There are two different ways of expressing things. A statement given by the speaker himself is direct form of speech whereas the same statement conveyed by another person to someone is indirect way of speech.
There are two forms of speech :-
Direct form of speech -----
Howard said to his brother, “I am going to the market.”
Indirect form of speech-----
Howard told his brother that he was going to the market.
When the actual form and words of the speaker are used, it is direct speech but when one gives the substance of speech of the speaker it is indirect speech.
Direct speech consists of two parts:-
1. Reporting speech 2. Reported speech
These two parts are separated from each other by a comma (,) and inverted commas (“ ”). The part outside the inverted commas forms reporting speech (i.e. who is reporting and to whom) and that enclosed within the inverted commas is reported speech (i.e. the matter that is being reported).
The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter.
In Indirect Speech
- inverted commas are not used, but generally reporting speech and reported speech are joined together by the conjunction like ‘that’, ‘if’ or ‘whether’ etc.
-the comma between reporting speech and reported speech is removed.
- The signs of question mark and exclamation are not used. Instead full stop sign is used.
- The tense of reporting speech is not changed.
-The forms of interrogative, imperative, exclamatory and optative sentences are changed to assertive sentence.
- The tense of reported speech is changed according to the tense of reporting speech.
EXERCISES FOR PRACTICE
EXERCISE NO. ONE
(Assertive Sentences)
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech.
1. Boys said, “It has been raining since morning and we cannot play.”
Boys said that it had been raining since morning and they could not play.”
2. She said to him, “I am leaving now and shall return after two hours.”
She told him that she was leaving then and would return after two hours.
3. The girl said to me,” My father went to the market and brought toys for me.”
The girl told me that her father had gone to the market and had brought toys for her.
4. Her husband said to her, “I shall not go to the office today as I am not feeling well.
Her husband told her that he would not go to the office that day as he was not feeling well.
5. My father said to me, “I fear that you have caught cold again.”
My father told me that he feared that I had caught cold again.
6. His brother said to me, “I am not going to attend the meeting today.”
His brother told me that he was not going to attend the meeting that day.
7. She said to him, ”Love begets love.”
She told him that love begets love.
8. The inspector said to the people, “We have caught the thief and he will be brought to book soon.”
The inspector told the people that they had caught the thief and he would be brought to
book soon.
9. The teacher said, “Boys, I shall give you a test in English today.”
The teacher told the boys that he would give them a test in English that day.
10. My friend said to me, “I am going to my house now. I shall call on you tomorrow.”
My friend told me that he was going to his house then and he would call on me the next day
EXERCISE NO.- TWO
(Interrogative Sentences)
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech
1.His wife said to him, “Do you know that my servant maid stole our money ?”
His wife asked him if he knew that her servant maid had stolen their money.
2. Her friend said to her, “Can you spare your book for me for a week?”
Her friend asked her if she could spare her book for her for a week.
3. She said to him, “Can I do anything for you? Will you mind my extending help to
you?”
She asked him if she could do anything for him and if he would mind her extending help to him.
4. His mother said to him, “Will you come home in the evening in time?”
His mother asked him if he would come home in the evening in time.
5.His friend said to him, “Did I not warn you against this before hand?”
His friend asked him if he had not warned him against that before hand.
6. John said to his sister, “Is it not a surprise to see your friend here today?”
John asked his sister if it was not a surprise to see her friend there that day.
7. The doctor said to his patient, “Are you taking medicine prescribed to you
regularly?”
The doctor asked his patient if he was taking medicine prescribed to him regularly.
8. She said to me,” Do you know how to swim?”
She asked me if I knew how to swim.
9.The captain said to the players, “Will you put your heart and soul in playing the
game so that we may win the match?”
The captain asked the players if they would put their heart and soul in playing the game so
that they might win the match.
10. The stranger said to the lady,” Have you ever been to Delhi?”
The stranger asked the lady if she had ever been to Delhi.
