Here, we’ve provided the solutions of NBSE Class 10 English Grammar Worksheet IV (four) which is about the topic Direct Indirect speech. Attempts have been made to keep the solutions error-free, however, if you find any error, let us know. We’ll review it and make corrections if needed.
Direct speech is when the speaker’s exact words are reproduced. Eg. He said, “I am late.”
It is called indirect speech or reported speech when the main idea of a speaker’s words is reported by another person but the exact words are not quoted. Eg. He said that he was late.
Rules:
- Quotation marks, also known as “inverted commas,” are only used for direct speech and not for indirect speech.
- In reported speech, question marks and exclamation points are not used.
- In reported speech, reporting verbs such as asked, ordered, exclaimed, and shouted are used to convey the speaker’s mood.
- Except when it states a universal truth, the verb tense in the reported speech is in the past tense.
- The pronouns are also changed in reported speech. The first and second person pronouns are changed, but the third person pronouns remain unchanged.
- Words that indicate “nearness” of time and place are replaced with words that indicate “distance” of time and place. For instance, ‘here’ becomes ‘there’ and ‘tomorrow’ becomes ‘next day’. Check out the complete list here.
- The word(s) or sound(s) used by the speaker to express an emotion are ignored in reported speech.
More rules:
(If you are confused about the types of sentences, learn about them here)
In assertive/declarative sentences, if the reporting speech is in the present or future tense, the verb of the indirect speech remains unchanged. Eg.
He says,”The sum is difficult.”
He says that the sum is difficult.
In imperative sentences, the reporting verb’said’ is usually replaced by ordered’, ‘requested’, ‘commanded’, ‘demanded’, ‘advised’, and so on. In this case, the person to whom the direct speech is directed must be mentioned in the reported speech. Eg.
“Fight!”said the general to the soldiers.
The general ordered the soldiers to fight.
In the case of interrogative sentences, the reporting verb ‘said to’ can be replaced with ‘asked or enquired of’. When transforming from direct to interrogative, if the interrogative sentence requires a ‘Yes/No’ answer, the conjunction ‘if’ or ‘whether’ is used in place of ‘that.’ Eg.
The traveller said to the receptionist “Do you have any vacant rooms?”
The traveller enquired of the receptionist whether they had any vacant rooms.
If an interrogative sentence starts with a question word (what, which, who, whom, why, when, where, or how), that question word is used as a conjunction and not changed. Eg.
Dave inquired, “Where did you go last weekend?”
Dave inquired where I had spent the previous weekend.
Video tutorial
A. Rewrite the following in Reported Speech. Pay attention to the tense forms. Use appropriate reporting verbs.
1. Rohit: ‘I’m working in Delhi today.’
2. Asha: ‘Would you prefer tea or coffee?’
3. Shridhar: ‘Don’t touch the glass. It’s hot.’
4. Seema: ‘I wish I could fly like a bird.’
5. Teacher: ‘Happy birthday, Gauri.’
Answers:
B. Now change this conversation into reported speech (Refer to the image in your book)
Answers:
C. Rewrite these sentences using indirect speech.
1. He said, ‘I’m working in the Park Street Office today.’
2. She said, ‘I think a new party will win the election.’
3. Priya says, ‘Anna lives in London’
4. Afroz said, ‘My friend is going to visit us next week.’
5. Anita said, ‘They bought a brand new Honda City.’
6. She said, ‘They are watching TV at the moment.’
7. Simran said, ‘I am flying to Chennai tomorrow.’
8. He said, ‘Pangnyu drives to work every day.’
Answers:
D. Rewrite the following as Direct or Reported Speech as necessary.
1. He said, ‘Mother, I promise to work hard.’
2. Madan suggested that they should leave early if they wanted to catch the last bus.
3. Elizabeth said to Felix, when I was young I often went to the beach at Kovalam.’
4. Pratima said that she wanted to make a card for her teacher.
5. The judge told the accused that he was honourably acquitted and was free to go.
Answers:
F. you are a news report you were present in the market when a fight broke out. Interview some of the witnesses about the incident. Write out the questions and answers in dialogue form. Remember, it is to be in Direct Speech.
Answer:
G. Prepare a report on the incident for your newspaper Include the information given by the witnesses. Here you will use the Reported Speech.
(Learn how to write a newspaper report by clicking here)
Answer:
H. Rewrite the dialogue as reported speech.
1. Kiran: Don’t play football in the park!
2. Teacher: Don’t forget to complete your project work!
3. Deepika: Tara went to the market an hour ago.
4. Rohan (to you): My sister flew to Mumbai last year.
5. Piyush: My parents will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary next month.
6. Father (to you): Has mother arrived?
7. Ravi (to Saurav): Can I help you?
8. Mother: When did you come?
9. Aman (to you): What are you reading?
10. Alia (to you): Will Manisha have lunch with Sunita?
Answers:
I. Change these sentences from indirect to direct speech.
1. Ram told me that he was unwell.
2. The geography teacher said that the earth moves around the sun.
3. My mother asked me if I had bought a new pair of jeans.
4. The judge told the witness to be honest.
5. Marc told me that he had finished his homework.
6. Samuel asked me if I was going on a picnic.
7. Sameer told me that he had been fired.
8. Karan exclaimed that he had won the kite flying competition.
Answers:
J. Change the imperative sentences into indirect speech.
1. The officer said to the clerk, ‘Bring my file immediately.’
2. The beggar said to the woman, ‘please give me some money.’
3. The teacher said to the children, ‘Don’t make noise.’
4. The doctor said to Ravi, ‘Quit smoking.’
5. My father said to me, ‘Post this letter immediately.’
Answers:
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