CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 25 Direct- Indirect Speech
Let us quickly revise the rules for changing Direct Speech into Reported (Indirect) Speech.
Rule 1. Tense Changes
A) When the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense then :
- The Simple Present changes into the Simple Past.
- The Present Continuous changes into the Past Continuous.
- The Present Perfect changes into the Past Perfect.
Direct: Sita said, “Ram works hard.”
Indirect: Sita said that Ram worked hard.
Direct: Sita said, “Rani is working hard.”
Indirect: Sita said that Rani was working hard.
Direct: Sita said, “Rani has worked hard.”
Indirect: Sita said that Rani had worked hard.
Note: If the reporting verb is in the present tense or future tense, then no changes are made.
Examples:
Sita says, “Rani works hard.”
Sita says that Rani works hard.
Sita will say, “Rani works hard”
Sita will say that Rani works hard.
B) The Simple Past changes into Past perfect. There is no change in other Past forms.
Direct: Sita said, “Rani worked hard.”
Indirect: Sita said that Rani had worked hard.
C) The Simple Future and Future Continuous change to the Conditional form with would used instead of will and shall.
Direct: Sita said, “Lots of people will help you.”
Indirect: Sita said that lots of people would help me.
Note:
- is / are / am changes into was / were.
- was / were – had been
- had / been – no change
- has / have – had
- had – no change
- do – did
- did – had done
- had done – no change
- will / shall – would
Direct: Sita said, “Lots of people will be willing to help you.”
Indirect: Sita said that lots of people would be willing to help me
D) The modals usually do no change their form would/should/might/could/ought to/used to.
Only: may/can — might/could; must — had to
Sometimes shall changes into should.
Direct: I said, “I shall try to help her.”
Indirect: I said that I should try to help her.
Direct: Rani said, “Meera may be leaving the school.”
Indirect: Rani said that Meera might be leaving the school.
Direct: Rani said, “You can do this sum.”
Indirect: Rani said that I could do this sum.
Note: Remember if the Reported Speech contains some universal or habitual fact, then the Simple Present in the Reported Speech is not changed into Simple Past. It remains unchanged.
Examples:
Direct: The teacher said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
Indirect: The teacher said that honesty is the best policy.
Direct: Sita said, “God loves all human beings.”
Indirect: Sita said that God loves all human beings.
E) Rule 2. Pronoun Changes
- When the speaker is reporting his/her own words, no change is made in the person.
- Pronouns in the second persons are changed in the Indirect speech to the same person or noun.
- The verb said in Direct Speech becomes told in the Indirect and the preposition to is omitted.
- Pronouns in the Third Person in Direct Speech remain the same in the Indirect Speech.
- No change of person is made when the Speech is reported to the person to whom it is first addressed.
Direct: I said, “I will not go there.”
Indirect: I said that I would not go there.
Direct: Rama said, “The teacher likes me.”
Indirect: Rama said that the teacher liked her.
Direct: Sita said to me, “You are a liar.”
Indirect: Sita told me that I was a liar.
Direct: Sita said to her, “You have worked very hard.”
Indirect: Sita told her that she had worked very hard.
Direct: Harish said to me, “I am not well.”
Indirect: Harish told me that he was not well.
Direct: Harish said to you, “You are very honest.”
Indirect: Harish said to you that you were very honest.
F) Rule 3. Changes In Expressions Of Time
Examples:
Direct: Sita said, “I will go to Pune, tomorrow.”
Indirect: Sita said that she would go to Pune the next day.
Direct: Sita said, “I went to a movie last night.”
Indirect: Sita said that she had gone to a movie the night before / or the previous night.
G) Rule 4. Nearness Changes To Distance
Examples:
Direct: He said, “I am busy now.”
Indirect: He said that he was busy then.
Direct: Sita said, “I have seen this girl before.”
Indirect: Sita said that she had seen that girl before
Important: Instead of said, the following word can be used for the reporting verb : told, assured, remembered, promised, explained, reminded, argued, etc.