EXERCISE NO.- THREE(Interrogative Sentences)
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech
1. The old man said to the child, “Why did you break this window pane?”
The old man asked the child why he had broken that window pane.
2. The teacher said , “Boys, what are you doing here? Why do you not go to your
class rooms?”
The teacher asked the boys what they were doing there and why they did not go to their
class rooms.
3. Her brother said to her, “What present should I bring for you when I return from
Bombay?”
Her brother asked her what present he should bring for her when he returned from Bombay.
4. The rich man said to the beggar, “Why do you not do any work? Do you not feel
ashamed in begging alms from others?”
The rich man asked the beggar why he did not do any work and if he did not feel ashamed in
begging alms from others.
5. Boys said to the teacher, “When do you intend to start the class today?”
Boys asked the teacher when he intended to start the class that day.
6. The traveler asked the cab man, “How long will you take to reach the destination?
Can't you drive the cab a little faster?”
The traveler asked the cabman how long he would take to reach the destination and if he
could not drive the cab a little faster.
7. The customer said to the shopkeeper, “What is the price of this article? Can you
give me two of these articles?”
The customer asked the shopkeeper what the price of that article was and if he could give
him two of those articles.
8. The old lady said, “Can you tell me where does this road lead to? Will you guide
my way to the railway station, young man?”
The old lady asked the young man if he could tell her where that road led to and if he would guide her way to the railway station.
9. The priest said, “Where does this young lady come from? Can you tell me this,
gentleman?
The priest asked the gentleman where that young lady came from and if he could tell him that.
10. Shylock said “ How can you call me a cheat ? Will you not pay me my dues
according to the deed,Portia ?”
Shylock asked Portia how she could call him a cheat and if she would not pay him his dues according to the deed.
EXERCISE NO.- FOUR( Exclamatory Sentences)
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech
1. The woman said, “What a beautiful child this is!
The woman exclaimed that that child was very beautiful.
2. His aunt said, “What a pleasant surprise to see you here!”
His aunt exclaimed that it was a pleasant surprise to see him there.
3. Hamlet said, “How unlucky I am that I cannot find out any solution!”
Hamlet exclaimed that he was very unlucky that he could not find out any solution.
4. The captain said, “Bravo ! well done,boys!”
The captain applauded the boys saying that they had done well.
5. The leader said, “Alas! We have lost the game.”
The leader exclaimed with sorrow that they had lost the game.
6. Boys said,” Hurrah! We have won the match!”
Boys exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
7. She said,” What a beautiful weather it is!”
She exclaimed that it was a very beautiful weather.
8. Father said,”What a lazy fellow she is!”
Father exclaimed that she was a very lazy fellow.
9. The cobbler said,” How stupid I am!”
The cobbler exclaimed that he was very stupid.
10. The girl said, ”What a stupid fellow I am!”
The girl exclaimed that she was a stupid fellow.
11. The captain said, "Good morning,Friends!"
The captain bade his friends good morning.
12. The leader said,"Farewell, my countrymen!"
The leader bade his countrymen farewell.
13. The boy said,"If I were a king!"
The boy wished that he had been a king.
14. The old lady said,"May you live long, my son!"
The old lady prayed that her son might live long.
15. They said," May you live a long and prosperous life!"
They prayed that you might live a long and prosperous life.
EXERCISE NO.- FIVE
(Imperative Sentences)
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech
1. The land lord said to his servant,"Go away and leave the room at once."
The land lord ordered his servant to go away and leave the room at once.
2. She said to her maid servant,"Bring me a glass of water."
She ordered her maid servant to bring her a glass of water.
3. The priest said to the boys,"Do not while away your time."
The priest advised the boys not to while away their time.
4. Mother said to her son."Work hard lest you should fail."
Mother advised her son to work hard lest he should fail.
5. The doctor said to the patient,"Do not smoke."
The doctor advised the patient not to smoke.
6. The clerk said to the man,"Do not disturb me.Mind your own business."
The clerk forbade the man to disturb him and advised him to mind his own
business.
