indirect speech worksheets grade 7

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Direct And Indirect Speech Worksheet For Class 7

by Manjusha · Published November 16, 2020 · Updated April 11, 2024

There are two ways of reporting people’s words and thoughts. When we give the exact words of the speaker, it is called direct speech.

• Rahul said, ‘I am going home.’
• The man asked, ‘What do you want?’
• The mother asked the girl, ‘Why are you crying?’

We can also report these questions and statements by making them a part of our sentence. This is called indirect speech or reported speech.

When we change a sentence from direct speech to indirect speech, there is usually a change in tense and pronouns. Also, words showing nearness in time and place will be replaced by words indicating distance in indirect speech. Can you use indirect speech correctly?

Basic rules for indirect speech

If the reporting verb / main verb is in the past tense, the rest of the sentence too will be in the past tense.

• Radha said, ‘I am feeling sick.’
• Radha said that she was feeling sick.
• ‘I can’t find my phone,’ the girl said.
• The girl that she couldn’t find her phone.

Generally speaking, the present verb in the direct speech changes to the past verb in the indirect speech.

• is / am -> was
• are -> were
• has / have -> had
• do / does -> did
• will -> would; can -> could; may -> might; shall -> should
• The employee said, ‘I have finished the job.’ (Direct speech)
• The employee said that he/she had finished the job. (Indirect speech)
• I don’t want to live here,’ said the old woman. (Direct speech)
• The old woman said that she didn’t want to live there.
• She said, ‘I will be leaving in an hour.’ (Direct speech)
• She said that she would be leaving in an hour. (Indirect speech)
• She said, ‘I want to go.’
• She said  that she wanted to go.
• The boy said, ‘I can’t find my watch.’
• The boy said  that he couldn’t find his watch .
• The students said, ‘We waited for hours.’
• The students  said that they had waited for hours.

When the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense in the indirect speech does not change.

• He says, ‘I am tired.’
• He  says that he is tired.
• She will say, ‘I am not coming.’
• She will say that she is not coming.

We use  if  or  whether  to report a ‘Yes/No’ question.

• Rahul said, ‘Are you going to the party.’
• Rahul  asked if/whether I was going  to the party.

Worksheet 1

Change the following sentences in direct speech to indirect speech.

1. Shyam said, “I want to buy a new laptop.’

2. Rahul said to me, ‘I am going to the movies.’

3. Mother said to me. ‘Learn your lessons.’

4. Madhav said, ‘I am hungry.’

5. Supriya said, ‘I am preparing for my exam.’

6. Rahul said, ‘I have to send a letter to my grandmother.’

7. Venu said, ‘I failed my exam.’

8. Manohar said to me, ‘I like your attitude.’

9. The girls said, ‘We are rehearsing for the programme.’

10. He said, ‘I know the answer.’

11. ‘I want to talk to the manager,’ said the woman.

12. ‘Do you know anyone here?’ he asked me.

13. ‘I will return in an hour,’ he said to me.

14. ‘Will you accept the job?’ my mother asked.

15. ‘When will you arrive?’ she asked me.

16. ‘I don’t enjoy this party,’ he said.

17. ‘I can’t bear the pain,’ said the boy.

18. ‘Say something,’ the investigators asked him.

19. ‘Leave me alone,’ she said to me.

20. ‘This is my seat,’ the boy told me.

1. Shyam said that he wanted to buy a new laptop .

2. Rahul told me that he was going to the movies.

3. Mother told me to learn my lessons. / Mother asked me to learn my lessons.

4. Madhav said that he was hungry.

5. Supriya said that she was preparing for her exam .

6. Rahul said that he had to send a letter to his grandmother .

7. Venu said that he had failed his exam.

8. Manohar told me that he liked my attitude.

9. The girls said that they were rehearsing for the programme.

10. He told me that he knew the answer .

11. The woman said that she wanted to talk to the manager.

12. He asked me if / whether I knew anyone there.

13. He told me that he would return in an hour.

14. My mother asked me if / whether I would accept the job.

15. ‘She asked me when I would arrive.

