reported speech rules pdf class 9

• English Grammar
• Reported Speech

Reported Speech - Definition, Rules and Usage with Examples

Reported speech or indirect speech is the form of speech used to convey what was said by someone at some point of time. This article will help you with all that you need to know about reported speech, its meaning, definition, how and when to use them along with examples. Furthermore, try out the practice questions given to check how far you have understood the topic.

Table of Contents

Definition of reported speech, rules to be followed when using reported speech, table 1 – change of pronouns, table 2 – change of adverbs of place and adverbs of time, table 3 – change of tense, table 4 – change of modal verbs, tips to practise reported speech, examples of reported speech, check your understanding of reported speech, frequently asked questions on reported speech in english, what is reported speech.

Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message.

Now, take a look at the following dictionary definitions for a clearer idea of what it is.

Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”

Reported speech is a little different from direct speech . As it has been discussed already, reported speech is used to tell what someone said and does not use the exact words of the speaker. Take a look at the following rules so that you can make use of reported speech effectively.

• The first thing you have to keep in mind is that you need not use any quotation marks as you are not using the exact words of the speaker.
• You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech.
• You can use verbs like said, asked, requested, ordered, complained, exclaimed, screamed, told, etc. If you are just reporting a declarative sentence , you can use verbs like told, said, etc. followed by ‘that’ and end the sentence with a full stop . When you are reporting interrogative sentences, you can use the verbs – enquired, inquired, asked, etc. and remove the question mark . In case you are reporting imperative sentences , you can use verbs like requested, commanded, pleaded, ordered, etc. If you are reporting exclamatory sentences , you can use the verb exclaimed and remove the exclamation mark . Remember that the structure of the sentences also changes accordingly.
• Furthermore, keep in mind that the sentence structure , tense , pronouns , modal verbs , some specific adverbs of place and adverbs of time change when a sentence is transformed into indirect/reported speech.

Transforming Direct Speech into Reported Speech

As discussed earlier, when transforming a sentence from direct speech into reported speech, you will have to change the pronouns, tense and adverbs of time and place used by the speaker. Let us look at the following tables to see how they work.

Here are some tips you can follow to become a pro in using reported speech.

• Select a play, a drama or a short story with dialogues and try transforming the sentences in direct speech into reported speech.
• Write about an incident or speak about a day in your life using reported speech.
• Develop a story by following prompts or on your own using reported speech.

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written. Check them out.

• Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role in Funny Girl.
• Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
• Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
• The judges announced that the Warblers were the winners of the annual acapella competition.
• Binsha assured that she would reach Bangalore by 8 p.m.
• Kumar said that he had gone to the doctor the previous day.
• Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the railway station.
• Jibin told me that he would help me out after lunch.
• The police ordered everyone to leave from the bus stop immediately.
• Rahul said that he was drawing a caricature.

Transform the following sentences into reported speech by making the necessary changes.

1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”

2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”

3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the skit.”

4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”

5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”

6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the invitations?”

7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”

8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the homework before tomorrow.”

9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”

10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.”

Now, find out if you have answered all of them correctly.

1. Rachel said that she had an interview the next day.

2. Mahesh asked what he was doing.

3. Sherly said that her daughter was playing the lead role in the skit.

4. Dinesh exclaimed that it was a wonderful movie.

5. Suresh said that his son was getting married the following month.

6. Preetha asked if I could help her with the invitations.

7. Anna said that she looked forward to meeting me.

8. The teacher told us to make sure we completed the homework before the next day.

9. Sylvester said that he was not going to cry anymore.

10. Jade said that his sister was moving to Los Angeles.

What is reported speech?

What is the definition of reported speech.

Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”

What is the formula of reported speech?

You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech. Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)

Give some examples of reported speech.

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written.

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• Reported Speech /

Reported Speech Exercises For Class 9 [PDF Available]

• Updated on  
• Feb 19, 2024

Reported speech exercises for class 9: In this vast realm of English Grammar , reported speech , commonly known as indirect speech, plays an important role in conveying information relayed from another person. However, for class 9 students, grasping the nuances of reported speech is essential for effective communication and comprehension. The blog article below aims to provide class 9 students with engaging exercises to solidify their preparation.

This Blog Includes:

Definition of reported speech, reported speech rules to know, quiz for reported speech exercises for class 9, exercise 1: change direct speech to reported speech, exercise 2: choose the correct reported speech, exercise 3: create reported speech, exercise 4: fill in the blanks with the appropriate reported speech, exercise 5: convert sentences to indirect speech, exercise 6: change into reported speech, exercise 7: convert sentences to indirect speech, exercise 8: complete the sentences to reported speech.

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary definition of reported speech is “ A report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.”

As per the Macmillan Dictionary, the words that you use to report what someone else has said are known are reported speech.

MUST READ! Reported Speech: Definition, Rules, Usage with Examples, Tips, Exercises for Students

Here are some common rules for changing direct speech to reported speech:

➡️ We use conjunctions like ‘if’, and ‘whether’ after the reporting verb in reported speech

➡️ The reporting verb’s tense is never altered.

➡️ The verb of reporting varies according to sense: it can be told, inquired, asked, etc.

➡️ First and foremost, we do not use inverted commas in reported speech which must be clear from the example given above.

Also Read:  Useful Idioms for IELTS Exams That Will Boost Your Score

Here’s a quiz on reported speech for students. Each question presents a direct speech statement, and you need to rewrite it in reported speech. Choose the correct option for each question.

Question 1: Direct Speech: “I love playing the guitar.”

a) He loves playing the guitar. b) I love playing the guitar. c) He loved playing the guitar. d) I loved playing the guitar.

Question 2: Direct Speech: “We are going to the park tomorrow.”

a) They are going to the park tomorrow. b) We were going to the park tomorrow. c) They were going to the park tomorrow. d) We go to the park tomorrow.

Question 3: Direct Speech: “She said, ‘I have already finished my homework.'”

a) She said that she already finished her homework. b) She said that she had already finished her homework. c) She says that she finished her homework already. d) She said that she has already finished her homework.

Question 4: Direct Speech: “The teacher exclaimed, ‘What a wonderful painting!'”

a) The teacher exclaimed that it was a wonderful painting. b) The teacher exclaimed what a wonderful painting it was. c) The teacher exclaimed that what a wonderful painting. d) The teacher exclaimed a wonderful painting.