Examples:
- Direct: Sita said to Radhika, “Do not worry, many girls will help you in the hostel.”
Indirect: Sita assured Radhika that many girls would help her in the hostel and she should not worry. - Direct: Father said to me, “I will give you a present when you finish this work.”
Indirect: Father promised that he would give me a present when I finished that work.
OR
Father promised to give me a present when I would finish that work.
Exercise-1
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech:—
Question 1. Our teacher said to us, “Do not make a noise while I am away.”
Answer: Our teacher told us not to make a noise while she was away.
Question 2. “I haven’t seen you for ages,” said Leela to her cousin Sumit.
Answer: Leela told her cousin Sumit that she hadn’t seen him for ages.
Question 3. The detective said to Raman, “I saw you at the hotel last week.”
Answer: The detective told Raman that he had seen him at the hotel the previous week.
Question 4. He said, “Key West is the southern most point of the United States.”
Answer: He said that Key West is the southernmost point of the United States.
Question 5. My mother said to me, “I think your friend Tania is not a trustworthy girl.”
Answer: My mother told me that she thought my friend Tania was not a trustworthy girl.
Question 6. My father said to my brother, “Pay attention while you are driving.”
Answer: My father advised my brother to pay attention while he was driving.
Question 7. My friend said, “I will bring your birthday cake in the evening.”
Answer: My friend said that she would bring my birthday cake in the evening.
Question 8. Rashmi said, “Please help in carrying these heavy packages to my car.”
Answer: Rashmi requested me to help her in carrying those heavy packages to her car.
Question 9. “Don’t put any sugar in my coffee,” said my friend to me.
Answer: My friend asked me not to put any sugar in her coffee.
Question 10. The shopkeeper said to my friend, “Buy this pair of shoes. They are the latest design and will last you a long time.”
Answer: The shopkeeper persuaded my friend to buy that pair of shoes, saying they were the latest design and would last him a long time.
H) 5. Rules For Reporting Questions
1. The introductory verb is changed to ask, inquire, demand or some other word having a similar meaning.
2. When the direct question has a yes or no for an answer, if or whether is used after the introductory verb.
The conjunction that is not used after asked or while reporting wh-questions.
Remember the interrogative form is changed into a declarative one.
- Direct: My neighbour said to me, “What is your dog’s name?”
Indirect: My neighbour asked me what my dog’s name was. - Direct: My friend said to me, “Are you going to the football match?”
Indirect: The friend inquired whether I was going to the football match. - Direct: Neetu said, “Where have you been for the last one month?”
Indirect: Neetu asked where I had been for the last one month.
Exercise-2
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech:—
Question 1. My mother said to me, “Are your brothers playing in the garden?”
Answer: My mother asked me if my brothers were playing in the garden.
Question 2. The teacher said to the boys, “When did the match end?”
Answer: The teacher asked the boys when the match had ended.
Question 3. The master said, “Mohan, why didn’t you inform me earlier about this accident?”
Answer: The master asked Mohan why he hadn’t informed him earlier about that accident.
Question 4. “Please Sir, can I have some more food?” said Oliver.
Answer: Oliver politely asked the sir if he could have some more food.
Question 5. My father said to me, “Have you paid the electricity bill?”
Answer: My father asked me whether I had paid the electricity bill.
Question 6. The Director said to the young applicant for the job, “Is it for the first time you have applied for a manager’s post?”
Answer: The Director asked the young applicant if it was the first time he had applied for a manager’s post.
Question 7. She said to the beautician, “How can I lose weight?”
Answer: She asked the beautician how she could lose weight.
Question 8. “Why don’t you come over for dinner on Friday?” Sheila said to me.
Answer: Sheila invited me/suggested that I come over for dinner on Friday.
I) 6. Commands And Requests
Exercise-3
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech. Use the words given in box for the Introductory Verb “said”: —
command, advise, beseech, request, deny, order, promise, remind, apologise, inform
Question 1. The nurse said to me, “The doctor can spare only a few minutes for you.”
