GRAMMAR-REPORTED SPEECH

BASIC RULES OF SPEECH AND CONVERSION

1. IN DIRECT SPEECH
A. Separate the reporting verb from the direct speech by a comma.
B. Put the words spoken by the speaker within double Inverted commas.
C. Begin the first word inslde inverted commas with a capital letter.
2. IN INDIRECT SPEECH
A. Change the reporting verb according to the sense conveyed by the speech.
B. Do not change the tense of the reporting verb.
C. Remove the comma separating the reporting verb from the direct speech.
D. Remove inverted commas.
E. Introduce the indirect speec by some cont
F. Convert all kinds of sentences into assertive statements.
G. Make other necessary changes in person, verb forms, time, place and expressions.
3. SOME CHANGES TOCONSIDER
A. First person (, We)- change according to the subject of the reporting verb.
B. Second person (You, your)- change according to the object of the reporting verb.
C. Third person (He, she, it, they, his, her)- make no change.
D. Changefirst person into third person if the reporting verb has no object mentioned.)
4. CHANGES INTO REPORTED SPEECH WITH RESPECT TO THE TENSE
A. Simple Present changes into Simple Past
D.S- He said, "I do not like computers."
ID.S- He said that he did not like computers.
B. Present Continuous changes into Past Continuous
D.S-I said, "Itis raining."
ID.S-I said that it was raining.
C.
Present Perfect changesinto Past perfect
D.S- She said, "He has finished his work."
ID.S-She said that he had finished
his work.
D. Present Perfect Continuous changes into Past Perfect Continuous
D.S-He said, "I have been studying since morning."
ID. S-He said that he had been studying since morning8.
E. Simple Past changesinto Pastperfect
D.S- He said, "I didn't buy a car."
ID.S- He said that he had not bought a car.

F. PastContinuouschangresinto Past Perfect Continuous

D.S-They said, "We were enjoying the weather."
D.S- They said that they had been enjoying the weather.

PastPerfect and PastPerfectContinuous-NO CHANGE

H. Simple future-willchangesintowould
D.S-He said," I will study the book."
ID.S-He said that he would studythe book.
Futurecontinuous- will be changes into would be
D.S-Shreya told him, "1 will be waitingfor you."
ID.S- Shreya told him that she would be waiting for him.
.Future perfect willhavechangesintowould have
D.S-He said, "I will have finished the work."
D.S- He said that he would have finished the work.
K. The tense of the reported speech does not change if the narration is abouta universal truth, habitual fact or
past historical fact.
D.S-She said," Honesty is the best policy." (Universal truth)
ID.S-She said that honestyis the best policy."
RULES FOR CHANGINGINTERROGATIVESENTENCESINTOINDIRECTSPEECH
(The reporting verb 'said' becomes 'asked' and 'to' is removed)
Use if or 'whether in place of that' as a connector if the direct
question has yes or no for an
answer
D.S-She said to me, "Do you like tea or coffee?"
D.S- She asked me whether I liked tea or coffee.
Remove the question mark while changing into indirect speech.
D.S-She said to Shyam," Do you have an extra copy?"
ID.S-She asked Shyam if he had an extra copy.
RULES FOR CHANGING IMPERATIVE SENTENCES
Use conjunction 'to' instead of 'that'.
D.S-I saidto Hari, "Do not pluck the flowers."
ID.S-I ordered Hari not to pluck the flowers.
In sentences beginning wth Let', the reporting verb is changed to 'proposed' or suggested.
D.S-He said," Let us keep quiet in this matter."
ID.S-He suggested that we should keep qulet in this matter.

