Class 9 English Grammar: Direct And Indirect Speech

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1. Direct and Indirect Speech: The words spoken by a person can be reported in two ways—Direct and Indirect. When we quote the exact words spoken by a person, we call it Direct Speech. Sohan said to Mohan, “I am going to school.” The exact words spoken by Sohan are put within inverted commas. But when we give the substance of what Sohan said, it is called the Indirect Speech. You can master in English Grammar of various classes by our articles like Tenses, Clauses, Prepositions, Story writing, Unseen Passage, Notice Writing etc.

2. Reporting Clause and Reported Speech: Sohan told Mohan that he was going to school. The words which generally come before the inverted commas are called the reporting clause, i.e. Sohan said to Mohan and the verb ‘said’, is called the reporting verb. The words spoken by Sohan and put within inverted commas are called the reported speech, i.e. “I am going to school.”

3. Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech: In the Indirect speech, no inverted commas are used. The conjunctions that, if, whether, are generally used after the reporting verb. The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter. The tense of the reporting verb is never changed. The reporting verb changes according to sense: it may be told, asked, inquired,etc.

4. Rules for the Change of Pronouns: The first person pronouns (I, me, my, we, us, our) in the reported speech change according to the subject of the reporting verb. The pronouns of the second person (you, your, yourself) in the reported speech change according to the object of the reporting verb. The pronouns of the third person do not change.

For example: He said, “I like the book.” He said that he liked the book. He said to me, “Do you like the book?” He asked me if I liked the book. He said, “He likes the book.” He said that he liked the book.

5. Changes in words expressing nearness, time, auxiliaries, etc.

6. Change in Tenses: If the reporting verb is in the present or the future tense, the tense of the reported speech is not changed: Satish says, “I am flying a kite.” Satish says that he is flying a kite. Satish will say, “I want a glass of milk.” Satish will say that he wants a glass of milk.

If the reporting verb is in the past tense, then the tense of the reported speech will change as follows: If the direct speech expresses a historical fact, a universal truth or a habitual fact. tense of the direct speech will not change:

Direct : He said, “Honesty is the best policy.” Indirect : He said that honesty is the best policy. Direct : He said, “The sun rises in the east.” Indirect : He said that the sun rises in the east. Direct : Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.” Indirect : Rakesh said that he is an early riser. Direct : She said, “God is omnipresent.” Indirect : She said that God is omnipresent. Direct : The teacher said, “The First World War started in 1914.” Indirect : The teacher said that the First World War started in 1914.

7. Changing Statements into Indirect Speech: The reporting verb “said to’ is changed to ‘told, ‘replied’, ‘‘remarked’, The reporting verb is not followed by an object, it is not changed. The inverted commas are removed. The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting clause with the reported speech. The rules for the change of pronouns, tenses, etc. are followed.

Direct : Ramu said, “I saw a lion in the forest.” Indirect : Ramu said that he had seen a lion in the forest. Direct : Satish said to me, “I am very happy here.” Indirect : Satish told me that he was very happy there. Direct : He said, “I can do this work.” Indirect : He said that he could do that work. Direct : Renu said to me, “I was washing the clothes.” Indirect : Renu told me that she had been washing the clothes. Direct : She said, “I am not well.” Indirect : She said that she was not well. Direct : He said to Sita, “I have passed the test.” Indirect : He told Sita that he had passed the test Direct : I said to my friend, “He has been working very hard.” Indirect : I told my friend that he had been working very hard. Direct : My friend said to me, “I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.” Indirect : My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next day. Direct : I said, “I agree to what he said.” Indirect : I said that I agreed to what he had said. Direct : The student said to the teacher, “I am sorry that I am late.” Indirect : The student told the teacher that he was sorry that he was late.

8. Rules for the Change of Interrogative (Questions) sentences: The reporting verb ‘say’ is changed into ask, inquire, The interrogative sentence is changed into a statement by placing the subject before the verb and the full stop is put at the end of the sentence. If the interrogative sentence has a wh-word (who, when, where, how, why, etc) the wh- word is repeated in the sentence. It serves as a conjunction. If the interrogative sentence is a yes-no answer type sentence (with auxiliary verbs aw, are, was, were, do, did, have, shall, etc), then if or ‘ whether’ is used as a conjunction. The auxiliaries do, does, did in a positive question in the reported speech are dropped. The conjunction that is not used after the reporting clause.

Direct : I said to him, “Where are you going?” Indirect : Tasked him where he was going. Direct : He said to me, “Will you go there?” Indirect : He asked me if I would go there. Direct : My friend said to Deepak, “Have you ever been to Agra?” Indirect : My friend asked Deepak if he had ever been to Agra. Direct : I said to him, “Did you enjoy the movie?” Indirect : I asked him if he had enjoyed the movie. Direct : I said to her, “Do you know him?” Indirect : I asked her if she knew him. Direct : He said to me, “Will you listen to me?” Indirect : He asked me if I would listen to him. Direct : I said to him, “When will you go there?” Indirect : I asked him when he would go there. Direct : He said to me, “How is your father?” Indirect : He asked me how my father was. Direct : I said to him, “Are you happy?” Indirect : I asked him if he was happy. Direct : He said to her, “Do you like apples?” Indirect : He asked her if she liked apples.

9. Changing Commands and Requests into Indirect Speech: In imperative sentences having commands, the reporting verb is changed into command, order, tell, allow, request,etc. The imperative mood is changed into the infinitive mood by putting to, before the verb. In case of negative sentences, the auxiliary ‘do’ is dropped and ‘to’ is placed after ‘not:

Direct : She said to me, “Open the window.” Indirect : She ordered me to open the window. Direct : The captain said to the soldiers, “Attack the enemy.” Indirect : The captain commanded the soldiers to attack the enemy. Direct : I said to him, “Leave this place at once.” Indirect : I told him to leave that place at once. Direct : The teacher said to the students, “Listen to me attentively.” Indirect : The teacher asked the students to listen to him attentively. Direct : The Principal said to the peon, “Ring the bell.” Indirect : The Principal ordered the peon to ring the bell. Direct : The master said to the servant, “Fetch me a glass of water.” Indirect : The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass of water. Direct : I said to him, “Please bring me a glass of water.” Indirect : I requested him to bring me a glass of water. Direct : I said to my friend, “Please lend me your book.” Indirect : I requested my friend to lend me his book.

Exercise (Solved) Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech: (a) He said, “I will do it now.” Answer: He said that he would do it then. (b) He says, “Honesty is the best policy.” Answer: He says that honesty is the best policy. (c) Ramesh says, “I have written a letter.” Answer: Ramesh says that he has written a letter. (d) She said, “Mahesh will be reading a book.” Answer: She said that Mahesh would be reading a book. (v) She said, “Where is your father?” Answer: She inquired where his father was. (vi) He said to me, “Please take your book.” Answer: He requested me to take my book. (vii) The Principal said to the peon, “Let this boy go out.” Answer: The Principal ordered the peon to let that boy go out. (viii) He said to me, “May you live long!” Answer: He prayed that I might live long. (ix) She said, “Goodbye friends!” Answer: She bade goodbye to her friends. (x) The students said, “Alas! I wasted my time last year.” Answer: The students regretted that he had wasted his time the previous year.

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class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

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CBSE Class 9 English Grammar – Direct And Indirect Speech

Formulae Handbook for Class 9 Maths and Science Educational Loans in India

Reported Speech Class 9 CBSE 

1. Direct and Indirect Speech: The words spoken by a person can be reported in two ways— Direct and Indirect. When we quote the exact words spoken by a person, we call it Direct Speech.

  • Sohan said to Mohan, “I am going to school.”

The exact words spoken by Sohan are put within inverted commas. But when we give the substance of what Sohan said, it is called the Indirect Speech.

You can master in  English Grammar of various classes by our articles like Tenses, Clauses, Prepositions, Story writing, Unseen Passage, Notice Writing etc. https://www.cbselabs.com/cbse-class-9-english-grammar-direct-indirect-speech/

2. Reporting Clause and Reported Speech: Sohan told Mohan that he was going to school. The words which generally come before the inverted commas are called the reporting clause, i.e. Sohan said to Mohan and the verb ‘said’, is called the reporting verb. The words spoken by Sohan and put within inverted commas are called the reported speech, i.e. “I am going to school.”

