direct and indirect speech grade 9 pdf

Reported speech - 1

Reported speech - 2

Reported speech - 3

Worksheets - handouts

Reported speech

Worksheets - pdf exercises.

• Reported statements - worksheet
• Worksheet - reported questions
• Reported yes/no questions
• Worksheet - reported speech
• Reported speech - exercises pdf
• Indirect speech - exercises
• Reported speech - exercises
• Mixed reported speech 1
• Mixed reported speech 2
• Reported speech 1 
• Reported speech 2  
• Reported speech 3 
• Reported speech 4
• Reported speech 5
• Reported wh- questions
• Reported speech - worksheet 
• Reported commands
• Reported questions
• Reported speech 1
• Reported speech 2
• Reported requests and orders
• Reported speech exercise
• Reported questions - worksheet
• Indirect speech - worksheet
• Worksheets pdf - print
• Grammar worksheets - handouts

Grammar - lessons

• Reported speech - grammar notes
• How to use reported speech - lesson
• Tense changes - grammar

Direct and indirect speech exercises PDF

• English grammar PDF
• PDF worksheets
• Mixed PDF tests
• Irregular verbs
• Modal verbs
• If-conditional
• Passive voice
• Reported speech
• Time clauses
• Relative clauses
• Indirect questions
• Question tags
• Imperative sentence
• Gerund and infinitive
• Direct | indirect object

Direct and indirect speech

• Online exercises
• Grammar rules PDF

English grammar books PDF

PDF book 1: English grammar exercises PDF

PDF book 2: English grammar rules PDF

Direct and indirect speech exercises

Reported speech exercises PDF

• Learn how to change tenses, pronouns, expressions of time and place in the reported speech.

Reported questions + commands exercises PDF

• Practise the difference between the direct and indirect speech in questions, commands and requests.

Online exercises with answers:

Direct - indirect speech exercise 1 Rewrite sentences in the reported speech.

Direct - indirect speech exercise 2 Report a short dialogue in the reported speech.

Direct - indirect speech exercise 3 Find and correct mistakes in the reported speech.

Direct - indirect speech exercise 4 Choose correct answers in a multiple choice test.

Indirect - direct speech exercise 5 Rewrite sentences from the reported speech to direct speech.

Reported questions, commands and requests:

Reported questions exercise 6 Change the reported questions and orders into direct questions and orders.

Reported questions exercise 7 Change direct questions into reported questions.

Reported commands exercise 8 Make reported commands and requests.

Grammar rules PDF:

Reported speech rules PDF Changes of tenses, pronouns, time and place in reported statements, questions and commands.

English grammar PDF All PDF rules with examples on e-grammar.org.

Direct + indirect speech

See also: Reported questions + commands

The direct and indirect speech are used to say what other people said, thought or felt. "I like it," he said. - He said that he liked it. "Dan will come," she hoped. - She hoped Dan would come.

The reported (indirect) speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense. He said (that) he didn't want it. She explained that she had been at the seaside.

If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the following: a) verb tenses and verb forms b) pronouns c) the adverbs of time and place

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way:

• Present - past "I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me. "We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained that they were doing exercises.
• Present perfect - past perfect "I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window. "I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been waiting since the morning.
• Past - past perfect "She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome. "He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
• Will - conditional Will changes into the conditional. I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.

As you can see, both the past tense and the present perfect change into the past perfect.

Notes 1. I shall, we shall usually become would . "I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it. 2. I should, we should usually change into would . "We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad. 3. May becomes might . "I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same in the following cases:

• If we use the past perfect tense. Eva: "I had never seen him." - Eva claimed that she had never seen him.
• If the reporting verb is in the present tense. Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday. Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work.
• When we report something that is still true. Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent. Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.
• When a sentence is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true. Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
• With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought to, used to. George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it. Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come. Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail. Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed. Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car.
• After wish, would rather, had better, it is time. Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece. Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly. Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go. Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up.
• In if-clauses. Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would be happy.
• In time clauses. Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid he met his best friend.
• We do not change the past tense in spoken English if it is clear from the situation when the action happened. "She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday. We must change it, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we are talking about the present or past feelings. "I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
• We do not usually change the modal verbs must and needn't . But must can become had to or would have to and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't have to if we want to express an obligation. Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations. "I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up. "I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day. "We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June. If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it. "We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while. "You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip.