Question 5: Direct Speech: “I will call you later.”

a) He said that he will call you later. b) He said that he would call you later. c) He says that he will call you later. d) He says that he would call you later.

Question 6: Direct Speech: “They said, ‘We haven’t received the email.'”

a) They said that they haven’t received the email. b) They said that they didn’t receive the email. c) They said that they hadn’t received the email. d) They say that they haven’t received the email.

Question 7: Direct Speech: “Tom said, ‘I can swim.'”

a) Tom said that he could swim. b) Tom says that he could swim. c) Tom said that he can swim. d) Tom says that he can swim.

• b) I love playing the guitar.
• a) They are going to the park tomorrow.
• b) She said that she had already finished her homework.
• b) The teacher exclaimed what a wonderful painting it was.
• b) He said that he would call you later.
• c) They said that they hadn’t received the email.
• a) Tom said that he could swim.

Also Read: 50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Interrogative Sentences

Following are some useful reported speech exercises for class 9. Convert the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech:

Direct Speech : She said, “I am going to the store.”

Reported Speech : She said that she was going to the store.

Direct Speech : He said, “I will finish the project by Friday.”

Reported Speech : He said that he would finish the project by Friday.

Direct Speech : “We have completed our homework,” they said.

Reported Speech : They said that they had completed their homework.

Direct Speech : “They are coming to the party,” she said.

Reported Speech : She said that they were coming to the party.

Direct Speech : “I can speak French,” he said.

Reported Speech : He said that he could speak French.

Read the following sentences and choose the correct reported speech option:

Direct Speech : “I saw Sarah yesterday,” Tom said.

a) Tom said he had seen Sarah yesterday.

b) Tom said he sees Sarah yesterday.

Correct Answer: a) Tom said he had seen Sarah yesterday.

Direct Speech : “I’m going to the cinema tonight,” she said.

a) She said she was going to the cinema that night.

b) She said she is going to the cinema tonight.

Correct Answer: a) She said she was going to the cinema that night.

Direct Speech : “We will travel to Paris next week,” they said.

a) They said they will travel to Paris next week.

b) They said they would travel to Paris the following week.

Correct Answer: b) They said they would travel to Paris the following week.

Direct Speech : “I have finished my work,” he said.

a) He said he has finished his work.

b) He said he had finished his work.

Correct Answer: b) He said he had finished his work.

Direct Speech : “I’m cooking dinner right now,” she said.

a) She said she was cooking dinner right then.

b) She said she is cooking dinner right now.

Correct Answer: a) She said she was cooking dinner right then.

Must Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples

Form reported speech for the following direct speech sentences:

Direct Speech : “She will be here soon,” he said.

Reported Speech : He mentioned that she would be there soon.

Direct Speech : “I don’t like seafood,” she said.

Reported Speech : She expressed that she didn’t like seafood.

Direct Speech : “They were studying in the library,” he said.

Reported Speech : He mentioned that they had been studying in the library.

Direct Speech : “I am working on a new project,” she said.

Reported Speech : She mentioned that she was working on a new project.

Direct Speech : “We have completed the assignment,” they said.

Reported Speech : They confirmed that they had completed the assignment.

Also Read: Tenses Rules: Charts, Examples, Types [PDF Available]

Practise the following direct sentences to appropriate report speech. 

She said, “I have been to Paris before.”

Reported Speech : She mentioned that she had been to Paris before.

“We will come early,” they said.

Reported Speech : They said that they would come early.

“He’s writing a novel,” she said.

Reported Speech : She mentioned that he was writing a novel.

“I won’t be able to attend the meeting,” he said.

Reported Speech : He said that he wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting.

“We were watching a movie,” they said.

Reported Speech : They mentioned that they had been watching a movie.

Also Read:  Adjective: Definition, Usage, Example, Forms, Types

Change the following sentences into indirect speech:

• He said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
• He said, “The sun rises in the east.”
• Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.”
• She said, “God is omnipresent.”
•  The teacher said, “The First World War started in 1914.”

Exploring the Types of Reported Speech: A Complete Guide

Read the following sentences and convert them into reported speech.

• Rahul said, “I get up early every morning.”
• Andrew said, “I can do this work.”
• Priya said, “It is hot outside.”
• Raj said to Marie, “I will go to London tomorrow.”
• Archie said to me, “I will cook today’s dinner.”

Check Your Answers:

• Rahul said that he got up early every morning.
• Andrew said that he could do that work.
• Priya said that it was hot outside.
• Raj informed Marie that he would go to London the next day.
• Archie said to me that he would cook that day’s dinner.

Must Read: Reported Speech For Class 10: Exciting Exercises with Answers [PDF]

Convert the following direct speech sentences into indirect speech.

• Direct Speech: “I love playing basketball,” said Sarah.
• Direct Speech: “We are going to visit Paris next month,” said Tom.
• Direct Speech: “She has already finished her homework,” said Jack.
• Direct Speech: “They will arrive at 9 o’clock,” said the receptionist.
• Direct Speech: “I have never been to Japan,” said Emily.
• Sarah said that she loved playing basketball.
• Tom said that they were going to visit Paris the following month.
• Jack said that she had already finished her homework.
• The receptionist said that they would arrive at 9 o’clock.
• Emily said that she had never been to Japan.

Reported speech exercises help reinforce understanding of how to report what someone else has said. They aid in learning how to shift verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, and other changes when reporting speech.

When converting direct speech to reported speech, pay attention to the changes in verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, and other relevant modifications based on the context and the tense used in the original sentence.

Common changes include the shift of tenses (present to past, future to conditional), pronoun changes, changes in time expressions (today to that day, tomorrow to the next day), and changes in modal verbs (can to could, will to would, etc.).

This was all about the Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9 Students with Answers. Hope you understand the concept and where it’s used. Keep an eye on Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs.

Vaishnavi Shukla

Vaishnavi has 2+ years of experience in SEO and Content Marketing. She is highly proficient in English, possessing exceptional language skills and a deep understanding of English grammar and communication. Currently working on Ed Tech, Finance, Lifestyle, and other niches. All her works are infused with love for writing!

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Reported Speech Class 9 Notes English (Handwritten Short & Revision Notes)

Reported Speech is one of the most important chapters in English which every student should study if they want to score good marks in their examination. Keeping in mind, Selfstudys.com has decided to solve this issue of the students. Reported Speech Class 9 Notes not only help the students to understand the concepts better but also boosts their confidence. 

