CBSE Class 5 English Reported Speech Worksheet

Topic – REPORTED SPEECH (NARRATION)'

There are two ways of reproducing the words of a speaker:
• You can reproduce the actual words of the speaker, or
• You can give only the substance or gist of his speech in your own words;
eg., Rekha said, “I am going to school.”
Rekha said that she was going to school.
In the first sentence, we give the exact words of the speaker. This is called Direct Speech.
In the second sentence, we do not reproduce the exact words of the speaker. Instead, we give the gist off what he said. This is called Indirect Speech.''

TWO PARTS OF DIRECT SPEECH

The actual words of the speaker which are put within inverted commas are called Reported Speech.
The verb that introduces the reported speech is called Reporting Verb.
Let‟s understand this through an example

Important points about. Direct Speech:
1. The direct speech is always placed within inverted commas.
2. The first word of the ported speech begins with a capital letter.
3. A comma is placed after the reporting verb to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Important points about Indirect Speech:
1. No inverted commas are used in the indirect speech.
2. No comma is placed after said.
3. The reported speech is generally introduced by the conjunction that.
4. The tense of the verb in the reported speech is changed from the present to the past. Personal pronouns, possessive adjectives and words denoting nearness of time and position also change; as,

He said, „I am going to meet my friend today.‟
He said that he was going to meet his friend that day.

RULES FOR THE CHANGE OF TENSES

Assertive Sentences

1. If the reporting verb is in the present tense or future tense, the tense of the verbs in the reported speech does not change. Eg.
(a) The boy says, “I am reading.” (b) Sachin will say, “I learn a lesson.”
The boy says that he is reading Sachin will say that he learns a lesson.

2. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tenses in the reported speech are changed into the past tense. Look at the following:
• Present Indefinite (do/does)                (did) Past Indefinite
• Present Continuous (Is are/am)          (was/were) Past Continuous
• Present Perfect (has/have)                 (had) Past Perfect
• Past Indefinite (did)                             (had done) Past Perfect
• Past Perfect (had done)                      (had done) Past Perfect (no change)
• Past Continuous                                 Past Perfect Continuous
• shall                                                    should
• will                                                      would
• may                                                     might
• can                                                      could

3. If the reported speech expresses a universal truth, a habitual fact, a historical fact, a geographical fact or a scientific fact, its tense is not changed. These are exceptions to the above rule.
(a) The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”
The teacher saidd that the sun rises in the east.
(b) My father said, “I go for a morning walk daily.”
My father said that he goes for a morning walk daily.

RULES FOR THE CHANGE OF PRONOUNS AND POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

1. Pronouns and possessive adjectives of the first person (I, We) are changed into pronouns and possessive adjectives of the same person as that of the subject of the reporting verb. eg.,
I said, “I am going to my native place.”
I said that I was going to my native place.

2. Pronouns & possessive adjectives of the second person (You) are changed into pronouns and possessive adjectives f the same person as that of the object f the reporting verb. eg.,
He said to me, “Your brother obeys to you.”
He told me that my brother obeyed to me.

3. Pronouns and possessive adjectives of the third person (He, She, It, They, etc.) are not changed. eg.,
I said, “She is washing her clothes.”
I said that she was washing her clothes
Note: If the reporting verb „said‟ is followed by an object it is changed into „told‟. The verb told is not followed by the preposition to.

TIME EXPRESSIONS AND PLACE

The words indicating time or place are changed in the following manner in indirect speech

Interrogative Sentences

1. The reporting verb is changed into ask, enquire, demand, etc.

2. No conjunction is used when the sentence begins with question words such as who, which, what, where, whose, whom, why, when, etc.

3. We use if or whether as a conjunction if the sentence begins with verbs like is, are, am, were, do, does, did, will, would, shall, should, can, could, etc.

Eg. Ratna said, “Where is the book?” Ratna asked me where the book was.

EXERCISE

Write the following sentences in indirect speech:

1. He has said, “Tea is ready.”

2. Mother said, “I go to the market.”

3. He said, “Amit does his work.”

4. The teacher said, “I am going out for two months.”

5. Boys said, “Our school has won the first prize.”

6. The teacher said, “The Principal delivered a speech.”

7. Jolly said, “Smita had got good marks.”

8. Ruchi said, “The naughty boy was riding a horse.”

9. Rohit said, “I can do this work.”

10. He said, “The Thar Desert is in Rajasthan.”

11. You said, “I do my homework.”

12. Kamal said to me, “Rohan works hard.”

13. Ravi said, “My father will come tomorrow.”

14. He said, “I met her two days ago.”

15. Priya said, “I found a one – rupee note here.”

16. My mother said to me, “What are you learning?”

17. The teacher said to me, “What is your name?”

18. He said to me, “Where do you stay?”

19. The woman said to me, “Is it raining?”

20. He said, “I love animals.”

21. The teacher said, “The earth revolves around the sun.”

22. He said to me, “Where is Mukul?”

23. Rani said to Ankit, “Am I late?”

24. The peon says, “I am going to ring the bell.”

25. He said to me, “You may stay here.”

26. The boy said, “My father is coming today.”

27. He said, “I have seen the Taj Mahal.”

28. He said, “My mother is knitting a sweater for me.”

29. He said to me, “Where do you live?”

30. Vipul said, “I have done my work.”

31. Rajesh said to me, “You will prove to be a good detective.”

32. Monica said, “She knows her subject very will.”

33. The old woman said to her son, “I love you very much.”

4. My friend said to me, “Yesterday I found a purse full of money.”

35. Mother said to the children, “Do not disturb me.”

36. The doctor said to me, “Stop eating fried and spicy things.”

REPORTED SPEECH TENSE CONVERSION RULES