CBSE Class 9 English Reported Speech Notes

We can express thing spoken or told by others in 2 ways.

1. To speak what the speaker said as it is - Direct Speech
2. To express what the speaker said in our own words -Indirect Speech

If you ask your friend – “Where is your book”, the reply could be –“Your book is with Sam”.

Now, if I ask you, what did your friend tell you, then you can narrate that in 2 ways.

1. He said to me, “your book is with Sam”. -Direct Narration.
2. My friend told me that your book was with Sam. -Indirect Narration.

RULES TO CHANGE FROM DIRECT TO INDIRECT SPEECH:

1. Remove the inverted commas. (“………..”)
2. Remove the full stop or comma after the reporting verb.
3. If there is any object after the reporting verb then change’ said to’ to ‘told’ &’say ‘to ‘tell’.
4. If there is no object after the reporting verb then no change in ‘said’ and ‘say’.
5. Add necessary conjunction like ‘that, if, whether’ after the reporting verb.

(a) Changes in the Tense of Reported Speech (R.S.) :

if the reporting verb (R.V.) is in present or Future Tense, there is no change in the tense of R.S.

She says, “He is not here”. (Direct)

She says that he is not here (Indirect)

She will say, ”Tom drives a car”. (Direct)

She will say that Tom drives a car. (Indirect)

If R.V is in Past tense, then of R.S is changed as follows:

Simple present is changed into Simple Past.

John said to Jim, “Sam studies regularly”. (Direct)

John told Jim that Sam studied regularly. (Indirect)

Present Continuous is changed to Past Continuous.

Chappell said to Sachin, “Dravid is playing football”. (Direct)

Chappell told Sachin, the “Dravid was playing football”. (Indirect)

Present perfect is changed to past perfect.

Dhoni said, ”Pathan has gone to West Indies”. (Direct)

Dhoni said that Pathan had gone to West Indies”. (Indirect)

Present perfect Continuous is changed to past perfect Continuous.

My neighbour said, “The dogs have been braking for 2 hours”. (Direct)

My neighbour said that dogs had been braking for 2 hours”. (Indirect)

Simple past is changed to past perfect.

John said,” Jim went to U.S.A.” (Direct)

John said that Jim had gone to U.S.A. (Indirect)

Past continuous is changed to past perfect continuous.

She said, “Her sister was sleeping”. (Direct)

She said that her sister had been sleeping. (Indirect)

No changes in past perfect and past perfect continuous.

Papa said,” Johnny had eaten sugar”. (Direct)

Papa said that Johnny had eaten sugar. (Indirect)

Change in modals:

Can changes to could; May changes to should; will to would;

The principal said,” Student can go home”. (Direct)

The principal said that Student could go home. (Indirect)

Would, Should, Could, Might, Ought – do not change.

Must can be changed to ‘had to’ or used as it is.

We said, “The criminals must be punished”. (Direct)

We said that the criminals had to /must be punished”. (Indirect)

(b) Exceptions:

Historical Facts : Sir said,”Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India”. (Direct)

Sir said that Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India. (Indirect)

Universal Truth : The teacher said,” Sun rises in the East”. (Direct)

The teacher said that the Sun rises in the East”. (Indirect)

Habitual Facts : The Doctor said.” Smoking is injurious to health”. (Direct)

The Doctor said that Smoking is injurious to health”. (In direct)

(c) Changes in persons of pronoun:

(i) First person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, us. our, ours ,ourselves)in the R.V. when changed into indirect speech, change as per the person, Number andGender of the Subject of R.V.

They said, “We shall help our friends”. (Direct)

They said that the would help their friends. (Indirect)

(ii) Second person pronoun(you, you, yours, yourself, yourselves) in the R.V. when changed into indirect speech, change as per the person, Number andGender of the Subject of the Object.

She said to us, “You are intelligent”. (Direct)

She said to us that we are intelligent. (Indirect)

The teacher said to the student, “You” have passed with good marks”. (Direct)

The teacher told the student that they had passed with good marks. (Indirect)

No change in the Third Person Pronoun (He, She, It, They, Her, Its, Their, Theirs,Him, Himself, Herself, Themselves, Her, Hers)when changed from Direct into Indirect Speech.