16. He said that he didn’t enjoy that party.

17. The boy cried that he couldn’t bear the pain .

18. The investigators asked /told him to say something.

19. She asked/told me to leave her alone.

20. The boy told me that that was his seat .

Worksheet 2

Sentences are given in the direct speech. Change them into indirect speech / reported speech .

1. ‘Can I have two tickets?’ the woman said to the clerk.

2. ‘I need to book two tickets,’ the man said.

3. ‘I don’t want to waste any more time,’ the boy added.

4. ‘How long does the tour last?’ the tourist asked the guide.

5. ‘How long does it take to get there?’ the traveler asked.

6. ‘How much is a student ticket?’ the girl asked.

7. ‘I would like a map of the area,’ the inspector said.

8. ‘Do you have any brochures in English?’ the visitor asked the receptionist.

9. ‘Is there somewhere to leave our coats?’ the students asked.

10. ‘What time does the park close?’ the visitor asked.

1. The woman asked the clerk if she could have two tickets.

2. The man said that he needed to book two tickets.

3. The boy added that he didn’t want to waste any more time.

4. The tourist asked the guide how long the tour lasted.

5. The traveler asked how long it took to get there.

6. The girl asked how much a student ticket was.

7. The inspector said that he would like a map of the area.

8. The visitor asked the receptionist if he/she had any brochures in English.

9. The students asked if there was somewhere to leave their coats.

10. The visitor asked what time the park closed.

Worksheet 3

Sentences are given in direct speech. Change them into indirect speech.

1. ‘I don’t want to wait any longer,’ she said.

2. ‘What do you want?’ he asked me.

3. ‘You are not going to watch TV,’ said mother.

4. ‘Have you ever been to the US?’ he asked me.

5. ‘Somebody is stealing my cucumbers,’ she said.

6. ‘I had a strange experience yesterday,’ he said.

7. Maya said, ‘I am not going to the party.’

8. The girl said, ‘This colour does not suit me.’

9. Ravi said, ‘I don’t enjoy this party.’

10. ‘Are you coming with me?’ Sheela asked me.

11. ‘I haven’t eaten anything since morning,’ said the boy.

12. ‘The patient needs blood transfusion,’ said the doctor.

13. ‘Have you done your homework?’ the teacher asked the students.

14. ‘Why don’t you listen to me?’ he said to her.

15. ‘Why did you do that?’ he asked me.

16. ‘How can you be so careless?’ said my mother.

17. ‘What did you do then?’ he asked me.

18. ‘We have been waiting for hours,’ they said.

19. ‘How will I solve this problem?’ she asked.

20. ‘If you don’t learn your lessons, you will not get good marks,’ the teacher told me.

1. She said that  she didn’t want to wait any longer.

2. He asked me  what I wanted.

3. Mother said  that I was not going to watch TV.

4. He asked me  if / whether I had ever been to the US.

5. She said / complained  that somebody was stealing her cucumbers.

6. He said that he  had had a strange experience the previous day.

7. Maya said that  she was not going to the party.

8. The girl said  that that colour did not suit her.

9. Ravi said that  he didn’t enjoy that party.

10. She asked me  if / whether I was going with her.

11. The boy said  that he hadn’t eaten anything since morning.

12. The doctor said  that the patient needed blood transfusion.  

13. The teacher asked the students  if they had done their homework.

14. He asked her  why she didn’t listen to him.

15. He asked me  why I had done that.

16. My mother wondered how I could be so careless.

17. He asked me  what I had done then.

18. They said that  they had been waiting for hours.

19. She asked / wondered  how she would solve that problem.

20. The teacher told me  that if I didn’t learn my lessons, I would not get good marks.

Worksheet 4

Change sentences in direct speech to indirect speech.