Reported Speech Class 9 Notes are created as per the latest pattern of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to ensure that the student covers each and every topic and does not miss any important topic. Class 9 Reported Speech Notes are written in a well-detailed manner which clears every doubt of the students and helps them to score good marks in their examinations.

All the students are advised to study from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes on a weekly basis to create a strong foundation of all the topics and memorise them in a way so that you remember them for a longer period of time. 

About Reported Speech Class 9 Notes PDF

All the students can have access to Class 9 Reported Speech Notes at the official website of selfstudys i.e. selfstudys.com. Reported Speech Class 9 Notes are created by the highly qualified subject matter experts who have their expertise in the field of education. 

Students can access Reported Speech Class 9 Notes absolutely free of cost. These Notes are a success mantra for all the students who want to improve their marks and score well in their examinations. 

These Notes can be easily downloaded in the PDF Format and can be accessed 24×7. The Notes of Class 9 Reported Speech are also mobile-friendly. 

Students using Reported Speech Notes can also identify their strong and weak areas and can work on them to improve their scores. 

What Are Reported Speech Class 9 Notes and Why Are They Famous Among the Students? 

Class 9 Reported Speech Notes are important study materials which consist of the important definitions, HOTS (High Order Thinking Skills) questions, key points etc. Class 9 Reported Speech helps to increase the accuracy of the students and is completely free of cost. This makes Reported Speech Class 9 Notes famous among the students. 

Our highly qualified subject matter experts at selfstudys who have their expertise in the educational industry have created Reported Speech Class 9 Notes. Also, they are familiar with the most common questions which often get repeated in the examinations. 

How to Download Reported Speech Class 9 Notes? 

Downloading Class 9 Reported Speech Notes is not a very difficult task if you are aware of the right steps. The steps to download Reported Speech Class 9 Notes is as follows: 

• Visit the official website of selfstudys i.e. selfstudys.com.

• After going to the official website, you need to click on the three lines which you will see on the upper left side. After clicking on the three lines, you need to click on the ‘CBSE’ option. 
• After clicking on the ‘CBSE’ option, click on the option of ‘New Revision Notes’.

• After clicking on the option of ‘New Revision Notes’, you will be redirected on the page where you have to select the class and the subject for which you want to download the Notes.
• And you are done! Now you can access Reported Speech Class 9 Notes. 

What are the Benefits of Reported Speech Class 9 Notes? 

There are numerous benefits of Reported Speech Class 9 Notes. Some of the most important of them includes:

• You will cover each and every topic: If you are studying from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes, it can be said that you will cover each and every topic and will not miss even a single topic. The subject matter experts at selfstudys have made sure to cover each topic in a well-explained manner. 
• Increases focus: Reported Speech Class 9 Notes are written in a way which keeps the students interested in their studies which can increase focus. The students can go through Class 9 Reported Speech Notes thoroughly to score good marks in their exams. 
• Easy Language: Class 9 Reported Speech Notes are written in an easy to understand language to ensure that the students do not find any term difficult while studying them. As they are written in an easy language, the students will be able to memorise them fast. 
• Increases Learning Capacity: Reported Speech Class 9 Notes not only boosts the confidence of the students but also increases the learning capacity of all the students. By this, they are able to memorise the concepts fast. This helps them to do effective preparation and score well in their examinations. 
• A great source of revision: One of the biggest benefits of Reported Speech Class 9 Notes is that it can be a great source of revision. As these Notes consist of each and every piece of information, students reading them after completing their exam preparation will not only stick the information in their mind but will also remember them for a longer period of time. 

Revision Tips to Study from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes 

There are various revision tips which students should follow to study from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes. Some of them are:

• Note down your mistakes: While studying from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes, it is advisable for all the students to make a list of their mistakes and then work on them. Students can improve their preparation level by noting down their mistakes and working on them.
• Practise Study Materials: All the students are advised to practise from the study materials for example: previous year question paper, Mock tests and more. By practising them regularly, a student gets to know about the pattern of the examination, weightage per question, marking scheme etc. 
• Blurting: Another great way which students can choose to do is by the blurting method. In this technique, a student has to read Reported Speech Class 9 Notes repeatedly to memorise them. After following the blurting method, make sure that you test yourself by writing down the topics which you remembered so far during the revision time. 
• Take short breaks between your exam preparation: Students are always advised to take short breaks between their exam preparation as it will ensure effective learning. Taking short breaks while studying Reported Speech Class 9 Notes also improves memory and recalling power. So, make sure to follow this revision tip while doing exam preparation. 
• Pomodoro Technique: Another important revision tip which is advisable for all the students is to follow the pomodoro technique as it helps to reduce distractions and improves the concentration of the students. This technique can be used by all the students to increase their accuracy and concentration when they are using Reported Speech Class 9 Notes. 

How to Prepare for Annual Exam from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes?

There are various tips which students should follow to prepare from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes. The tips are:

• Start reading or rewriting your Notes: The first tip which students should follow is that they should start reading their Reported Speech Notes repeatedly. After reading, they can write them to stick in their memory and remember them for a longer period of time. There are also various ways which you can use to rewrite them.
• Start studying in advance: It is always advisable for all the students to start studying for their examinations in advance from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes. If they study at the last moment, they will not be able to study effectively and chances of getting stressed and anxious will also increase. Studying in advance also helps to create a strong base of each and every concept. 
• Always take food breaks in between your exam preparation: Students are advised to take short food breaks of 15-20 minutes in between their exam preparation to revive their energy levels and also to improve their memory. 
• Get a good night’s sleep: All the students are advised to get a good night’s sleep as it will help the students to improve their brain function which will automatically improve the learning power of all the students. 

What are the Advantages of Having Reported Speech Class 9 Notes? 

There are various Advantages of Class 9 Reported Speech Notes. Some of the most important of them are:

• Boost in Confidence: By studying from Reported Speech Class 9 Notes, a student can boost their confidence as they will find out that they are aware of the majority of the topics and will do well in the final examinations. This will not only enhance their self-confidence but will also motivate them to do better in exams. 
• Forces the student to level up: Reported Speech Class 9 Notes are written in a way which includes various HOTS (High Order Thinking Skills) questions which will force the students to think at a higher level. 
• Access to Detailed Explanations: The subject matter experts at selfstudys have created these Notes in a detailed way which will help the students to increase their conceptual knowledge and also build a strong foundation of all the concepts in their minds. 
• As per the latest syllabus: Reported Speech Class 9 Notes are created as per the latest syllabus to ensure that the student covers each and every topic and does not miss even a single topic. 
• Diagrammatically Explained Resources: Apart from the easy theoretical language which is used in explaining the students through the Notes, various diagrams, tables etc. are also used to help the students understand all the concepts in a better way. 
• Mobile Friendly: One of the biggest advantages of Reported Speech English Grammar Class 9 Notes is that they can be easily accessed on mobile phones. One does not need a laptop or PC to access them. 

