CHAPTER MMe i REPORTED SPEECH The act of reporting the words of a speaker is called narration. There are basically two. ways which a speaker can convey th rended message/idea to the listener. a) Direct Speech (Diacct Neration) The reporting of the words of the speaker without makin, any changes to it is known as Direct Speech. Direct speech is shown inside double quotation marks. (b) Indi +t Speech (Indirect Narration) The act of reporting the words of a speaker by making sary changes to it is called Indirect Speech. In indirect speech, while narrating something changes are made in the original words of the person. For example, tenses and pronouns changed according to the reporting verb. €.9. (i) My mother told me, "You have to work harder at school." (Direct speech) (ii) My mother told me that I had to work harder at school. (Indirect speech In sentence ()) we can notice that this is the speaker's direct narration as itis shown inside quotation marks, but in sentence (i) tense and pronouns are changed and quotation marks fe removed, 1 The first verb part oF the sentence (1.€ he said, she said, he says, she says. they sald e statement (quotation marks) ofa person in the sentence is called the reporting verb ‘The reporting clause contains the reporting verb (in many cases saul or told) and usually comes Observe the following changes carefully + He said, “I work in a factory.” (Direct speech) He said that he worked in a factory Indirect speech) + They said, “We are going to the cinema.” (Direct speech) They said that they were going to the cinema (Indirect speech) * She said, “Iam playing.” (Direct speech) She said that she was playing (Indirect speech) # He said to me, “You have been a great help to me.” (Direct speech) He told me that Ehad been a great help to him: (Indirect speech) + Ashish said to me, “E shall yo to them: Ashish told me that he would go to the ket today.” (Direct speech) arket that dhay (Indirect speech)REPORTED SPEECH (Section B) 99 BASIC RULES OF SPEECH AND CONVERSION ch (0 Par within ©" (de (i) Separate the rep (a) In Direct Spe ble quotes or double inverted commas). yz verb from the direct speech by a comma (ii) Begin the first word inside inverted commas with a capital letter (b) In Indirect Speech (0) Do not use inverted commas. (1) Remove the comma separating the reporting verb from the direct speech. (in) Introduce the indire h by some connector like that, if, whether, what, where, how, why ete depending on whether you (w) Change the reporting verb according to the sense conve (v) Do not change the tense of the reporting verb. (vi) Convert all kinds of sentences into assertive statements It fo Cransform a statement, question of request, as the case may be al by the speech, (.ii) Make other necessary changes in person, verb forms, time, place and expressions. Some changes to consider (a) Ist person (I, we etc) > change according to the subject of the reporting verb, (b) 2nd person (You, your etc) > change according to the object of the reporting verb, (©) 3rd person (He, she, it, they, his, her ete) > make no change. (d) Change Ist person into 3rd person if the reporting verh has no object mentioned. Rules for Changing Simple Direct Speech into Indirect Speech Rules Direct Speech Indirect Speech Remove separating comma, inverted + He said, “L work ina + He said that he worked in a commas and use the connector ‘thar shipyard.” shipyard. when there is no object in the sentence. 6 Sh ina said that her teacher was said, “My teacher is + Sh highly educated.” highly educated The reporting verb ‘said’ becomes ‘told’ — + Kamya said to me, “You + Kamya told me that E had been a along with the subject and the connector have been a great help.” great help. ‘that’ when it is followed by an object. «He said to me, “Ishall goto + He told me that he would go to the party.” the party Changes into Reported Speech With Respect to the Tense Present Tense Rules of Conversion Direct Speech Indirect Speech Present simple changes into. + He said, “Ido not like computers.” + He said that he dll not like past simple computers. + They said, "We love our country.” + They said that they loved their country Present continuous changes + I said, “It is raining.” + L said that it was raintn; Into past continuous She said, “Iam not laughing.” + She saial that she was not huuzhing.100 | Rules of Conversion Present perfect changes into past perfect Present perfect continuous changes into past perfect continuous Rules of Conversion Past simple change: perfect to past Past continuous changes into past perfect continuous