1. Rahul said to Madhav, ‘Can you lend me a few hundred rupees?’

2. She said, ‘I might be working late tonight.’

3. The girl asked the librarian, ‘Can I borrow two books at a time?’

4. The man said, ‘I want to quit this job.’

5.  The teacher said, ‘Every student should submit their work before Friday.’

6. The doctor said to the patient, ‘Get enough rest.’

7. The teacher said to the student, ‘Have you had your lunch?’

8. The teacher asked, ‘Can anybody solve this problem?’

9. ‘I will not put up with this,’ she said.

10. ‘I am looking for a job,’ the man said.

1. Rahul asked Madhav  if / whether he could lend him a few hundred rupees.

2. She said that she  might be working late that night.

3. The girl asked the librarian  if she could borrow two books at a time.

4. The man said  that he wanted to quit his job.

5.  The teacher said that  every student should submit their work before Friday .

6. The doctor advised the patient  to get enough rest.

7. The teacher asked the student  if / whether he/she had had his/her lunch.

8. The teacher asked  if anybody could solve that problem.

9. She said that she  would not put up with that.

10. The man said  that he was looking for a job.

Related posts:

• Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheet for Class 7
• Direct And Indirect Speech Worksheet For Class 8 CBSE
• Reporting Yes/No Questions Worksheet For Class 8
• Direct And Indirect Speech Worksheet For Class 10
• Direct And Indirect Speech Worksheet For Class 10 CBSE | Reporting Yes/No Questions
• Reporting Wh Questions | Direct And Indirect Speech Worksheet For Class 10 CBSE

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9 Responses

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Nice! very helpful!

Thankyou,it was very helpful.Questions are not very tricky

It was very helpful … thanks

Verry easy chhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii all is my correct Oooo la chi cho

I only get one correct but nice

Good but i expected a bit more harder

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Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheets

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Fend off any errors that might creep into your speech with our free, printable direct and indirect speech worksheets! We use direct speech to quote the exact same words that someone utters. The indirect speech is used to report someone's speech, often with words slightly changed. Convert a range of sentences including the interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences into reported speech. Make your grammar life richer and more fulfilling with this coveted collection of quoted and reported speech worksheets pdf!

Our direct and reported speech worksheet pdfs are most recommended for children in 4th grade through 8th grade.

Reported Speech with Time Expressions

Kids in 5th grade, 6th grade and 7th grade convert sentences into indirect speech, paying attention to how expressions of time change here. For example, write "that day" for "today" and "the next day" for "tomorrow".

Writing Statements in Reported Speech

Both direct speech and indirect speech have their natural habitat, and children must use each where it belongs. In these direct and indirect speech worksheets pdf, grade 7 and grade 8 kids write each statement as reported speech.

Changing Interrogative Sentences into Reported Speech

Don't write a question mark after "Sam asked me where I was going". This is a statement and not a question, although it contains the word "where". Let children write each interrogative sentence in reported speech here.

Converting Imperative Sentences into Reported Speech

Watch grade 6 kids rewrite sentences that denote a request, command, or advice in reported speech, using reporting verbs like "ordered", "instructed", and more in these printable direct and indirect speech worksheets!

Rewriting Exclamatory Sentences Using Reported Speech

Thanks to scenarios that exclaim – sometimes with joy and other times with sorrow – these grade 8 worksheets are kinetic and ebullient. Upgrade your practice by converting exclamatory sentences into indirect speech.

Changing Reported Speech into Direct Speech

In this section of our printable indirect and direct speech worksheets, there are sets of sentences in reported speech, and children are expected to write each sentence in the direct or quoted speech.

Punctuating Direct Speech

Instruct children in grade 4 and grade 5 to read the given sentences and insert commas and quotation marks wherever necessary to reflect direct speech.

Related Printable Worksheets

▶ Active and Passive Voice

▶ Phrases

▶ Types of Sentences

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Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 7 CBSE With Answers

When we use the exact words of the speaker, it is called direct speech. Indirect or Reported Speech refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said.

Basic  English Grammar  rules can be tricky. In this article, we’ll get you started with the basics of sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and more.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 7 CBSE With Answers PDF

When the exact words of the speaker are quoted, it is called direct speech. When the meaning of the words is reported without using the exact words, it is called indirect speech.