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• Reported Speech

Reported Speech How does it Work?

Indirect speech or Reported speech is just a way of expressing your intent in questions, statements or other phrases, without essentially quoting them outrightly as the way it is done in indirect speech.

Reported Speech Rules

To understand Reported Speech Grammar and Reported Verbs, you need to first understand reported speech rules and how it works. Here are some types of reported speech:

Reported Statements

Reported speech is used when someone says a sentence, like, "I'm going to the movie tonight". Later, we want to tell a 3rd person what the first person is doing.

It works like this:

We use a reporting verb i.e 'say' or 'tell'. In the present tense, just put in 'he says.

Direct Speech: I like burgers.

Reported Speech: He says (that) he likes burgers.

You don't need to change the tense, but you do need to switch the 'person' from 'I' to 'he’. You also need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.

But, in case the reporting verb is in the past tense, then change the tenses in the reported speech itself.

Reported Questions

Reported questions to go like 

Direct Speech: Where do you reside?

We make the change to reported speech by-

It is similar to reported statements. The tense changes are exact, and we keep the question’s word. But we need to change the grammar of that normal sentence into positive. For eg:

Reported Speech: He asked me where I resided.

The direct speech question is in the present simple tense. We make a present simple question with 'do' or 'does'. For that, I need to take that away. Then change the verb to the past simple. 

Direct Speech: Where is Jolly?

Reported Speech: He asked me where Jolly was.

The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We change the question form of the present simple of being by changing the position of the subject and the verb. So, change them back before putting the verb into the past simple.

Here Are Some More Examples

Reported Requests

The reported speech goes a long way. What if a person asks you to do something politely or make a request? It’s called a reported request. For example

Direct Speech: Close the door, please / Could you close the door please? / Would you mind closing the door, please?

All these requests mean the same, so we don't need to report every word there when we tell a 3rd person about it. 

We can simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

Reported Speech: They asked me to close the door.

Direct Speech: Please be punctual.

Reported Speech: They asked us to be punctual.

Reported Orders

And lastly, how about when someone doesn't ask that politely? This is known as an 'order' in English, which is when someone tells you to do something pretty much directly. This is called a reported order. For example

Direct Speech: Stand up right now!

We make this into a reported speech in the same way as that for a request. Just use 'tell' rather than 'ask':

Reported Speech: She told me to stand up right now.

Time Expressions within the Ambit of Reported Speech

Sometimes when we want to change the direct speech into reported speech, we will have to change the time expressions too. We don't necessarily always have to do that. However, It depends on when we heard the speech in indirect form and when we said the speech in reported form. 

For Example,

It's Sunday. Kiran Ma’am says "I'm leaving today".

If You tell someone on Sunday, You will say "Kiran Ma’am said she was leaving today".

If you tell someone on Tuesday, You will say "Kiran Ma’am said she was leaving yesterday".

If you tell someone on Friday, you will say "Kiran Ma’am said she was leaving on Sunday ".

If you tell someone a month later, you will say "Kiran Ma’am said she was leaving that day".

So, technically there's no easy way to convert. You need to put in real effort and have to think about it when the direct speech is said.

Here's a Table of How Some Conversions can be Made 

now can be converted to then / at that time

today can be converted to yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27 th of June

yesterday can be converted to the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of December

last night can be converted to the night before, Thursday night

last week can be converted to the week before / the previous week

tomorrow can be converted to today / the next day / the following day / Friday

Now Let us Check our Understanding Through this Table

This is all about reported speech. English grammar is a tricky thing given both the rules and practice. Reading these rules solely will not help you to get a strong grasp of them. You also have to practice reported speech sentences in practical life to know how and when they can be used.

FAQs on Reported Speech

1. How to convert present tenses to reported speech and give some examples.

There are certain rules to follow while converting sentences to reported speech. We need to manage tenses also.

Usually, the present sentences change to simple past tense.

Ex: I do yoga every morning

She said that she did yoga every morning.

I play cricket a lot

He said that he played cricket a lot 

Usually The present continuous tense changes to the past continuous tense. 

Ex: My friend is watching a movie.

She said that her friend was watching a movie.

We are eating dinner

They said that they were eating dinner.

Usually, the  Present Perfect Tense changes into Past Perfect Tense

Ex: I have been to the USA

She told me that she had been to the USA.

She has finished her task.

She said that she had finished her task.

Usually the Present Perfect Progressive Tense changes into Past Perfect Tense

2. How to convert present tenses to reported speech and give some examples.

Usually the Past Simple Tense changes into the Past Perfect Tense.

Ex: He arrived on Friday

He said that he had arrived on Friday.

My mom enjoyed the stay here

He said that his mom had enjoyed the stay there.

Usually, the Past Progressive Tense changes into the Perfect Continuous Tense

Ex: I was playing the cricket

He said that he had been playing cricket.

My husband was cooking

She said that her husband had been cooking.

Usually, the Past Perfect Tense doesn’t change.

Ex: She had worked hard.

She said that she had worked hard.

And also the Past Perfect Progressive Tense doesn’t change.

3. State the rules for conversion of future tenses into reported speech

There are rules to follow while converting the future tenses to reported speech.

In general, the Future Simple Tense changes into would. And also the future Progressive Tense changes into “would be”. The Future Perfect Tense changes into “would have”. The Future Perfect Progressive Tense changes into “would have been”.

Ex: I will be attending the wedding.

She said that she would be attending the wedding.

4. Give examples for conversion of  ‘can ‘, ‘can’t’ and ‘will’,’’won’t’ 

5. Give some examples for reported requests and reported orders.  

Reported Speech | English Grammar for Class 9 PDF Download

How to change Exclamatory Sentences into Indirect Speech? :

• Reporting verb SAID / SAID TO should be changed into EXCLAIMED.
• Use the conjunction word THAT.
• Change that into a Statement.
• When WHAT or HOW is followed by an adjective, use VERY but when WHAT is followed by a noun use GREAT.
• HOW is usually followed by an Adjective (not by a Noun).
• Change of Personal Pronoun, Tense and Special words.
• Remove commas, quotation marks and exclamation mark.