RULES FOR CHANGINGEXCLAMATORY SENTENCES

The introductory verb is replaced by wished, exclaimed, prayed, cried, blessed, and applauded.
The words of exclamation and exclamatory symbols are not used in indirect speech
D.S-Ram said, "Alas! Ihave been ruined."
ID.S- Ram exclaimed with sorrow that he had been ruined.
TIME PLACE,EXPRESSION AND OTHER CHANGES
Now-then
Ago-before
Today-that day
Yesterday-the previous day or the day before
Tomorrow- the next day
Tonight-that night
Last night-the previous night or the night before
Next week-the following week
This-that
These-those
Here-there
Thus-so
Can-could
Will-wouldd
Shall-should
May-might

CLASSWORK EXERCISES:
Q.1. Read the following conversation and complete the report that follows.
Doctor How do you feel now?
Patient Slightly better.
Doctor Did you take the medicines regularly?
Patient Yes.

The doctor asked the patient how... s The patient replied that.. better. When the docto
asked him.... *************e
...the medicines regularly, he replied in affirmation.
A. he felt then
B. he fet slightly
C. if he had taken

Q.2. Read the following conversation and complete the report that follows.
Ankit Where are you going?
Atul To the airport.
Ankit May I drop you there in my car?
Atul Thanks a lot! It will bea great help to me.

Ankit asked Atul where. Atul replied.. .airport. Ankit further asked
him. wuuummo.. there in his car. Atul thanked him, adding that it would be a great help for him.
A. he was going
B. that he was going to the
C. if he might drop him
 REPORTING (NARRATION)
Reporting of the words of a speaker in his/her own words is called Narration. There are two ways of .
ways of
people say: Direct Speech and Indirect Specch.
Direct Speech. The actual words of the speaker using quotation marks are called Direct Speech
reporting what
Indirect Speech. When we convey the speaker's words in our own words it becomes Indirect Speech
ing of the speaker's words, using a saying or asking verbs. In indirect, verbs giving or asking for instr It i the repe
used with a to-infinitive construction. Verbs expressing intention may also be followed by a to-infinitg areofort.
There are basically four types of sentences in which we can convert direct speech into Indirect speech
itive. often
ec
1. Assertive Sentences(Statements)
2. Interrogative Sentences
(Questions)
3. Imperative Sentences (Commands and Requests)
4. Exclamatory Sentences (Strong Feelings)
To convert Direet speech into an Indirect speech, we have to make some necessary
a
changes.
Change No.1. Remove the commas and inverted commas. Use any conjunction.
Change No.2. In Reported Speech, there are some words which show nearness, but they
words which show distance.
are
always converted
They are as follows:
Nearness Distance
here becomes there
now
becomes then
this becomes that
these becomess those
today becomes that day
tonight becomes that night
yesterday becomes the previous day
last night becomes the previous night
last week becomess the previous week
tomorrow becomes the following day
next week becomes the following week
ago becomess before
thus becomes so
hence becomes thence
come becomes go
Note. 'Come' ischanged into 'go' only in that case when any word showing nearness is given with it.
Change No. 3. Change of Person. There are three types of Person in English language which are as
folows
Nominative Possessive Accusative

me
1. First Person my
we our Us

2. Second Person You

You Your
He him
his
she her
3. Third Person her
them
they their
it
its
o f t h e R e p o r t e d

