When we use the actual words of the speaker, we use Direct Speech but when we
report what he said in our own words, we use Indirect Speech. The actual words of the
speaker are called Reported Speech and the verb introducing the Reported Speech is called
the Reporting Verb
Direct Speech Indirect Speech Equivalent
now then
this that
here there
these those
come go
today that day
tonight that night
tomorrow the next day
yesterday the previous day
next week the following week
thus so
ago before
just then
last night the night before
next day the following day
last year the previous year
next year the following year
the day before yesterday two days before
1. “I go to school by bus,” said Rita.
2. Sheeba said, ” Mother, I am very sleepy.”
3. “When do you return from work?” said John to Mr. Brown.
4. “I have to go to Hannah’s party.” said Rita to her mother.
5. Mala said, ” I can see a butterfly.”
6. “There is a traffic jam on South Street.” Mrs Jain said to Mr
Jain.
7. “I can see a big ship sailing on the sea.” the sailor said to
Captain.
8. “Where is my cat?” said Mrs. Nair.
9. “I have a pet cat called Furry.” said Richard.
10. Ali said, “I am not feeling well.”
1. Rita said that she went to school by bus.
2. Sheeba told her mother that she was very sleepy.
3. John asked Mr.Brown when did he return from work.
4. Rita told her mother that she had to go to Hannah’s party.
5. Mala said that she could see a butterfly.
6. Mrs. Jain told Mr. Jain that there was a traffic jam on South Street.
7. The sailor told the Captain that he could see a big ship sailing on
the sea.
8. Mrs. Nair asked where her cat was.
9. Richard said that he had a pet cat called Furry.
10. Ali said that he was not feeling well.
**************If there is time go through this link in the last
https://www.learncbse.in/cbse-class-8-english-grammar-reported-speech/
Exercise – 1
Transform these sentences into indirect speech.
1. Harsh said, “I am hungry for knowledge.”
2. Geeta cried, “I want those biscuits”
3. Indrajeet said, “My dress is getting wet.”
4. Jagjeevan said to his mother, “Please, buy me a new dress for the
party.”
5. Kuldeep said to the police, “Keep my bag and baggage safe.”
Answers
1. Harsh said that he was hungry for knowledge.
2. Geeta cried that she wanted those biscuits.
3. Indrajeet said that his dress was getting wet.
4. Jagjeevan requested his mother to buy him a new dress for the party.
5. Kuldeep advised the police to keep his bag and baggage safe.
Exercise – 2
Transform these sentences into indirect speech.
1. My father said to me, “Why are you not studying for the examination?”
2. The uncle said to aunty. “Have you prepared the food?”
3. Hina said, “I won’t get up early in the morning tomorrow.”
4. The teacher said, “Oil floats over water.”
5. The principal said, “I want everyone to attend the assembly.”
Answers
1. My father asked me why I was not studying for the examination.
2. The uncle asked aunty if she had prepared the food.
3. Hina said that she would not get up early in the morning the next day.
4. The teacher said that oil floats over water.
5. The principal said that she wanted everyone to attend the assembly.
Exercise – 3
1. The instructor said, “Bend your knees.”
2. He said, “Alas! Our principal has been transferred.”
3. Rima said to my sister, “Who are you?”
4. The teacher said to us, “Get out of my class.”
5. Sanjay said to his father, “Will you help me?”
Answers
1. The instructor ordered him to bend his knees.
2. He exclaimed with sorrow that their principal had been transferred.
3. Rima asked my sister who she was.
4. The teacher ordered us to get out of his class.
5. Sanjay asked his father if he would help him.
Exercise – 1
Transform these sentences Indirect to direct speech.
1. Reena instructed her brother to get a glass of water for her.
2. Raju said that it was all his mistakes.
3. The old man asked the fireman if he had saved his nephew.
4. The father requested the teacher to allow him to go home.
5. Mr. Sharma ordered his assistant to meet in his office with the file.
1. Reena said to her brother, “Get a glass of water for me.”
2. Raju said, “It is all my mistakes.”
3. The old man said to the fireman, “Have you saved my nephew?”
4. The father said to the teacher, “Allow me to go home.”
5. Mr. Sharma said to his assistant, “Meet in my office with the file.”
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Byju
Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers
When converting direct speech to indirect speech or vice-versa, you will have to take care to
convert the verb, pronoun and the adverb appropriately. Go through the following exercises and
try them out. Answers are given below each exercise; refer to them to see if your answers are
right.
Exercise 1: Change into indirect speech
Read the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech.
1. Rahul told to me, “When are you leaving?”
2. “Where do you live?” the stranger asked Aladdin.
3. The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
4. Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
5. “Call the first convict,” said the jury.
6. “Call the ambulance,” said the man.
7. Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
8. My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
9. Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
10. The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
11. Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
12. Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
13. Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
14. The boy said, “Let me come in.”
15. Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”
Answers –
1. Rahul asked me when I was leaving.
2. The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
3. The teacher asked Shelly why he was laughing.
4. Dhronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
5. The jury ordered to call the first convict.
6. The man urged to call the ambulance.
7. Bruce said to me he would do the work.
8. My mother told me that I was wrong.
9. Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
10. The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
11. Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
12. Ruchi said that she might go there.
13. Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
14. The boy asked to let him come in.
15. Granny prayed that God might bless me.
Convert the following into Direct Speech
Read the following passage and convert it into direct speech.
One of them told Issac that the latter had forgotten one thing that belonged to a mill. Issac
enquired what that was. The friend asked where the miller was. Issac replied that (absence of the
miller) was true – and he must look for one.
Answers –
“But Issac,” said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs to a mill.”
“What is that?” asked Issac.
“Why, where is the miller?” said his friend.
“That is true – I must look for one,” said Issac.
