Class IX Reported Speech 2023-24

Note: This worksheet is for reference and self-study only.

We often need to tell others what someone else said. There are two ways to do this. One is to say
the same words and use quotation marks. That is "direct speech." The other method is to summarize,
or tell about what someone said. This is called "reported speech. Look at he following sentences:
In the sentence, "She said that she wanted a cookie," 'she' is the subject, 'said' is the reporting verb,
'that' is the conjunction and 'she wanted a cookie' is the reported speech clause.

Subject noun or pronoun Reporting verb Conjunction Reported speech clause

She said that she wanted a cookie.
Rules for reporting speech
To get this kind of sentence right, there are four things you should keep in mind:
1. The first rule is to choose a reporting verb and tense: When did the speech happen? With
current, repeated or recent events, the reporting verb is in the present tense. "He says he is hungry,
so let's go to lunch." A habitual or repeated statement is in the present tense: "Everyone says the
water is safe to drink." For reporting less immediate speech, choose the past tense.
The reporting verb is often said, but it can also be told, or other verbs like ordered, stated,
or reported, depending on the situation. When reporting questions, you can use verbs
like asked or requested.
2. The second rule is to change the perspective, or point of view.
That means I becomes he, she, or they.
->Mary said “I ate the pie."'
->Mary said that she ate the pie.
3. Next, choose whether to include "that or "if/whether"
We use the conjunctions, if or whether when reporting on a question:
->“Do you know how to play tennis?” he asked me.
->He asked me if I knew how to play tennis.
4. The fourth rule is to "backshift" the tense.
This is the trickiest part of reported speech. When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in
the reported clause is in the past tense, too. Here are some examples:
->"I am buying my ticket." (present continuous)
-> He said he was buying his ticket. (past continuous)
->Ashley said “I have fixed my bicycle." (present perfect)
-> She said she had fixed her bicycle. (past perfect)

Let's look at what happens with questions and modals.

REPORTING ON QUESTIONS
1. When we report questions, we have to pay attention to the auxiliary verb. These are words
like do, be, and have. Yes or no questions begin with an auxiliary, for example:
->"Do you like pizza?"
To report that question, drop the auxiliary and add if:
->He asked me if I liked pizza.
2. When we report questions, we have to pay attention to the auxiliary verb.
 These are words like do, be, and have. Yes or no questions begin with an auxiliary, such as
->"Do you like pizza?" he asked.
To report that question, drop the auxiliary and add if:
->He asked me if I liked pizza.

Learners often make the mistake of leaving the auxiliary verb in the reported speech: He asked me
do I like pizza.
Don't say it like that! That is a mistake.

3. Information questions start with a question word:

->"Where are you going?"
To report on these, simply change the pronoun and word order.
->She asked me where I was going.
Here, learners often make the mistake of keeping the same word order: She asked me where was I
going.
Don't say it like that! That is a mistake.

 A similar word order switch appears with the verb "be" in questions.
->They asked, "When is the party?"
-> They asked me when the party was.

The word "when" remains. "Be" moves from a position before the noun to after the noun.
To report on these, simply change the pronoun and word order.

4. Finally, pay attention to whether the speech you are reporting uses a modal verb. Will, can,
and shall change to would, could, and should when reported.
 Will is used to make statements about the future in English.
 When reporting this kind of statement, will is changed to would.
->Kelly said, "I will buy the sandwiches."
-> Kelly said she would buy the sandwiches.

 Modal verbs may appear in questions, as well:

->Caty asked, "Can you answer the phone while I'm out?"
-> Caty asked me if I could answer the phone while she was out.

 If the modal verb is already in its past form, it does not change when reported.
->George stated, "I would not do that."
-> George said that he would not do that.

Exceptional rules:
 If the direct speech indicates a general truth or universal truth and also a continuing habitual
action, the tense form of the direct speech will not be changed, even if the reporting verb is
in simple past.
->Peter said,” Knowledge is power.”(a general truth)
->Peter said that knowledge is power. (the tense form is not changed)
->The teacher said, “The Sun sets in the West.” (a universal truth)
-> The teacher said that the Sun sets in the West. (the tense is not changed)
->Martin said yesterday, “I walk 10 km daily.” (a continuing habitual action)
->Martin said yesterday that he walks 10 km daily. (the tense is not changed)
Change in time and place indicators:

The following table shows some typical changes of time expressions in indirect speech. Bear in mind
that the changes are not automatic; they depend on the context:
Direct speech Indirect speech
now then / at that time
tonight last night, that night, on Monday night
today yesterday, that day, on Monday
yesterday the day before / the previous day, on Sunday
last night the previous night / the night before, on Sunday night
tomorrow today, the following day, on Tuesday
-this week last week, that week
last month the previous month / the month before, in June
next year this year, the following year / the year after, in 1996
five minutes ago five minutes before
in two hours' time two hours later

You may refer to the following websites for more on Reported Speech:
 https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-to-upper-intermediate/reported-speech
 https://owlcation.com/humanities/Indirect-Speech
 https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-grammar/tense-changes-when-using-
reported-speech/
 https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/reported-speech-indirect-speech

Attempt the following questions in the rough copy:

TASK 1: Solved
1. Ashley said, “I am cooking dinner.”
a) Ashley said that she was cooked dinner.
b) Ashley said that she was cooking dinner.
c) Ashley told that she cooks dinner.
d) Ashley says she cooked dinner

2. Father said, “When we lived in Chennai, we often visited Rameswaram.”

a) Father said that when we lived in Chennai, we often visited Rameswaram.
b) Father said that when we were living in Chennai, we often visited Rameswaram.
c) Father said that when they had lived in Chennai, they often visited Rameswaram.
d) Father said that when they had lived in Chennai, they were often visiting Rameswaram.

