assignment
GRAMMER
HNDE-II
2nd SEMESTER 2022
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUDE SECTION
SAMMANTHURAI
Y.B.H. SHEFA SAM/EN 2324/P/0024
M.I.F.IHSANA SAM/EN 2324/P/0026
F.F.AAYSHA SAM/EN 2324/P/0094
S.PRINTHA SAM/EN 2324/P/0061
M.M.ASHFA SAM/EN 2324/P/0077
M.R.Z.SHARAH SAM/EN 2324/P/0203
J.R.SHASNI SAM/EN 2324/P/0238
A.FATHIMA SAMA SAM/EN 2324/P/0080
INDIRECT SPEECH (REPORTED SPEECH)
I. De�inition
Indirect speech is used to report what someone has said without quoting
them word-for-word. It often involves back shifting the tense and modifying
pronouns, adverbs of time/place, and sentence structure.
Direct speech: She said, "I am tired."
Indirect speech: She said (that) she was tired.
II. Structure
Reporting clause + reported clause
Reporting verb: said, told, asked, etc.
Reported clause: the content being reported, introduced by that, if, whether,
or a WH-word.
Example:
Direct: "I am happy," she said.
Indirect: She said that she was happy.
III. Changes When Converting to Indirect Speech
A. Tense Back shifting
Back shifting means going one tense back
Simple present Simple past
Present continuous Past continuous
Present perfect Past perfect
Present perfect continuous past perfect continuous
Simple past Past perfect
Past continuous Past perfect continuous
Past perfect Past perfect
Past perfect continuous Past perfect continuous
Simple future Future present conditional
Future continuous Future conditional continuous
Examples
Simple present Simple past
She said ,” I work in a hospital”(D)
She said that she worked in a hospital(R)
Present continuous Past continuous
She said ,” I am working in a hospital”(D)
She said that she was working in a hospital(R)
Present perfect Past perfect
She said ,” I have worked in a hospital”(D)
She said that she had worked in a hospital(R)
Present perfect continuous past perfect continuous
She said ,” I have been working in a hospital”(D)
She said that she had been working in a hospital”(R)
Simple past Past perfect
She said ,” I worked in a hospital”(D)
She said that she had worked in a hospital(R)
Past continuous Past perfect continuous
She said ,” I was working in a hospital”(D)
She said that she had been working in a hospital(R)
Simple future Future present conditional
She said ,” I will work in a hospital”(D)
She said that she would work in a hospital(R)
B. Pronoun Changes
Pronouns must re�lect the speaker/listener's perspective.
1.The �irst person pronouns changes as per the subject of the speech
Example: He said ,”I am in class”(direct speech)
He said that he was in class. ”(indirect speech)
2.The second person pronouns change as per the object of reporting speech
Example: she said to him ,”You should study harder” (direct speech)
She said to him that he should study harder. (indirect
speech)
3.The third person pronouns of direct speech doesn’t change
Example: He says , “ she dance well” (direct speech)
He says that she dances well . (indirect speech)
Direct Indirect
I → he/she you → I/he/she/they
we → they my → his/her
our → their
Example:
He said, "I will help you."
→ He said he would help me
C. Time & Place Words
These change to match the point of reporting:
Direct Indirect
now → then today → that day
yesterday → the day before tomorrow → the next day
next week → the following week last night → the night before
here → there this → that
these → those ago → before
IV. Types of Sentences in Indirect Speech
A. Statements
Structure:
Subject + said/told + (that) + reported clause
"I like coffee," she said.
→ She said (that) she liked coffee.
He said to me, “You are smart.”
→ He told me that I was smart.
Note: "Told" requires an object, but "said" does not.
B. Yes/No Questions
Use: if or whether (no "do/does/did"), and invert the question structure
into a statement.
“Are you coming?” he asked.
→ He asked if I was coming.
“Did she go?” he asked.
→ He asked whether she had gone.
C. WH-Questions
Keep the WH-word, change to statement form.
“Where do you live?” she asked.
→ She asked where I lived.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
→ He asked what I was doing.
D. Commands and Requests
Use in�initive (to + verb) structure.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
"Sit down." → He told me to sit down.
"Don’t shout." → She told me not to shout.
"Please wait." → He asked me to wait.
Verbs used: told, ordered, requested, advised, begged, warned, reminded,
etc.
E. Offers, Suggestions, and Exclamations
Offers:
"Shall I help you?" → He offered to help me.
Suggestions:
"Let’s go out." → She suggested going out.
"Why don’t we rest?" → He suggested that we rest.
Exclamations:
"What a beautiful view!" → She exclaimed that it was a beautiful view.
"Alas! He is dead." → He exclaimed with sorrow that he was dead.
V. Reporting Verbs and Their Use
Verb Use Example
say She said (that)…
tell She told me (that)…
ask He asked me if…
advise She advised me to…
order He ordered the man to…
suggest She suggested that we…
exclaim He exclaimed that…
VI. Special Notes
1. Universal Truths: No change in tense
"The sun rises in the east," he said.
→ He said the sun rises in the east.
2. Modals:
| Can → could | May → might | Shall → should |
But:
Would, could, might, should, ought to → usually remain unchanged.
3. Mixed tenses (past + present):
"I met her yesterday, and she is very kind."
→ He said he had met her the day before and that she is very kind.
(Use present if the idea is still valid/true.)
VII. Examples for Practice
1. "I saw her last night," he said.
→ He said that he had seen her the night before.
2. She said, "I am reading a book now."
→ She said that she was reading a book then.
3. He said, "Can you help me?"
→ He asked if I could help him.
4. "Don't make noise," the teacher said.
→ The teacher told us not to make noise.
