Prepared by: A.R.R.B.
Alugolla
Direct speech is reporting the message of the speaker in the exact words as spoken by him.
▪ Ex: Hirun said, “ I’m busy now.”
Indirect speech / Reported speech is reporting the message of the speaker in our own
words.
▪ Ex: Hirun said that he was busy then.
CHANGES IN TENSES
DIRECT INDIRECT / REPORTED
Simple present Simple past
Present continuous Past continuous
Present perfect Past perfect
Simple past Past perfect
Past continuous Past perfect continuous
Past perfect Past perfect
Simple future “will” Would
Can Could
Like Liked
Want Wanted
Hope Hoped
May Might
CHANGES IN WORDS
DIRECT INDIRECT / REPORTED
Now Then
Today That day
This That
These Those
Here There
Tomorrow The next day / the following day
Yesterday The day before / the previous day
Last week The previous week
Next week The following week
Last month The previous month
Next year The following year
Tonight That night
…Days ago ……Days before
Prepared by: A.R.R.B. Alugolla
CHANGES IN PRONOUNS
DIRECT INDIRECT / REPORTED
I He / She
My His / Her
Me Him / Her
You I
Your My
To you / For you / You (object) Me
We They
Our Their
Us Them
✓ ACTIVITIES
▪ We use “that” in the reported sentences instead of the comma ( , ) in direct sentence.
▪ We should not write the inverted commas ( “ ’’) in the reported sentence.
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Example: Amali said , “I am hungry now.”
Amali said that she was hungry then.
Kamal said , “I play with you.”
Kamal said that he played with me.
Convert the following sentences into reported speech.
1. Nimali said, "I am here now."
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2. Kasun said, "I don’t read this book every day."
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3. Tharindu and Amal said, "we play football here."
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Prepared by: A.R.R.B. Alugolla
4. Hasini said, "I always feel happy on this day."
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5. Sahan said, "I don’t go to the market today."
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6. Dinithi and Nuwan said, "we leave for school now."
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7. Sanduni said, "I need this pencil for my drawing."
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8. Naveen said, "I meet my friends here tonight."
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9. Boys said, "we prepare for the exam tomorrow."
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10. Ruwini and Heshani said, "this is our favorite place."
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PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
1. Pavithra said, "I am reading this book now."
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2. Ishan said, "I am playing cricket here."
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3. Ravindu and Ishara said, "We are studying for the exam today."
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4. Shenali said, "I am not writing a letter to my friend this evening."
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5. Thilina said, "I am preparing for the match tomorrow."
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6. Dilini and Madura said, "We are going to the library now."
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7. Sithara said, "I am cooking rice and curry at this moment."
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Prepared by: A.R.R.B. Alugolla
8. Janith said, "I am helping my sister with her homework now."
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9. Hiruni said, "I am not painting this picture today."
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10. Naduni and Ayesha said, "We are planting trees in the garden now."
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PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
1. Pavithra said, "I have finished my homework now."
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2. Ishan said, "I have not played cricket here any day."
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3. Ravindu and Ishara said, "We have studied for the exam today."
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4. Shenali said, "I have not written a letter to my friend already."
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5. Thilina said, "I have prepared for the match tomorrow."
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SIMPLE PAST TENSE
1. The nurse said, "I helped the patient yesterday."
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2. The teacher said, "I taught the lesson last week."
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3. The mother said, "I didn’t cook dinner last night."
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4. The father said, "I fixed the car yesterday."
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5. The brother said, "I played football with my friends yesterday."
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PAST PERFECT TENSE
1. The nurse said, "I had helped the patient yesterday."
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Prepared by: A.R.R.B. Alugolla
2. The teacher said, "I had taught the lesson last week."
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3. The mother said, "I had cooked dinner with my sister."
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4. The father said, "I had fixed the car last month."
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5. The brother said, "I had played football with him."
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SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
1. The nurse said, "I will help the patient tomorrow."
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2. The teacher said, "I will teach the lesson next week."
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3. The mother said, "I will cook dinner tonight."
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4. The father said, "I will fix the car this evening."
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5. The brother said, "I won’t play football tomorrow."
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CAN / WANT / HOPE / LIKE / MAY
1. The nurse said, "I can help you with your medicine."
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2. The teacher said, "I can’t explain the lesson again."
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3. The mother said, "I want to cook dinner for the family tonight."
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4. The father said, "I want to fix the car this weekend."
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Prepared by: A.R.R.B. Alugolla
5. The nurse said, "I hope you feel better soon."
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6. The teacher said, "I hope the students complete their homework on time."
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7. The brother said, "I like to play football every weekend."
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8. The sister said, "I like to read books before bed."
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9. The mother said, "You may go outside to play."
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10. The teacher said, "You may leave the classroom after me."
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1. Samantha said, "I help her every day."
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2. Nihal said, "I will give money tomorrow."
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3. Priya said, "I had repaired the car last week."
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4. Ayesha said, "I want to visit Sigiriya in next month."
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5. Kavinda said, "I can’t finish my homework by 6 PM."
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6. Anjali said, "I like to read books every evening."
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7. Ravi said, "I hope the students complete their assignments soon."
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8. Nadira said, "You may join us for dinner tonight."
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9. Lahiru said, "I am preparing meals for my aunty now."
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10. Alwis said, "I have helped several children today."
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