Reported Speech Exercises For Class 9 CBSE 

More Resources for CBSE Class 9

  • NCERT Solutions
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  • NCERT Solutions Class 9 Science
  • NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science
  • NCERT Solutions Class 9 English
  • NCERT Solutions Class 9 Hindi
  • NCERT Solutions Class 9 Sanskrit
  • NCERT Solutions Class 9 IT
  • RD Sharma Class 9 Solutions

3. Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech:

  • In the Indirect speech, no inverted commas are used.
  • The conjunctions that, if, whether , are generally used after the reporting verb.
  • The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter.
  • The tense of the reporting verb is never changed.
  • The reporting verb changes according to sense: it may be told, asked, inquired ,etc.

Direct And Indirect Speech Class 9 CBSE

4. Rules for the Change of Pronouns:

  • The first person pronouns (I, me, my, we, us, our) in the reported speech change according to the subject of the reporting verb.
  • The pronouns of the second person (you, your, yourself) in the reported speech change according to the object of the reporting verb.
  • The pronouns of the third person do not change.

For example :

  • He said, “I like the book.” He said that he liked the book.
  • He said to me, “Do you like the book?” He asked me if I liked the book.
  • He said, “He likes the book.” He said that he liked the book.

Reported Speech For Class 9 CBSE

Reported Speech Class 9 CBSE

Class 9 Reported Speech CBSE

6. Change in Tenses:

  • If the reporting verb is in the present or the future tense, the tense of the reported speech is not changed:
  • Satish says, “I am flying a kite.”
  • Satish says that he is flying a kite.
  • Satish will say, “I want a glass of milk.”
  • Satish will say that he wants a glass of milk.

Reported Speech Exercises For Class 9 CBSE

  • If the direct speech expresses a historical fact, a universal truth or a habitual fact. tense of the direct speech will not change: Direct     : He said, “Honesty is the best policy.” Indirect : He said that honesty is the best policy. Direct     : He said, “The sun rises in the east.” Indirect : He said that the sun rises in the east. Direct     : Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.” Indirect : Rakesh said that he is an early riser. Direct     : She said, “God is omnipresent.” Indirect : She said that God is omnipresent. Direct     : The teacher said, “The First World War started in 1914.” Indirect : The teacher said that the First World War started in 1914.

Reported Speech Class 9th CBSE

7. Changing Statements into Indirect Speech:

  • The reporting verb “said to’ is changed to ‘told, ‘replied’, ‘‘remarked’,
  • The reporting verb is not followed by an object, it is not changed.
  • The inverted commas are removed. The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting clause with the reported speech.
  • The rules for the change of pronouns, tenses, etc. are followed. Direct     : Ramu said, “I saw a lion in the forest.” Indirect : Ramu said that he had seen a lion in the forest. Direct     : Satish said to me, “I am very happy here.” Indirect : Satish told me that he was very happy there. Direct     : He said, “I can do this work.” Indirect : He said that he could do that work. Direct     : Renu said to me, “I was washing the clothes.” Indirect : Renu told me that she had been washing the clothes. Direct     : She said, “I am not well.” Indirect : She said that she was not well. Direct     : He said to Sita, “I have passed the test.” Indirect : He told Sita that he had passed the test Direct     : I said to my friend, “He has been working very hard.” Indirect : I told my friend that he had been working very hard. Direct     : My friend said to me, “I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.” Indirect : My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next day. Direct     : I said, “I agree to what he said.” Indirect : I said that I agreed to what he had said. Direct     : The student said to the teacher, “I am sorry that I am late.” Indirect : The student told the teacher that he was sorry that he was late.

Reported Speech Class 9 Exercise With Answers CBSE

8. Rules for the Change of Interrogative (Questions) sentences:

  • The reporting verb ‘say’ is changed into ask, inquire,
  • The interrogative sentence is changed into a statement by placing the subject before the verb and the full stop is put at the end of the sentence.
  • If the interrogative sentence has a wh-word (who, when, where, how, why, etc) the wh- word is repeated in the sentence. It serves as a conjunction.
  • If the interrogative sentence is a yes-no answer type sentence (with auxiliary verbs aw, are, was, were, do, did, have, shall, etc), then if or ‘ whether’ is used as a conjunction.
  • The auxiliaries do, does, did in a positive question in the reported speech are dropped.
  • The conjunction that is not used after the reporting clause. Direct     : I said to him, “Where are you going?” Indirect : Tasked him where he was going. Direct     : He said to me, “Will you go there?” Indirect : He asked me if I would go there. Direct     : My friend said to Deepak, “Have you ever been to Agra?” Indirect : My friend asked Deepak if he had ever been to Agra. Direct     : I said to him, “Did you enjoy the movie?” Indirect : I asked him if he had enjoyed the movie. Direct     : I said to her, “Do you know him?” Indirect : I asked her if she knew him. Direct     : He said to me, “Will you listen to me?” Indirect : He asked me if I would listen to him. Direct     : I said to him, “When will you go there?” Indirect : I asked him when he would go there. Direct     : He said to me, “How is your father?” Indirect : He asked me how my father was. Direct     : I said to him, “Are you happy?” Indirect : I asked him if he was happy. Direct     : He said to her, “Do you like apples?” Indirect : He asked her if she liked apples.

Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises For Class 9 With Answers Pdf

9. Changing Commands and Requests into Indirect Speech:

  • In imperative sentences having commands, the reporting verb is changed into command, order, tell, allow, request, etc.
  • The imperative mood is changed into the infinitive mood by putting to, before the verb. In case of negative sentences, the auxiliary ‘do’ is dropped and ‘to’ is placed after ‘not: Direct     : She said to me, “Open the window.” Indirect : She ordered me to open the window. Direct     : The captain said to the soldiers, “Attack the enemy.” Indirect : The captain commanded the soldiers to attack the enemy. Direct     : I said to him, “Leave this place at once.” Indirect : I told him to leave that place at once. Direct     : The teacher said to the students, “Listen to me attentively.” Indirect : The teacher asked the students to listen to him attentively. Direct     : The Principal said to the peon, “Ring the bell.” Indirect : The Principal ordered the peon to ring the bell. Direct     : The master said to the servant, “Fetch me a glass of water.” Indirect : The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass of water. Direct     : I said to him, “Please bring me a glass of water.” Indirect : I requested him to bring me a glass of water. Direct     : I said to my friend, “Please lend me your book.” Indirect : I requested my friend to lend me his book.

Exercise (Solved)

Reported Speech Rules Class 9 CBSE

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech: (i) He said, “I will do it now.” Answer: He said that he would do it then.

(ii) He says, “Honesty is the best policy.” Answer: He says that honesty is the best policy.

(iii) Ramesh says, “I have written a letter.” Answer: Ramesh says that he has written a letter.

(iv) She said, “Mahesh will be reading a book.” Answer: She said that Mahesh would be reading a book.

(v) She said, “Where is your father?” Answer: She inquired where his father was.

(vi) He said to me, “Please take your book.” Answer: He requested me to take my book.

(vii) The Principal said to the peon, “Let this boy go out.” Answer: The Principal ordered the peon to let that boy go out.

(viii) He said to me, “May you live long!” Answer: He prayed that I might live long.

(ix) She said, “Goodbye friends!” Answer: She bade goodbye to her friends.

(x) The students said, “Alas! I wasted my time last year.” Answer: The students regretted that he had wasted his time the previous year.

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  • English Grammar
  • Grammar Exercises
  • Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and indirect speech is one topic in English grammar that confuses most language learners. It need not necessarily be so; if you understand how it works, you can easily use it in your writing.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

When converting direct speech to indirect speech or vice-versa, you will have to take care to convert the verb , pronoun and the adverb appropriately. Go through the following exercises and try them out. Answers are given below each exercise; refer to them to see if your answers are right.

class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

Exercise 1: Change into indirect speech

Read the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech.