1. Greg said, “She is a good student”. (Direct)
2. Greg said that She was a good student. (Indirect)

(d) Change of Situations :

‘this becomes ‘that’ 

‘these’ becomes ‘those’

‘least week’ becomes ‘the previous week’

‘here’ becomes ‘there’

‘now’ becomes ‘then’

‘today’ becomes ‘that day’

‘yesterday’ becomes ‘the day before/the previous day’

tomorrow’ becomes ‘the next day/ the coming day’

‘lest week’ becomes ‘the week before/the previous week’

‘next month’ becomes ‘the week before/the previous week’

‘ago’ becomes ‘before’

E .g.

Jacob said, “I read this book last month.” (Direct)

Jacob said that he had read that book the previous month (Indirect)

 Mary said, “I will meet Tom this evening” (Direct)

Mary said that she would meet Tom this evening (Indirect)

Marshall said to Ricky.” I cannot go with you till next Monday” (Direct)

Marshall said to Ricky.” I cannot go with you till next Monday” (Indirect)

(e) Imperative Situations :

Write “Ordered, begged, pleaded, implored, advised, demanded, Forbade ”etc. as per the sentences.

E .g.

The teacher said to me, “sit in your class and learn your lesson” (Direct)

The teacher ordered me to sit in my class and learn my lesson. (Indirect)

She said to him, ”Don’t touch my books” (Direct)

She forbade him to touch her books. (Indirect)

(f) Interrogative Sentences :

(i) For ‘wh’ question – use the wh word

Tim asked, “Where is the book ?” (Direct)

Tim asked Where the book was. ( Indirect)

(ii) For yes /No question – use if / whether

Surabhi asked, “Have you read this book?” (Direct)

Surabhi asked if whether I had read that book.

Question. Keshav said, “Rita is busy right now.”
a) Keshav said Rita was busy.
b) Keshav informed that Rita was busy then.
c) Keshav said Rita had been busy.
d) Keshav informed that Rita is busy.

Answer : B

Question. Rahul said, “I will manage hereafter.”
a) Rahul said that he would manage hereafter.
b) Rahul said that he will manage thereafter.
c) Rahul said that he would manage thereafter.
d) Rahul said that he will manage hereafter.

Answer : C

Question. She said, “Bring a glass of water, please.”
a) She commands me to bring a glass of water.
b) She requested me to bring a glass of water.
c) She asked me to brought a glass of water.
d) She ordered me to bring her a glass of water.

Answer : B

Question. She said, “They will be leaving soon.”
a) She said that they would leave soon.
b) She said that they are leaving.
c) She said that they would be leaving soon.
d) She said that they will leave soon.

Answer : C

Question. The policeman said, “Don’t cross the speed limit.”
a) The policeman said not to cross the speed limit.
b) The policeman asked if I would cross the speed limit.
c) The policeman forbade me to cross the speed limit.
d) The policeman asks if I had crossed the speed limit.

Answer : C

Question. He said, “Ah! You are here.”
a) He exclaimed with delight that I was there.
b) He said that he was delighted that I was there.
c) He exclaimed with joy to see me there.
d) He said it was a joy to see me there.

Answer : A

Question. “Don’t make noise in the library.” the librarian said.
a) The librarian said not to make noise in the library.
b) The librarian ordered me not to make noise in the library.
c) The librarian said to be quiet while in the library.
d) The librarian asks me to not make any noise.

Answer : B

Question. Jacob said, “Have you read this book?”
a) Jacob asked me if I have read this book.
b) Jacob asked me if I had read that book.
c) Jacob asked me if I would read this book.
d) Jacob asked me if I had been reading this book.

Answer : B

Question. The lawyer said, “The law always believes in the evidence.”
a) The lawyer said that the law always believed in the evidence.
b) The lawyer said that the law should always believe in the evidence.
c) The lawyer said that the law always believes in the evidence.
d) The lawyer said that the law has always believed in the evidence.

