Direct and Indirect Speech

Activity - 1

Now put their comments in reported speech:

  • 1. The Samaj reported that _______.

-> The Samaj reported that the show was brilliant.

  • 2. The reporters from the Sambad reported that _______.

-> The reporters from the Sambad reported that it had made them jump up in delight.

  • 3. The Dharitri reported that _______.

-> The Dharitri reported that they couldn't have a better show.

  • 4. The Dinalipi reported that _______.

-> The Dinalipi reported that the audience / people would love it.

  • 5. The Prajatantra reported that _______.

-> The Prajatantra reported that the audience / people shouldn't miss it.

  • 6. The Matrubhasa reported that _______.

-> The Matrubhasa reported that his performance was outstanding.

Activity - 2

Report the conversation to your mother the next day using indirect speech:

Last Sunday morning I met my cousin Makhan.

  • 1. He told me that he'd like to go to a good college, but his parents couldn't afford to pay the fees.
  • 2. He added that he was living with a friend and working part-time.
  • 3. He said that he was enjoying his work.
  • 4. He further said that his friend had got a scholarship for his higher studies.
  • 5. He promised that he would tell his mother about our meeting.
  • 6. Finally, he expressed his desire that he wanted to have his lunch with me.

Activity - 3

Rewrite the following statements in Indirect Speech:

  • 1. Rakhal said, "I shall never forget my childhood days."

-> Rakhal said that he would never forget his childhood days.

  • 2. The children said, "We play football everyday."

-> The children said that they play football everyday. (Habitual action)

  • 3. The man said, "The house is on fire."

-> The man said that the house was on fire.

  • 4. She says, "I don't like sweets."

-> She says that she doesn't like sweets. (Reporting verb in present tense)

  • 5. The guide said, "Puri is famous for the temple of Lord Jagannath."

-> The guide said that Puri is famous for the temple of Lord Jagannath. (Geographical / Historical fact)

  • 6. The teacher said, "The earth moves round the sun."

-> The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun. (Universal truth)

  • 7. Father said, "Spring comes after winter."

-> Father said that spring comes after winter. (General truth)

  • 8. He has said, "My son is going to hospital for treatment."

-> He has said that his son is going to hospital for treatment. (Reporting verb in present perfect)

Activity - 4

Rewrite the following in indirect speech:

  • (i) Rabi said to me, "I know where you were born."

-> Rabi told me that he knew where I had been born (or: where I was born).

  • (ii) Father said, "Morning is at six today."

-> Father said that morning was at six that day.

  • (iii) She said, "I'll help you in the hour of your need."

-> She told me that she would help me in the hour of my need.

  • (iv) He said, "I collected these pebbles at the seashore."

-> He said that he had collected those pebbles at the seashore.

  • (v) I said to him, "You didn't keep fit last year."

-> I told him that he hadn't kept fit the previous year.

  • (vi) The teacher said to me, "You must work hard for your examination."

-> The teacher told me that I must work hard (or: had to work hard) for my examination.

  • (vii) The doctor said to me, "You mustn't smoke".

-> The doctor advised me mustn't smoke (or: not to smoke / that I wasn't to smoke).

  • (viii) Sushil said, "We celebrate our Republic Day on 26th January every year."

-> Sushil said that they celebrate their Republic Day on 26th January every year. (General fact)

  • (ix) He said, "I was playing the violin every morning last year."

-> He said that he had been playing the violin every morning the previous year.

  • (x) He said, "These are my toys."

-> He said that those were his toys.

Activity - 5

The wedding of your sister has just been over. Your friend Mahesh asks you a lot of questions about the bridegroom. Now report, in indirect speech, the questions Mahesh asked you.

  • (i) What is the name of your sister's husband?

-> Mahesh asked me what the name of my sister's husband was.

  • (ii) What is he doing?

-> Mahesh asked me what he was doing.

  • (iii) Where is he posted at present?

-> Mahesh asked me where he was posted at that time.

  • (iv) Has he ever been abroad?

-> Mahesh asked me if he had ever been abroad.

  • (v) How long did he stay there?

-> Mahesh asked me how long he had stayed there.

  • (vi) Has he ever gone to Australia ?

-> Mahesh asked me if he had ever gone to Australia.

  • (vii) What salary does he get?

-> Mahesh asked me what salary he got.

  • (viii) Will his salary increase next year?

-> Mahesh asked me if his salary would increase the following year.

Activity - 6

The Programme Assistant asked your father the following questions. Report them in indirect speech :

  • (i) Why is this day observed in the whole of India ?

-> The Programme Assistant asked my father why that day is observed in the whole of India.

  • (ii) What difference do you mark between the education imparted now and that which was imparted at your time ?

-> The Assistant asked him what difference he marked between the education imparted then and that which had been imparted at his time.

  • (iii) What is your impression on the teachers working at present and those who were working at your time?

-> The Assistant inquired what his impression was on the teachers working at that time and those who had been working at his time.

  • (iv) Do you think that the system of education has improved a lot?

-> The Assistant asked him if he thought that the system of education had improved a lot.

  • (v) Haven't the students become more knowledgeable than before?

-> The Assistant asked him if the students hadn't become more knowledgeable than before.

  • (vi) Has their conduct changed for the better?

-> The Assistant wanted to know if their conduct had changed for the better.

  • (vii) Will they grow into good citizens of our country?

-> The Assistant asked if they would grow into good citizens of their country.

  • (viii) What message do you have for the students of our country?

-> The Assistant asked him what message he had for the students of their country.

Activity - 7

Turn into indirect speech:

  • (i) "Consult a doctor immediately," he said to me.

-> He advised me to consult a doctor immediately.

  • (ii) "Hurry up, or you will miss the train," he said to me.

-> He warned me to hurry up, otherwise I would miss the train.

  • (iii) "Don't get addicted to tea," he said to me.

-> He advised me not to get addicted to tea.

  • (iv) "Your mouth smells foul. Don't open it," he said.

-> He told me that my mouth smelt foul and ordered me not to open it.

  • (v) The captain said, "Hurrah! We have scored two goals!"

-> The captain exclaimed with joy that they had scored two goals.

  • (vi) The General said, "Bravo! You have done wonders !"

-> The General applauded them, saying that they had done wonders.

  • (vii) The teacher said to Nirmal, "What a lazy boy you are!"

-> The teacher exclaimed that Nirmal was a very lazy boy.

  • (viii) My friend said to me, "How nice of you to have come !"

-> My friend exclaimed that it was very nice of me to have come.

  • (ix) The traveller said, "Farewell, friends."

-> The traveller bade farewell to his friends.

  • (x) The beggar, "Oh, for a morsel of food !"

-> The beggar cried out / wished earnestly for a morsel of food.

  • (xi) "If only I had the wings of a dove!" he said.

-> He wished eagerly that he had the wings of a dove.

Activity - 8

Turn the following short narrative piece into Indirect Speech:

Answer:

Maggie asked me if I was leaving that day. I replied in the affirmative and added that that day was the day of my departure. Then she wanted to know how long it would take to reach my country and in which part of the country I lived. I replied that I lived in Punjab, in the west. Finally, with tears in her eyes, she requested me to put a flower on her brother's grave.