CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Direct and Indirect Speech Notes Set 01

Meaning

When we report what someone said in our own words, without changing the meaning, it is called indirect (reported) speech. Quoting the exact words in inverted commas is direct speech.

Direct: She says, "I am a little bit nervous."
Indirect: She says that she is a little bit nervous.

Key Terms

Reporting speech: the first part (She says). Reported speech: the part in inverted commas. Reporting verb: the verb of the reporting speech (says, said). Reported verb: the verb of the reported speech.

Rule 1: Change of Pronouns

First-person pronouns change according to the subject of the reporting speech. Second-person pronouns change according to the object of the reporting speech. Third-person pronouns do not change.

Rule 2: Change of Tenses

If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the reported speech does not change. Example: He says, "I am ill." becomes He says that he is ill.

If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech moves one step back:

Rule 3: Change of Words of Time and Place

Assertive Sentences

Statements. Use that, and often replace 'said to' with 'told'. Example: She said to me, "I am writing a letter." becomes She told me that she was writing a letter.

Imperative Sentences

Orders, requests, advice and prohibitions. The reporting verb changes to ordered, requested, advised or forbade, and the reported speech becomes an infinitive (to...).

The teacher said to me, "Shut the door." becomes The teacher ordered me to shut the door.
He said to me, "Please shut the door." becomes He requested me to shut the door.
He said to me, "You should work hard." becomes He advised me that I should work hard.
He said to me, "Do not smoke." becomes He forbade me to smoke.

Interrogative Sentences

Questions. 'Said to' becomes asked. Use if or whether for yes/no questions. For questions beginning with who, when, how or why, use that word itself. Put a full stop instead of a question mark, and use the statement order of words.

I said to her, "When do you do your homework?" becomes I asked her when she did her homework.
We said to him, "Are you ill?" becomes We asked him if he was ill.

Exclamatory Sentences

Words that show feelings. Drop the interjection (alas, hurrah) and the exclamation mark. The reporting verb becomes exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow or exclaimed with wonder. 'What' or 'how' becomes very. The sentence becomes a statement.

He said, "Hurrah! I have won the match." becomes He exclaimed with joy that he had won the match.
She said, "Alas! My brother failed." becomes She exclaimed with sorrow that her brother had failed.

Optative Sentences

Wishes and prayers. If the sentence begins with May, the verb becomes prayed, and may becomes might. If it begins with Would, the verb becomes wished.

He said to me, "May you live long!" becomes He prayed that I might live long.
She said, "Would that I were rich!" becomes She wished she had been rich.

Practice Questions with Answers