Formula : Subject + exclaimed + that + other subject (from Reported Speech) + verb (by changing the tense) + very + adjective (or great + noun)+ …. Examples :

• They said, “Hurrah! We have won the match”. They exclaimed joyfully that they had won the match.
• She said, “What a tall building!” She exclaimed joyfully that it was a tall building.

Interrogative Sentences

When turning questions into indirect speech, we have to pay attention to the following points:

• As in a declarative sentence, we have to change the pronouns and the time and place information, and set back the tense (backshift).
• Instead of that (as in a declarative sentence), we use the question word. If there is no question word, we use whether/if instead.
• Besides this, we also need to use an indirect question in indirect speech. This means that after the question word or after whether/if, we simply write a declarative sentence (subject-verb etc.).

Changing the Tense (backshift)

If the introductory verb is in the simple past (e.g. He said), the tense has to be set back by one degree . The term for this in English is backshift.

• He said, “I check my mail every day.” He said that he checked his mail every day.
• He said, “I saw a new film.” He said that he had seen a new film.
• He said, “She was studying when you were plaing.” He said that she had been studying where I was playing.

The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to normally do not change.

• He said, “I could have asked her for an autograph.”
• He said that he could have asked her for an autograph.

No Change of Tenses

If the introductory verb is in the simple present, however (e.g. He says), then the tense remains unchanged, because the introductory clause already indicates that the statement is being immediately repeated (and not at a later point in time). Example:

• He says, “I saw a new film.”
• He says that he saw a new film.

In some cases, however, we have to change the verb form.

• She says, “I read every day.”
• She says that she reads every day.
• He says, “She was reading when you are playing.”
• He says that she was reading when I was playing.

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CBSE NCERT Notes Class 9 English Workbook Chapter 7 Reported Speech

Chapter 7: Reported Speech

Introduction

Chapter 7 of the CBSE NCERT Class 9 English Workbook covers the topic of reported speech. Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to report or convey what someone else has said. This chapter aims to help students understand the rules and changes that occur when transforming direct speech into reported speech.

1. Introduction to Reported Speech

In this section, students are introduced to the concept of reported speech. They learn that reported speech is used when we want to report someone’s words or statements. Students understand that reported speech involves making changes to the tense, pronouns, and other elements of the original speech to accurately convey the message.

2. Reporting Verbs

Students learn about reporting verbs, which are used to introduce reported speech. They are introduced to common reporting verbs such as “say,” “tell,” “ask,” and “explain.” Students understand that the choice of reporting verb depends on the context and the type of speech being reported.

3. Changes in Tense and Pronouns

In this section, students learn about the changes that occur in tense and pronouns when transforming direct speech into reported speech. They understand that the tense of the reported speech is usually shifted back, and the pronouns are changed to reflect the perspective of the speaker and the listener.

4. Reporting Yes/No Questions and Wh-Questions

Students explore how to report both yes/no questions and wh-questions in reported speech. They learn the changes in word order and the use of reporting verbs and question words to accurately report the original question.

5. Reporting Commands and Requests

In this section, students learn how to report commands and requests. They understand that commands and requests are usually reported using verbs such as “tell,” “order,” or “ask” followed by an infinitive verb or a gerund. Students practice transforming commands and requests into reported speech while maintaining the intended meaning.

6. Conclusion

Chapter 7 of the CBSE NCERT Class 9 English Workbook provides students with a thorough understanding of reported speech. By studying the rules and changes involved in transforming direct speech into reported speech, students develop their skills in accurately conveying someone else’s words or statements. Mastery of reported speech allows students to effectively report conversations, interviews, and other forms of communication in written and spoken English.

CBSE NCERT Class 9 English Workbook Chapter 7 Reported Speech Chapter Notes, Revision Notes, Chapter Summary, Notes PDF, CBSE, NCERT.

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Question and Answer forum for K12 Students

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9 CBSE With Answers

Reported speech is when we express or say things that have already been said by somebody else.

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.

We also providing Extra Questions for Class 9 English Chapter wise.

Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9 CBSE With Answers Pdf

When we say things that have been said, we use two ways of expressing it. The first is direct speech when we express what the speaker said as it is and the second is indirect speech where we express what was said in our words.

Examples: If you ask your friend Pradeep, ‘Did you take my book?’, the reply could be ‘Your book is with Jai.’ Now, we can report this statement in two ways:

• Pradeep told me, ‘Your book is with Jai’.
• Pradeep told me that my book is with Jai.

Rules For Reported Speech While changing direct speech into reported speech or vice versa, the following change:

• the reporting verb
• the pronouns
• the situations
• report using present and future tenses
• modal verbs
• word order with who, which, and what

Changes in reporting verb:

• Affirmative sentences: said, told (object), asserted, replied, assured, informed, responded, whispered, alleged, believed, assumed, though.
• Interrogative sentences: asked, inquired, wanted to know, enquired When we report.
• Imperative sentences: ordered, begged, pleaded, implored, advised, demanded.

Change of pronouns:

• Direct speech: Surabhi said, “I am reading.”
• Indirect speech: Surabhi said that she was reading.
• A first-person and second-person generally change to a third person (depending upon the object to reporting verb).

Change of tenses:

In general, the present tense becomes past tense; past and perfect tenses become the past perfect tense.

Change Of Situations: Examples:

• Surabhi said, “I read this book last week.” (direct speech)
• Surabhi said that she had read that book the previous week, (indirect speech)

If the speaker talks about a universal truth, the tense is unchanged.

In case of questions and answers: Examples:

• Surabhi asked, “Have you read this book?” (Direct Speech)
• Surabhi asked if/whether I had read that book. (Indirect Speech)
• Surabhi asked, “Where is the book?” (Direct Speech)
• Surabhi asked where the book was. (Indirect Speech)

(a) yes/no questions – use if/whether (b) wh-questions – use the wh-word

Word Order:

• Surabhi asked, “What’s the matter?”
• Surabhi asked what the matter was. (what + the matter + was)
• Surabhi asked what was the matter, (what + was + the matter)

Can Be Either:

• who/which/what + complement + be or
• who/which/what + be + complement

Reported speech using present and future tenses: Examples:

• Surabhi said, “The sun rises in the east.” (Direct Speech)
• Surabhi said that the sun rises in the east. (Indirect Speech)
• Surabhi said, “I will read this book.” (Direct Speech)
• Surabhi said that she will read that book. (Indirect Speech)

If the original speaker’s present and future are still present and future, the tense remains unchanged. In case of modal verbs:

would, should, could, might, ought to, and must remain unchanged. Example:

• Surabhi said, “I can solve this sum.” (Direct Speech)
• Surabhi said that she could solve that sum. (Indirect Speech)

In our daily lives, we use reported speech in many forms. We use reported speech to report statements, questions, requests or even commands. There are certain things we need to keep in mind when we report each of them.