Answer: The nurse informed me that the doctor could spare only a few minutes for me.
Question 2. The boy said, “I didn’t hit Ramesh.”
Answer: The boy denied that he had hit Ramesh.
Question 3. The gardener said to the boys, “Get off the grass immediately.”
Answer: The gardener commanded/ordered the boys to get off the grass immediately.
Question 4. Jasbir said to his mother, “I will tidy up my room when I come back from the match.”
Answer: Jasbir promised his mother that he would tidy up his room when he came back from the match.
Question 5. Radha said to her teacher, “I am sorry I forgot to do the homework.”
Answer: Radha apologised to her teacher for forgetting to do the homework.
Question 6. My brother said to me, “Remember to thank your friend for his help.”
Answer: My brother reminded me to thank my friend for his help.
Question 7. The mother said to them, “I beg you not to hurt my child.”
Answer: The mother beseeched them not to hurt her child.
Question 8. The Instructor said, “Don’t cry, you try again to do the exercise.”
Answer: The Instructor advised them not to cry and to try again to do the exercise.
Question 9. “Would you please lend me your camera?” said the boy to his friend.
Answer: The boy requested his friend to lend him his camera.
Question 10. The teacher said to the boy, “You must work hard if you want to win the scholarship.”
Answer: The teacher advised the boy to work hard if he wanted to win the scholarship.
J) 7. Exclamations And Wishes
Rule 1. The introductory verb is changed into wish, exclaim, pray, cry, bless, or some other similar verb.
Rule 2. The sign of exclamation is omitted.
Rule 3. The words of exclamation like, hurrah, alas, etc, are omitted.
Examples:
Direct: He said, “May you live long!”
Indirect: He wished that he might live long.
Direct: Rani said, “Bravo! you have played well.”
Indirect: Rani applauded him and said he had played well.
Direct: “What a clever fellow you are!” The boy said.
Indirect: The boy praised him and said he was a clever fellow.
Exercise-4
Change the following into Indirect Speech
Question 1. “Oh! what a lovely dress,” said Roshini.
Answer: Roshini exclaimed with delight that it was a very lovely dress.
Question 2. “Happy New Year,” said John to Mary.
Answer: John wished Mary a Happy New Year.
Question 3. “Alas ! I lost my best gold chain,” said Rani to her friend.
Answer: Rani lamented to her friend that she had lost her best gold chain.
Question 4. “What a tragedy!” said he.
Answer: He exclaimed that it was a great tragedy.
Question 5. “May God bless you for your kindness!” said the poor boy to his master.
Answer: The poor boy prayed that God might bless his master for his kindness.
K) Study carefully how the following conversation has been changed into Reported speech.
Sameer: “Oh, I am so sorry to be so late, Kabir.”
Kabir: “Yes you are late, but it doesn’t matter. Some friends have yet to come.”
Sameer: “Can I help you in doing something?”
Kabir: “Yes, please help me in setting the table.”
Sameer apologised to his friend Kabir for being so late for his party.
Kabir agreed that Sameer was late but added that it did not matter as some friends had yet to come.
Sameer requested if he could help by doing something.
Kabir then requested Sameer to help him in setting the table.
Exercise-5
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech
Question 1. The teacher cried out angrily, “What are you doing, Raman? If you do not attend to the lesson, I shall send you to the Headmaster and you will be punished. Look into your book and do not let me catch you playing again.”
Answer: The teacher angrily demanded of Raman what he was doing. She warned him that if he did not attend to the lesson, she would send him to the Headmaster and he would be punished. She sternly ordered him to look into his book and not let her catch him playing again.
Question 2. Next morning at breakfast his wife said to him, “George, I think I can tell what is wrong with our clock.” “Well, what is it?” he sharply asked. “It wants winding up,” said his partner quietly.
Answer: Next morning at breakfast, his wife told George that she thought she could tell what was wrong with their clock. He sharply asked her what it was, and his partner quietly replied that it wanted winding up.
Question 3. The father said angrily to his son, “Where have you been all this time? I saw you here last at ten in the morning. Go at once and change for dinner.”