• Cam said, “The monster is coming.” (direct speech)
• Cam said that the monster was coming. (indirect speech)

Changing Tenses

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, we change tense as given below. The tense does not change in case of past perfect or past perfect continuous.

Exceptions 1. When the reporting verb is in the present tense or future time, the tenses in the reported verb remain unchanged. Example:

• Alam says, “I am feeling better.”
• Alam says that he is feeling better.

2. When reporting a universal truth or a moral principle or a natural fact, we may or may not change the present tense in the reported speech. Example:

• Deepti said, “The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world.”
• Deepti said that the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises Solved Example With Answers for Class 7 CBSE

A. Complete the following reported speeches by filling in the blanks.

Question 1. Mary said, “Dipanwita is learning to play the piano.” Mary said that Dipanwita …………………………… (is learning/was learning) to play the piano. Answer: Mary said that Dipanwita was learning to play the piano.

Question 2. Kaustav said, “The next World Cup will take place in Russia.” Kaustav said …………………………… (that/which) the next World Cup …………………………… (will/would) take place in Russia. Answer: Kaustav said that the next World Cup would take place in Russia.

Question 3. Ms Paul said, “We should reduce our usage of oil and petrol.” Ms Paul said that we …………………………… (should reduce/had reduced) our usage of oil and petrol. Answer: Ms Paul said that we should reduce our usage of oil and petrol.

Question 4. The volunteer said, “The relief work in the flood-affected areas is going well.” The volunteer said that the relief work in the flood-affected areas …………………………… (had gone/was going) well. Answer: The volunteer said that the relief work in the flood-affected areas was going well.

Question 5. The newspapers report read, “There has been too much rain this year.” The newspapers …………………………… (report/reported) that there …………………………… (has been had been) too much rain this year. Answer: The newspapers reported that there had been too much rain this year.

Changing Pronouns And Possessive Adjectives

  Changing Time And Place Words

Place, demonstrations, and time expressions:-Place, demonstrations, and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement (i.e. the location and/ or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech.

In the following table, you will find the different changes of place, demonstrations, and time expressions.

B. Change these sentences to reported speech.

Question 1. Sharif said, “The books are here on this table.” Answer: Sharif said that the books were there on that table.

Question 2. Neelam said, “I am at the station now.” Answer: Neelam said that she was at the station then.

Question 3. Pragya said, “I bought these pens from the shop there.” Answer: Pragya said that she had bought those pens from the shop there.

Question 4. Her friends said, “We are going to the concert tonight.” Answer: Her friends said that they were going to the concert that night.

Question 5. I said, “Satya completed his graduation last year. This year, he will travel. Answer: I said that Satya had completed his graduation the previous year. That year, he would travel.

Reporting Questions

  C. Kyle, a student from the Philippines, has enrolled in Shivani’s class. Shivani asks him the following questions. Report these questions.

Question 1. When did you and your parents move to India? Answer: Shivani asked Kyle when did he and his parents move to India.

Question 2. How long will you stay? Answer: She asked him how long would he stay.

Question 3. Are you enjoying your stay here? Answer: She also asked him if he was enjoying his stay there.

Question 4. Have you faced any difficulties while adjusting at school? Answer: Then, she asked him is he had faced any difficulties while adjusting at school.

Question 5. Do you miss your friends from the Philippines? Answer: At the end, whe asked him if he missed his friends from Philippines.

Reporting Requests And Commands

While reporting requests or commands, instructions or pieces of advice, we use the reporting verb which matches the meaning of the direct sentence, and the verb in the original direct speech is changed to its infinitive form. Example:

• Farzana asked, “Could you look after my dog when I am away?”
• Farzana requested me to look after her dog while she was away.

Reporting Wishes Or Exclamations

Those sentences, which express our feelings and emotions, are called exclamatory sentences. Mark of exclamation is used at the end of an exclamatory sentence.