  • Rahul told to me, “When are you leaving?”
  • “Where do you live?” the stranger asked Aladdin.
  • The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
  • Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
  • “Call the first convict,” said the jury.
  • “Call the ambulance,” said the man.
  • Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
  • My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
  • Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
  • The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
  • Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
  • Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
  • Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
  • The boy said, “Let me come in.”
  • Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”

Answers –

  • Rahul asked me when I was leaving.
  • The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
  • The teacher asked Shelly why he was laughing.
  • Dhronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
  • The jury ordered to call the first convict.
  • The man urged to call the ambulance.
  • Bruce said to me he would do the work.
  • My mother told me that I was wrong.
  • Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
  • The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
  • Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
  • Ruchi said that she might go there.
  • Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
  • The boy asked to let him come in.
  • Granny prayed that God might bless me.

Convert the following into Direct Speech

Read the following passage and convert it into direct speech.

One of them told Issac that the latter had forgotten one thing that belonged to a mill. Issac enquired what that was. The friend asked where the miller was. Issac replied that (absence of the miller) was true – and he must look for one.

“But Issac,” said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs to a mill.”

“What is that?” asked Issac.

“Why, where is the miller?” said his friend.

“That is true – I must look for one,” said Issac.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct narration.

When the actual words/sentences as spoken by the speaker are quoted in a speech, it’s called direct speech/narration.

What is indirect speech?

When the quoted speech is reported in the form of a narrative without changing the meaning of the actual quotation/words by the speaker, it’s called indirect speech/narration.

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Direct And Indirect Speech Exercise For Class 9 CBSE

by Manjusha · Published May 7, 2022 · Updated May 7, 2022

Direct and indirect speech worksheet for class 9

Note that we use to-infinitives to report imperative sentences. Imperatives are sentences that express a command, order, request or instruction .

Use appropriate reporting verbs.

1. ‘Stand in line,’ the teacher said to the students.

2. ‘Get your eyes examined,’ mother said.

3. ‘The soup is too hot,’ cried little Einstein.

4. ‘Please wait for me,’ she said to me.

5. ‘He looks old for his age,’ said mother.

6. ‘I am an old friend of yours,’ she said.

7. ‘We do not permit smoking in the kitchen,’ the woman said.

8. ‘It is too hot here,’ the boy said.

9. ‘Whom do you want to meet?’ the receptionist said to me.

10. ‘Take this file with you when you go to the bank,’ she said to him.

11. ‘Do not leave this area,’ the cops said to the people.

12. ‘We can’t trust people like him,’ said mother.

1. The teacher instructed the students to stand in line.

2. Mother suggested that I should get my eyes examined.

3. Little Einstein complained / exclaimed that the soup was too hot.

4. She requested / told me to wait for her.

5. Mother remarked that he looked old for his age.

6. She said that she was an old friend of mine.

7. The woman said that they did not / do not permit smoking in the kitchen.

8. The boy complained that it was too hot there.

9. The receptionist asked me whom I wanted to meet.

10. She instructed /told him to take that file with him when he went to the bank.

11. The cops instructed the people not to leave that area.

12. Mother remarked that we couldn’t trust people like him.

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class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

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Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9 CBSE

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9 CBSE With Answers

Reported speech is when we express or say things that have already been said by somebody else.

Basic  English Grammar  rules can be tricky. In this article, we’ll get you started with the basics of sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and more.

We also providing Extra Questions for Class 9 English Chapter wise.

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9 CBSE With Answers Pdf

When we say things that have been said, we use two ways of expressing it. The first is direct speech when we express what the speaker said as it is and the second is indirect speech where we express what was said in our words.

Examples: If you ask your friend Pradeep, ‘Did you take my book?’, the reply could be ‘Your book is with Jai.’ Now, we can report this statement in two ways:

  • Pradeep told me, ‘Your book is with Jai’.
  • Pradeep told me that my book is with Jai.

Reported Speech With Answers

Rules For Reported Speech While changing direct speech into reported speech or vice versa, the following change:

  • the reporting verb
  • the pronouns
  • the situations
  • report using present and future tenses
  • modal verbs
  • word order with who, which, and what

Rules For Reported Speech

Changes in reporting verb:

  • Affirmative sentences: said, told (object), asserted, replied, assured, informed, responded, whispered, alleged, believed, assumed, though.
  • Interrogative sentences: asked, inquired, wanted to know, enquired When we report.
  • Imperative sentences: ordered, begged, pleaded, implored, advised, demanded.

Change of pronouns:

  • Direct speech: Surabhi said, “I am reading.”
  • Indirect speech: Surabhi said that she was reading.
  • A first-person and second-person generally change to a third person (depending upon the object to reporting verb).

Change of tenses:

In general, the present tense becomes past tense; past and perfect tenses become the past perfect tense.

Change Of Situations: Examples:

  • Surabhi said, “I read this book last week.” (direct speech)
  • Surabhi said that she had read that book the previous week, (indirect speech)

If the speaker talks about a universal truth, the tense is unchanged.

In case of questions and answers: Examples:

  • Surabhi asked, “Have you read this book?” (Direct Speech)
  • Surabhi asked if/whether I had read that book. (Indirect Speech)
  • Surabhi asked, “Where is the book?” (Direct Speech)
  • Surabhi asked where the book was. (Indirect Speech)

(a) yes/no questions – use if/whether (b) wh-questions – use the wh-word

Word Order:

  • Surabhi asked, “What’s the matter?”
  • Surabhi asked what the matter was. (what + the matter + was)
  • Surabhi asked what was the matter, (what + was + the matter)

Can Be Either:

  • who/which/what + complement + be or
  • who/which/what + be + complement

Reported speech using present and future tenses: Examples:

  • Surabhi said, “The sun rises in the east.” (Direct Speech)
  • Surabhi said that the sun rises in the east. (Indirect Speech)
  • Surabhi said, “I will read this book.” (Direct Speech)
  • Surabhi said that she will read that book. (Indirect Speech)

If the original speaker’s present and future are still present and future, the tense remains unchanged. In case of modal verbs:

would, should, could, might, ought to, and must remain unchanged. Example:

  • Surabhi said, “I can solve this sum.” (Direct Speech)
  • Surabhi said that she could solve that sum. (Indirect Speech)

In our daily lives, we use reported speech in many forms. We use reported speech to report statements, questions, requests or even commands. There are certain things we need to keep in mind when we report each of them.

  • When we report statements, we have to make sure what changes need to be made in the pronoun, tense or temporal-spatial expression.
  • When we transform questions into reported speech, we have to check whether or not to change the tense, pronoun as well as place and time expression.
  • Upon changing, we have to ensure that the question is an indirect question.
  • We also have to make use of words such as where, when, how, if, whether etc.
  • In transforming requests and commands into reported speech, tenses are not relevant.
  • We only have to ensure that there are changes in the pronoun and the place and time expression.

Reported Speech Exercises Solved Example for Class 9 CBSE

Diagnostic Test 18

class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

The child called out to his mother to (a) ……………………… . The mother replied that (b) ……………………… . She asked her son if (c) ……………………… . Her son replied in the affirmative. He added that (d) ……………………… . The mother then wanted to know what (e) ……………………… . The child informed her (f) ……………………… . Answer: (a) come and look as the house across the road was on fire. (b) she couldn’t go then as she was cooking. (c) the Fire Brigade was there. (d) they had just arrived and the men were jumping down from the engine. (e) the people of the house were doing. (f) that some of them were standing in the street holding an umbrella and others were throwing valuables down from the window into it.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

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Introduction to Direct and Indirect Speech

The distinction between Direct and Indirect Speech may be confusing for some students. Often when we need to explain an incident or action, it involves quoting what someone said. A social situation, as well as a work email or presentation, are examples of such instances. There are two forms of Speech used to explain what other people say: direct Speech and indirect Speech (or reported Speech).

Direct Speech

The same words spoken are quoted indirect Speech. If we use Direct Speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We may be reporting something that is being said (for example, a phone conversation) or asking someone about a previous conversation later.

Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."

Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"

Supriya said, "I don't know!"

Indirect Speech

When we use reported or Indirect Speech to speak about the past, we generally change the tense of the words we say. We use reporting verbs like 'say,' 'tell,' and 'ask,' and we can introduce the reported words with the word 'that.' There are no inverted commas in this sentence.