• When we report statements, we have to make sure what changes need to be made in the pronoun, tense or temporal-spatial expression.
• When we transform questions into reported speech, we have to check whether or not to change the tense, pronoun as well as place and time expression.
• Upon changing, we have to ensure that the question is an indirect question.
• We also have to make use of words such as where, when, how, if, whether etc.
• In transforming requests and commands into reported speech, tenses are not relevant.
• We only have to ensure that there are changes in the pronoun and the place and time expression.

Reported Speech Exercises Solved Example for Class 9 CBSE

Diagnostic Test 18

The child called out to his mother to (a) ……………………… . The mother replied that (b) ……………………… . She asked her son if (c) ……………………… . Her son replied in the affirmative. He added that (d) ……………………… . The mother then wanted to know what (e) ……………………… . The child informed her (f) ……………………… . Answer: (a) come and look as the house across the road was on fire. (b) she couldn’t go then as she was cooking. (c) the Fire Brigade was there. (d) they had just arrived and the men were jumping down from the engine. (e) the people of the house were doing. (f) that some of them were standing in the street holding an umbrella and others were throwing valuables down from the window into it.

• English Grammar
• Clause structure and verb patterns

Reported speech

Level: intermediate

Reporting and summarising

When we want to report what people say, we don't usually try to report their exact words. We usually give a  summary , for example:

Direct speech (exact words) :

Mary :  Oh dear. We've been walking for hours! I'm exhausted. I don't think I can go any further. I really need to stop for a rest. Peter :  Don't worry. I'm not surprised you're tired. I'm tired too. I'll tell you what, let's see if we can find a place to sit down, and then we can stop and have our picnic.

Reported speech (summary) :

When Mary complained that she was tired out after walking so far, Peter said they could stop for a picnic.

Reporting verbs

When we want to report what people say, we use reporting verbs . Different reporting verbs have different patterns, for example:

Mary complained (that) she was tired . (verb + that clause) She asked if they could stop for a rest . (verb + if clause) Peter told her not to worry . (verb + to -infinitive) He suggested stopping and having a picnic . (verb + - ing form) 

See reporting verbs with that , wh-  and if clauses , verbs followed by the infinitive , verbs followed by the -ing form .

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Tenses in reported speech

When reporting what people say or think in English, we need to remember that the rules for tense forms in reported speech are exactly the same as in the rest of the language.

This is a letter that Andrew wrote ten years ago:

If we wanted to report what Andrew said in his letter, we might say something like this: 

Andrew said that when he  was  22, he was an engineering student in his last month at university. He wanted  to travel abroad after he  had finished  his course at the university, but he would need to earn some money while he was abroad so he wanted  to learn to teach English as a foreign language. A friend  had recommended  a course but Andrew needed more information, so he wrote to the school and asked them when their courses started  and how much they were . He also wanted to know if there was  an examination at the end of the course.

We would naturally use past tense forms to talk about things which happened ten years ago. So, tenses in reports and summaries in English are the same as in the rest of the language.

Sometimes we can choose between a past tense form and a  present tense  form. If we're talking about the past but we mention something that's still true , we can use the present tense:

John said he'd stayed at the Shangri-la because it' s the best hotel in town. Mary said she enjoyed the film because Robert de Niro is her favourite actor. Helen said she  loves visiting New York.

or the past tense:

John said he'd stayed at the Shangri-la because it was the best hotel in town. Mary said she enjoyed the film because Robert de Niro was her favourite actor. Helen said she  loved visiting New York.

If we're talking about something that  everybody knows is true , we normally use the present tense :

Michael said he'd always wanted to climb Everest because it' s the highest mountain in the world. Mary said she loved visiting New York because it' s such an exciting city.

Hi! I found the following paragraph from a grammar site while I was studying the reported speech. Can you help me? It says; --> We can use a perfect form with have + -ed form after modal verbs, especially where the report looks back to a hypothetical event in the past: He said the noise might have been the postman delivering letters. (original statement: ‘The noise might be the postman delivering letters.’)

And my question is: How do we understand if it is a hypothetical event in the past or not? We normally don't change 'might' in reported speech. (e.g. ‘It might snow tonight,’ he warned. --> He warned that it might snow that night.) But why do we say 'He said the noise might have been the postman delivering letters.' instead of 'He said that the noise might be the postman delivering letters.’ What's the difference between these two indirect reported speeches? Could you please explain the difference? And I also found this example which is about the same rule above: --> He said he would have helped us if we’d needed a volunteer. (original statement: a) ‘I’ll help you if you need a volunteer’ or b) ‘I’d help you if you needed a volunteer.’) Can you also explain why we report this sentence like that. How can we both change a) and b) into the same indirect reported speech? Thank you very much!

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Hello Melis_06,

1. He said the noise might have been the postman delivering letters. 2. He said that the noise might be the postman delivering letters.

In sentence 1 it is clear that the noise has ended; it is a noise that 'he' could hear but it is not a noise that you can hear now. In sentence 2 the noise could have ended or it could be a noise that you can still hear now. For example, if the noise is one which is constant, such as a noise that comes from your car engine that you are still trying to identify, then you would use sentence 2. In other words, sentence 2 allows for a wider range of time possibilities - both past (ended) and present (still current).

Your second question is similar:

He said he would have helped us if we needed a volunteer - you no longer need a volunteer

He said he would help us if we needed a volunteer - this could still be relevant; you may still need a volunteer.

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello my friend : what are you doing now? me : I'm eating an apple now and My friend repeated his question now

my question

Can I repeat the sentence in the past ( I was eating an apple) and mean( I'm eating an apple now) ?

You can but it is unusual. If you say  I was eating an apple  (past continuous), it means that it was in the past. You already finished eating the apple and you are not eating it now. But if your friend asked you just a moment ago, I guess you are still eating the apple when she/he asks the second question, so I would say  I'm eating an apple  (because you are still doing it).