For Examples:

• Hurray! We have won the match.
• Alas! He failed in the test.
• How beautiful that dog is!
• What a marvelous personality you are!

To change exclamatory sentences into Indirect Speech, follow the rules given below along with the above–mentioned rules: In case, there is an interjection i.e., alas, aha, hurray, aha, etc in the Reported Speech, then they are omitted along with a sign of exclamation. Reporting verb i.e. said is always replaced with exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed joyfully, exclaimed sorrowfully, or exclaimed with great wonder or sorrow.

D. Rewrite the following sentences in reported speech.

Question 1. Lalita said, “Wow! I have won the first prize!” Lalita exclaimed ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: Lalita exclaimed that he had won the first prize.

Question 2. Hansa said to Kavya, “Happy journey!” Hansa wished Kavya. ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: Hansa wished Kavya a happy journey.

Question 3. Dina said to me, “I solved the puzzle!” Dina exclaimed that ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: Dina ‘exclaimed that she had solved the puzzle.

Question 4. My father (to me): May you have a successful career! My father wished me ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: My father wished me a successful career.

Question 5. Child (to Mummy): Good night! The child wished his mother ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: The child wished his mother a good night.

Question 6. Lalit said to Hansita, “Wish you a speedy recovery from illness!” Lalit wished Hansita ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: Lalit wished Hansita a speedy recovery from illness.

Question 7. Ms. Quader said to the class, “Good luck for your exams!” Ms. Quader wished the class ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: Ms. Quader wished the class good luck for their exams.

E. Change the following from indirect speech to direct speech.

Question 1. The gardener warned us to look out as there was a snake in the garden. The gardener said ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: The gardener said, “Lookout! There is a snake in the garden.”

Question 2. My mother wished me a happy birthday. My mother said to me ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: My mother said to me, “Happy birthday.”

Question 3. Kala exclaimed that she was very sorry for her mistake. Kala said to me ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: Kala said to me, “I am sorry for my mistake.”

Question 4. Sugata cried out in pain that a thorn had pricked him. Sugata said ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: Sugata said, “A thorn has pricked me!”

Question 5. Jatin wished me a lovely day. Jatin said to me ……………………………………………………………………………… Answer: Jatin said to me, “Have a lovely day.”

Converting Statements From Indirect Into Direct Speech

While changing indirect speech into direct speech, we use the reporting verb say or said. We make necessary changes to the tenses, personal pronouns and adjectives, and time and place words. We add inverted commas to the words spoken by the speaker. Examples:

• Meha said that she was in the library.
• Meha said, “I am in the library.”
• Amit told Rohan that the trip had been canceled.
• Amit said to Rohan, “The trip has/was/had been canceled.”

F. Fill in the missing words in the direct speech.

Question 1. Harry asked me if I had read that book. Harry ……………………………….. me, “Have you read this book?”. Answer: Harry asked me, “Have you read this book?”

Question 2. Soumya asked Tripti if she liked eggs. Soumya asked Tripti, “Do. ……………………………….. like eggs?” Answer: Soumya asked Tripti, “Do you like eggs?”

Question 3. Kinu asked Thimpu who would teach him English. Kinu asked Thimpu, “Who will teach ……………………………….. English?” Answer: Kinu asked Thimpu, “Who will teach me English?”!

Question 4. Charu asked why the laptop was not working. Charu asked, “Why ……………………………….. the laptop not working?” Answer: Charu asked, “Why is the laptop not working?”

Question 5. Sam asked who had let the dogs out. Sam asked, ……………………………….. the dogs out?” Answer: Sam asked, “Who let the dogs out?”

• English Grammar
• Grammar Exercises
• Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and indirect speech is one topic in English grammar that confuses most language learners. It need not necessarily be so; if you understand how it works, you can easily use it in your writing.

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.

