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REPORTED SPEECH

There are two ways of reporting what a person has said.

1) Direct Speech- We repeat what the speaker has said using quotation marks.
e.g: Ramu said, “I am very busy now.”

2) Indirect / Reported Speech – We give the exact meaning but not the actual words of the
speaker.
eg: Ramu said that he was very busy then.

(Reporting verb - ordered, advised, asked, warned, commanded, reminded, encouraged,

exclaimed, regretted, admitted, apologized, confessed, etc.)

When we change a dialogue from direct to indirect/ reported speech, there is a change in

I Tense run-ran / has gone-had gone / have been eating- has been
eating

II Pronoun I – he/she

III Adverb of time and place Today – that day / yesterday – the day before / the previous
day

IV Punctuation ( ! / ? – Full stop (.))

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V Conjunction and / if / whether

I . CHANGE IN TENSE

1) Simple Present Tense changes into Simple Past

e.g: Krish said, “I am unwell.”
Krish said that he was unwell.

2) Present Continuous Tense changes into Past Continuous tense

e.g: Allen said, “Tom is going to meet me.”
Allen said that Tom was going to meet him.
3) Present Perfect Tense changes into Past Perfect Tense
e.g: She said, “Rick has gone to work.”
She said that Rick had gone to work.

4) Present Perfect Continuous Tense changes into Past Perfect Continuous Tense
eg: Tom said, “I have been waiting since 8 a.m.”
Tom said that he had been waiting since 8 a.m.

5) Simple Past Tense changes into Past Perfect Tense

e.g: He said, “I met Ram on Monday.”
He said that he had met Ram on Monday.

6) Past Continuous Tense changes into Past Perfect Continuous Tense

e.g: He said, “Paul was sleeping when he went to call him.”
He said that Paul had been sleeping when he went to call him.

7) Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous Tense remains the same.

8) Future Tense changes into Conditional

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Can Could
May Might
Will/ shall Would
Should Should
Could Could
Might Might
Would Would
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Ought Ought

e.g: He told me, “We can meet tomorrow.”

He told me that we could meet the following day/ the next day.

He told me, “Tom shall be waiting tomorrow.”

He told me that Tom would be waiting the following day/ the next day.

The teacher said, “The matches will have been going on for a week till June first.”
The teacher said that the matches would have been going on for a week till June First.

Mother assured Tom, “You can ride a cycle without anyone's help if you practice properly.”
Mother assured Tom that he could ride a cycle without anyone's help if he practiced properly.

Note: If the reported verb contains some universal truth or habitual fact, the simple present
tense of its verb remains unchanged whatever the tense the reporting verb may be.
e.g: The teacher said, “ The earth moves around the sun.”
The teacher said that the earth moves around the sun.

I said, “I go for a walk every morning.”

I said that I go for a walk every morning.

II. CHANGE IN PRONOUN

Pronouns normally change from the first or second person to the third person.

Pronoun:
Person Singular Plural

I – Refers to the one who speaks I We

II – Refers to one to whom the words are spoken You You

III – Refers to the person or things spoken of He, She, It They

Personal Possessive Adjective

Pronoun

me my

our our
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you your

he his

She her

they their

it its

eg: I Person changes to III Person

She said, “I prefer coffee to tea.”
She said that she preferred coffee to tea.

e.g: II Person changes to III Person

I said to Ram, “You are wasting your time.”
I said to Ram that he was wasting his time.

Note:
When someone is reporting his own words, pronouns and possessive adjective do not change.
e.g: I said, “I like my car.”
I said that I liked my car.
He asked me, “ How are you doing?”
He asked me how I was doing.

III. CHANGE IN ADVERB OF TIME AND PLACE

Direct Speech Reported speech

Here There
This That
These Those
Now Then
Ago Before
Today That day
Tonight That night
Tomorrow The next day / the following day
yesterday The previous day / the day before
Last night The previous night
Next month The following month
Day before yesterday The day before the previous day / two days before
A year ago A year before / the previous year
thus ago
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Note: the Article ‘The’ is important.

IV. CHANGE IN PUNCTUATION

If the statement in the direct speech is an interrogative or exclamatory sentence with a

question mark or an exclamation mark, they are converted to declarative sentence ending
with a full stop,

V. INCLUSION OF CONJUNCTION

The conjunction

● ‘that’- is placed after the main verb. It is not however necessary ( sometimes omitted)

● ‘If/whether’- is placed after the main verb, in the case of ‘Yes-No’ type questions

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recap:
Four main types of sentences:
Declarative sentences: This type of sentence, also known as a declaration, is generally
used to make a statement. This sentence "declares" a fact or opinion and can be either
positive or negative. Declarative sentences always end with a full stop.
eg: That bird is flying.
I am happy.