Past perfect remains past Allynone ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE c! Direct Speech 1 + They said, York.” + He said, "I have been studying since 30° clock.” + Radha said, three days.” + She He has finished his work.” “We have not gone to New “It has been raining for _ Past Tense Direct Speech + My teacher said to me, “You answered correctly.” + He said, “I didn’t buy a car.” + They sai weather. |. “We were enjoying the Indirect Speech + She said that he had finished his work + They said that they had not gone to New York + He said thar he had been studying. since 3 0" clock + Radha said that it had been raining for three days. Indirect Speech + My teacher told me that I had answered correctly. + He said that he had not bought a car. + They said that they had been enjoying the weather. + He said, “Mohit was listening to the + He said that Mohit had been listening + He said, “I had started a business.” perfect (tense does not change) . | said, “She had eaten the meal.” Rules of Conversion Simple turure: will changes + He said, “I will study the book.” into would Direct Speech + They said to me, “We will send you sift.” Future Tense to the music, + He said that he had started a business. + Lsaid that she had eaten the meal. Indirect Speech + He said that he would study the book + They told me that they would send me fis. Future continuous: will be + Shreya told him, “Iwill be waiting for + Shreya told him that she would be waiting changes into would be you.” + He said, “He will not be flying kites.” Future perfect: will have + He said, “I will have finished the changes into would have work.” + Narayan said, A, EXCEPTIONS “L will have gone.” for him. _+ He said that he would nor be flying kites. He ad that he would have finished the + Narayan said that he would have gone. The tense of the reported speech may not change ifthe narration is about a universal truth, habitual face for past historical fact ‘eg. () My father said, “Lam slow to start * Habitual fac (Wirecy ny father said that he i slow to start adineet fai) She said, “Two and two make four ” (uversal ttt ce fhe said that two and (wo emake four nace 1) The teacher said, “Ashoka let war alter the conquest of Kalinga" Historical fact) Wirecn The teacher said that Ashoka Ieft war alter the conquest of Kalinga ndirect)PORTED SPEECH (Section B) ' 101 Rules for Changing Interrogative Sentences into Indirect Speech The ng verb ‘said’ becomes ‘asked’ and ‘to’ is removed) Rules Direct Speech Indirect Speech seit or whether! in place of + She said to me, “Do you like tea + She asked m NS or coffee" She ashe oe whether | ike te Remove the question mark while + She said to Shyam, “Do you have + She asked Shyam if he had an ny an assertive sentence an extra copy ae questions starting with + He said, “What is your problem?” + He asked! me what i she my problem question words like when, why + She said, “Why are you not was Shere, dos not use ‘it or ‘whether’ The question words are retained to introduce the reported question, coming!” he asked me why T was not coming Rules for Changing Imperative Sentences into Indirect Speech (Commands, Requests and Suggestions) Rules Use conjunction ‘to’ instead of tha In sentences b he reporting verb is changed to proposed’ or ‘suggested! inning with ‘Let’, Direct Speech + Lsaid to Hari flowers.” +Th C + He said, “Let us keep quiet in this matter.” “Do not pluck the Principal said to the students, out of the office Indirect Speech + Lordered Hari not to pluck the flowers, + The Principal ordered the stuclents co get our of the office. + He suggested that we should keep quiet in this matter. Rules for Changing Exclamatory Sentences into Indirect Speech “Rules Words such as Alas, Bravo, Oh, Wow, Wah should be lett our in _indirect speech, Forms of the verb ‘wish’ is used places of UL were’ Change of Verb Forms shave ~ had ~ had + 3rd form of the verb 88, were ~ had been hould = could Direct Speech + Ram said, “Alas! I have been ruined.” in + She said, “If L were a bird.” Change of Pronouns Ist Person — according to the subject 2nd Person — (i) according to the object (ii) changed to 3rd person if the reporting verb has no object 3rd Person — unchanged Summary of Changes Indirect Speech, + Ram exclaimed with sorrow that he had been ruined. + She wished to be a bird./She wished chat she were a bird Time, Place, Expression and Other Changes now — then. before today — that day last night — the previous night or the night before next week - the following week here — there hither — thither this — that thus ~ soPRACTICE QUESTIONS |. Direction (Que 1 to 10 Read the following dialogue and then complete the report that follows Doctor How do you leet now? Patient Sightty better Doctor Did you take the medicines regularly? Patient’ Yes, ‘The doctor asked the patient how (a) ............. The patient replied that (b) better. When the doctor asked him if (¢) ............ the medicines regularly, he replied in affirmation. 2. Teacher Why are yo. >1ying, Racha? Radha Madam, Mansi has broken my pen Teacher _|lartange anew pen for you Radha You said this yesterday also Radha was crying in her rlassroom. The teacher saw her and asked (a) - Radha replied 1) her pen. The teacher promised that she would arrange a new pen for her. Radha replied that (c) that the previous day also. Shubham Didn't you see the football match? Vaibhav No, sorry, 1d not. | hate games Shubham Why do you think ike this? Vaibhav The players are rough and they misbehave with the referee. Last night, the final football match was played between Germany and Holland. The match was very interesting. Shubham asked Vaibhav (a) .. the football match. Vaibhav regretted that he had not seen the match because he hated games. Shubham enquired (b) . like that. Vaibhav replied that the players (c) ............ with the referee. 4 Mansi Do you know who will be presiding over our annual function? Priya | was old an eminent poet has been invited Mansi Ate you talk «g about the Indian poet, Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar"? Priya Yes, he ha’ omposed a number of patriotic songs. The curiosity about the chief quest was uncertain among the students on the annual day function Mansi asked Priya if she knew (a) ........... over their annual day function. Priya replied that (b) an eminent poet had been invited. Mansi enquired (c) . about the Indian poet Ramdhani Singh ‘Dinkar’ Priya replied in the affirmative and said that he roti cone) had composed a number ot patriotic songs. 5. Ankit Where are you gong? Atul To the aupot Ankit — Mas diop,, suthere m my car? Au Thanks |! nl be a great help to me Anlat asked Atul where (a) Atul replied (b) airport, Ankit turther asked him to there in his car Atul t HT him, adding that it would be @ great help to himREPORTED SPEECH (Section 8) 6 sm Deepti Sn Sneha asked Deepti (a) Sneha (b) Sneha told her that (c) .. Tanmay How dit you spend your vacation? Astha | wsited Kashmir with my parents, Tanmay Have you been there earlier too? Astha No. i was my first trip, Tanmay asked Astha (a) vacation. Astha replied that (b) 103| Po you know thal the schoo! rip fo Andaman has been postponed? "No. I dint know that. Why has the trip been postponed? | heard that itis due to bad weather conditions, Postponed. Deepti replied that she didn’t know that, She asked with her parents, Tanmay further asked her if she had been there earlier too. Astha replied in (¢) »~ S. Teacher Why are you late? Sumit missed my school bus. Teacher Why dict you leave in tine? Sumit Sorry | will do so from tomorrow. The teacher asked Sumit (a) late. Sumit replied that (b) When the teacher asked him fo) Sumit apologetically replied that he would do so from the next day. % Sonu What makes you ween? Rohan Someone has stolen my wallet. Sonu Where did you keep i? Rohan Inthe back pocket of my trousers, Sonu asked Rohan (a) . He replied that someone (b) .. - Next, Sonu enquired ‘ Rohan said that he had kept it in the back pocket of his trousers. 1. Servant Please give me leave for a week. Master Why do you need such a long leave? Servant | have to visit my vilage. Master OK, but don't overstay on your leave, The servant requested his master (a) this, the servant said (6)... on his leave. Answers D1. ia) he felt then {(b) he felt slightly c) eh taken 2 ia) uny she was ying — (b) that Mansi had broken shed snd Laan d nol seen (b) why he thought were ugh and they mbt ‘ who would be presiding hha been tld (oho wa aang 5. ty) newas gong (by hal we was gang tothe 8 15) sneknew thal the school np toAndaman had been sy hac bean postponed hag heard hal # wos. due to bod weal conditions, 7 10. for a week, The master asked him why (b) At The master acceded to his request, but asked him not to overstay < > (@) how she had spent her (0) she had visited Kashmir (©) the negative, saying that it had been her hist tp (a) why he was (b) he had missed his schoo! bus. () why ne had not lettin time (a) what made him weep (©) had stolen his wallet (©) of rim where he hac! Keptit (a) to give him leave (b) he needed such a long leave (6) that he had to visit his wilage QUESTION PRACTICE