3. “India and Pakistan are neighbouring countries”, said the minister.

a) The minister said that India and Pakistan were neighbouring countries.
b) The minister told that India and Pakistan were neighbouring countries.
c) The minister said that India and Pakistan are neighbouring countries.
d) The minister says that India and Pakistan were neighbouring countries.
 4. I said to the host, "Can I have another piece of cake?"
a) I said to the host can I had another piece of cake.
b) I asked the host if/whether I could have another piece of cake.
c) I said to the host I want another piece of cake.
d) I told the host can I have another piece of cake.

5. “Could you tell me where the post office is?”

a) She says could you tell me where the post office is.
b) She told me to tell her where is the post office.
c) She said tell me where is the post office.
d) She asked me if/ whether I could tell her where the post office was.

TASK 2: Read the following dialogue and then complete the passage using reported speech.

Inspector: What is the matter, boys?

Ramesh: My bicycle is stolen.
Inspector: Where did you place it?
Ramesh: I placed it under a tree near the gate.

The inspector asked the boys (a) _________________. Ramesh replied that (b) ____________. The
inspector wanted to know (c) _____________. Ramesh said (d) ________________.

TASK 3: Read the following dialogue and then complete the passage using reported speech.
Lady: I’m so cold! Where are the taxis?
Bystander: You won’t get a taxi, not in this rain.
Lady: But I must have a taxi.
Bystander: Sorry, none is free.

The lady said that (a) _______ and asked the bystander (b) _______The bystander replied that
(c) ___________in the rain. The lady insisted that (d) ________ The bystander said apologetically
that (e) __________.

TASK 4: Read the following dialogue and then complete the passage using reported speech.

Gautam: Hello, Aditya. How’re you doing?

Aditya: Very well, thanks. How’re you?
Gautam: I’m fine, thank you. I haven’t seen you in several months.
Aditya: Well, I was busy with some personal stuff. I have received a good job offer from a US
company.
Gautam: Oh, I see. When are you leaving?
Aditya: I will be leaving for the US next week.
Gautam: You’ve made it big, my friend. I’m really happy for you.
Aditya: Thank you. Well, I’ve got to do some packing. See you later. Bye.
Gautam: Bye. Have a nice journey.
Aditya: Thank you.
Dear Arvind
I hope you are doing well. I hope you remember Aditya. He was our classmate at IIT Bombay. I met
him yesterday and he told me that he (a) ________. I asked him when he (b) _______. He said that
he (c) _________ I congratulated him and told him that I was (d) __________.

TASK 5: Observe the picture carefully, and complete the passage using Reported Speech: Solved

Captain Chan asked Sergeant Dave (i)………… The Sergeant commanded Captain Chan
(ii)………… Captain Chan walked out with his laptop and said (iii)…………….

i. a). how come he never asks him to fight in the war games.
b). how come he never asked him to fight in the war games.
c). how came he never asked me to fight in the war games.
d). how came you never ask him to fight in the war games.

ii. a). to grab his weapon and join us.

b) to grab your weapon and join us.
c). to grab his weapon and join them.
d). to grab his weapon and joined us.

iii. a). that I am a cyber warrior.

b). that I was a cyber warrior.
c). that he was a cyber warrior.
d). that he is going to be a cyber warrior.

TASK 6: Observe the picture carefully, and complete the passage using Reported Speech:
Jack said to Mona that (a) ……………….., and Mona said that she had already given. Jack was
surprised and said (b) …………………list. This puzzled Mona. She said that she (c) ………………….
Jack explained that that was for the gift.

Answers:
a) he was collecting money for Mary’s going-away party
b) that he did not see her name on his
c) had given Elaine twenty dollars.

TASK 7: Observe the picture carefully, and complete the passage using Reported Speech:

Mrs Smith asked her husband how his day was that day. Earl replied (a).……………. He said that
(b)……………….., so obviously (c) ……………….. Mrs Smith seemed pleased with the reply.
(a)
i. that she knew very well how his day had been.
ii. that he knew very well how her day had been.
iii. that she knows very well how her day had been.
iv. that she knows very well how his day was.
(b).
i. I haven’t been out of her sight in the last twenty-four hours.
ii. he hadn’t been out of her sight in the last twenty-four hours.
iii. he wasn’t out of her sight in the last twenty-four hours.
iv. he hasn’t been out of her sight in the last twenty-four hours.
(c)
i. this was a fantastically marvelous day.
ii. it is a fantastically marvelous day.
iii. that was a fantastically marvelous day.
iv. that is a fantastically marvelous day.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..