Reported Speech – Practice Test – NCERT-Class 9

Reported Speech – Practice Test – NCERT-Class 9

How to Convert Direct Speech to Reported Speech:

Identify the Reporting Verb: 

This is the verb used to introduce the reported speech (e.g., say, tell, ask, explain).

Change Pronouns: 

Pronouns usually change according to the subject of the reported speech.

Example: “He said, ‘I am happy.’” becomes “He said (that) he was happy.”

Change Time and Place References: 

The tense of the reported speech may change depending on when the original statement was made.

Example: “She said, ‘I will go to the party tomorrow.’” becomes “She said (that) she would go to the party the next day.”

Change Demonstratives and Adverbs of Time and Place:

Words like “this,” “these,” “here,” and “now” often change in reported speech.

Example: “They said, ‘We are going here.’” becomes “They said (that) they were going there.”

Optional: Retain Some Words Directly:

Sometimes, you may choose to directly quote certain words, especially if they are important or the speaker’s exact wording is significant.

Example: “She said, ‘I love chocolate,’ and then added that she would never give it up.”

Key Points to Remember:

Reported speech is usually introduced by a reporting verb (say, tell, ask, etc.).

Pronouns, time references, and adverbs may need to change when converting from direct to reported speech.

Tense changes are common, particularly when reporting statements made in the past.

Quotation marks are not used in reported speech.

Example:

Direct Speech: Tom said, “I am going to the park.”

Reported Speech: Tom said (that) he was going to the park.