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Name of the Teacher: Sini Jose

Subject: English Grammar

Topic: Lesson: 20 Direct and Indirect Speech

Class: VIII

Mobile No: 9131457859

Learning outcomes

1. To help pupils acquire the rules of English grammar.

2. To cultivate a taste for learning the target language.

3. To develop pupils’ power of comprehension.

4. To enable pupils to use language correctly.

Learning Strategy

Inductive and deductive method, Bilingual Method

Resources: - Text book, learning materials, videos, E-resources from internet etc.

Click here to play content related video on YouTube

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Definition: The mode of narration which we use to report verbatim (word by word) what we or others

say or think is known as direct or quoted speech. The mode of narration which we use to report either

our or others' thoughts and speech is known as indirect or reported speech.

Examples:

1. George said (to me), "I want to talk to you."

2. George told me that he wanted to talk to me.

In sentence 1 the reporting is done using the exact words used by George (placed within

inverted commas). The sentence is therefore in direct speech.

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In sentence 2 the same communication is being reported in the words of the speaker,

therefore the sentence is in indirect or reported speech.

In direct speech:

the exact words of the speaker are placed within inverted commas.

the speech placed within inverted commas is called the quoted speech.

the verb that introduces the quoted speech is called the introducing or reporting verb.

either a comma or a colon is used to separate the quoted speech from the reporting verb.

Examples:

1. Monica said, “I want to learn how to cook."

reporting verb quoted speech

In this sentence, there are two different tenses

the tense of the reporting verb is simple past

the tense of the verb in quoted speech is simple present

2. Monica told her father that she wanted to learn how to cook.

In indirect speech:

no commas or inverted commas are used.

the tense of the quoted speech is changed according to the tense of the reporting verb, for

example, in this sentence; the simple present tense of the quoted speech becomes simple

past tense as the reporting verb is in simple past tense.

the personal pronoun is changed according to the speaker: I becomes he/she and you

becomes me.

that is used to connect the quoted speech to the main sentence.

In indirect speech, the tense is usually changed to past because we use this form to talk about a past

action/speech/thought. However, in some cases the tense of the quoted speech remains unchanged.

Let's Practise (180-81)

Change the narration of the following sentences from direct to indirect speech using appropriate

reporting verbs.

1. Vishal said to his mother, “I have difficulty in solving maths problems."

2. His mother said to him, “I'll help you practise."

3. My sister said, "You are always sitting in front of the television!"

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4. Raghu said, "Our team will win the match."

5. Our teacher said to us, "You must always help the poor."

6. Jeet said to Tushar, "Please come to my house to this afternoon."

7. Ali told us, “I have studied at this university for three consecutive years."

8. Simran said to Karuna, "We shall raise some money for the flood victims."

9. Sunita said to her class teacher, "I wasn't absent for a single day in the entire year."

10. My father said, "It is very important for you to learn the use of prepositions."

Answer

1. Vishal told his mother that he had difficulty in solving maths problems.

2. His mother assured him that she would help him practise.

3. My sister complained that I was always sitting in front of the television.

4. Raghu predicted that their team would win the match.

5. Our teacher urged us to always help the poor.

6. Jeet invited Tushar to come to his house that afternoon.

7. Ali told us that he had studied university for three consecutive years.

8. Simran told Karuna that they would raise some money for the flood victims.

9. Sunita informed her class teacher that she hadn't absent or a single day in the entire year.

10. My father said that it was very important for me to learn the use of prepositions.

Let's Practise (182)

Change the following sentences into indirect speech. Read the instructions given in brackets.

1. Bharathi said to Vani, “I cannot meet you at the station today" (said 7 days ago)

2. A girl in the audience said to the speaker, “You didn't answer my last question.”

3. The doctor said to the patient, “I'll be out of station tomorrow.” (two weeks ago)

4. Manish said to Rahima, “My grandma is visiting us this weekend."

5. Mrs Bakshi said to me yesterday morning, “Are you joining us for a cup of coffee now?"

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6. The class teacher said, “Please submit your projects by this week.” (said last week)

7. The stranger asked the traffic police, “Could you please tell me the way to the bus station in this

town?"

8. Bubun said to her mother when they visited Jaipur last year, “Ma, this place looks familiar."

Answer

1. Bharathi said to Vani that she could not meet her at the station that day.

2. A girl in the audience said to the speaker that he hadn't answered her previous question.

3. The doctor informed the patient that he would be out of station the following day.

4. Manish said to Rahima that his grandma was visiting them that weekend.

5. Mrs Bakshi asked me yesterday morning if I was joining them for a cup of coffee then.

6. The class teacher requested us to submit our projects by that week.

7. The stranger asked the traffic police if he could tell him the way to the bus station in that town.

8. When they visited Jaipur last year, Bubun said to her mother that that place looked familiar.

Let's Practise (183)

Change the narration of the following declarative sentences from direct speech to indirect speech. Use

appropriate forms of the reporting verbs given in the box.

remind tell instruct complain suggest

offer inform promise warn advise

1. Sita said to Manish, “I always carry a bottle of water when I go out in the sun.”

2. My mother said to my father, “It is time for Diwali shopping."

3. Vayu said to Harish, “I can be your partner for the game."

4. The teacher said to the parents, "The school is planning to take class 8 students for an excursion to

the Ajanta caves this year."

5. The invigilator said to the examinees, "If you talk in the examination hall, your scripts will be taken

away."

6. Meenakshi said to Jitesh, "You should talk to people in a polite manner.”

7. Gabriel said to Anil, “I plan to visit your house next weekend."

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8. The principal said to the parents, "Children are carrying mobile phones to school.”