7. The officer said to the peon."Let the visitor come in."
The officer told the peon to let the visitor come in. OR
The officer told the peon that the visitor might be allowed to come in.
8. The father said to his son,"Let us go out for a walk."
The father suggested to his son that they should go out for a walk.
9. The girl said to her friend," Please show me your purse. "
The girl requested her friend to show her her purse.
10. The man said to me," Let us wait for our turn."
The man proposed to me that we should wait for our turn.
EXERCISE NO.- SIX
(Assorted Sentences)
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech
1. "Why didn't you obey my orders?" said the officer to the peon."Leave my service at once and do not come here again."
The Officer asked the peon why he had not obeyed his orders. He ordered him to leave his service at once and forbade him to come there again.
2. She said to her friend," How pleasant weather it is! I like going out for a walk very much.Let us go out for a long drive. Please take your sister too along with and we all shall enjoy ourselves there very much."
She exclaimed that it was a very pleasant weather and told her friend that she liked going out for a walk very much. She proposed to her friend that they should go out for a long drive.She further requested her friend to take her sister too along with and told that they all would enjoy themselves there very much.
3.The host said to the guest," Please come in and have a seat. What brings you here? What can I do for you? Will you like to have a cup of coffee? "
The host requested the guest to come in and have a seat. He asked him what brought him there and what he could do for him. He further asked him if he would like to have a cup of coffee.
4.The girl said to her father," Why are you in such a pensive mood today? Please let me know its reason. It will be my pleasure if I can do anything for you. Have you not gone to your office today?
The father said to her daughter," No,I am fine. I have not gone to my office because I want to see you. Are you free today?"
The girl asked her father why he was in such a pensive mood that day. She requested him to let her know its reason and told him that it would be her pleasure if she could do anything for him. She asked him if he had not gone to his office that day.
The father replied in negative and told her that he was fine and he had not gone to his office because he wanted to see her. He asked her if she was free that day.
5.The officer said to the employee,"Why are you late today? Do you not know that I do not allow any body to come in the office late? What is the reason of your late arrival? I allow you to attend the office today as an exceptional case. Do not repeat this instance in future." The employee said,"I am late today because my son fell ill suddenly and I had to take him to the doctor. I am sorry for this and I assure you that I shall not repeat it in future."
The officer asked the employee why he was late that day and if he did not know that he did not allow any body to come in the office late. He asked him what the reason of his late arrival was. He informed him that he allowed him to attend the office that day as an exceptional case and advised him not to repeat that instance in future. The employee replied that he was late that day because his son had fallen ill suddenly and he had to take him to the doctor and he was sorry for that and he assured him that he would not repeat that in future.
EXERCISE NO.- SEVEN
(Assorted Sentences)
Change the Narration of the following sentences.
1. The old man said to a child in the street," Why are you roaming here?Who accompanies you? Have you come here to make some purchases? You look perplexed. What is the matter ? Can I do anything for you?"
The child said to the old man, " Sir, I came here to see my brother but I lost my way. Can you help me? Will you guide me in locating way to my house?
The old man said to the child," I shall be glad to help you. Where is your house located ? Will you like me to escort you to your house? Do not be afraid. Trust on me. Come along with me as I know where your house is. I shall lead you to your house safely.
On reaching his house the child said, " Hurrah ! Finally I am at my house." He said to the old man." Thank you for your kind help! May God bless you with good health and long life!"
The old man asked a child in the street why he was roaming there and who accompanied him. He asked him further if he had come there to make some purchases. He told him that he looked perplexed and asked him what the matter was and if he could do any thing for him.
The child replied to the old man respectfully that he had come there to see his brother but he had lost his way. He asked him if he could help him and if he would guide him in locating way to his house.
The old man told the child that he would be glad to help him. He asked him where his house was located and if he would like him to escort him to his house. He advised him not to be afraid and to trust on him.He told him to come along with him as he knew where his house was and he would lead him to his house safely.
On reaching his house the child cried with joy and told that finally he was at his house. He thanked the old man for his kind help and prayed that God might bless him with good health and long life.
