CBSE Class 7 English Direct Indirect Speech Worksheet Set A

Change the following into indirect speech using appropriate reporting verbs :

Question. The Doctor said, “The operation should begin as soon as possible”.
Answer : The doctor warned that the operation had to begin as soon as possible.

Question. The landlord said, “Open the door at now”.
Answer : The landlord ordered the door to be opened at that moment.

Question. The father said, I want to see all of your living happily”.
Answer : The father expressed that he wanted to see all of them lining happily.

Question. “Please wait with me till my parents arrive”, the little girl told the teacher.
Answer : The little girl requested the teacher to wait with her till parents arrived.

Question. The scientist said, “Let us wait and watch what will happen”.
Answer : The teacher advised that if we put in our best we would emerge a champion.

Question. The little girl said, “How pretty I look”.
Answer : The little girl exclaimed that she looked very pretty.

Question. The chief guest announces, “It gives me great pleasure to give away the prizes”.
Answer : The chief guest announces that it gives him great pleasure to give away the prizes.

Question. Which road should I take to reach my destination”? asked the traveller.
Answer : The traveller enquired which road he should take to reach his destination.

Question. He said to me, “What are you intending to do?”
Answer : He asked me what I was intending to do.

Question. The teacher said “If you put in your best, you will emerge a champion”.
Answer : The scientist proposed that they should wait and watch, what would happen.

Change the following into Direct Speech. 

Question. She asked me what I did for a living.
Answer : She enquired, “What do you do for a living?”

Question. She commented that it was a pleasant day.
Answer : She commented, “It is a pleasant day”.

Question. The fox warned that it would teach him a fine lesson one day.
Answer : The fox warned, “I will teach you a fine lesson one day”.

Question. My mother advised me to eat healthy in order to stay fit.
Answer : My mother advised me, “Eat healthy in order to stay fit”.

Question. I informed her that I didn’t speak French.
Answer : I informed her, “I don’t speak french”.

Punctuate the following sentences : 

Question. The teacher observed shilpa is signing very well.
Answer : The teacher observed, “Shilpa is singing very well”.

Question. My mother said to my frinds he is resting after a long day.
Answer : My mother said to my friends, “He is resting after a long day.

Question. Priya said I have been giving my best to this project.
Answer : Priya said, “I have been giving the best to this project”.

Question. My brother said I will gift you a beautiful bracelet.
Answer : My brother said, “I will gift you a beautiful bracelet”.

Question. The family said we are quite happy and content.
Answer : The family said, “We are quite happy and content”.

There are two ways of relating what a person has said: Direct and Indirect

Direct Speech reports the exact words of the speaker.

e.g. -- She said, „I am going to Paris.‟---------------In this sentence the exact words of the speaker are reproduced and is put within inverted commas.

The verb introducing the actual words of the speaker is called the Reporting Verb .In the above example, the verb „said‟ is called the Reporting Verb.

Indirect Speech or Reported Speech reports what the speaker said without quoting his or her exact words.

e.g.-- She said that she was going to Paris.----------------Here the words of the speaker are reproduced in the past tense and are not within inverted commas.

GENERAL RULES FOR CHANGING DIRECT SPEECH (DS) INTO INDIRECT SPEECH (IS)

1. Change in PRONOUNS

a. The pronouns of the First Person in the direct speech change into the person and gender of the subject of the Reporting Verb in the indirect speech.

e.g.— He said, “I am not guilty.”(DS)

He said that he was not guilty.(IS)

b. The pronouns of the Second Person change into the person and gender of the object of the Reporting Verb.

e.g.– He said to me, “You are right”(DS)

He told me that I was right.(IS)

c. The pronouns of the Third Person suffer no change.

e.g.– He said to her, “He is writing.”

He told her that he was writing.

2. Change in words and expressions of TIME and PLACE

The words and expressions showing nearness in time and place in the direct speech are changed into words and expressions showing distance.

Please click the below link to access CBSE Class 7 English - Direct and Indirect Speech