GRAMMAR: (Direct and Indirect Speech).
Rules for changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech:
- In the Indirect speech, no inverted commas are used.
- The conjunctions that, if, whether, etc are generally used after the reporting verbs.
- 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.
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 pronoun of the third person does not change.
Change the sentences into Indirect Speech.
1. Amit said, “I saw a bear in the forest.”
Ans: Amit said that he had seen a bear in the forest.
2. He said, I can repair this cycle”.
Ans: He said that he could repair that cycle.
3. I said, ” I don’t agree to what she said”.
Ans: I said that I did not agree to what she said.
4. The boy said to the teacher, ” I am sorry that I am late.”
Ans: The boy told the teacher that he was sorry that he was late.
5. The old woman said, “I am not well”.
Ans: The old woman said that she was not well.
6. He said to me, “I was ironing the clothes”.
Ans: He told me that he had been ironing the clothes.
7. She said to me, “open the doors and window”.
Ans: She ordered me to open the doors and window.
8. I said to my sister, “please bring me a glass of water”.
Ans: I requested my sister to bring me a glass of water.
9. The captain said to the soldiers,” attack the enemy quickly”.
Ans: The captain commanded the soldiers to attack the enemy quickly.
10. The teacher said the students, “listen to me carefully”.
Ans: The teacher asked the students to listen to her carefully.
Questions for Practice:
Change the sentences into Indirect Speech.
1. He said “I will do it now.”
2. He says, “honesty is the best policy.”
3. Ramesh says , “ I have written a letter.”
4. She asked me ” are you reading a book.”
5. The captain said, “Bravo! well done , my boys.”
6. He asked her, “why are you sitting quietly?”
7. Our teacher said , “the earth revolves round the sun.”
8. The teacher said to the boys , “do not make a noise”
9. He said to her, “ this is my sister”
10. Hamid said to me, “come in”.