For Example,

Mahima said that she had seen him.

Nirmal said he was looking forward to playing in the match on Saturday.

Children often mix up Direct and Indirect Speech. We need a way to say the difference between what someone is claimed to have said and what they said when we're writing. What did she say if you asked her? You may respond in one of two ways:

“I don’t like pizza,” Siddi said. (Direct Speech)

Siddi says she doesn’t like pizza. (Indirect Speech)

Note how Speech marks (“...”) are used in Direct Speech to indicate precisely what was said. Speech labels are located at the beginning and end of the actual words spoken. The words 'Siddi said' are not in Speech marks because they were not spoken aloud; rather, they are a way for the writer to express who was speaking to the reader.

The past tense is often used in reported Speech. This is because the words have already been spoken, and the writer is simply reporting on what has already been saying. It's critical to think about what was said and convert it to the past tense.

Direct and Indirect Narration Rules

Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let’s discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail.

Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense.

Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location and time.

Step 3: For both the object and the subject, use the correct pronoun.

Step 4: Make sure the sentence has the correct structure and word order.

Now we'll go through each of these measures in greater depth.

Step 1: Choosing the Verb's Tense and Conversion

Case 1: Nirmal said, ‘I go to the gym every day.

Case 2: Nirmal says, ‘I go to the gym every day.’

The verb ‘say' is used in both of the instances above to express the action of speaking. In addition, the reporting verb say is used in the past tense in the first case – said. In case 2, however, the reporting verb is in the present tense.

As a consequence, all verbs must be in the relevant past tense here. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, this is often followed. Thus, Nirmal said, ‘I go to the class every day will change to Nirmal said that he went to the gym every day.

The second rule is that the tense is not changed whether the reporting verb is in the future or present tense. So, Nirmal says, ‘I go to the class every day will be changed to Nirmal says that he goes to the class every day.

Step 2: Changes are Made to the Word That Communicates Place, Time, and Connection.

The time or place specified in the sentence should be changed to match the current time or position.

On 21st, May 2015: ‘I will come tomorrow,’ Sriram said.

On 21st, May 2015, Sriram said that he would come the next day.

Step 3: The Subject and Object Pronouns are Chosen Separately.

Case 1: Saurav will say to his friends, “I have started learning psychology” will change to Saurav will tell his friends that he has started learning psychology.

In this case, the speaker and the reporter are the same people. As a consequence, the pronoun should be the first person pronoun.

Case 2: Ma’am said to me, “I hope you will bring the geometry to my next class” will changed to Ma’am hoped that I would bring the geometry to her next class.

The speaker is ma'am, and the reporter is the student. As a consequence, the ma'am pronoun should be in the third person. The reporter's pronoun should also be in the first person.

Remember that we do not change the tense of the reporting verb within the quotation marks when it is in the present or future tense.

When using English, you'll want to use both direct and indirect Speech regularly, so make sure you're familiar with both and can use them correctly. Direct Speech isn't always an accurate representation of what someone has said. Using inverted commas before and after the quotation, you may quote from other texts similarly. Instead of using the verb "to tell," consider using a verb like "to compose," "to state," or "to define." You may convey what is being reported using a variety of verbs; for example, while "to say" is widely used, you may also want to use "to tell" to explain something that has been told to you. Keeping a small diary of what has been said around you is an important way to practise – explain what people have said and try to write a few examples of each form.

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FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech

1. What is Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples?

The same words spoken are quoted in the direct speech. If we use direct speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We are talking about the present moment and we are talking about the original content. Direct Speech: “I'm seeing my brother tomorrow.” or “I’ll call them tomorrow”

While reporting if we are changing the words without changing the meaning of the sentence then it is called indirect speech. Here the present tense is converted into past tense. Here the sentence of the speaker is summarized without changing the meaning and reported.

Indirect Speech: She said she was seeing her brother the following day. Or She said that it was hot.

2. What are Simple Rules for Conversion of Indirect Speech to Direct Speech? 

Both inverted commas and quotation marks should be eliminated. Put a full stop at the end of the sentence. Shift the present tense of the verb within the inverted commas/quotation marks to the corresponding past tense. Shift it to the past perfect tense if it's in the simple past tense.

Step 1: change the tenses from present to past 

Present Tense: I like chocolates

Past Tense: she said that she liked chocolates 

Step 2: Change the sentences from simple past to past perfect

Present: He arrived on Tuesday

Past: He said that he had arrived on Tuesday

Step 3:  while converting future tense, ‘will’ changes to would

Present: I will be attending the wedding.

Past: She said that she would be attending the wedding.

Step 4: change the present continuous tense to the past continuous tense.

Present:   We are eating dinner

Past: They said that they were eating dinner.

Step 5: Change the  Present Perfect Tense into Past Perfect Tense

Present: She has finished her task.

Past: She said that she had finished her task.

Step 6: Change the Past Progressive Tense into the Perfect Continuous Tense

Present: My husband was cooking

Past: She said that her husband had been cooking.

Step 7:   And also remember past perfect and past perfect progressive doesn't change.

Step 8: And also the future Progressive Tense changes into “would be”. The Future Perfect Tense changes into “would have”.The Future Perfect Progressive Tense changes into “would have been”. 

And also follow these simple rules.

The conjunction ‘that’ is used in indirect speech.

The pronoun ‘I’ has to be changed according to the person.

The verb “am" is changed to “was".

For converting to Indirect speech, the words representing nearness will be changed to the words representing distance like the adverb “now” will be converted to the word “Then”, here now represent the nearness in time while ‘then’ represent distance.

3. What are the Examples of Direct Speech?

Few examples of Direct speech are:

Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."

Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"

Supriya said, "I don't know!"

I like chocolates.

Where do you live in?

Where are you?

I play basketball

I do yoga every morning

Can you pass me the bottle, please?

I brought a new pen

I will shift to Mumbai

She had worked hard.

My mom is preparing sweets

Don’t talk to me 

I play chess every day

Ananth is dancing on the floor

I like Sachin Tendulkar

She plays the guitar very well

4. Differentiate between Direct and Indirect Speech.

5. Give some examples for indirect speech.

She said that she liked chocolates

He said that he played basketball

She asked me to be on time

Neha said that her parents were very well.

He said that he played chess every day

She told me that she liked Sachin Tendulkar

She told me that she had been to the USA.

She said that she had finished her task.

he said that he would come to the party by 8 PM

She said that she hadn’t seen Nupur recently. 

She asked me to bring her dress the next day

He asked us not to be late.

They told that they were ready for competition

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Direct and Indirect Speech

What is speech in grammar.

The way the words of a speaker are expressed is called speech. There are two types of speech:

Direct speech

  • Indirect speech

Direct Speech

Direct speech is where the exact words of a person are stated.

Characteristics of Direct Speech

  • The speech is enclosed within quotation marks.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Also Read :- Class 10th English Grammar Connectors

  • A comma (,) is used to separate the rest of the sentence from the speech in the quotations.

Direct and Indirect Speech

  • Sometimes, a colon (:) is used instead of the comma. This is done if the quote is formal in nature or is lengthy.

Direct and Indirect Speech

  • The tense of the speech within the quotations will not change no matter when it is spoken.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech is where the words of the speaker are not reported in the exact manner in which they are said.

  • The speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.

Direct and Indirect Speech

  • The relative pronoun „that‟ is used in the sentence instead of the comma.

Direct and Indirect Speech

  • The tense of the statement within the quotations may usually change into the past tense unless the statement is a fact.

Direct and Indirect Speech

  • The pronouns in the quoted speech will change in indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech

  • The modal auxiliaries may also change in indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech

  • For imperative and exclamatory sentences, the reported verb changes according to the nature of the sentence.

Direct and Indirect Speech

  • Adverbs of time and place change in indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Rules for Tense Change in Indirect Speech

The tense of the verbs in the direct speech may change in indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Rules for Changing Adverbs in Indirect Speech

Adverbs of place and time change in indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Rules for Changing Modal Auxiliaries in Indirect Speech

Modal auxiliaries also undergo change when the sentence changes to indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Modals such as would , could , might , should and ought to will not change in indirect speech.

