past Past Perfect
Example: Preethi said, “I cooked Example: Preethi said that she had
pasta.” cooked pasta.
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Example: Preethi said, “I was Example: Preethi said that she had
cooking pasta.” been cooking pasta.
Past Perfect Past Perfect (No change)
Example: Preethi said, “I had Example: Preethi said that she had
cooked pasta.” cooked pasta.
Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous (No change)
Example: Preethi said, “I had been Example: Preethi said that she had
cooking pasta.” been cooking pasta.
Table 4 – Change of Modal Verbs
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Will Would
May Might
Can Could
Shall Should
Has/Have Had
Questions
Table 5 – Question formation
Type Example
“When do we have to hand
direct speech
Wh over the application?”
questions He asked when they had to
reported speech
hand over the application.
direct speech “Can I change the subjects?”
Yes/no
questions reported speech She asked whether / if she could
change the subjects.
Examples of Reported Speech
Rahul said that he was drawing a caricature.
Kumar said that he had gone to the doctor the previous day.
Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the
railway station.*
(fuys ly j¾Kfhka olajd we;s verbs fjkia úh yel. “said” úh hq;=u ke;. underline
lr we;s “that” moh fhosh hq;= jqjo iuyr jH;sf¾L u; th fjkia fõ. “*” ;refjka olajd
we;af;a tfia fjkiaa jk wjia:djkah. 09 jif¾ isiqfjla jk Tng fujeks ixlS¾K jdlH wjYH
fkdfõ. ,nd oS we;s structure tl muKla follow lrkak. Tng 10 jif¾ oS o Reported
speech bf.k .ekSug isÿjk neúka fuys we; iuyr fldgia ta i`oyd Tng fmr
mqyqKqjla f,i i<lkak)
Reported Speech Activities
Transform the following sentences into reported speech by making the
necessary changes.
1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”
2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”
3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the skit.”
4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”
5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”
6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the invitations?”
7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”
8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the homework before
tomorrow.”
9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”
10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.
Activity 3 Grammar
Write the following in reported speech.
1. The teacher said to us, “You need to select three optional
subjects.”
2. Farzana said to me, “ I have to buy some stamps.”
3. My parents said to me, “Don’t get late.”
4. Prathiba asked me,“Where did you go yesterday?”
5. Inura asked Mihiri, “Can you lend me your notes tomorrow?”
Activity 1
Write the following in reported speech.
1. The teacher said, “The term test will start next week.”
...................................................................................................................
..............
2. Kumar said, “I read the newspaper every Sunday.”
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..............
3. “Can you bring me a cup of tea?” asked my mother.
...................................................................................................................
..............
4. Mr. Perera said, “She went to meet her friend.”
...................................................................................................................
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5. Adil asked, “Where is my English book?”
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