B) Pronouns

We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence. "We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students. "They called us," he said. - He said they had called them. "I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans. "I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car.

Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is confusing. "He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them. If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had killed them) , the new sentence can have a different meaning - Kevin himself killed them.

This and these are usually substituted. "They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year. "I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book. "We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers.

C) Time and place

Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday."  It means that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's sentence on Sunday, we have to do the following: Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before. If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday , it is not correct, because it means that he came on Saturday.

The time expressions change as follows. now - then, today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time, yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the previous year

Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave the next day. Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week. Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before.

Note If something is said and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same. "I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday tomorrow. "We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had painted the hall last weekend. On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time expressions are different in the indirect speech. Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week." If we say his sentence a week later, we will say: Jim said he was playing this week.

Here usually becomes there . But sometimes we make different adjustments. At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock. In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street.

• All PDF exercises and grammar rules from this website.

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• Reported Speech /

Reported Speech Exercises For Class 9 [PDF Available]

• Updated on  
• Feb 19, 2024

Reported speech exercises for class 9: In this vast realm of English Grammar , reported speech , commonly known as indirect speech, plays an important role in conveying information relayed from another person. However, for class 9 students, grasping the nuances of reported speech is essential for effective communication and comprehension. The blog article below aims to provide class 9 students with engaging exercises to solidify their preparation.

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Definition of Reported Speech

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary definition of reported speech is “ A report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.”

As per the Macmillan Dictionary, the words that you use to report what someone else has said are known are reported speech.

MUST READ! Reported Speech: Definition, Rules, Usage with Examples, Tips, Exercises for Students

Reported Speech Rules to Know

Here are some common rules for changing direct speech to reported speech:

➡️ We use conjunctions like ‘if’, and ‘whether’ after the reporting verb in reported speech

➡️ The reporting verb’s tense is never altered.

➡️ The verb of reporting varies according to sense: it can be told, inquired, asked, etc.

➡️ First and foremost, we do not use inverted commas in reported speech which must be clear from the example given above.

Also Read:  Useful Idioms for IELTS Exams That Will Boost Your Score

Quiz for Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9

Here’s a quiz on reported speech for students. Each question presents a direct speech statement, and you need to rewrite it in reported speech. Choose the correct option for each question.

Question 1: Direct Speech: “I love playing the guitar.”

a) He loves playing the guitar. b) I love playing the guitar. c) He loved playing the guitar. d) I loved playing the guitar.

Question 2: Direct Speech: “We are going to the park tomorrow.”

a) They are going to the park tomorrow. b) We were going to the park tomorrow. c) They were going to the park tomorrow. d) We go to the park tomorrow.

Question 3: Direct Speech: “She said, ‘I have already finished my homework.'”

a) She said that she already finished her homework. b) She said that she had already finished her homework. c) She says that she finished her homework already. d) She said that she has already finished her homework.

Question 4: Direct Speech: “The teacher exclaimed, ‘What a wonderful painting!'”

a) The teacher exclaimed that it was a wonderful painting. b) The teacher exclaimed what a wonderful painting it was. c) The teacher exclaimed that what a wonderful painting. d) The teacher exclaimed a wonderful painting.

Question 5: Direct Speech: “I will call you later.”

a) He said that he will call you later. b) He said that he would call you later. c) He says that he will call you later. d) He says that he would call you later.

Question 6: Direct Speech: “They said, ‘We haven’t received the email.'”

a) They said that they haven’t received the email. b) They said that they didn’t receive the email. c) They said that they hadn’t received the email. d) They say that they haven’t received the email.

Question 7: Direct Speech: “Tom said, ‘I can swim.'”

a) Tom said that he could swim. b) Tom says that he could swim. c) Tom said that he can swim. d) Tom says that he can swim.

