Reported Speech, also known as indirect speech, refers to the method of reporting what someone has said without quoting their exact words. Unlike direct speech, where the exact words are quoted inside quotation marks, reported speech involves paraphrasing the original speech while maintaining its meaning. For CBSE Class X and XII students, mastering reported speech is essential for both written and spoken communication. Advanced reported speech exercises

What is Reported Speech and What are it's type?

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is used to report what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using quotation marks, we change the pronouns, tenses, and sometimes the word order to reflect the original statement in a different way. For example, instead of saying "I am going to the market," you would report it as "He said that he was going to the market." It’s commonly used in both spoken and written language to share information or recount what someone else has expressed. Understand when and how to change the verb tense, pronouns, and other elements while converting direct speech into reported speech is crucial for excelling in exams.

Types of Speech

1. Direct Speech: In direct speech, the exact words spoken by a person are quoted within quotation marks. Example: She said, “I am going to the market.”
2. Reported Speech (Indirect Speech): In reported speech, the words spoken are paraphrased and no quotation marks are used. The sentence is usually introduced by reporting verbs like "said," "told," "asked," etc. Example: She said that she was going to the market.

The Rules of Reported Speech

When transforming direct speech into reported speech, several changes take place, including the adjustment of pronouns, verb tenses, and sometimes word order. These rules are crucial for making the transformation correct and meaningful.

1. Changing Pronouns

In reported speech, pronouns must be adjusted according to the context of the sentence. For example, if someone says, "I will meet you," and you are reporting it, you need to change the pronoun "I" to the third-person pronoun.

Examples:

Direct Speech: He said, “I am going to the library.”

Reported Speech: He said that he was going to the library.

2. Changing Tenses

The verb tense in reported speech is usually shifted back in time, i.e., from present to past, from past to past perfect, etc. This is called "backshifting." However, if the reporting verb is in the present, no backshifting is required.

Tense changes in reported speech:

• Present Simple → Past Simple

Direct: She says, “I play tennis.”

Reported: She said that she played tennis.

• Present Continuous → Past Continuous

Direct: He says, “I am reading a book.”

Reported: He said that he was reading a book.

• Present Perfect → Past Perfect

Direct: They say, “We have finished our homework.”

Reported: They said that they had finished their homework.

• Past Simple → Past Perfect

Direct: She said, “I visited the museum.”

Reported: She said that she had visited the museum.

• Will → Would

Direct: He says, “I will call you later.”

Reported: He said that he would call me later.

Here are the changes in tenses for reported speech:

1. Present Simple → Past Simple
2. Present Continuous → Past Continuous
3. Present Perfect → Past Perfect
4. Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
5. Past Simple → Past Perfect
6. Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
7. Future Simple (will) → Would
8. Can → Could
9. May → Might
10. Must → Had to
11. Shall → Should

3. No Change in Tense

If the information being reported is still true or the statement is a universal truth, the tense remains unchanged.

She said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”

She said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

4. Changing Time Expressions

In reported speech, time expressions often change. Words like “now,” “today,” “tomorrow,” etc., are altered to reflect the past perspective.

Examples:

“I will go to the market tomorrow,” he said.

Reported: He said that he would go to the market the next day.

“I am doing my homework now,” she said.

Reported: She said that she was doing her homework then.

5. The Reporting Verb

The reporting verb is crucial in converting direct speech to reported speech. Common reporting verbs include:

1. Say (used when the listener is not specified).
2. Tell (used when the listener is specified).
3. Ask (used for questions).
4. Advise (used for suggestions or advice).

Examples:

Direct: She said, “I am leaving.”

Reported: She said that she was leaving.

Direct: He told me, “You should study more.”

Reported: He told me that I should study more.

6. Reporting Questions

When reporting questions, the word order changes. In direct speech, questions often begin with auxiliary verbs like “do,” “is,” “are,” etc. In reported speech, the auxiliary verb is placed after the subject, and the question mark is omitted.

Examples:

Direct: She said, “Are you coming to the party?”

Reported: She asked if I was coming to the party.

Direct: He asked, “Where did she go?”

Reported: He asked where she had gone.

In yes/no questions, we use “if” or “whether.”

Direct: “Do you like pizza?” he asked.

Reported: He asked if I liked pizza.