Also Read :- Class 6th Science Notes

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CBSE Class 9 English Grammar – Direct And Indirect Speech

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Target Exam ---

1. Direct and Indirect Speech: The words spoken by a person can be reported in two ways— Direct and Indirect. When we quote the exact words spoken by a person, we call it Direct Speech.

  • Sohan said to Mohan, “I am going to school.”

The exact words spoken by Sohan are put within inverted commas. But when we give the substance of what Sohan said, it is called the Indirect Speech.

Notice Writing etc.

2. Reporting Clause and Reported Speech: Sohan told Mohan that he was going to school. The words which generally come before the inverted commas are called the reporting clause, i.e. Sohan said to Mohan and the verb ‘said’, is called the reporting verb. The words spoken by Sohan and put within inverted commas are called the reported speech, i.e. “I am going to school.”

3. Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech:

  • In the Indirect speech, no inverted commas are used.
  • The conjunctions that, if, whether , are generally used after the reporting verb.
  • The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter.
  • The tense of the reporting verb is never changed.
  • The reporting verb changes according to sense: it may be told, asked, inquired ,etc.

4. Rules for the Change of Pronouns:

  • The first person pronouns (I, me, my, we, us, our) in the reported speech change according to the subject of the reporting verb.
  • The pronouns of the second person (you, your, yourself) in the reported speech change according to the object of the reporting verb.
  • The pronouns of the third person do not change.

For example :

  • He said, “I like the book.” He said that he liked the book.
  • He said to me, “Do you like the book?” He asked me if I liked the book.
  • He said, “He likes the book.” He said that he liked the book.

CBSE Class 9 English Grammar - Direct And Indirect Speech 1

  • If the reporting verb is in the present or the future tense, the tense of the reported speech is not changed:
  • Satish says, “I am flying a kite.”
  • Satish says that he is flying a kite.
  • Satish will say, “I want a glass of milk.”
  • Satish will say that he wants a glass of milk.

CBSE Class 9 English Grammar - Direct And Indirect Speech 2

  • If the direct speech expresses a historical fact, a universal truth or a habitual fact. tense of the direct speech will not change: Direct : He said, “Honesty is the best policy.” Indirect : He said that honesty is the best policy. Direct : He said, “The sun rises in the east.” Indirect : He said that the sun rises in the east. Direct : Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.” Indirect : Rakesh said that he is an early riser. Direct : She said, “God is omnipresent.” Indirect : She said that God is omnipresent. Direct : The teacher said, “The First World War started in 1914.” Indirect : The teacher said that the First World War started in 1914.

7. Changing Statements into Indirect Speech:

  • The reporting verb “said to’ is changed to ‘told, ‘replied’, ‘‘remarked’,
  • The reporting verb is not followed by an object, it is not changed.
  • The inverted commas are removed. The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting clause with the reported speech.
  • The rules for the change of pronouns, tenses, etc. are followed. Direct : Ramu said, “I saw a lion in the forest.” Indirect : Ramu said that he had seen a lion in the forest. Direct : Satish said to me, “I am very happy here.” Indirect : Satish told me that he was very happy there. Direct : He said, “I can do this work.” Indirect : He said that he could do that work. Direct : Renu said to me, “I was washing the clothes.” Indirect : Renu told me that she had been washing the clothes. Direct : She said, “I am not well.” Indirect : She said that she was not well. Direct : He said to Sita, “I have passed the test.” Indirect : He told Sita that he had passed the test Direct : I said to my friend, “He has been working very hard.” Indirect : I told my friend that he had been working very hard. Direct : My friend said to me, “I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.” Indirect : My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next day. Direct : I said, “I agree to what he said.” Indirect : I said that I agreed to what he had said. Direct : The student said to the teacher, “I am sorry that I am late.” Indirect : The student told the teacher that he was sorry that he was late.

8. Rules for the Change of Interrogative (Questions) sentences:

  • The reporting verb ‘say’ is changed into ask, inquire,
  • The interrogative sentence is changed into a statement by placing the subject before the verb and the full stop is put at the end of the sentence.
  • If the interrogative sentence has a wh-word (who, when, where, how, why, etc) the wh- word is repeated in the sentence. It serves as a conjunction.
  • If the interrogative sentence is a yes-no answer type sentence (with auxiliary verbs aw, are, was, were, do, did, have, shall, etc), then if or ‘ whether’ is used as a conjunction.
  • The auxiliaries do, does, did in a positive question in the reported speech are dropped.
  • The conjunction that is not used after the reporting clause. Direct : I said to him, “Where are you going?” Indirect : Tasked him where he was going. Direct : He said to me, “Will you go there?” Indirect : He asked me if I would go there. Direct : My friend said to Deepak, “Have you ever been to Agra?” Indirect : My friend asked Deepak if he had ever been to Agra. Direct : I said to him, “Did you enjoy the movie?” Indirect : I asked him if he had enjoyed the movie. Direct : I said to her, “Do you know him?” Indirect : I asked her if she knew him. Direct : He said to me, “Will you listen to me?” Indirect : He asked me if I would listen to him. Direct : I said to him, “When will you go there?” Indirect : I asked him when he would go there. Direct : He said to me, “How is your father?” Indirect : He asked me how my father was. Direct : I said to him, “Are you happy?” Indirect : I asked him if he was happy. Direct : He said to her, “Do you like apples?” Indirect : He asked her if she liked apples.

9. Changing Commands and Requests into Indirect Speech:

  • In imperative sentences having commands, the reporting verb is changed into command, order, tell, allow, request, etc.
  • The imperative mood is changed into the infinitive mood by putting to, before the verb. In case of negative sentences, the auxiliary ‘do’ is dropped and ‘to’ is placed after ‘not: Direct : She said to me, “Open the window.” Indirect : She ordered me to open the window. Direct : The captain said to the soldiers, “Attack the enemy.” Indirect : The captain commanded the soldiers to attack the enemy. Direct : I said to him, “Leave this place at once.” Indirect : I told him to leave that place at once. Direct : The teacher said to the students, “Listen to me attentively.” Indirect : The teacher asked the students to listen to him attentively. Direct : The Principal said to the peon, “Ring the bell.” Indirect : The Principal ordered the peon to ring the bell. Direct : The master said to the servant, “Fetch me a glass of water.” Indirect : The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass of water. Direct : I said to him, “Please bring me a glass of water.” Indirect : I requested him to bring me a glass of water. Direct : I said to my friend, “Please lend me your book.” Indirect : I requested my friend to lend me his book.

Exercise (Solved)

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech: (i) He said, “I will do it now.” Answer: He said that he would do it then.

(ii) He says, “Honesty is the best policy.” Answer: He says that honesty is the best policy.

(iii) Ramesh says, “I have written a letter.” Answer: Ramesh says that he has written a letter.

(iv) She said, “Mahesh will be reading a book.” Answer: She said that Mahesh would be reading a book.

(v) She said, “Where is your father?” Answer: She inquired where his father was.

(vi) He said to me, “Please take your book.” Answer: He requested me to take my book.

(vii) The Principal said to the peon, “Let this boy go out.” Answer: The Principal ordered the peon to let that boy go out.

(viii) He said to me, “May you live long!” Answer: He prayed that I might live long.

(ix) She said, “Goodbye friends!” Answer: She bade goodbye to her friends.

(x) The students said, “Alas! I wasted my time last year.” Answer: The students regretted that he had wasted his time the previous year.

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  • Reported Speech /

Reported Speech Exercises For Class 9 [PDF Available]

dulingo

  • Updated on  
  • May 7, 2024

class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

Reported speech exercises for class 9: In this vast realm of English Grammar , reported speech , commonly known as indirect speech, plays an important role in conveying information relayed from another person. However, for class 9 students, grasping the nuances of reported speech is essential for effective communication and comprehension. The blog article below aims to provide class 9 students with engaging exercises to solidify their preparation.