Change No. 4. If the reporting verb is in Present or in Future

Tense,
Speech

there is no change in tne

Speech. If the reporting verb is in Past Tense, there is always a change in i0norted
the tense ot tnc
which is as follows:
 Grammar 97
1. Present Indefinite is changed into Past Indefinite
2. Present Continuous is changed into Past Continuous
3. Present Perfect is changed into Past Perfect
4. Present Perfect Continuous is changed into Past Perfect Continuous
5. Past Indefinite is changed into Past Perfect
6. Past Continuous is changed into Past Perfect Continuous
7. Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous remain unchanged
8. In case of Future Tense, there are only four words which are changed, i.e.
will becomes would
shall becomes should
may becomes might
can becomes could
Changes based upon the types of sentences.
1. Assertive Sentences (Statements)
Change No. 1. Remove the commas and inverted commas. Use conjunction that.
Change No. 2. Change the reporting verb 'say into tell, 'says into tells', 'said into told', if the reporting objectis
given in the sentence. But do not change the reporting verb if the reporting object is not given in the sentence.
Change No. 3. "Said to' can be changed into told, replied, informed, stated, added, remarked, asserted, assured,
reminded, complained and reported, according to the meaning.
Change No. 4. Always remove 'to' from the reporting speech, e.g.
1. He said to me, "I cannot help you in this matter."
He told me that he could not help me in that matter.
2. He said, "My sister's marriage comes off next month."
He said that his sister's marriage would come off the following month.
2. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
Change No. 1. Change the reporting verb said 'or 'said to' into 'asked' or 'inquired of'. In case of a single question.
change it into 'asked' but in case of more than one question, change it into 'inquired of.
Change No. 2. Use conjunction 'if or whether if the reported speech starts with a helping verb. But do not use
any conjunction if the reported speech starts with an interrogative word.
Change No. 3. Change the Interrogative sense into an Assertive sense.
Change No. 4. Remove ?' question mark and use.'full stop, e.g
1. She said to her servant, "Is tea ready for me?"
She asked her servant if tea was ready for her.
2. She asked me, "Who teaches you English?"
She asked me who taught me English.
3. Imperative Sentences (Commands and Requests)
Change No. 1. Change the reporting verb 'said' or 'said to' into ordered, commanded, requested, advised, warned,
forbade, suggested, encouraged, persuaded, begged, etc. according to the sense.
Change No. 2. Remove the commas and inverted commas, use conjunction 'to'.
Change No. 3. Change the Imperative sense into Infinitive sense.
Change No. 4. Remove 'do not' and use 'not to' in case of Negative Imperative sentences, e.g.
1. The teacher said to me, "Stand up on the bench."
The teacher ordered me to stand up on the bench.
2. The General said to the soldiers, "March forward and attack the foe."
The General ordered the soldiers to march forward and attack the foe.
3. The gardener said to the boys, "Do not pluck the flowers."
The gardener forbade the boys from plucking the flowers.
 4. Exclamatory Sentences (Strong Feelings)
'said to' into 'exclaimed with joy' or 'exclaimo
Change No. 1. Change the reporting verb 'said' with sorrow,
or

the sense, 1.e.

cryout', pray', etc., according to

Exclaimed with joy-inof Aha! Ha! Hurrah!

case

Exclaimed with sorrow-in case of Ah! Alas!

How!
Exclaimed with surprise-in case of Oh! What!
Exclaimed with regret-in case of Sorry!
Exclaimed with contempt-in case of Pooh! Pshaw!

Applauded with saying-in case of Bravo! Hear!

how.
Change No. great by removing what
2. Use very or
or

Change No. 3. Use conjunction 'that'.

Change No. 4. Remove exclanmatory word and exclamation sign "" The student must select the verh hecs
ited to
the sense or context, e.g.
1. They said, "Hurrah! We have won the match."

They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
2 She said. Alas! I have lost my bridal ring."
She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her bridal ring.
She said, "How charming the scenery is!"
She exclaimed with surprise that it was a very charming scenery.

SOLVED QUESTION BANK

Multiple Choice/Objective Type Questions
Read the dialogues given below and then complete the passages choosing the options that follows.
1. Sunita Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you want as a gift?
Neetu : That is a lovely thought but I don't want anything.
Sunita asked Neetu, since the next day was her birthday, (a).... .. Neetu replied that (b)..******************
but (c)...
(a) (i) what she wanted as a gift (ii) what she wants as a gift
(ii) what did she want as a gift(iv)what she had wanted as a gift
(6) () that was a lovely thought (i)that is a lovely thought
(u4) that has been a lovely thought iv) that had been a lovely thought
(c) () she did not want anything.(ii)she does not want anything.
(ii) she had not wanted anything (iv) she will not want anything.
Ans. (a) ) what she wanted as a gift
(b) (i) that was a lovely thought
(c) i) she did not want anything.
2. Gardener Did you water the plant today?
Dev :No,but I will, today.
Gardener :Then tomorrow I will get a sapling of sunflower. gardene
Then the
The Gardener asked Dev (a) . . . Dev replied negatively but (b).. ****"****
. .