Alternatively, you can use a past tense reporting verb e.g. I said I was eating an apple  (referring to the time of the first question), or  I said I 'm eating an apple  (to show that you are still eating it now, at the moment of speaking).

LearnEnglish team

Am I correct then? When someone wants us to repeat the sentence we have just said a moment ago we say 'I said I am doing...' if we are still doing that action. But if we are done with that action, then we say 'I said I was doing...' Did I get it right? Thanks!

Hello Meldo,

Yes, that's correct. Well done!

Hi. I wish to enquire if the verb tense used after a conjunction also changes in complex sentences as per tense transition rules, especially if it is already in simple past tense. In order to explain, could you please solve the following for me: 1. It has been quite a while since I last saw you. 2. Nevertheless, she has been quite desensitized to such perverse actions to the extent that it seldom ever seems obnoxious to her. 3. Let me keep this in my cupboard lest I misplace this. 4. I had arrived at the station before you even left your house. 5. I met my grandfather before he died.

Hi Aamna bluemoon,

The verb may or may not be backshifted, depending on whether the original speaker's point of view and the reporter's point of view are the same or not. For example:

• She said it had been quite a while since she last saw me . (it seems relatively recent, for both the original speaker and the reporter)
• She said it had been quite a while since she had last seen us . (a lot of time has passed between speaking and reporting this, or the situation has changed a lot since then e.g. they have met frequently since then)
• She said she had met her grandfather before he died . (seems quite recent)
• She said she had met her grandfather before he'd died . (a lot of time has passed between speaking and reporting this)

I hope that helps.

Hi, can you help me, please? How could I report this famous quotation: 'There's no such things as good news in America'.

Hi bri.q630,

First of all, the sentence is not grammatically correct. The phrase is 'no such thing' (singular), not 'things'.

How you report it depends. Using 'said' as the reporting verb we have two possibilities:

1. They said (that) there's no such thing as good news in America. 2. They said (that) there was no such thing as good news in America.

Sentence 2 tells that only about the time when 'they' said it. It does not tell us if it is still true or not.

Sentence 1 tells us that what 'they' said is still relevant today. In other words there was no good news (in their opinion) when they spoke, and there is still no good news now.

Thank you Peter,

All things are getting clear to me.

So, you mean, I can use both sentences depending on what I want to indicate, can't I?

then the possible indications are bellow, are those correct?

1-a I remembered the World War 2 ended in 1945. (This would be indicated the statement is still ture.)

1-b I remembered the World War 2 had ended in 1945. (This would be indicated I might missunderstand.)

2-a I felt time is money. (This would be indicated the statement is still ture.)

2-b I felf time was money. (This would be indicated I might not feel any more.)

3-a I knew the sun rises in the east. (This would be indicated the statement is still true.)

3-b I knew the sun rase in the east. (This would be indicated I might misunderstand or forget.)

4-a I guessed* that Darth Vader is Luke's father. (This would be indicated I still believe he is.*sorry for the typo)

4-2 I guessed that Darth Vader was Luke's father. (This would be indicated I might know he is not.)

Thank you in advance.

Hello again Nobori,

1-a I remembered the World War 2 ended in 1945. (This would be indicated the statement is still ture.) 1-b I remembered the World War 2 had ended in 1945. (This would be indicated I might missunderstand.)

Both forms are possible here. The 'ending' is a moment in the past; after this there is no war. By the way, we treat 'World War 2' as a name so there is no article before it.

2-a I felt time is money. (This would be indicated the statement is still ture.) 2-b I felf time was money. (This would be indicated I might not feel any more.)

That's correct. Remember that backshifting the verb does not mean something is no longer true; it simply does not tell us anything about the present. Here, it tells the reader how you felt at a given moment in time; you may 

3-a I knew the sun rises in the east. (This would be indicated the statement is still true.) 3-b I knew the sun rase in the east. (This would be indicated I might misunderstand or forget.)

That's also correct. Again, remember that backshifting the verb does not mean something is no longer true; it simply does not tell us anything about the present.

4-a I guessed* that Darth Vader is Luke's father. (This would be indicated I still believe he is.*sorry for the typo) 4-2 I guessed that Darth Vader was Luke's father. (This would be indicated I might know he is not.)

Again, correct. In the second example it might still be true that he is Luke's father, or it might have turned out to be not true. The sentence does not tell us.

Hi Peter, Thank you for your thoughtful answer. Allthing is now very clear to me. Best

Hi, I am translating a fiction novel into English and need your help regarding the reporting speech as for few things I am not getting any clear understanding over the internet. As you know in fiction, we need to write in non-ordinary way to create unique impressions of the word and academic writing is different than speaking. Will be grateful if you could give your insight below, especially considering in the context of fiction/academic writing.

1) Let’s say If someone is giving a speech or presentation, I want to mix their speech, indirect-direct and past tense- present tense. Below are three examples:

-He said, their company makes excellent profit every year OR their company made excellent profit every year ( can both be correct? As the sentence)

- Roger had given his speech yesterday. He said, their company makes excellent profit every year and your company will sustain for next hundred years.(Can YOUR be used in the sentence)

- Roger said people wants to feel important OR Roger said people wanted to feel important (which will be correct as this is a trait which is true in past and present)

2) He thought why he is talking to her OR He thought why he was talking to her (are both write? As usually I see in novels the second example with WAS)

3) Gia was sitting with Jake and she told him she had met with her last year. Her mother had taken her to the dinner. Her mother had told her about her future plans. Her mother also had paid the bill for the dinner. (Do I need to use every time past perfect in this example though it doesn’t feel natural? As a rule of thumb I think past perfect needs to be used when we talk about another past event in the past )

Hello Alamgir3,

We're happy to help with a few specific grammar questions, but I'm afraid we can't help you with your translation -- I'd suggest you find an editor for that.

1) In the second clause, you can use present or past. We often use the present when it's still true now, but the past is not wrong. FYI we don't normally use a comma after 'said' in reported speech.

2) 'Why was he talking to her?' he thought.

3) This is really more of a question of style than grammar. Here I would suggest doing something like combining the four sentences into two and then leaving out 'had' in the second verb in each sentence. Even if it isn't written, it's understood to be past perfect.

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hello teachers, I'm sorry, I could not find where to new post. Could you tell me about the back-sifting of thoughts bellow? Which forms are correct?

1-a I remembered the World War 2 ended in 1945. 1-b I remembered the World War 2 had ended in 1945.