This Blog Includes:

Definition of reported speech, reported speech rules to know, quiz for reported speech exercises for class 9, exercise 1: change direct speech to reported speech, exercise 2: choose the correct reported speech, exercise 3: create reported speech, exercise 4: fill in the blanks with the appropriate reported speech, exercise 5: convert sentences to indirect speech, exercise 6: change into reported speech, exercise 7: convert sentences to indirect speech, exercise 8: complete the sentences to reported speech.

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary definition of reported speech is “ A report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.”

As per the Macmillan Dictionary, the words that you use to report what someone else has said are known are reported speech.

MUST READ! Reported Speech: Definition, Rules, Usage with Examples, Tips, Exercises for Students

Here are some common rules for changing direct speech to reported speech:

➡️ We use conjunctions like ‘if’, and ‘whether’ after the reporting verb in reported speech

➡️ The reporting verb’s tense is never altered.

➡️ The verb of reporting varies according to sense: it can be told, inquired, asked, etc.

➡️ First and foremost, we do not use inverted commas in reported speech which must be clear from the example given above.

Also Read:  Useful Idioms for IELTS Exams That Will Boost Your Score

Here’s a quiz on reported speech for students. Each question presents a direct speech statement, and you need to rewrite it in reported speech. Choose the correct option for each question.

Question 1: Direct Speech: “I love playing the guitar.”

a) He loves playing the guitar. b) I love playing the guitar. c) He loved playing the guitar. d) I loved playing the guitar.

Question 2: Direct Speech: “We are going to the park tomorrow.”

a) They are going to the park tomorrow. b) We were going to the park tomorrow. c) They were going to the park tomorrow. d) We go to the park tomorrow.

Question 3: Direct Speech: “She said, ‘I have already finished my homework.'”

a) She said that she already finished her homework. b) She said that she had already finished her homework. c) She says that she finished her homework already. d) She said that she has already finished her homework.

Question 4: Direct Speech: “The teacher exclaimed, ‘What a wonderful painting!'”

a) The teacher exclaimed that it was a wonderful painting. b) The teacher exclaimed what a wonderful painting it was. c) The teacher exclaimed that what a wonderful painting. d) The teacher exclaimed a wonderful painting.

Question 5: Direct Speech: “I will call you later.”

a) He said that he will call you later. b) He said that he would call you later. c) He says that he will call you later. d) He says that he would call you later.

Question 6: Direct Speech: “They said, ‘We haven’t received the email.'”

a) They said that they haven’t received the email. b) They said that they didn’t receive the email. c) They said that they hadn’t received the email. d) They say that they haven’t received the email.

Question 7: Direct Speech: “Tom said, ‘I can swim.'”

a) Tom said that he could swim. b) Tom says that he could swim. c) Tom said that he can swim. d) Tom says that he can swim.

  • b) I love playing the guitar.
  • a) They are going to the park tomorrow.
  • b) She said that she had already finished her homework.
  • b) The teacher exclaimed what a wonderful painting it was.
  • b) He said that he would call you later.
  • c) They said that they hadn’t received the email.
  • a) Tom said that he could swim.

Also Read: 50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Interrogative Sentences

Following are some useful reported speech exercises for class 9. Convert the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech:

Direct Speech : She said, “I am going to the store.”

Reported Speech : She said that she was going to the store.

Direct Speech : He said, “I will finish the project by Friday.”

Reported Speech : He said that he would finish the project by Friday.

Direct Speech : “We have completed our homework,” they said.

Reported Speech : They said that they had completed their homework.

Direct Speech : “They are coming to the party,” she said.

Reported Speech : She said that they were coming to the party.

Direct Speech : “I can speak French,” he said.

Reported Speech : He said that he could speak French.

Read the following sentences and choose the correct reported speech option:

Direct Speech : “I saw Sarah yesterday,” Tom said.

a) Tom said he had seen Sarah yesterday.

b) Tom said he sees Sarah yesterday.

Correct Answer: a) Tom said he had seen Sarah yesterday.

Direct Speech : “I’m going to the cinema tonight,” she said.

a) She said she was going to the cinema that night.

b) She said she is going to the cinema tonight.

Correct Answer: a) She said she was going to the cinema that night.

Direct Speech : “We will travel to Paris next week,” they said.

a) They said they will travel to Paris next week.

b) They said they would travel to Paris the following week.

Correct Answer: b) They said they would travel to Paris the following week.

Direct Speech : “I have finished my work,” he said.

a) He said he has finished his work.

b) He said he had finished his work.

Correct Answer: b) He said he had finished his work.

Direct Speech : “I’m cooking dinner right now,” she said.

a) She said she was cooking dinner right then.

b) She said she is cooking dinner right now.

Correct Answer: a) She said she was cooking dinner right then.

Must Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples

Form reported speech for the following direct speech sentences:

Direct Speech : “She will be here soon,” he said.

Reported Speech : He mentioned that she would be there soon.

Direct Speech : “I don’t like seafood,” she said.

Reported Speech : She expressed that she didn’t like seafood.

Direct Speech : “They were studying in the library,” he said.

Reported Speech : He mentioned that they had been studying in the library.

Direct Speech : “I am working on a new project,” she said.

Reported Speech : She mentioned that she was working on a new project.

Direct Speech : “We have completed the assignment,” they said.

Reported Speech : They confirmed that they had completed the assignment.

Also Read: Tenses Rules: Charts, Examples, Types [PDF Available]

Practise the following direct sentences to appropriate report speech. 

She said, “I have been to Paris before.”

Reported Speech : She mentioned that she had been to Paris before.

“We will come early,” they said.

Reported Speech : They said that they would come early.

“He’s writing a novel,” she said.

Reported Speech : She mentioned that he was writing a novel.

“I won’t be able to attend the meeting,” he said.

Reported Speech : He said that he wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting.

“We were watching a movie,” they said.

Reported Speech : They mentioned that they had been watching a movie.

Also Read:  Adjective: Definition, Usage, Example, Forms, Types

Change the following sentences into indirect speech:

  • He said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
  • He said, “The sun rises in the east.”
  • Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.”
  • She said, “God is omnipresent.”
  •  The teacher said, “The First World War started in 1914.”

Exploring the Types of Reported Speech: A Complete Guide

Read the following sentences and convert them into reported speech.

  • Rahul said, “I get up early every morning.”
  • Andrew said, “I can do this work.”
  • Priya said, “It is hot outside.”
  • Raj said to Marie, “I will go to London tomorrow.”
  • Archie said to me, “I will cook today’s dinner.”

Check Your Answers:

  • Rahul said that he got up early every morning.
  • Andrew said that he could do that work.
  • Priya said that it was hot outside.
  • Raj informed Marie that he would go to London the next day.
  • Archie said to me that he would cook that day’s dinner.

Must Read: Reported Speech For Class 10: Exciting Exercises with Answers [PDF]

Convert the following direct speech sentences into indirect speech.

  • Direct Speech: “I love playing basketball,” said Sarah.
  • Direct Speech: “We are going to visit Paris next month,” said Tom.
  • Direct Speech: “She has already finished her homework,” said Jack.
  • Direct Speech: “They will arrive at 9 o’clock,” said the receptionist.
  • Direct Speech: “I have never been to Japan,” said Emily.
  • Sarah said that she loved playing basketball.
  • Tom said that they were going to visit Paris the following month.
  • Jack said that she had already finished her homework.
  • The receptionist said that they would arrive at 9 o’clock.
  • Emily said that she had never been to Japan.

Reported speech exercises help reinforce understanding of how to report what someone else has said. They aid in learning how to shift verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, and other changes when reporting speech.

When converting direct speech to reported speech, pay attention to the changes in verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, and other relevant modifications based on the context and the tense used in the original sentence.

Common changes include the shift of tenses (present to past, future to conditional), pronoun changes, changes in time expressions (today to that day, tomorrow to the next day), and changes in modal verbs (can to could, will to would, etc.).

We hope this blog has provided you with all the necessary information on reported speech exercises for class 9. To advance your grammar knowledge and read more informative blogs, check out our Learn English page and don’t forget to follow Leverage Edu .

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

Turn the following sentences into indirect speech.