• Rahul told to me, “When are you leaving?”
• “Where do you live?” the stranger asked Aladdin.
• The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
• Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
• “Call the first convict,” said the jury.
• “Call the ambulance,” said the man.
• Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
• My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
• Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
• The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
• Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
• Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
• Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
• The boy said, “Let me come in.”
• Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”

Answers –

• Rahul asked me when I was leaving.
• The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
• The teacher asked Shelly why he was laughing.
• Dhronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
• The jury ordered to call the first convict.
• The man urged to call the ambulance.
• Bruce said to me he would do the work.
• My mother told me that I was wrong.
• Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
• The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
• Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
• Ruchi said that she might go there.
• Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
• The boy asked to let him come in.
• 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.

“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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct narration.

When the actual words/sentences as spoken by the speaker are quoted in a speech, it’s called direct speech/narration.

What is indirect speech?

When the quoted speech is reported in the form of a narrative without changing the meaning of the actual quotation/words by the speaker, it’s called indirect speech/narration.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

The focus of this language arts learning exercise are the differences between direct and indirect speech. Learners efer to a story and analyze examples of direct or indirect speech, note verb tense changes and converting five sentences.

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Parts of speech verbs: building blocks of grammar, the direct object, subject-verb agreement, jeopardy the eight parts of speech, subject and object pronouns; direct and indirect object, phrasal verbs, the parts of speech, i'm published a parts of speech book, indirect objects and objective complements.

• Post Author: Anton Hoek
• Post published: 2020-05-03
• Post Category:

Grade 7 English FAL - Grammar

Reported speech

Direct speech vs reported speech (indirect speech)

Direct speech

Direct speech  refers to the exact words said by a person. To show the direct speech we put the words said inside quotation marks.

“ I am making good progress in learning English ,”  Peter said.

the verb ‘said’ in the example above is called ‘the reporting verb’.

Reported speech  or indirect speech is the exact meaning of what someone said but not the exact words.

Peter said (that) he was making good progress in learning English.

Notice in the reported sentence above that quotations marks are not used . In addition, the word  that  can be omitted in everyday speech, especially after the verb  said .

We can say:

Peter said he was making progress in learning English.

The most common reporting verbs

The verbs  say ,  tell  and  ask  the most commonly used verbs in both direct and reported speech.The verbs  say  and  tell  are used to report statements, whereas  ask  is used to report questions and commands.

The reporting verb ‘ say’  can be used with or without a personal object.

• “I want to learn foreign languages,” she said.
• “I want to learn foreign languages,” she said to me.
• He asked, “Are you still working on that project?” (question).
• “Stop eating much fatty food,” he said to me  (command) ⇒ He asked me to stop eating fatty food.

As you can see in sentence 2 above, ‘ said ‘ is used with a personal object (me) that is why it is followed by ‘to’.

Now, let’s turn sentence 1 above into reported speech (indirect speech).

Because the reporting verb, in direct speech, is in the past tense, in reported speech, the should go one step backwards in time.

The reported sentence (1) would look like this:

She said that she wanted to learn foreign languages.

So the present simple ( want ) becomes past simple ( wanted ). Also, the pronoun ‘ I ’ becomes ‘ she’ .

Tip:  The tense in the reported part moves one step backwards in time

(but you can’t go further back than the past perfect).

Examples of direct and reported speech with different tenses:

• He said, “The food is really delicious .”

He said that the food was really delicious.

• “I have stopped lying,” he said to his father.

He told his father (that) he had stopped lying.

• “We have been studying English for hours,” she said.

She said (that) they had been studying English for hours.

Modals in reported speech:

Modal verbs also change in reported speech.

• Will ⇒ would
• Would ⇒ would
• Shall ⇒ should / would
• Can ⇒ could / would be able to
• Could ⇒ could
• May ⇒ might
• Migh ⇒ might
• Must ⇒ must / had to
• Have to ⇒ had to
• Needn’t ⇒ didn’t need to / didn’t have to
• Had better ⇒ had better

Examples of direct and reported speech with modals

• “I  can sing for long hours,” Tom said.

→  Tom said (that) he  could  sing for long hours. (ability)

• “I  can finish all my tasks tomorrow,” she said to her mother.