• b) I love playing the guitar.
• a) They are going to the park tomorrow.
• b) She said that she had already finished her homework.
• b) The teacher exclaimed what a wonderful painting it was.
• b) He said that he would call you later.
• c) They said that they hadn’t received the email.
• a) Tom said that he could swim.

Also Read: 50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Interrogative Sentences

Exercise 1: Change Direct Speech to Reported Speech

Following are some useful reported speech exercises for class 9. Convert the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech:

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

Reported Speech : She said that she was going to the store.

Direct Speech : He said, “I will finish the project by Friday.”

Reported Speech : He said that he would finish the project by Friday.

Direct Speech : “We have completed our homework,” they said.

Reported Speech : They said that they had completed their homework.

Direct Speech : “They are coming to the party,” she said.

Reported Speech : She said that they were coming to the party.

Direct Speech : “I can speak French,” he said.

Reported Speech : He said that he could speak French.

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Reported Speech

Read the following sentences and choose the correct reported speech option:

Direct Speech : “I saw Sarah yesterday,” Tom said.

a) Tom said he had seen Sarah yesterday.

b) Tom said he sees Sarah yesterday.

Correct Answer: a) Tom said he had seen Sarah yesterday.

Direct Speech : “I’m going to the cinema tonight,” she said.

a) She said she was going to the cinema that night.

b) She said she is going to the cinema tonight.

Correct Answer: a) She said she was going to the cinema that night.

Direct Speech : “We will travel to Paris next week,” they said.

a) They said they will travel to Paris next week.

b) They said they would travel to Paris the following week.

Correct Answer: b) They said they would travel to Paris the following week.

Direct Speech : “I have finished my work,” he said.

a) He said he has finished his work.

b) He said he had finished his work.

Correct Answer: b) He said he had finished his work.

Direct Speech : “I’m cooking dinner right now,” she said.

a) She said she was cooking dinner right then.

b) She said she is cooking dinner right now.

Correct Answer: a) She said she was cooking dinner right then.

Must Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples

Exercise 3: Create Reported Speech

Form reported speech for the following direct speech sentences:

Direct Speech : “She will be here soon,” he said.

Reported Speech : He mentioned that she would be there soon.

Direct Speech : “I don’t like seafood,” she said.

Reported Speech : She expressed that she didn’t like seafood.

Direct Speech : “They were studying in the library,” he said.

Reported Speech : He mentioned that they had been studying in the library.

Direct Speech : “I am working on a new project,” she said.

Reported Speech : She mentioned that she was working on a new project.

Direct Speech : “We have completed the assignment,” they said.

Reported Speech : They confirmed that they had completed the assignment.

Also Read: Tenses Rules: Charts, Examples, Types [PDF Available]

Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks with the Appropriate Reported Speech

Practise the following direct sentences to appropriate report speech. 

She said, “I have been to Paris before.”

Reported Speech : She mentioned that she had been to Paris before.

“We will come early,” they said.

Reported Speech : They said that they would come early.

“He’s writing a novel,” she said.

Reported Speech : She mentioned that he was writing a novel.

“I won’t be able to attend the meeting,” he said.

Reported Speech : He said that he wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting.

“We were watching a movie,” they said.

Reported Speech : They mentioned that they had been watching a movie.

Also Read:  Adjective: Definition, Usage, Example, Forms, Types

Exercise 5: Convert Sentences to Indirect Speech

Change the following sentences into indirect speech:

• He said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
• He said, “The sun rises in the east.”
• Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.”
• She said, “God is omnipresent.”
•  The teacher said, “The First World War started in 1914.”

Exploring the Types of Reported Speech: A Complete Guide

Exercise 6: Change Into Reported Speech

Read the following sentences and convert them into reported speech.

• Rahul said, “I get up early every morning.”
• Andrew said, “I can do this work.”
• Priya said, “It is hot outside.”
• Raj said to Marie, “I will go to London tomorrow.”
• Archie said to me, “I will cook today’s dinner.”