Interrogative Sentence: This type of sentence asks a question or requests information.

However, rhetorical questions do not fall into the category of interrogative sentences.
Interrogative sentences always end with a question mark.

eg: When did you turn the lights off?

Do you know how to ride a bike?

Exclamatory Sentence: This type of sentence expresses an exclamation; it is a form of

statement expressing emotion or excitement. Exclamatory sentences always end with an
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exclamation mark to emphasize a statement.

e.g: “Good night!” she said.

Wow! What a dream.
What a beautiful sunrise!

Imperative Sentence: This type of sentence is in the form of a command. This is a

sentence that tells someone to do something. Imperative sentences, when framed strongly
enough, can also be exclamatory. Imperative sentences can also be used to make a request
and end with a full stop.
e.g: Please give me that book.
Finish all your chores before you go out.

Interrogative sentences in reported speech:

1) The pronoun /noun and the auxiliary verb are interchanged

2) If the question begins with a question word like when, where, who, how, why, etc.,
the question word is repeated in the indirect speech.

e.g: He asked her, “How will you do it?”

He asked her how she would do it.

3) In a ‘Yes-No’ type question if / whether is added after the reporting verb:

e.g: He asked, “Ram, have you done your homework?”

He asked Ram if he had done his homework.

e.g: He asked, “Is anyone there?”

He asked if anyone was there.

4) Questions with ‘Do’ ----- ‘Do’ is omitted.

e.g: I asked the clerk, “Do you want to go back?”
I asked the clerk whether/if he wanted to go back.

5) Question with ‘Did’ -------- changes into ‘had’.

e.g: I asked John, “Did you type these letters?”
I asked John if/whether he had typed those letters.
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Imperative sentences in Reported Speech:

1) The verb in the indirect speech is put in the infinitive form ( to + verb): (run – to run/go –
to go)
eg: He ordered Tom, “Get your bat.”
He ordered Tom to get his bat.

2) Negative commands are expressed by placing ‘not’ before the infinitive.

e.g: The inspector commanded, “Don’t move from your place.”
The inspector commanded not to move from his place.

Exclamatory Sentence in Reported Speech:

1) The exclamatory sentence becomes declarative and the signs of the exclamation (!) are
replaced by a full stop.

2) In most cases, the conjunction ‘that’ is used after the reporting verb.
e.g: Tom regretted, “Alas! I have lost all my money.”
Tom regretted that he had lost all his money.

Exercises:

Read the following conversation and complete the passage given below:
1. Mrs. Aruna : Can I have a small bottle of orange juice?
Shopkeeper : Sorry, I have only big bottles.
Mrs. Aruna : When will it be available?
Shopkeeper : I can give it to you tomorrow.
Mrs. Aruna : Thank you, then I’ll get it tomorrow.
Mrs Aruna asked the shopkeeper (a) ………………. The shopkeeper apologised and
said (b) …………. . Mrs Aruna wanted to know (c) ……………………….. . The shopkeeper
said (d) …………………. Mrs Aruna thanked him and said (e) ………………...

2. Mother : You seem so tired. Take some rest.

Suraj : I can’t even think of relaxing. I have lots of homework to do.
Mother : You should not take so much stress.
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Suraj : Don’t worry. Please give me a hot cup of tea.

Mother said to Suraj (a) ……………and also asked him (b) ………….. Suraj replied
(c) ………….. Then the mother advised him (d) ……….. Suraj told his mother (e) ………...

3. Raju : Do you know Varun was hit by a two-wheeler yesterday?

Roy : Oh no! When did it happen?
Raju : He was hit by a scooter on his way back from school yesterday.
Roy : Is he badly hurt?
Raju : Not really, it was only a minor injury.
Raju asked Roy (a) ……………………………... Roy was shocked and wanted to
know (b) ………….. Raju replied (c) ……………………... Roy enquired (d) ………….,
Raju replied (e) ……………...

4. Anita : What do you want to do this morning?

Prakash : I feel like taking a walk. It‘s so nice outside.
Anita : Great, let‘s walk around the lake in the park.
Prakash : It‘s really rocky here.
Anita : Yes, watch your steps so you don‘t trip.

Anita asked Prakash (a) ………….... Prakash answered that he (b) …………..and
added (c) ……………….. outside. Anita agreed to this and suggested (d) ………………..
Then Prakash observed that (e) …………... Anita cautioned him (f) ……………………..