1.    John said, ‘I am very busy now.’ 2.    He said, ‘The horse has been fed.’ 3.    ‘I know her name and address,’ said John. 4.    ‘German is easy to learn,’ she said. 5.    He said, ‘I am writing letters.’ 6.    ‘It is too late to go out,’ Alice said. 7.    He said to me, ‘I don’t believe you.’ 8.    He says, ‘I am glad to be here this evening.’ 9.    He said to me, ‘What are you doing?’ 10.    ‘Where is the post office?’ asked the stranger. 11.    He said, ‘Will you listen to me?’ 12.    John said to Peter, ‘Go away.’ 13.    She said to me, ‘Please wait here till I return.’ 14.    ‘Call the witness,’ said the judge. 15.    The speaker said, ‘Be quiet and listen to my words.’

1.    John said that he was very busy then. 2.    He said that the horse had been fed. 3.    John said that he knew/knows her name and address. (Note that the tenses may not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal truth.) 4.    She said that German is/was easy to learn. 5.    He said that he was writing letters. 6.    Alice said that it was too late to go out. 7.    He told me that he didn’t believe me. OR He said he didn’t believe me. 8.    He says that he is glad to be here this evening. (When the reporting verb is in the present tense, adverbs of time and place do not normally change in indirect speech.) 9.    He asked me what I was doing. 10.    The stranger asked where the post office is/was. 11.    He asked me if I would listen to him. 12.    John ordered Peter to go away. 13.    She asked me to wait there till she returned. 14.    The judge commanded them to call the first witness. 15.    He urged them to be quiet and listen to them.

class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

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ESL Grammar

Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech

When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.

Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.

To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.

It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.

In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:

Change of Pronouns

In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:

  • Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
  • Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.

In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.

Change of Tenses

Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:

  • Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
  • Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.

In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.

Change of Time and Place References

When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:

  • Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
  • Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.

In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.

Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.

For example:

  • Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
  • Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.

  • Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.

  • Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
  • Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.

By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:

  • Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
  • Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
  • Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
  • Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.

Here is an example to illustrate the process:

Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.

Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.

By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:

Direct Speech Examples

Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.

  • “I am going to the store,” said Sarah.
  • “It’s a beautiful day,” exclaimed John.
  • “Please turn off the lights,” Mom told me.
  • “I will meet you at the library,” said Tom.
  • “We are going to the beach tomorrow,” announced Mary.

Indirect Speech Examples

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

  • Sarah said that she was going to the store.
  • John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
  • Mom told me to turn off the lights.
  • Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
  • Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.

In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.

Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.

How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.

What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?

Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .

What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?

The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.

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  • Reported Speech Worksheet for Class 9 CBSE

by Manjusha Nambiar · Published February 1, 2024 · Updated April 6, 2024

When we report questions, the question word (who, what, which etc.) is retained in the reported speech.

Note that a reported question has the same word order as a statement. That means the subject goes before the auxiliary verb.

  • The teacher said, ‘What are you doing?’
  • The teacher asked what I was doing. (NOT The Teacher asked that what I was doing.) (NOT The teacher asked what was I doing.)

In order to report Yes/No questions , we use the conjunction if or whether.

  • ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’ she asked.
  • She asked if / whether I would like a cup of coffee.

Reporting commands

In order to report a command, we use a reporting verb like asked, told, requested, warned, advised, begged, urged, commanded, ordered etc.

  • Direct speech: ‘Help me, please,’ she cried.
  • Indirect speech: She begged them to help her.

Reported speech worksheet

Sentences are given in the direct speech. Change them into the indirect / reported speech.

1. ‘Leave me alone,’ she said.

2. ‘I don’t know what I am supposed to do,’ he said.

3. ‘How are we going to overcome this difficulty?’ they said.

4. Mother said, ‘Have you applied for that job?’

5. ‘Please wait for me,’ said the girl.

6. ‘It doesn’t work,’ she said.

7. ‘I can drive any car,’ she said.

8. Sam said, ‘I haven’t heard anything from them yet.’

9. ‘Close the doors and windows before you leave,’ said the woman.

10. ‘Should I wait any longer?’ he asked.

11. ‘Whose bag is this?’ he asked.

12. ‘I will wait outside,’ he said.

13. ‘Have you brought your lunch?’ she asked.

14. ‘Take this file with you when you go to work,’ she said to me.

15. ‘Be careful when you cross the road,’ said the mother to the children.

16. ‘Please wait a minute,’ the receptionist said to me.

17. ‘I don’t want to go,’ Maya said to me.

18. ‘Why are you crying?’ mother said to me.

19. ‘Do you know Rahul’s address?’ Rohit asked me.

20. ‘Submit your work before Monday,’ the teacher said to the students.

1. She requested / told me / us to leave her alone.

2. He said that he didn’t know what he was supposed to do.

3. They wondered how they were going to overcome that difficulty.

4. Mother asked if / whether I had applied for that job.

5. The girl requested me to wait for her.

6. She said that it didn’t work.

7. She said that she could drive any car.

8. Sam said that he hadn’t heard anything from them yet.

9. The woman told us to close the doors and windows before we left.

10. He asked if / whether he should / had to wait any longer.

11. He asked whose bag that was.

12. He said that he would wait outside.

13. She asked me if / whether I had brought my lunch.

14. She told me to take that file with me when I went to work.

15. The mother warned / advised the children to be careful when they cross the road.

16. The receptionist asked / requested me to wait a minute.

17. Maya told me that she didn’t want to go.

18. Mother asked me why I was crying.

19. Rohit asked me if / whether I knew Rahul’s address.

20. The teacher told / instructed the students to submit their work before Monday.

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  • Reported Speech Worksheet for Class 10 CBSE
  • Direct And Indirect Speech Worksheet For Class 8 CBSE
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class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

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class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

class 9 english grammar direct and indirect speech

What is Reported Speech and how to use it? with Examples

Published by

Olivia Drake

Reported speech and indirect speech are two terms that refer to the same concept, which is the act of expressing what someone else has said.

On this page:

Reported speech is different from direct speech because it does not use the speaker’s exact words. Instead, the reporting verb is used to introduce the reported speech, and the tense and pronouns are changed to reflect the shift in perspective. There are two main types of reported speech: statements and questions.

1. Reported Statements: In reported statements, the reporting verb is usually “said.” The tense in the reported speech changes from the present simple to the past simple, and any pronouns referring to the speaker or listener are changed to reflect the shift in perspective. For example, “I am going to the store,” becomes “He said that he was going to the store.”

2. Reported Questions: In reported questions, the reporting verb is usually “asked.” The tense in the reported speech changes from the present simple to the past simple, and the word order changes from a question to a statement. For example, “What time is it?” becomes “She asked what time it was.”

It’s important to note that the tense shift in reported speech depends on the context and the time of the reported speech. Here are a few more examples:

  • Direct speech: “I will call you later.”Reported speech: He said that he would call me later.
  • Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?”Reported speech: She asked if I had finished my homework.
  • Direct speech: “I love pizza.”Reported speech: They said that they loved pizza.

When do we use reported speech?

Reported speech is used to report what someone else has said, thought, or written. It is often used in situations where you want to relate what someone else has said without quoting them directly.

Reported speech can be used in a variety of contexts, such as in news reports, academic writing, and everyday conversation. Some common situations where reported speech is used include:

News reports:  Journalists often use reported speech to quote what someone said in an interview or press conference.

Business and professional communication:  In professional settings, reported speech can be used to summarize what was discussed in a meeting or to report feedback from a customer.

Conversational English:  In everyday conversations, reported speech is used to relate what someone else said. For example, “She told me that she was running late.”

Narration:  In written narratives or storytelling, reported speech can be used to convey what a character said or thought.

How to make reported speech?

1. Change the pronouns and adverbs of time and place: In reported speech, you need to change the pronouns, adverbs of time and place to reflect the new speaker or point of view. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the store now,” she said. Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then.

In this example, the pronoun “I” is changed to “she” and the adverb “now” is changed to “then.”

2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” he said. Reported speech: He said he would meet me at the park the next day.

In this example, the present tense “will” is changed to the past tense “would.”

3. Change reporting verbs: In reported speech, you can use different reporting verbs such as “say,” “tell,” “ask,” or “inquire” depending on the context of the speech. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked if I had finished my homework.