Check Your Answers:

• Rahul said that he got up early every morning.
• Andrew said that he could do that work.
• Priya said that it was hot outside.
• Raj informed Marie that he would go to London the next day.
• Archie said to me that he would cook that day’s dinner.

Must Read: Reported Speech For Class 10: Exciting Exercises with Answers [PDF]

Exercise 7: Convert Sentences to Indirect Speech

Convert the following direct speech sentences into indirect speech.

• Direct Speech: “I love playing basketball,” said Sarah.
• Direct Speech: “We are going to visit Paris next month,” said Tom.
• Direct Speech: “She has already finished her homework,” said Jack.
• Direct Speech: “They will arrive at 9 o’clock,” said the receptionist.
• Direct Speech: “I have never been to Japan,” said Emily.
• Sarah said that she loved playing basketball.
• Tom said that they were going to visit Paris the following month.
• Jack said that she had already finished her homework.
• The receptionist said that they would arrive at 9 o’clock.
• Emily said that she had never been to Japan.

Exercise 8: Complete the Sentences to Reported Speech

Reported speech exercises help reinforce understanding of how to report what someone else has said. They aid in learning how to shift verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, and other changes when reporting speech.

When converting direct speech to reported speech, pay attention to the changes in verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, and other relevant modifications based on the context and the tense used in the original sentence.

Common changes include the shift of tenses (present to past, future to conditional), pronoun changes, changes in time expressions (today to that day, tomorrow to the next day), and changes in modal verbs (can to could, will to would, etc.).

This was all about the Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9 Students with Answers. Hope you understand the concept and where it’s used. Keep an eye on Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs.

Vaishnavi Shukla

Vaishnavi has 2+ years of experience in SEO and Content Marketing. She is highly proficient in English, possessing exceptional language skills and a deep understanding of English grammar and communication. Currently working on Ed Tech, Finance, Lifestyle, and other niches. All her works are infused with love for writing!

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CBSE Class 9 English Grammar – Direct And Indirect Speech

Formulae Handbook for Class 9 Maths and Science Educational Loans in India

Reported Speech Class 9 CBSE 

1. Direct and Indirect Speech: The words spoken by a person can be reported in two ways— Direct and Indirect. When we quote the exact words spoken by a person, we call it Direct Speech.

• Sohan said to Mohan, “I am going to school.”

The exact words spoken by Sohan are put within inverted commas. But when we give the substance of what Sohan said, it is called the Indirect Speech.

You can master in  English Grammar of various classes by our articles like Tenses, Clauses, Prepositions, Story writing, Unseen Passage, Notice Writing etc. https://www.cbselabs.com/cbse-class-9-english-grammar-direct-indirect-speech/

2. Reporting Clause and Reported Speech: Sohan told Mohan that he was going to school. The words which generally come before the inverted commas are called the reporting clause, i.e. Sohan said to Mohan and the verb ‘said’, is called the reporting verb. The words spoken by Sohan and put within inverted commas are called the reported speech, i.e. “I am going to school.”

Reported Speech Exercises For Class 9 CBSE 

More Resources for CBSE Class 9

• NCERT Solutions
• NCERT Solutions Class 9 Maths
• NCERT Solutions Class 9 Science
• NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science
• NCERT Solutions Class 9 English
• NCERT Solutions Class 9 Hindi
• NCERT Solutions Class 9 Sanskrit
• NCERT Solutions Class 9 IT
• RD Sharma Class 9 Solutions

3. Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech:

• In the Indirect speech, no inverted commas are used.
• The conjunctions that, if, whether , are generally used after the reporting verb.
• The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter.
• The tense of the reporting verb is never changed.
• The reporting verb changes according to sense: it may be told, asked, inquired ,etc.

Direct And Indirect Speech Class 9 CBSE

4. Rules for the Change of Pronouns:

• The first person pronouns (I, me, my, we, us, our) in the reported speech change according to the subject of the reporting verb.
• The pronouns of the second person (you, your, yourself) in the reported speech change according to the object of the reporting verb.
• The pronouns of the third person do not change.