→  She told her mother (that) she  would be able to  finish all her tasks the next day. (ability)

Tips : Can (ability in present)  ⇒ could

Can (ability in the future)  ⇒ would be able to

• “You  must respect our school rules,” she said.

→  She said I  we  must  /  had to  respect their school rules. (obligation/necessity)

• “You  must be a hard-working learner,” she said.

→  She said that I  must  be a hard-working learner. (deduction/conclusion)

Tips: When  must  expresses obligation, keep it ( must ) or change it to  had to  in reported speech.

If  must  expresses deduction or conclusion, it does not change in reported speech.

• “We have plenty of food at home. You needn’t buy any now,” she said to her husband. (present)

→  She told her husband (that) they had plenty of food at home and that he  didn’t need to  / didn’t have to  buy any food then.

• “You  needn’t come next Monday,” he said.

He said (that) I/we  wouldn’t have to  come the following Monday.

Tips: Needn’t (present)  ⇒    didn’t need to / didn’t have to

Needn’t (future)    ⇒   wouldn’t have to

Adverbials of time and place in reported speech

Today → that day

Now  → then / at that time / at that moment

Tonight  → that night

Last night → the previous night

Yesterday  → the day before

Last week / year …  → the following week/ year …

Two days…ago  → two days… before (earlier)

Tomorrow  → the next day / the following day

The day after tomorrow  →  in two days’ time.

Next week … → the following week

Here  → there

This  → that

These → those

AKTIWITEITE

Grade 7 english fal – reported speech activity.

Rewrite the answers on a piece of paper and change the direct speech into reported speech.

Choose the past simple of ‘ask’, ‘say’ or ‘tell’:

• “Don’t do it!”

Start with: She...

• “I’m leaving tomorrow”
• “Please get me a cup of tea”
• “She got married last year”
• “Be quick!”
• “Could you explain number four, please?”
• “Where do you live?”
• “We went to the cinema and then to a Chinese restaurant”
• “I’ll come and help you at twelve”
• “What are you doing tomorrow?”
• “Don’t go!”
• “Do you work in Mossel Bay?”
• “Could you tell me where the post office is?”
• “Come here!”
• “I’ve never been to Wales”

(When I used ‘said’ you can also use ‘told me’)

• She told me not to do it.
• She said (that) she was leaving tomorrow (the next day).
• She asked me to get her a cup of tea.
• She said (that) she got married last year.
• She told me to be quick.
• She asked me to explain number four.
• She asked me where I lived.
• She said (that) they went (had been) to the cinema and then to a Chinese restaurant.
• She said (that) she would come and help me at twelve.
• She asked me what I was doing tomorrow (the day after).
• She told me not to go.
• She asked me if I worked in London.
• She asked me to tell her where the post office was.

(or: she asked me if I could tell her where the post office was).

• She told me to come here (there).
• She said (that) she had never been to Wales.

DRUKBARE DOKUMENTE

TOETS JOU KENNIS

Everyday Cup of English

• Active and Passive voice 4
• Adjectives 24

Indirect speech (Grade 7)-2

Change the following sentences to Indirect speech:

• He said, “I have lost my umbrella.”
• Paul says, “I’m trying to get a taxi.”
• Shaun says, “I’ll never get married.”
• My mother said, “I’ve been waiting for ages.”
• They said, “We will be in Australia on Monday.”
• He said, “We were thinking of selling the house but we have decided not to.”
• The children said, “We wish we didn’t have to take exams.”
• Rio said to Terry, “I know this place well because I used to live here.”
• Father said to me, “Do you like your new house?”
• The teacher said to the children, “We will discuss it tomorrow.”
• Ann said to Tom, “Would you wait for me outside the hall?”
• I said, “Where does the boy live?”
• He said, “Kelly, why didn’t you apply brakes?”
• He said, “Sarah, shall I ever see you again?”
• The instructor said to the boys, “Don’t swim out too far”
• My mother said to me, “Please, don’t take any risks.”

