Reported Speech for Class 8 English Grammar

 

 

Class 8 English Grammar Reported Speech (Direct and Indirect) Exercise with Answer

Reported Speech  – Reported speech refers to recording the speaker’s speech, whether it is done directly by recording the speaker’s words or indirectly by recording the speaker’s words but changing them.

 

For example
Shyam said, “Taj Mahal was built by Shahjahan.”
Shyam said is the reporting verb.
“Taj Mahal was built by Shahjahan.” is the reported speech.

 

 

Direct Speech

It refers to reporting the exact words spoken by the speaker. There is no change in the verb or the sentence.

 

Rules of Direct Speech 

• Speech should be opened with quotations or inverted commas. 
• The word said is used to connect two sentences. 
• Reporting clause should be used at the end of the sentence. 
• At the end of the sentence full stop should be placed.

 

Let us look at some examples

1. Neha said, “Roger Federer has won the match against Rafael Nadal.”
2. Shivani says, “I am having my lunch.”

 

Indirect Speech

It is the speech that tells what someone has said but it does not explain the actual words spoken by the person. It just conveys the basic narration of what is being said to the third person.

 

Rules of Indirect Speech 

• Past tense is used when the situation is uncertain. 
• The present tense of the sentence is changed to the past tense in indirect speech. 
• Universal facts tense remains the same. 
• The use of the word “that” connects the reported verb and reported speech.

 

Let us look at some examples

1. Gargi said that she enjoyed watching the movie Avatar.
2. Shiva says that he is eating an apple.

 

Changing direct speech into reported speech

 

Change of Pronouns

 

Change in Tenses

 

Change of Adverbs of Place and Adverbs of Time

 

Change of Modal Verbs

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Will	Would
May	Might
Can	Could
Shall	Should
Has/Have	Had

 

Let us look at some examples using comic strips-

 

Exercise on Reported Speech (Practice Questions)

 

Convert the following sentences into reported speech.

1. Mohini said to her mother, “The ladies have been making pickles for 10 years.”
2. The teacher said to us, “Water boils at 100°C.”
3. Mr Gupta said, “All the flights are delayed due to heavy rains.”
4. Radhika asked me, “When are you leaving?”
5. She said, “He likes Mughlai food.”
6. He said, “Her dress is ready.”
7. Dronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the fish’s eye.”
8. He said to her, “You are an understanding person.”
9. The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
10. Rashi told him, “Your bag is new.”
11. Meera said, “I’m reading a comic.”
12. The old man said to the sailor, “The sea will be rough according to the weather forecast.”
13. My father said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
14. Rita told her, “Your friend likes you.”
15. “Call the ambulance,” said the woman.
16. The chef said to the helper, “Chop the vegetables quickly.”
17. Robert said to me, “I shall do my homework.”
18. The student said to the librarian, “Please allow me to go to the library.”
19. Grandma said to Kishore, “Avoid drinking chilled water as it will further harm your sore throat.”
20. He said to her, “Go there.”

 

Answers 

1. Mohini told her mother that the ladies had been making pickle for 10 years.
2. The teacher told us that water boils at 100°C.
3. Mr Gupta said that all the flights were delayed due to heavy rains.
4. Radhika asked me when I was leaving.
5. She said that he liked Mughlai food.
6. He said that her dress was ready.
7. Dronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
8. He told her that she was an understanding person.
9. The teacher asked Shelly why she was laughing.
10. Rashi told him that his bag was new.
11. Mera said that she was reading a comic.
12. The old man informed the sailor that the sea would be rough according to the weather forecast.
13. My father requested me to wait there till he returned.
14. Rita told her that her friend liked her.
15. The woman urged to call the ambulance.
16. The chef ordered the helper to chop the vegetables quickly.
17. Robert said to me that he would do his homework.
18. The student requested the librarian to allow him to go to the library.
19. Grandma advised Kishore to avoid drinking chilled water as it would further harm his sore throat.
20. He ordered her to go there.

 

Convert the dialogue in the comic strip into indirect speech-

Answers –

B Convert the following paragraph into reported speech.

1. Mother said to Rahul, ”Drive slow”. He replied, “I always drive slow.” Handing over a packed lunch she said, “Keep me updated about your whereabouts.” Raghav hugged her goodbye and took off for Manali.

Ans. Mother said to Rahul to drive slow. He replied that he always drives slow. Mother gave him a packed lunch and asked him to keep her updated about his whereabouts. Raghav hugged her goodbye and took off for Manali.

2. “Do you want to know something cool?” Preeti asked Rama. Rama said, “Why not.” Preeti said, “Did you know “strengths” is the longest word in the English language with one vowel?” Rama seemed surprised. Preeti said, “According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “strengths” is the longest word in the English language with one vowel. The word contains nine letters, eight of them being consonants.” 

Ans Preeti asked Rama if she wanted to know something cool. Rama replied that why not. Preeti asked her whether she knew that “strengths” is the longest word in the English language with one vowel. Rama seemed surprised. Preeti said that according to the Guinness Book of World Records, “strengths” is the longest word in the English language with one vowel. The word contains nine letters, eight of them being consonants.

3. She said, “You should eat your vegetables.” Raghav replied, “I don’t like brinjal, I want to have fries.” His mother said, “If you’ll have your vegetables throughout the week, then I will treat you with fries on the weekend.”

Ans She said to Raghav that he should eat his vegetables. Raghav replied that he did not like brinjal, he wanted to have fries. His mother told him that if he’d have his vegetables throughout the week then she would treat him with fries on the weekend.

4. Robert asked Paul, “Are you a potterhead?” Paul excitedly replied, “Yes, a big one!” Robert asked, “Did you know actor Daniel Radcliffe went through nearly 70 wands and 160 pairs of glasses during the making of the Harry Potter films?” Paul was amazed to know this.

Ans Robert asked Paul whether he was a potterhead. Paul excitedly replied that he was a big one. Robert asked whether he knew that actor Daniel Radcliffe went through nearly 70 wands and 160 pairs of glasses during the making of the Harry Potter films. Paul was amazed to know this.

5. Vinay said, “Good afternoon, sir! May I come in?” His boss replied, “Yes Vinay, please come in.” Vinay said, “Actually, I wanted to speak to you about something, so do let me know when you are free!”  his boss said, ”Yes, Vinay please have a seat. What do you have to say, please do tell me!”

Ans Vinay wished good afternoon to his boss and asked whether he could come in. His boss said yes and requested him to go in. Vinay said that he actually wanted to speak to him about something so could he please let him know when he was free. His boss replied yes and asked him to have a seat and to tell him what he had to say.

 

Also See:

• Tenses for class 8 Students| Types of Tenses with Examples
• Determiners for Class 8 Rules, Exercises
• Modals for Class 8 use, examples, exercises
• Class 8 Subject Verb Agreement, Examples, Exercise