2-a I felt time is money. 2-b I felf time was money.

3-a I knew the sun rises in the east. 3-b I knew the sun rase in the east.

4-a I guess that Darth Vader is Luke's father. 4-2 I guessed that Darth Vader was Luke's father.

Do those questions have the same conclusion as indirect speech, such as say and tell?

Hello Nobori,

The verb form remains the same when we want to make it clear that the situation described by the verb is still true, and this works in the same way as indirect speech. For example:

She said she loves me. [she loved me then and she loves me still] She said she loved me. [she loved me then; no information on how she feels now]

Other than this rule, the choice is really contextual and stylistic (up to the speaker). Sometimes a choice implies something. For example, the saying 'time is money' is a general statement, so if you choose to backshift here the listener will know it is an intentional choice and suspect that something has changed (you no longer believe it).

Hi teachers, I've read almost the section of comments below and my summarize is the present tense only can be used if the statement is still true now and past simple only tells the statement was true in the past and doesn't tell the statement is true or not now. Just to make sure, I wanna ask, If I'm not sure whether the statement is still true or not now, can I choose backshift instead (this is still apply to past tense become past perfect)? Thank you

Hello rahmanagustiansyah,

It sounds to me as if you've got the right general idea. Could you please give a couple of example sentences that illustrate your question?

Thanks in advance, Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

For example, Steve said "Anna hates you." Then I wanna tell about that to my friend, but I'm not sure whether Anna still hates me or not now. What should I choose between these two options. Answer 1:Steve said Anna hates me or Answer 2 : Steve said Anna hated me. Thank you

Hi rahmanagustiansyah,

In that case, I would choose answer 2. I might even add "... but I don't know if she still does" to the sentence to clarify, if that is the key point you want to communicate.

Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team

Hello Natasa Tanasa,

Both sentences are grammatically possible.

The first sentence is only possible if when the person asks the original question the woman is no longer there (she has already gone). The second sentence can be used in this situation too, or in a situation in which the woman was still there when the original question was asked. As the past tense is used in the original question ( Who was... ), both sentences are possible.

Hello Ahmed Imam,

When the situation is still true at the time of reporting, we can leave the verb form unchanged. For example:

1. She told me she loved me.

2. She told me she loves me.

In sentence 1 we know she loved me when she told me but we don't know whether or not she loves me now. In sentence 2, we know she loved me when she told me and we know that she loves me now.

In your example, if the supermarket is still in the same place then we can use either form. If the supermarket has been closed down or moved to another location then we need to use was .

As for which is 'safer', you'll need to make your own mind up! Keeping the verb in the same form carries more specific information and that may be appropriate or even important.

Hello eugelatina87,

I'll give you a hint: a verb is missing from the question.

Does that help you complete it?

All the best,

The first two sentences are possible and they can both mean that he is still Mary's boyfriend now. The first one makes this more clear, but the second one doesn't only refer to the past.

Hello magnuslin

Regarding your first question, the most common way of saying it is the second one. In some very specific situation, perhaps the first option would be possible.

This also answers your second question. It is not necessary to always backshift using the tenses you mention.

As for your third question, no, it is not necessary. In fact, it is probably more common to use the past simple in the reported speech as well. 

All the best

Hello manu,

Both forms are possible. If you use  had been  then we understand that he was there earlier but not when he said it - in other words, when he said it he had already left. If you use was then he may have left at the time of speaking, or he may have still been there.

Hello _princess_

I would recommend using answer a) because this is the general pattern used in reported speech. Sometimes the verb in the reported clause can be in the present tense when we are speaking about a situation that is still true, but the reported verb in the past tense can also have the same meaning. Since here the time referred to could be either past or present, I'd recommend using the past form.

Hello mwright,

This is an example of an indirect question. An indirect question reports a question, but is not a question itself, which is why we do not use a question mark at the end. Since it is not a question, we use the normal word order without inversion or auxiliary verbs. For example:

Indicative: He lives in Rome. Interrogative: Does he live in Rome? (Where does he live?) Reported: She asked if he lives in Rome. (She asked where he lives.)  

Hello ahlinthit

There are different styles of punctuating direct speech -- in other words, you might find other sources that will disagree with me -- but what I would use here is something different: "The boss is dead!" said the doctor.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes

Hello Timmosky,

The form that comes after the auxiliary verb 'do' (or 'does' or 'did') is not the plural present simple verb, but rather the bare infinitive (also known as 'base form' or 'first form') of the verb. Does that make sense?

All the best, Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Hello sky-high,

This is very formal language. The phrase 'to the effect that' means 'with the meaning that'. In this context it can be understood to mean 'with the result that'.

Best wishes,

The difference is quite logical. If we use 'said' then we are talking about a claim by Peter in the past which he may or may not still maintain. If we use 'says' then we are talking about an opinion expressed by Peter which he still holds.

The reported information (whether or not Rooney is in good shape) can refer to only the past or to the present as well and the statement (what Peter thinks) can separately refer to only the past or the present as well. Of course, all of this is from the point of view of the person reporting Peter's opinion, and whether or not they think that Peter still thinks now what he thought then.

Both are possible. If you use the present tense then it is clear that the statement is still true (i.e. the business was not growing when Mary spoke and is still not growing now). If you use the past tense then no information is given regarding the present (i.e. the business was growing when Mary spoke and may or may not be growing now).

Hello aseel aftab,

It should be 'if they had'. This is not from this page, is it? I don't see it anywhere here, but if I've missed it please let me know.

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Reported speech - 1

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Reported speech - 3

Worksheets - handouts

Reported speech

Worksheets - pdf exercises.

• Reported statements - worksheet
• Worksheet - reported questions
• Reported yes/no questions
• Worksheet - reported speech
• Reported speech - exercises pdf
• Indirect speech - exercises
• Reported speech - exercises
• Mixed reported speech 1
• Mixed reported speech 2
• Reported speech 1 
• Reported speech 2  
• Reported speech 3 
• Reported speech 4
• Reported speech 5
• Reported wh- questions
• Reported speech - worksheet 
• Reported commands
• Reported questions
• Reported speech 1
• Reported speech 2
• Reported requests and orders
• Reported speech exercise
• Reported questions - worksheet
• Indirect speech - worksheet
• Worksheets pdf - print
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Grammar - lessons

• Reported speech - grammar notes
• How to use reported speech - lesson
• Tense changes - grammar