Common Rules and Examples of Reported Speech
Reported Speech is an essential concept in English grammar, transforming direct statements into indirect forms while maintaining the original meaning. Mastering Reported Speech helps in effective communication, especially when narrating or retelling conversations. This topic covers the meaning, rules, changes in tense, pronouns, and offers plenty of reported speech examples and exercises to help you understand the structure and usage with ease.
Reported Speech: Meaning and Importance
Reported Speech (also known as indirect speech) involves reporting what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. It is widely used in everyday writing, storytelling, and academic texts. Using reported speech correctly lets you recount statements, questions, and commands while following specific grammar rules, making your English communication accurate and clear.
Learning reported speech is especially important for students in Class 9 and Class 10, where it is a crucial part of English grammar. Understanding the basic rules, practicing exercises, and seeing reported speech examples with answers will help you score well and use the language more fluently.
Reported Speech Rules: Tenses, Pronouns, and More
There are set rules to follow when converting direct speech to reported speech. You generally need to change verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, punctuation, and sometimes word order. The reporting verb (such as said, told, asked) often changes depending on the type of sentence. Mastering these reported speech rules will help you avoid common errors.
Common Rules of Reported Speech
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech Change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb Tense | Usually shift one tense back | “I am happy” ⇒ He said he was happy. |
| Pronouns | Change as per reporting context | “I like pizza” ⇒ She said she liked pizza. |
| Time Expressions | Adjust accordingly | “Today” ⇒ “That day” |
| Questions | No question mark; invert subject/verb | “Are you coming?” ⇒ He asked if I was coming. |
| Commands | Use 'to' + verb | “Sit down.” ⇒ He told me to sit down. |
The above table summarises key changes you must make when converting direct to reported speech. Applying these reported speech rules ensures accuracy and fluency. Exploring more reported speech exercises will reinforce these patterns and help you internalise the structure.
Reported Speech Examples: Statements, Questions, and Commands
Examining a variety of reported speech examples makes the rules much clearer. Understanding how sentences transform in different scenarios, such as statements, questions, and requests, gives you confidence when using reported speech in your own writing. Below are common examples you can use for practice.
Statements
Direct: She said, “I am learning English.”
Reported Speech: She said that she was learning English.
Yes/No Questions
Direct: He asked, “Are you coming?”
Reported Speech: He asked if I was coming.
WH-Questions
Direct: She asked, “Where do you live?”
Reported Speech: She asked where I lived.
Commands/Requests
Direct: The teacher said, “Open your books.”
Reported Speech: The teacher told us to open our books.
Reported Speech Exercises for Better Understanding
Practicing reported speech exercises is the best way to learn the rules and format. Try converting direct speech to reported speech, paying close attention to verb tense, pronouns, and time expressions. Vedantu offers a dedicated reported speech quiz for hands-on learning.
Convert: She said, “I will visit tomorrow.”
Convert: He asked, “Why are you late?”
Convert: The doctor said, “Take your medicine.”
Convert: “I like your essay,” she said.
For more challenging exercises and worksheets, practice with grammar exercises and error correction exercises on Vedantu.
Reported Speech in Class 9 and Class 10 Syllabus
Reported speech is featured in the curriculum for both Class 9 and Class 10. Students learn how to apply reported speech rules to transform direct speech into accurate indirect forms in academic and real-life situations.
Practicing reported speech questions helps prepare students for exams and for future communication. Vedantu provides interactive lessons and quizzes, making it easier for students to understand even the most challenging grammar topics.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Students often make mistakes with tense shifting, pronouns, and word order in reported speech. Always check verb tense changes and adjust pronouns according to the speaker and listener. Remember to remove quotation marks and include conjunctions like 'that' when needed.
For extra support, explore topics such as direct and indirect speech and use sentence correction exercises for reinforced learning. Each practice enhances your reported speech grammar skills and builds confidence.