**
.

said that (c)..

.
(a) i) if/whether he had watered the plant that day.
(i) if/whether he watered the plant that day.
(iü) if/whether he has watered the plant that day.
(iv) if/whether he was watering the plant that day.
 Grammar 99
said he would that day. (iü) said he will that day.
(b) (i)
(ii) said he shall that day. (iv) said he could that day.
of sunflower the next day.
(c) () he would get sapling
a

next day.
(i) he will get a sapling of sunflower the
of sunflower the next day.
(iüi) he could get sapling
a

next day.
(iv) he shall get a sapling of sunflower the
(a) (i) if/whether he had watered the plant that day.
Ans.
(b) (i) said he would that day.
he would get a sapling of sunflower the next day.
(c) i)
3. Mr. Harish :Can you polish my shoes?
Cobbler :Yes sir. But I will take 7 10 for each shoe.

Mr. Harish : I will not mind as long as it is done.

Mr. Harish asked the cobbler (a). . The cobbler replied affirmatively but (b)
*******°°******
. . ' * * ° ' * * * * °
Mr.
Harish said that (c) .. ****************

(a) (i) if/whether he could polish his shoes. (it) if/whether he can polish his shoes.
(ii) if/whether he will polish his shoes. (iv) if/whether he shall polish his shoes.
(b) (i) said that he would take R10 for each shoe () said if he would take R10 for each shoe
(ii) said that he will take 10 for each shoe (iv) said that he takes R10 for each shoe
(c) (i) he would not mind as long as it was done. (i) he will not mind as long as it was done.
(ii) he does not mind as long as it was done. (iv) he did not mind as long as it was done.
Ans. (a) ) if/whether he could polish his shoes.
(b) () said that he would take 7 10 for each shoe
(c) (i) he would not mind as long as it was done.
Read the dialogue given below and then complete the passage that follows.
4. Electrician: When did your electricity go?
Mohan :It is not working since evening.
Electrician Sorry sir, in this case I will have to check the fuse now.
The electrician asked Mohan (a).. . . Mohan repliedthat (b).. The electrician apologetically
said that in that case («) . .
Ans. (a) when his electricity had gone.
(b) it was not working since evening.
(c) he would have to check the fuse.
5. Teacher :Children, let us all pledge to save trees.
Children :Yes, mam, we allpledge to save our trees as the trees the
are lungs of the city.
Teacher Let us start today by planting a sapling.
The teacher asked all the children to
pledge to save trees. The children replied affirmatively
(a) ... as the (b) . . Then the teacher said that (c) *******°**
.

Ans, (a) saying that they all pledged to save trees

b) trees are the lungs of the city.
(c) they should start by planting a sapling that day.
6. Buddha :Honesty is the best policy.
Disciple :Does honesty always pay?
Buddha :It may or may not, but at least
Buddha in his preaching said that
you will never feel guilty.
pays, Buddha replied (c) ..
(a)... the best policy. A
disciple asked him if (6) . . . always
but at least he would never
feel
************

Ans. (a)
honesty is guilty.
(c) that it
(b) honesty
might or might not
 Literature-10
100 apeher a English Language &
Doctor You should take this medicine every day.
Should 1 take it before dinner or after dinner?
Patient
No. vou should take it after breakfast.
Doctor
The doctor advised the patient that (a) . . .
The patient further asked (b) .The doctor
replied negatively and then said (c).. .
Ans.
Ans (a) he should take that medicine every day.
(b) ifwhether he should take it before dinner or after dinner.
(c)that he should take it after breakfast
8. Reena :Do you know how to swim?
Surbhi : Yes I know. I have learnt it during this summer vacation.
Reena asked Surbhi (a).... . Then Surbhi
.

replied (b)... and also added that (c)..

Ans.
Ans. (a) if whether she knew how t0 swim
b) in the affirmative
(c) she had learnt it during the summer vacation.