Answer : C

Question. “Wow! This is so beautiful.” Jacob said.
a) Jacob was surprised to see how beautiful it was.
b) Jacob said how beautiful it was.
c) Jacob exclaimed with amazement that that was so beautiful.
d) Jacob exclaimed with amazement that it was so beautiful.

Answer : C

Question. Meera said, “It’s time. I must go now.”
a) Meera said that it is time and she should leave.
b) Meera said that it was time and she had to go then.
c) Meera said that it was time to go then.
d) Meera said it is time and she may go.

Answer : B

Question. He said that he would deposit the cheque the following day.
a) He said, “I will deposit the cheque the next day.”
b) He said, “I would deposit the cheque soon.”
c) He said, “I will deposit the cheque tomorrow.”
d) He said, “I would deposit the cheque the following day.”

Answer : C

Question. He said that he had been looking for the file.
a) He said, “I am looking for the file.”
b) He said, “I was looking for the file.”
c) He said, “I have looked for the file.”
d) He said, “I have been looking for the file.”

Answer : D

Question. He said that he would not go with us.
a) He said, “I will not go with you all.”
b) He said, “I will not go with them.”
c) He said, “I would not go with them.”
d) He said, “I will not be going with them.”

Answer : A

Question. He said that I had to reach early.
a) He said, “You shall reach early.”
b) He said, “You should reach early.”
c) He said to me, “Reach early.”
d) He said, “You must reach early.”

Answer : D

Question. Natasha pleaded to her mother to let her buy a black dress.
a) Natasha pleaded to her mother, “Let me buy a black dress.”
b) Natasha pleaded to her mother, “Let us buy a black dress.”
c) Natasha pleaded to her mother, “I need to buy a black dress.”
d) Natasha pleaded to her mother, “We should a balck dress.”

Answer : A

Question. Henry exclaimed with regret that he had missed his flight.
a) Henry said, “Alas! I miss my flight.”
b) Henry said, “I missed my flight.”
c) Henry said, “Oh! I missed my flight.”
d) Henry said, “I would miss my flight!”

Answer : C

Question. Keshav said that he had been watching a movie.
a) Keshav said, “I have watched this movie.”
b) Keshav said. “I would be watching a movie.”
c) Keshav said, “I should watch a movie.”
d) Keshav said, “I have been watching a movie.”

Answer : D

Question. He said that the grandmother would be visiting.
a) He said, “The grandmother will visit.”
b) He said, “The grandmother shall visit.”
c) He said, “The grandmother must be visiting.”
d) He said, “The grandmother may be visiting.”

Answer : A

Question. The head said to the staff that they had thought of a solution.
a) The head said, “We have a solution.”
b) The head said to the staff, “We have thought of a solution!”
c) The head said to the staff, “We have thought of a solution.”
d) The head said, “We have been thinking of a solution.”

Answer : C

Question. Kiara said that she had been planning for that for a while.
a) Kiara said, “I had a plan for this for a while.”
b) Kiara said, “I have planned for this for a while.”
c) Kiara said, “I have been planning for this for a while.”
d) Kiara said, “I planned this for a while.”

Answer : C

Question. Tim said, “I may teach you if you will show sincerity.”
a) Tim said that he might teach me if I would show sincerity.
b) Tim said that he may teach me at a condition.
c) Tim said that he could teach me had I shown sincerity.
d) Tim said that he will teach me if I was to show sincerity.

Answer : A

Question. He said that Chris had been busy.
a) He said, “Chris is busy.”
b) He said, “Chris was busy.”
c) He said, “Chris had been busy.”
d) He said, “Chris have been busy.”

Answer : B

Question. The teacher quoted that slow and steady wins the race.
a) The teacher said, “Slow and steady should win the race.”
b) The teacher said, “Slow and steady have won the race.”
c) The teacher said, “Slow and steady have been winning the race.”
d) The teacher said, “Slow and steady wins the race.”

Answer : D

Question. She informed me that he had met with a road accident.
a) She said to me, “He met with a road accident.”
b) She said to me, “Alas! He meets with a road accident.”
c) She said to me, “Has he met with a road accident?”
d) She said to me, “He did meet with a road accident.”

Answer : A