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Reported Speech Notes

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Reported Speech Notes

Uploaded by

paulthomson.sis2024
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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NOTES FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

Rules For Changing Direct Speech To Reported Speech

1. Changes in reporting verb

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

2. Change of pronouns

Direct Speech Indirect Speech


Meeta said, ‘I live in Himachal’.’ Meeta said that he lived in Himachal.

 The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting verb with what is said.
 A first-person and second-person generally change to third person (depending upon
object to reporting verb)
 In case the reporting verb is in present, the tense of verb in reported speech continues to
remain in the present tense.

3. Change of tenses
When we report something after a certain period of time, and what we are talking about has
already happened, we change the tense of the sentence being reported into a corresponding past
tense. Read the following table carefully.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech


Kalpana said, ‘I teach in a school.’ Kalpana said that she taught in a school.
Kalpana said, ‘I am teaching in a school.’ Kalpana said that she was teaching in a school.
Kalpana said, ‘I have taught in a school.’ Kalpana said that she had taught in a school.
Kalpana said, ‘I have been teaching in a school Kalpana said that she had been teaching in a
for the past one year. ’ school for the past one year.
Kalpana said that she had taught in a school for
Kalpana said, ‘I taught in a school for two years.’
two years.
Kalpana said, ‘I was working at a call centre Kalpana said that she had been working at a call
before I started teaching.’ centre before she started teaching.

In general,

 present tense becomes past tense


 present continuous becomes past continuous
 present perfect becomes past perfect
 present perfect continuous becomes past perfect continuous
 Past tense becomes past perfect tense.
 Past continuous becomes past perfect continuous tense.
 Future tense “will” becomes “would”
 Future continuous “will be” becomes “would be”
 Future perfect “will have” becomes “would have”
 Past perfect ,past perfect continuous and future perfect continuous remain unchanged.

4. Change of situations
When we report sentences in indirect speech, the words denoting places or time are changed.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech


Puja said that she had gone to Rohtak the
Puja said, ‘I went to Rohtak last week.’
previous week.
this that
last week the previous week
here there
now then
today that day
yesterday the day before/the previous day
tomorrow the next/coming day
last week the week before/the previous week
next month the next month/the coming month

5. Universal truths
When universal truths are being reported we may choose either to retain the original tense of the
sentence or to change it.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech


The teacher said, ‘The earth is round.’ The teacher said that the earth is round.

6. Questions and answers

Direct Speech Indirect Speech


Rahul asked his sister, ‘Have you taken your Rahul asked his sister if/whether she had taken her
purse?’ (Yes/No question) purse.
Rahul asked his sister, “Where are the keys?’
Rahul asked his sister where the keys were.
(Wh- question)

7. Commands, orders and requests

Direct Speech Indirect Speech


The teacher said, “You must be honest.” The teacher advised the students to be honest.
The policeman said to the driver, “Drive The policeman ordered the driver to drive
cautiously.” cautiously.
The Inspector said to the crowd, “Tell me the The Inspector asked the crowd to tell him the
details.” details.
“Why don’t you take up acting?” I suggested to
I suggested to my sister to take up acting.
my sister.

8. Modals verbs

Direct Speech Indirect Speech


Kunal said, ‘I can drive.’ Kunal said that he could drive.

Changes in modals

 can – could
 will – would
 shall – should
 may – might

Would, should, could, might, ought to and must are unchanged.

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