For example :

• He said, “I like the book.” He said that he liked the book.
• He said to me, “Do you like the book?” He asked me if I liked the book.
• He said, “He likes the book.” He said that he liked the book.

Reported Speech For Class 9 CBSE

Class 9 Reported Speech CBSE

6. Change in Tenses:

• If the reporting verb is in the present or the future tense, the tense of the reported speech is not changed:
• Satish says, “I am flying a kite.”
• Satish says that he is flying a kite.
• Satish will say, “I want a glass of milk.”
• Satish will say that he wants a glass of milk.

• If the direct speech expresses a historical fact, a universal truth or a habitual fact. tense of the direct speech will not change: Direct     : He said, “Honesty is the best policy.” Indirect : He said that honesty is the best policy. Direct     : He said, “The sun rises in the east.” Indirect : He said that the sun rises in the east. Direct     : Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.” Indirect : Rakesh said that he is an early riser. Direct     : She said, “God is omnipresent.” Indirect : She said that God is omnipresent. Direct     : The teacher said, “The First World War started in 1914.” Indirect : The teacher said that the First World War started in 1914.

Reported Speech Class 9th CBSE

7. Changing Statements into Indirect Speech:

• The reporting verb “said to’ is changed to ‘told, ‘replied’, ‘‘remarked’,
• The reporting verb is not followed by an object, it is not changed.
• The inverted commas are removed. The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting clause with the reported speech.
• The rules for the change of pronouns, tenses, etc. are followed. Direct     : Ramu said, “I saw a lion in the forest.” Indirect : Ramu said that he had seen a lion in the forest. Direct     : Satish said to me, “I am very happy here.” Indirect : Satish told me that he was very happy there. Direct     : He said, “I can do this work.” Indirect : He said that he could do that work. Direct     : Renu said to me, “I was washing the clothes.” Indirect : Renu told me that she had been washing the clothes. Direct     : She said, “I am not well.” Indirect : She said that she was not well. Direct     : He said to Sita, “I have passed the test.” Indirect : He told Sita that he had passed the test Direct     : I said to my friend, “He has been working very hard.” Indirect : I told my friend that he had been working very hard. Direct     : My friend said to me, “I shall go to Delhi tomorrow.” Indirect : My friend told me that he would go to Delhi the next day. Direct     : I said, “I agree to what he said.” Indirect : I said that I agreed to what he had said. Direct     : The student said to the teacher, “I am sorry that I am late.” Indirect : The student told the teacher that he was sorry that he was late.

Reported Speech Class 9 Exercise With Answers CBSE

8. Rules for the Change of Interrogative (Questions) sentences:

• The reporting verb ‘say’ is changed into ask, inquire,
• The interrogative sentence is changed into a statement by placing the subject before the verb and the full stop is put at the end of the sentence.
• If the interrogative sentence has a wh-word (who, when, where, how, why, etc) the wh- word is repeated in the sentence. It serves as a conjunction.
• If the interrogative sentence is a yes-no answer type sentence (with auxiliary verbs aw, are, was, were, do, did, have, shall, etc), then if or ‘ whether’ is used as a conjunction.
• The auxiliaries do, does, did in a positive question in the reported speech are dropped.
• The conjunction that is not used after the reporting clause. Direct     : I said to him, “Where are you going?” Indirect : Tasked him where he was going. Direct     : He said to me, “Will you go there?” Indirect : He asked me if I would go there. Direct     : My friend said to Deepak, “Have you ever been to Agra?” Indirect : My friend asked Deepak if he had ever been to Agra. Direct     : I said to him, “Did you enjoy the movie?” Indirect : I asked him if he had enjoyed the movie. Direct     : I said to her, “Do you know him?” Indirect : I asked her if she knew him. Direct     : He said to me, “Will you listen to me?” Indirect : He asked me if I would listen to him. Direct     : I said to him, “When will you go there?” Indirect : I asked him when he would go there. Direct     : He said to me, “How is your father?” Indirect : He asked me how my father was. Direct     : I said to him, “Are you happy?” Indirect : I asked him if he was happy. Direct     : He said to her, “Do you like apples?” Indirect : He asked her if she liked apples.

Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises For Class 9 With Answers Pdf

9. Changing Commands and Requests into Indirect Speech:

• In imperative sentences having commands, the reporting verb is changed into command, order, tell, allow, request, etc.
• The imperative mood is changed into the infinitive mood by putting to, before the verb. In case of negative sentences, the auxiliary ‘do’ is dropped and ‘to’ is placed after ‘not: Direct     : She said to me, “Open the window.” Indirect : She ordered me to open the window. Direct     : The captain said to the soldiers, “Attack the enemy.” Indirect : The captain commanded the soldiers to attack the enemy. Direct     : I said to him, “Leave this place at once.” Indirect : I told him to leave that place at once. Direct     : The teacher said to the students, “Listen to me attentively.” Indirect : The teacher asked the students to listen to him attentively. Direct     : The Principal said to the peon, “Ring the bell.” Indirect : The Principal ordered the peon to ring the bell. Direct     : The master said to the servant, “Fetch me a glass of water.” Indirect : The master ordered the servant to fetch him a glass of water. Direct     : I said to him, “Please bring me a glass of water.” Indirect : I requested him to bring me a glass of water. Direct     : I said to my friend, “Please lend me your book.” Indirect : I requested my friend to lend me his book.

Exercise (Solved)

Reported Speech Rules Class 9 CBSE

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech: (i) He said, “I will do it now.” Answer: He said that he would do it then.

(ii) He says, “Honesty is the best policy.” Answer: He says that honesty is the best policy.

(iii) Ramesh says, “I have written a letter.” Answer: Ramesh says that he has written a letter.

(iv) She said, “Mahesh will be reading a book.” Answer: She said that Mahesh would be reading a book.

(v) She said, “Where is your father?” Answer: She inquired where his father was.

(vi) He said to me, “Please take your book.” Answer: He requested me to take my book.

(vii) The Principal said to the peon, “Let this boy go out.” Answer: The Principal ordered the peon to let that boy go out.

(viii) He said to me, “May you live long!” Answer: He prayed that I might live long.

(ix) She said, “Goodbye friends!” Answer: She bade goodbye to her friends.

(x) The students said, “Alas! I wasted my time last year.” Answer: The students regretted that he had wasted his time the previous year.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

A presentation on direct and reported speech. In this lesson, you will learn all the rules for direct and indirect speech / reported speech (narration) in English grammar.

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Direct and Indirect Speech, Rules Chart PDF

Direct and indirect speech is used in many situations while conversation. In this article, we will learn the rules of direct and indirect speech.

Table of Contents

Direct and Indirect Speech :  Direct speech is a method of reporting what someone has said in their own words. It is frequently surrounded by quotation marks. Indirect speaking is a method of relaying what someone has said without using their precise words. It is frequently preceded by a verb like “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

Direct and Indirect Speech- Definition

Direct and Indirect Speech: For some children, the difference between direct and indirect speech can be difficult. In order to explain an event or action, we frequently need to quote someone. This article will clear all your doubts regarding Direct and Indirect Speech. Direct and Indirect Speech are the two types of speech that are used to explain what other people say (or reported Speech).

Direct Speech

The exact same words are quoted using direct speech. When writing in direct speech, we enclose the said words in quotation marks (“”) and leave them alone. We might be writing in inverted commas what is being said (for instance, during a phone call) or subsequently enquiring about a past conversation.

For examples:

• Rohan said,  “There is a dog inside the house.”
• They said, “We will go to the party.”
• She said, “I don’t know.”

Indirect Speech

We use indirect speech when we don’t use the exact copy of the speaker’s words. In simple words, we can say that in indirect speech we convey what someone has said but in our own words. No inverted commas will be used in indirect speech. Instead of commas ‘that’ conjunction will be used.