Tips to Master Reported Speech
Consistent practice and exposure to real-world examples are essential for mastering reported speech. Read English stories, passages, and articles to observe how reported speech is used naturally. Attempting regular worksheets, quizzes, and exercises from Vedantu can further strengthen your grammar skills.
If you want to improve your general grammar knowledge, explore grammar, tenses, and parts of speech topics, which are closely related to reported speech rules and usage.
In summary, understanding and using reported speech is crucial for accurate English communication. By carefully applying the reported speech rules for tenses, pronouns, and expressions, and by practicing with varied exercises, you can confidently report statements, questions, and commands in indirect speech. Vedantu provides interactive resources and examples for deeper learning.
FAQs on How to Use Reported Speech in English
1. What is reported speech?
Reported speech is a way of expressing what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. It is also called indirect speech and is used to convey a speaker's message from one person to another.
Key points about reported speech:
- It often changes the tense of the original statement (direct speech).
- Pronouns and time expressions are usually adjusted.
- Quotation marks are not used in reported speech.
2. How do you change direct speech to reported speech?
To change direct speech to reported speech, modify the sentence structure, adjust pronouns and time expressions, and change the verb tense if necessary.
Steps to convert:
- Remove quotation marks.
- Change the pronouns (I → he/she).
- Shift the verb tense back (present → past, past → past perfect, etc).
- Use a reporting verb (said, told, asked, etc.)
- Alter time words (now → then, today → that day, etc).
3. What are the main rules for changing tenses in reported speech?
The main rules for changing tenses in reported speech involve shifting tenses back when the reporting verb is in the past.
Tense changes:
- Simple present → Simple past
- Present continuous → Past continuous
- Present perfect → Past perfect
- Simple past → Past perfect
4. What are some examples of reported speech?
Examples of reported speech show how direct statements are converted into indirect forms.
Examples:
- Direct: She says, "I am studying."
Reported: She says that she is studying. - Direct: He said, "I have finished my homework."
Reported: He said that he had finished his homework.
5. When do we not change the tense in reported speech?
Tenses in reported speech are not changed when the reporting verb is in the present, future, or when the statement expresses a universal truth.
Do not change tense:
- Reporting verb is present/future (e.g., says, will say).
- The original statement is a universal truth or fact.
6. How are questions reported in reported speech?
In reported speech, questions are reported by changing the word order into a statement and adjusting verbs as per the reporting rules.
How to report questions:
- Use reporting verb like 'asked' or 'inquired'.
- Remove question marks.
- Change the word order to a statement (subject before verb).
- Adjust pronouns and tenses as required.
7. How are commands and requests reported in reported speech?
Commands and requests in reported speech are reported using the infinitive form after verbs such as 'told', 'asked', 'requested', etc.
Reporting commands/requests:
- Use 'to' + base verb (e.g., told him to go).
- For negative commands, use 'not to' (e.g., asked her not to shout).
8. What are the common changes in pronouns and time expressions in reported speech?
In reported speech, pronouns and time expressions are changed to match the point of view and context of the reporting.
Common changes:
- Pronouns: I → he/she, my → his/her, we → they
- Time Words: now → then, today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, yesterday → the previous day
9. Why is reported speech important in English grammar?
Reported speech is important because it allows us to convey what someone else has said effectively and accurately.
Importance:
10. What are the differences between direct speech and reported speech?
Direct speech and reported speech differ in both structure and usage.
Key differences:
- Direct speech uses quotation marks; reported speech does not.
- Reported speech often changes tense and pronouns.
- Reporting verbs (said, told, asked) are used in reported speech.
11. Define reported speech with an example.
Reported speech is a grammatical structure that expresses someone else's statements indirectly.
Example:
- Direct: "I like apples," said John.
- Reported: John said that he liked apples.
12. How do you convert interrogative sentences into reported speech?
To convert interrogative sentences into reported speech, change the question into a statement and use the correct reporting verb.
Steps:
