Reported Speech

• ENGLISH
• Secondary Education

0

Fill in the blanks with correct tense forms.

“I am playing the guitar”, she explained.

1. She explained that she was playing the guitar.
2. She explained that she is playing the guitar.
3. She explained that she played the guitar.
4. She explained that she had been playing the guitar.

When the original statement is in the present continuous tense, it changes to the past continuous tense in indirect speech.

"I have been to Spain", he told me.

1. He told me that he has been to Spain.
2. He told me that he had been to Spain.
3. He told me that he went to Spain.
4. He told me that he have been to Spain.

When the original statement is in the present perfect tense, it changes to the past perfect tense in indirect speech.

Arpit said to his father," Neena has broken the glass."
Arpit told his father that Neena ________ the glass.

1. had broken
2. has been broken
3. have broken
4. None of these

Arpit says to his father," Neena has broken the glass."
Arpit tells his father that Neena ________ the glass.

1. had broken
2. has broken
3. have broken
4. None of these

Rules:

If the reporting verb is in the Present or Future tenses, then no change is made to the spoken verb tense .

He says, “I am sitting in the garden.”

He says that he is sitting in the garden.

Rules:Direct to Indirect

• Simple Present  To Simple Past
• Present Continuous to Past Continuous
• Present Perfect to Past Perfect
• Present Perfect Continuous to Past Perfect Continuous

The teacher said, "Water boils at 100'C."
The teacher said that water _________ at 100'C.

1. boiled
2. boils

EXCEPTION

The Simple Present stating a universal truth/ proverb/ habitual action does not change.

Avantika said, "Metals expand when heated."
Avantika said that metals ________ when heated.

1. expanded
2. expand

Direct Speech: The teacher said, "Gandhiji was born on 2 October."
The above sentence in the reported speech will be:
The teacher said that Gandhiji was born on 2nd October.

1. True
2. False

EXCEPTION

Simple Past stating a past historic event remains unchanged.

Charles said to the Mother, "I will tell you the truth."
Charles told Mother that ______ tell _____ the truth.

1. he would, her
2. he will, her

Rama said to Roshan, "I am waiting for you now."
Rama told Roshan that ___ was waiting for ______.

1. he, him then
2. he, him now
3. I, he then
4. None of these

He said, "It may rain today."
He said that it _____ rain ____.

1. may, today
2. might, that day
3. might, today
4. None of these

Mr. Sharma said to Ali," You are supposed to come home early tonight."
Mr. Sharma told Ali that _____ was supposed to ___ home early ______.

1. he, go, that night
2. he, come, that night
3. you, go, that night
4. None of these

Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

DRAG and DROP

had to

the next day

them

in two days' time

so

'must' changes to _____ in reported speech.

'tomorrow' changes to ______ in reported speech.

The personal pronoun 'us' changes to _______ in reported speech.

'the day after tomorrow' changes to ______ in reported speech.

'just' changes to _____ in the reported speech.

Interrogative sentences

Keep in mind to identify the 'wh question' and 'yes/no question'.

• Yes/No- 'if/whether' is used in the reported speech
• Question word questions- The question word is repeated in the reported speech

Fill in the blanks with correct tense forms.

He said to me, "Where do you stay in Delhi?"
He ________ me ________ I stayed in Delhi.

1. said, where
2. asked, where
3. asked, if
4. None of these

He said to his wife, "How many dishes are you cooking tonight?"
He asked his wife _______ many dishes she was cooking __________.

1. how, tonight
2. how, that night
3. that how
4. None of these

She said to me, "Do you believe in ghosts?"
She _____ me _______________ in ghosts.

1. said, do I believe
2. asked, if I believed
3. asked, if I believe
4. None of these

Lucy said to me, "Did the storm cause a lot of damage?
Lucy asked me ____________ the storm _________ a lot of damage.

1. whether, had caused
2. whether, caused
3. if, caused
4. None of these

"Would you believe him after this treachery?" I said to him.
I _______ him _____________ believe him after that treachery.

1. asked, if he would
2. if, he believed
3. if, he would
4. None of these

IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

Keep in mind to use verbs like tell, order, command, beg, urge, remind, warn, remind, advise, instruct, request in reported speech.

Fill in the blanks with correct tense forms.

The teacher said to the boys, "Sit down."
The teacher ___________ the boys ___ sit down.

1. ordered, to
2. asked, that
3. asked, to
4. None of these

"Don't get wet in the rain children," said the mother.
The mother ________ the children _________ get wet in the rain.

1. warned, to not
2. warned, not to

He said, "Let us go for a vacation to the hills."
He _______________ that ______ should go for a vacation to the hills.

1. advised, we
2. asked, they
3. suggested, we
4. None of these

He said to her, "Please lend me your book for a day."
He ______________ her to lend _______ her book for a day.

1. asked, no word
2. requested, him
3. said, no word
4. None of these

Keep in mind

• In sentences beginning with 'let', the Reporting Verb is changed into 'proposed' or ' suggested. In place of the infinitive, 'should+ verb' is used.
• In the sentences beginning with 'Please', we omit the word from indirect speech but change it into 'request', 'beg', or something similar.
• Negative sentences are expressed by not + infinitive (to+ verb in the root form)

Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

Remember that

• The reported verb is changed into exclaimed, declared, wished, etc according to the tone of the speaker.
• The exclamation mark (!) disappears in the reported speech.

He said, "What a beautiful sunset!"
He _____________ that _______ a beautiful sunset.

1. exclaimed with delight, it was
2. exclaimed with sorrow, was it

"What a tall building the Burj Khalifa is!" said the tourist.
The tourist ___________ that the Burj Khalifa is a tall building.

1. exclaimed with delight
2. exclaimed with wonder

"Ugh! How dirty the streets of the town are!" said the Mayor.
The mayor exclaimed with _________ that the streets of that town were dirty.

1. wonder
2. disgust
3. surprise

The old woman said, "Alas! All my belongings have been washed away in the floods."
The old woman exclaimed with _________ that all her belongings __________ washed away in the floods.

1. sorrow, had been
2. disgust, are washed
3. surprise, had been

The children said, "Yippee !!! We are going to the zoo."
The children exclaimed with __________ that they were going to the zoo.

1. joy
2. wonder
3. surprise

Point to note

Exclamations with 'O God!' are changed to

He called upon God with 'regret'/'sadness'/'disappointment'.