• Rohan said,  “There is a dog inside the house.” (Direct Speech)
• Rohan said that there was a dog inside the house. (Indirect Speech)
• They said, “We will go to the party.” (Direct Speech)
• They said that they would go to the party. (Indirect Speech)
• She said, “I don’t know.” (Direct Speech)
• She said that she didn’t know. (Indirect Speech)

Direct and Indirect Speech Rules

Rules that must be followed while using direct and indirect speech are given below. Follow and practice these rules to change direct speech into indirect speech. Before learning the rules you need to know these two parts of Direct and Indirect Speech.

Reporting Verb: Direct speech has two parts, the first part of the sentence is known as reporting verb as it tells about the person who is speaking (Rohan said, He says, etc.).

For Examples:

• He says, “I have done my work”.
• The teacher says, “The Earth is round.”

In the above two sentences, the first part is reporting verbs. In the first sentence,  ‘He says’ is reporting verb and in the second sentence, ‘The teacher says’ is reporting verb.

Reported Speech : The second part of the sentence or the words which is actually said by the speaker is known as reported speech.

In the above two sentences, the second part is reported speech which is enclosed in inverted commas. In the first sentence,  ‘I have done my work’ is reported speech and in the second sentence, ‘The Earth is round’ is reported speech.

All Direct Indirect Speech Rules

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 1. Remove inverted commas and use ‘that’: While changing direct speech into indirect speech, remove inverted commas and use that instead of commas.

Direct to Indirect speech Example:

• Rahul says, “There are eight planets.” (Direct Speech)
• Rahul says that there are eight planets. (Indirect Speech)

As in the above sentence inverted commas are removed in indirect speech and the conjunction ‘that’ is also used.

Note:- In indirect speech, tense does not change:

• If the reported speech (the part of the sentence which is inside inverted commas) is habitual action or universal truth.
• If the reporting verb is in the present tense then the tense will not be changed.
• My teacher says, “The earth is round.”

In the above sentence, reporting verb is in the present tense so it will not change into the past and reported speech is also a universal truth that can not be changed.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 2. Change in tense: When the reporting verb is in the past tense then reported speech will be changed into past tense in indirect speech.

• She said, “I will go.” (Direct Speech)
• She said that she would go. (Indirect Speech)

As, in the above sentence reporting verb is in the past tense so we have converted reported speech into past tense in indirect speech i.e, will-would.

Read the following table to learn the conversion of tenses

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 3. Change in Pronoun:  The pronoun or subject of the reported speech is changed according to the subject or the pronoun of the reporting verb (first part) of the sentence. The possessive pronouns (his, hers, mine) are also changed sometimes according to the personal or object pronoun.

Direct to Indirect speech Example

• He said, “I eat an apple.” (Direct Speech)
• He said that he ate an apple. (Indirect Speech)

In the above example ‘I’ is changed into ‘he’ according to the reporting verb (first part) and the tense is also changed because reporting verb (first part) is in the past tense.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 4. Change in Time: If the word related to time is given in the sentence then it will be changed in indirect speech. Some rules must be followed while doing this and those are given in the following table.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 5. Interrogative sentences: No conjunction is used, if a sentence in direct speech starts with a question word (what/where/when) as the “question-word” itself acts as conjunction.

• “Where are you going?” asked the boy. (Direct Speech)
• The boy asked where I was going. (Indirect Speech)

Note: While changing the interrogative sentence into indirect speech remove the question mark ‘?’.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 6. Yes/No Interrogative sentences:  If a direct speech sentence starts with an auxiliary verb/helping verb, the joining clause will be changed into if or whether.

• He asked me “Do you come with me?” (Direct Speech)
• He enquired whether/if I am coming with him. (Indirect Speech)

Note: While changing the interrogative sentence reporting verbs (verbs used in the first part) such as ‘said/ said to’ changes to enquired, asked, or demanded.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 7. Request, Command, Wished, Enquired:  Some verbs, such as requested, ordered, urged, and advised, are used in indirect speech. For the negative statements, the word forbidden is used. As a result, in indirect communication, the imperative mood that is present in direct speech is replaced by the infinitive word.