Click here to download worksheet:  Indirect Speech (Intermediate)-3

• He said that he had lost his umbrella.
• Paul says that he is trying to get a taxi.
• Shaun says that he will never get married.
• My mother said that she had been waiting for ages.
• They said that they would be in Australia on Monday.
• He said that they had been thinking of selling the house but they had decided not to.
• The children said they wished they didn’t have to take exams.
• Rio told Terry that she knew that place well because she used to live there.
• Father asked me if I liked my new house.
• The teacher told the children that she would discuss it the next day.
• Ann asked Tom if he would wait for her outside the hall.
• I asked where the boy lived.
• He asked Kelly why she had not applied brakes.
• He asked Sarah if he would ever see her again.
• The instructor warned the boys not to swim out too far.
• My mother requested me not to take any risks.

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Thalia said, “I have a doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

Thalia said that she has a doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

Thalia said that I have a doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

Thalia said that she had a doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

“I’ve always wanted to see the Great Wall of China,” Joey said.

Joey said he had always wanted to see the Great Wall of China.

Joey said he wanted to see the Great Wall of China.

Joey said he has always wanted to see the Great Wall of China.

“Why do you want to work here?” Morgan asked Jeff.

Morgan asked him why do you want to work here.

Morgan asked him why he wanted to work there.

Morgan asked him why he wanted to work here.

”Do you have any questions for me?” Maria asked the children.

Maria asked the children if they had any questions for her.

Maria asked the children do they have a question for her.

Maria asked the children if they have any questions for her.

“I’ve been to France only once,” said Jack.

Jack said he has been to France only once.

Jack said he had only been to France once.

Jack said he was in France once.

Diane said, “I love Indian food.”

Diane said that she loved Indian food.

Diane said that she hated Indian food.

Diane said that she loves Indian food.

“Do you plan to publish your poems?” Greg asked Jean.

Greg asked Jean if she planned to publish her poems.

Greg asked Jean do you plan to publish your poems.

Greg asked Jean if she plans to publish her poems.

The scientist said, “Global warming is causing many anomalies in weather patterns.”

The scientist said that global warming is causing many anomalies in weather patterns.

The scientist said that global warming was causing many anomalies in weather patterns.

The scientist said that global warming my cause many anomalies in weather patterns.

Paul said, “I’m reading a great book about Afghanistan.”

Paul said that I am reading a great book about Afghanistan.

Paul said he is reading a great book about Afghanistan.

Paul said he was reading a great book about Afghanistan.

The teacher said, “The next quiz will be on Friday.”

The teacher said that the next quiz will be on Friday.

The teacher said that the next quiz would be on Friday.

The teacher said that the next quiz is on Friday.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

Identify Direct and Indirect Speech

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Reported speech

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Home of English Grammar

Reported speech worksheet

Sentences are given in direct speech. Change them into indirect speech.

1. The teacher said to the boys, ‘Have you done your homework?’

2. The little girl asked the man, ‘Will you help me?’

3. Janaki said, ‘I have been reading this book.’

4. Mother said to the daughter, ‘Go and change your dress.’

5. Susie said, ‘I had read this book before I gave it to you.’

6. Mike said, ‘I will bring my piano.’

7. The officer told the clerk, ‘Bring me that file.’

8. Jane asked, ‘Have you read that book?’

9. Malathi asked, ‘Where is your watch?’

10. Sophia said, ‘I watched this movie last week.’

11. Mother asked, ‘What is the matter?’

12. Shyam said, ‘I can solve this problem.’

1. The teacher asked the boys if they had done their homework.

2. The little girl asked the man if he would help her.

3. Janaki said that she had been reading that book.

4. Mother told the daughter to go and change her dresses.

5. Susie said that she had read that book before she gave it to me.

6. Mike said that he would bring his piano.

7. The officer told the clerk to bring him that file.

8. Jane asked if I had read that book.

9. Malathi asked where my watch was.

10. Sophia said that she had watched that movie the previous week.

11. Mother asked what the matter was.

12. Shyam said that he could solve that problem .

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Grade 7 Indirect Speech

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