Answer: The father angrily asked his son where he had been all that time. He added that he had seen him there last at ten in the morning and commanded him to go at once and change for dinner.
Question 4. “What will you give me if I spin this straw into gold?” he asked. “You shall have the ring from my finger,” said the girl.
Answer: He asked what she would give him if he spun that straw into gold. The girl replied that he would have the ring from her finger.
Question 5. “Will you come to my palace with me and be my wife?” said the king. “Yes”, said she, “if you allow me to have my fawn with me always.”
Answer: The king asked if she would come to his palace with him and be his wife. She agreed but added that she would do so only if he allowed her to have her fawn with her always.
Question 6. He said, “Who are you to speak to me like this? Don’t you know that I am your master and you are my servant? You must carry out my orders, whether you like them or not.”
Answer: He angrily demanded who they were to speak to him like that. He asked if they didn’t know that he was their master and they were his servants. He declared that they must carry out his orders, whether they liked them or not.
Question 7. “Are you angry, my friends,” said the king, “Because you have lost your leader? I am your king; I will be your leader.”
Answer: The king asked his friends if they were angry because they had lost their leader. He reminded them that he was their king and assured them that he would be their leader.
Question 8. “Curse it!” exclaimed the driver. “Who could have foreseen such ill-luck? But for the accident we should have reached home before the sunset.”
Answer: The driver cursed and exclaimed that no one could have foreseen such ill-luck. He added that but for the accident, they would have reached home before sunset.
Question 9. The traveller said to the policeman, “Can you tell me the way to the nearest hotel?” “Yes,” said the policeman, “Do you want one in which you can spend the night?” “No,” replied the traveller, “I only want a meal.”
Answer: The traveller asked the policeman if he could tell him the way to the nearest hotel. The policeman confirmed and asked whether he wanted one where he could spend the night. The traveller replied negatively, explaining that he only wanted a meal.
Question 10. “You say,” said the judge, “The bag you lost contained one hundred and ten rupees.” “Yes, your Honour,” replied the miser. “Then as this one contains one hundred rupees it cannot be yours.”
Answer: The judge noted that the miser claimed the bag he had lost contained one hundred and ten rupees. The miser affirmed this, addressing the judge as “your Honour.” The judge then concluded that since the found bag contained one hundred rupees, it couldn’t be his.
L) 8. Conversion Of Indirect Into Direct
Study the following sentences carefully:—
Indirect: My mother said that she had gone to the Mall the day before.
Direct: My mother said, “I went to the Mall yesterday.”
Indirect: The instructor asked me if I had played football before.
Direct: The instructor said to me, “Have you played football before?”
Indirect: My son requested me to lend him the car for a day.
Direct: My son said to me, “Please lend me your car for a day.”
Indirect: We all exclaimed with joy that Abhinav Bindra had won a gold medal for India.
Direct: We said, “Hurrah! Abhinav Bindra has won a gold medal for India.”
Exercise-6
Turn the following into Direct Speech
Question 1. The policeman ordered the driver to step out of the car.
Answer: The policeman ordered, “Step out of the car!”
Question 2. The policeman charged the driver with speeding.
Answer: The policeman said to the driver, “You are speeding!”
Question 3. The driver denied the charge.
Answer: The driver exclaimed, “I deny the charge!”
Question 4. The policeman insisted that he did and would have to pay a fine for speeding.
Answer: The policeman insisted, “You did speed, and you will have to pay a fine!”
Question 5. The driver protested but then gave Rs 600 as fine.
Answer: The driver protested, “This is unfair!” but then said, “Here is Rs 600 as fine.”
Note: Punctuation in Direct Speech.
- The first word of the quoted speech is written in capital letters. The full stop, the question mark, the exclamation mark and the comma come inside the inverted commas.
Example: “She is on a holiday,” she said.
The comma comes outside the inverted commas only when you begin the sentence with a reporting verb.
He said, “Will you sing for me?”
Each time the speaker changes we start a new paragraph.