• She said to her, “Please do this work.” (Direct Speech)
• She requested her to complete that work. (Indirect Speech)

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 8. Exclamatory Sentence: Interjections words are removed from exclamatory sentences that express (grief, sorrow, delight, or applaud) and the sentence is transformed into an assertive sentence.

• Students said, “Hurrah! India has won the match.”(Direct Speech)
• Students exclaimed with joy that India had won the match.(Indirect Speech)

Direct and Indirect Speech Rules  Chart

Direct and Indirect Speech Rules PDF

Click here to download Direct Indirect Speech Rules PDF

Direct and Indirect Speech- QNA

Que. what are direct and indirect speech with examples.

Ans. Direct Speech and Indirect Speech are the two types of speech that are used to explain what other people say (or reported Speech).

Que. What are the three rules of direct and indirect speech?

Ans. The common three rules of direct and indirect speech are: a) Remove inverted commas and use ‘that’. b) Change in tense. c) Change in Pronoun.

Que. How can I learn direct and indirect speech?

Ans. Read and learn all the rules while changing direct speech into indirect speech and practice it on daily basis.

Que. What are the 4 types of reported speech?

Ans. The four types of reported speech can be Assertive/Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, and Exclamatory .

Que. What are the two parts of direct speech?

Ans. The two parts of direct speech are reporting verb and reported speech.

Sharing is caring!

Ans. The common three rules of direct and indirect speech are: a) Remove inverted commas and use 'that'. b) Change in tense. c) Change in Pronoun.

Ans. The four types of reported speech can be Assertive/Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, and Exclamatory.

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Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.

Direct and Indirect Speech

When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.

Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.

To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.

It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.

In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:

Change of Pronouns

In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
• Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.

In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.

Change of Tenses

Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
• Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.

In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.

Change of Time and Place References

When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:

• Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
• Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.

In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.

Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.

For example:

• Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
• Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.

• Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.

• Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
• Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.

By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:

• Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
• Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
• Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
• Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.

Here is an example to illustrate the process:

Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.

Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.

By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:

Direct Speech Examples

Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.

• “I am going to the store,” said Sarah.
• “It’s a beautiful day,” exclaimed John.
• “Please turn off the lights,” Mom told me.
• “I will meet you at the library,” said Tom.
• “We are going to the beach tomorrow,” announced Mary.

Indirect Speech Examples

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• Sarah said that she was going to the store.
• John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
• Mom told me to turn off the lights.
• Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
• Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.

In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.

Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.

How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.

What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?

Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .

What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?

The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercise

Turn the following sentences into indirect speech.

1.    John said, ‘I am very busy now.’ 2.    He said, ‘The horse has been fed.’ 3.    ‘I know her name and address,’ said John. 4.    ‘German is easy to learn,’ she said. 5.    He said, ‘I am writing letters.’ 6.    ‘It is too late to go out,’ Alice said. 7.    He said to me, ‘I don’t believe you.’ 8.    He says, ‘I am glad to be here this evening.’ 9.    He said to me, ‘What are you doing?’ 10.    ‘Where is the post office?’ asked the stranger. 11.    He said, ‘Will you listen to me?’ 12.    John said to Peter, ‘Go away.’ 13.    She said to me, ‘Please wait here till I return.’ 14.    ‘Call the witness,’ said the judge. 15.    The speaker said, ‘Be quiet and listen to my words.’

1.    John said that he was very busy then. 2.    He said that the horse had been fed. 3.    John said that he knew/knows her name and address. (Note that the tenses may not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal truth.) 4.    She said that German is/was easy to learn. 5.    He said that he was writing letters. 6.    Alice said that it was too late to go out. 7.    He told me that he didn’t believe me. OR He said he didn’t believe me. 8.    He says that he is glad to be here this evening. (When the reporting verb is in the present tense, adverbs of time and place do not normally change in indirect speech.) 9.    He asked me what I was doing. 10.    The stranger asked where the post office is/was. 11.    He asked me if I would listen to him. 12.    John ordered Peter to go away. 13.    She asked me to wait there till she returned. 14.    The judge commanded them to call the first witness. 15.    He urged them to be quiet and listen to them.

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