In this example, the reporting verb “asked” is changed to “said” and “did” is changed to “had.”

Overall, when making reported speech, it’s important to pay attention to the verb tense and the changes in pronouns, adverbs, and reporting verbs to convey the original speaker’s message accurately.

How do I change the pronouns and adverbs in reported speech?

1. Changing Pronouns: In reported speech, the pronouns in the original statement must be changed to reflect the perspective of the new speaker. Generally, the first person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours) are changed according to the subject of the reporting verb, while the second and third person pronouns (you, your, yours, he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its, they, them, their, theirs) are changed according to the object of the reporting verb. For example:

Direct speech: “I love chocolate.” Reported speech: She said she loved chocolate.

Direct speech: “You should study harder.” Reported speech: He advised me to study harder.

Direct speech: “She is reading a book.” Reported speech: They noticed that she was reading a book.

2. Changing Adverbs: In reported speech, the adverbs and adverbial phrases that indicate time or place may need to be changed to reflect the perspective of the new speaker. For example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight.” Reported speech: She said she was going to the cinema that night.

Direct speech: “He is here.” Reported speech: She said he was there.

Note that the adverb “now” usually changes to “then” or is omitted altogether in reported speech, depending on the context.

It’s important to keep in mind that the changes made to pronouns and adverbs in reported speech depend on the context and the perspective of the new speaker. With practice, you can become more comfortable with making these changes in reported speech.

How do I change the tense in reported speech?

In reported speech, the tense of the reported verb usually changes to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here are some guidelines on how to change the tense in reported speech:

Present simple in direct speech changes to past simple in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I like pizza.” Reported speech: She said she liked pizza.

Present continuous in direct speech changes to past continuous in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I am studying for my exam.” Reported speech: He said he was studying for his exam.

Present perfect in direct speech changes to past perfect in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I have finished my work.” Reported speech: She said she had finished her work.

Past simple in direct speech changes to past perfect in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I visited my grandparents last weekend.” Reported speech: She said she had visited her grandparents the previous weekend.

Will in direct speech changes to would in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I will help you with your project.” Reported speech: He said he would help me with my project.

Can in direct speech changes to could in reported speech. For example: Direct speech: “I can speak French.” Reported speech: She said she could speak French.

Remember that the tense changes in reported speech depend on the tense of the verb in the direct speech, and the tense you use in reported speech should match the time frame of the new speaker’s perspective. With practice, you can become more comfortable with changing the tense in reported speech.

Do I always need to use a reporting verb in reported speech?

No, you do not always need to use a reporting verb in reported speech. However, using a reporting verb can help to clarify who is speaking and add more context to the reported speech.

In some cases, the reported speech can be introduced by phrases such as “I heard that” or “It seems that” without using a reporting verb. For example:

Direct speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight.” Reported speech with a reporting verb: She said she was going to the cinema tonight. Reported speech without a reporting verb: It seems that she’s going to the cinema tonight.

However, it’s important to note that using a reporting verb can help to make the reported speech more formal and accurate. When using reported speech in academic writing or journalism, it’s generally recommended to use a reporting verb to make the reporting more clear and credible.

Some common reporting verbs include say, tell, explain, ask, suggest, and advise. For example:

Direct speech: “I think we should invest in renewable energy.” Reported speech with a reporting verb: She suggested that they invest in renewable energy.

Overall, while using a reporting verb is not always required, it can be helpful to make the reported speech more clear and accurate

How to use reported speech to report questions and commands?

1. Reporting Questions: When reporting questions, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is the meeting?” Reported speech: She asked what time the meeting was.

Note that the question mark is not used in reported speech.

2. Reporting Commands: When reporting commands, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “ordered” or “told” followed by the person, to + infinitive, and any additional information. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “Clean your room!” Reported speech: She ordered me to clean my room.

Note that the exclamation mark is not used in reported speech.

In both cases, the tense of the reported verb should be changed accordingly. For example, present simple changes to past simple, and future changes to conditional. Here are some examples:

Direct speech: “Will you go to the party with me?”Reported speech: She asked if I would go to the party with her. Direct speech: “Please bring me a glass of water.”Reported speech: She requested that I bring her a glass of water.

Remember that when using reported speech to report questions and commands, the introductory phrases and verb tenses are important to convey the intended meaning accurately.

How to make questions in reported speech?

To make questions in reported speech, you need to use an introductory phrase such as “asked” or “wondered” followed by the question word (if applicable), subject, and verb. You also need to change the word order to make it a statement. Here are the steps to make questions in reported speech:

Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb in the sentence. Common reporting verbs used to report questions include “asked,” “inquired,” “wondered,” and “wanted to know.”

Change the tense and pronouns: Next, you need to change the tense and pronouns in the sentence to reflect the shift from direct to reported speech. The tense of the verb is usually shifted back one tense (e.g. from present simple to past simple) in reported speech. The pronouns should also be changed as necessary to reflect the shift in perspective from the original speaker to the reporting speaker.

Use an appropriate question word: If the original question contained a question word (e.g. who, what, where, when, why, how), you should use the same question word in the reported question. If the original question did not contain a question word, you can use “if” or “whether” to introduce the reported question.

Change the word order: In reported speech, the word order of the question changes from the inverted form to a normal statement form. The subject usually comes before the verb, unless the original question started with a question word.

Here are some examples of reported questions:

Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?”Reported speech: He wanted to know if I had finished my homework. Direct speech: “Where are you going?”Reported speech: She wondered where I was going.

Remember that when making questions in reported speech, the introductory phrases and verb tenses are important to convey the intended meaning accurately.

Here you can find more examples of direct and indirect questions

What is the difference between reported speech an indirect speech?

In reported or indirect speech, you are retelling or reporting what someone said using your own words. The tense of the reported speech is usually shifted back one tense from the tense used in the original statement. For example, if someone said, “I am going to the store,” in reported speech you would say, “He/she said that he/she was going to the store.”

The main difference between reported speech and indirect speech is that reported speech usually refers to spoken language, while indirect speech can refer to both spoken and written language. Additionally, indirect speech is a broader term that includes reported speech as well as other ways of expressing what someone else has said, such as paraphrasing or summarizing.

Examples of direct speech to reported

  • Direct speech: “I am hungry,” she said. Reported speech: She said she was hungry.
  • Direct speech: “Can you pass the salt, please?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked her to pass the salt.
  • Direct speech: “I will meet you at the cinema,” he said. Reported speech: He said he would meet her at the cinema.
  • Direct speech: “I have been working on this project for hours,” she said. Reported speech: She said she had been working on the project for hours.
  • Direct speech: “What time does the train leave?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked what time the train left.
  • Direct speech: “I love playing the piano,” she said. Reported speech: She said she loved playing the piano.
  • Direct speech: “I am going to the grocery store,” he said. Reported speech: He said he was going to the grocery store.
  • Direct speech: “Did you finish your homework?” the teacher asked. Reported speech: The teacher asked if he had finished his homework.
  • Direct speech: “I want to go to the beach,” she said. Reported speech: She said she wanted to go to the beach.
  • Direct speech: “Do you need help with that?” he asked. Reported speech: He asked if she needed help with that.
  • Direct speech: “I can’t come to the party,” he said. Reported speech: He said he couldn’t come to the party.
  • Direct speech: “Please don’t leave me,” she said. Reported speech: She begged him not to leave her.
  • Direct speech: “I have never been to London before,” he said. Reported speech: He said he had never been to London before.
  • Direct speech: “Where did you put my phone?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked where she had put her phone.
  • Direct speech: “I’m sorry for being late,” he said. Reported speech: He apologized for being late.
  • Direct speech: “I need some help with this math problem,” she said. Reported speech: She said she needed some help with the math problem.
  • Direct speech: “I am going to study abroad next year,” he said. Reported speech: He said he was going to study abroad the following year.
  • Direct speech: “Can you give me a ride to the airport?” she asked. Reported speech: She asked him to give her a ride to the airport.
  • Direct speech: “I don’t know how to fix this,” he said. Reported speech: He said he didn’t know how to fix it.
  • Direct speech: “I hate it when it rains,” she said. Reported speech: She said she hated it when it rained.

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