2. All the students stood up when their teacher entered the classroom and said," Good morning , sir !" The teacher said," Sit down. Have you done your home work today? Is there any student in the class who has not done homework?"
All the students spoke in one voice, " Thank you, sir! "
The teacher said to the students, " Do you know that your examinations will be starting next week ? You will have to work hard if you want to get through with good marks. Cheer up!Do not waste your time and start doing your revision work immediately. May God reward your hard work with a great success!
All the students stood up when their teacher entered the classroom and respectfully bade him good morning. The teacher ordered them to to sit down. He asked them if they had done their home work that day and if there was any student in the class who had not done homework.
All the students respectfully thanked him in one voice.
The teacher asked the students if they knew that their examinations would be starting next week and told the that they would have to work hard if they wanted to get through with good marks. He cheered them up and further advised them not to waste their time and start doing their revision work immediately. He prayed that God might reward their hard work with a great success.
3.
The preacher said to his followers, " Have faith in God and do the right. May God shower his blessings on you ! Do you know that I can manage the pampered and spoilt children well ? "
One of his followers stood up and said to him," There are two such boys in the village and their parents are fed up with them. Will you like to try them? "
He said to him, " Yes, ask their parents to send both of them to me separately in the morning."
Next morning the eldest boy came to the preacher. He said to the boy, " Sit down before me and reply my questions."
The preacher said to the boy ." Do you know where the God is ? Do you know the way we can find Him? "
The boy shouted loudly and said to him , " Come after me, please, if you want to know, " and ran away from there.
On reaching his house he went straight to his brother and both of them shut the door. The eldest boy said to the other," Do you know that the old man has lost his God and he suspects me of it ? "
The younger said to him, " Don't worry . Let us find out and if we get Him we'll never let him know about it."
The preacher advised his followers to have faith in God and do the right. He prayed that God might shower his blessings on them. He asked them if they knew that he could manage the pampered and spoilt children well.
One of his followers stood up and told him that there were two such boys in the village and their parents were fed up with them. He asked him if he would you like to try them.
He replied in affirmative and told him to ask their parents to send both of them to him separately in the morning.
Next morning the eldest boy came to the preacher. He ordered the boy to sit down before him and reply his questions.
The preacher asked the boy if he knew where the God was and if he knew the way they could find Him.
The boy shouted loudly and requested him to come after him if he wanted to know and ran away from there.
On reaching his house he went straight to his brother and both of them shut the door. The eldest boy asked the other if he knew that the old man had lost his God and he suspected him of that.
The younger told him not to worry . He proposed to him that they should find out and if they got Him they would never let him know about that.
4.
The interviewer said to the candidate, " I offer you two options for giving your reply. You can choose either three easy questions or one very difficult question. Will you like to avail the offer ? If yes, which option do you want to use ? "
The candidate thought for a while and said," Sir, I shall use the second option and would like to reply one difficult question."
The interviewer said to the candidate, "Do you know that if you opt for a particular choice you will not be allowed to change it ? Please note that if your reply is incorrect, you may lose the opportunity. Should I go ahead and put forth the question to you ? "
The interviewer offered the candidate two options for giving his reply and told him that he could choose either three easy questions or one very difficult question. He asked him if he would like to avail the offer and If yes which option he wanted to use.
The candidate thought for a while and respectfully told that he would use the second option and would like to reply one difficult question.
The interviewer asked the candidate if he knew that if he opted for a particular choice he would not be allowed to change it. He requested him to note that if his reply was incorrect, he might lose the opportunity. He asked him if he should go ahead and put forth the question to him.
The candidate replied in affirmative and told him that he could ask him one difficult question.
The interviewer asked him which of the two day or night had been first to come.
The candidate told promptly and respectfully that it had been day.
The interviewer asked the candidate how he knew that.
The candidate respectfully told him that he had said that there would be one question only. So he was not supposed to answer his second question.
Your valuable comments/suggestions for improvement in style & subject matter solicited.