7. Reporting Commands and Requests

When reporting commands or requests, we use the verb “tell” or “ask” and adjust the verb form accordingly. The imperative mood changes into an infinitive (to + verb).

Examples:

Direct: “Please close the door,” he said.

Reported: He asked me to close the door.

Direct: “Don’t shout,” she said.

Reported: She told me not to shout.

Special Cases in Reported Speech

1. Modals in Reported Speech

In reported speech, modals generally remain the same, but there can be some changes in specific cases.

1. Can → Could: “I can swim,” he said. (Reported: He said that he could swim.)
2. May → Might: “She may come to the party,” he said. (Reported: He said that she might come to the party.)
3. Must → Had to: “I must leave now,” she said. (Reported: She said that she had to leave now.)

2. Imperatives and Requests

In reported speech, direct imperatives are usually reported using “ask,” “tell,” “advise,” and similar verbs. The verb form changes into an infinitive.

Direct: “Close the door,” he said.

Reported: He told me to close the door.

Direct: “Don’t open the window,” she said.

Reported: She told me not to open the window.

3. Change of Place

Words like “here” and “there” may change according to the context of the reported speech.

Direct: “I am here,” he said.

Reported: He said that he was there.

4. Reporting Statements with ‘That’

In reported speech, the word “that” is often used to connect the reporting verb with the reported statement. However, in informal speech or writing, “that” can be omitted.

Examples:

Direct: She said, “I am going to the market.”

Reported: She said (that) she was going to the market.

Reported Speech: Important Points to Remember

1. No Change for Universal Truths: Sentences that are universally true or facts remain in the same tense. Direct: “The Earth is round,” he said. Reported: He said that the Earth is round.
2. Punctuation in Direct Speech: In direct speech, remember to use quotation marks correctly and place punctuation marks inside them.
3. No Change in Modal Verbs for Suggestions: Modals like “should,” “ought to,” and “must” do not change when reporting suggestions or recommendations.

Direct: “You should eat more vegetables,” he said.

Reported: He said that I should eat more vegetables.

Exercises on Reported Speech

Here are some exercises to practice your understanding of reported speech:

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Reported Speech

1. “I will finish my homework tomorrow,” she said.
2. “Are you coming to the party?” he asked.
3. “Close the window,” he said.
4. “I am reading a book,” she said.
5. “I don’t like coffee,” he said.

1. He said that he was going to the market.
2. She told me that I should take a rest.
3. They asked if I had completed the assignment.
4. He advised me to study hard for the exam.
5. She said that she would call me later.
6. "I will have completed the project by the time you return," he said.
7. "The teacher asked, ‘What is the capital of France?’"
8. "They might have left the party already," she said.
9. "You must finish your homework before you leave," he ordered.
10. "I have been studying all night," she explained.
11. "Can you help me with my science project?" he asked.
12. "If I had known about the meeting, I would have attended," she said.
13. "I haven't seen him for over a week," she remarked.
14. "Did you submit the assignment on time?" he inquired.
15. "She told me, ‘I will call you after my meeting ends.’"
16. "I won’t be able to attend the event because of my exam," he explained.
17. "I will never forget what happened during our trip," she said.
18. "Do not open the door until I return," he warned.
19. "We should start preparing for the final exams immediately," the teacher suggested.
20. "If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam," he stated.
21. "I haven’t heard from her in months," he said.
22. "She asked, ‘Why didn’t you attend the meeting yesterday?’"
23. "You are not allowed to leave without my permission," she instructed.
24. "She will join us later, after her appointment finishes," he mentioned.
25. "I should have told you about the change in schedule," she admitted.
26. "I can’t believe he didn’t show up on time," she exclaimed.
27. "It will take us several hours to finish this task," he pointed out.
28. "Please make sure that the report is completed by tomorrow," he requested.
29. "She said, ‘I will never forgive him for what he did.’"
30. "The children will be thrilled when they see the surprise," he said

Conclusion

Reported speech is a key area of grammar that Class X and XII CBSE students must master for both exams and effective communication. By understanding the rules of tense changes, pronoun adjustments, and reporting verbs, you can accurately convert direct speech into indirect speech. Practice regularly, and one will soon become proficient at using reported speech in both written and spoken English.