Answer

1. Sita told Manish that she always carried a bottle of water when she went out in the sun.

2. My mother reminded my father that it was time for Diwali shopping.

3. Vayu suggested to Harish that he could be his partner for the game.

4. The teacher informed the parents that the school was planning to take class 8 students for an

excursion to the Ajanta caves that year.

5. The invigilator warned the examinees that their scripts would be taken away if they talked in the

examination hall.

6. Meenakshi advised Jitesh to talk to people in a polite manner.

7. Gabriel informed Anil that he planned to visit his house the following weekend.

8. The principal complained to the parents that children were carrying mobile phones to school.

Let's Practise (184-85)

Rewrite the following conversations as indirect speech.

1. Rina: Where have you kept my English notebook?

Mother: Have you looked in the bookcase?

Rina: I've searched for it at every possible place but I cannot find it anywhere. Could you help me find

it?

Answer

Rina asked her mother where she had kept her English notebook.

Her mother asked her if she had looked in the book case.

Rina said that she had searched for it at every possible place but couldn't find it

anywhere. She requested her mother to help her find it.

2. Arya to his teacher: I need to learn Spanish within three months before going to Spain for my

training. Could you suggest a place where I can learn some basic Spanish?

Teacher: There is a private institute near Salt Lake; you could try there.

Answer

Arya informed his teacher that he needed to learn Spanish within three months before

going to Spain for his training. He asked him if he could suggest a place where he could

learn some basic Spanish.

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His teacher informed him that there was a private institute near Salt Lake, and

suggested that he could try there.

3. Varsha to the shopkeeper: Do you have a laptop within the range of 30,000?

Shopkeeper: What do you need it for?

Varsha: Actually, I need it for surfing the internet, preparing PowerPoint presentations and basic word

processing. Do you have anything within my budget?

Answer

Varsha asked the shopkeeper if they had a laptop within the range of 30,000.

The shopkeeper asked her what she needed it for.

Varsha replied that she needed it for surfing the internet, preparing Power Point

Presentations and basic word processing. She enquired if he had anything within her

budget.

4. Teacher: When did you move here?

Student: My mother got a transfer to this city last month. We all moved here at the beginning of this

month.

Teacher: Do you miss your last school?

Student: I miss my friends very much.

Answer

The teacher asked the student when they had moved there.

The student replied his mother had got a transfer to that city the previous month and

they had all moved there at the beginning of that month.

The teacher asked him if he missed his previous school.

The student said that he missed his friends very much.

5. Doctor to the patient: How are you feeling now?

Patient: I'm not feeling very well. I still have some pain in my abdomen.

Doctor: I'll give you some medicine that will help you sleep.

Answer

The doctor asked the patient how he was feeling then.

The patient replied that he was not feeling very well and still had some pain in his

abdomen.

The doctor said that he would give him some medicine that would help him sleep.

6. Bank Cashier to the customer: How much money would you like to withdraw?

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Customer: I need to take out Rs.50, 000.

Bank Cashier: I'm afraid you can withdraw only Rs.30, 000 now. Your account does not have enough

balance.

Answer

The bank cashier asked the customer how much money he would like to withdraw.

The customer replied that he needed to take out 50,000

The bank cashier told him he could withdraw only 30,000 then. He added that his account

did not have enough balance.

Let's Practise (186)

Change the narration of the following sentences according to the instructions given in

the brackets.

1. The officer said to the relief workers, "Please distribute these packets to the flood

victims."(indirect speech)

2. Disha requested Amina to have dinner with her the day after. (direct speech)

3. "Sort all the incoming letters by this afternoon," said the postmaster to the boy. (indirect

speech)

4. Susan said to Rama, "Don't forget to recharge your mobile phone." (indirect speech)

5. I said to Sumit, "Please pass me the remote." (indirect speech)

6. "Complete your homework first," said Rita's sister to her. (indirect speech)

7. The teacher requested the parents to enter the room and take their seats. (direct speech)

8. Ajit advised Rita to consult an optician regarding her eye problems. (direct speech)

9. The doctor advised the patient not to eat junk food. (direct speech)

10. The security guard said to the visitor, "Please sign the register first." (indirect speech)

11. The gardener said to the children playing in the garden, "Do not pluck flowers." (indirect

speech)

Answer

1. The officer requested the relief workers to distribute those packets to the flood victims.

2. Disha said to Amina, "Please have dinner me tomorrow."

3. The postmaster instructed the boy to sort all the incoming letters by that afternoon.

4. Susan reminded Rama to recharge her mobile phone.

5. I requested Sumit to pass me the remote.

6. Rita"s sister asked her to complete her homework first.

7. The teacher said to the parents, "Please enter the room and take your seats.

8. Ajit said Rita, “You should consult an optician regarding your eye problems.

9. The doctor said to the patient, "You should not eat junk food."

10. The security guard requested the visitor to sign the register first.

11. The gardener told the children playing in the garden to not pluck flowers.

Let's Practise (187)

Change the narration of the following sentences according to the instructions given in

brackets.

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1. Zarina wished that she could meet Mahendra Singh Dhoni. (direct speech)

2. The old lady said, "Alas! Gone are those golden days!" (indirect speech)

3. Neetu exclaimed with sadness that she had lost her lucky pen. (direct speech)

4. "I shall never talk to you again," said Raja to Rani. (indirect speech)

5. "Look! What a beautiful rainbow," said Vineeta to me. (indirect speech)

6. Akhil said to his mother, "Hurrah! I got the scholarship." (indirect speech)

7. My teacher congratulated me on my performance in the test. (direct speech)

8. "Wow! I want this dress," said Turina, looking at a beautiful dress at the shop. (indirect

speech)

9. Manisha said to Jiya, "Gosh! I have such a headache." (indirect speech)

10. The dance director said, "Bravo, Rohith! Your moves are perfect." (indirect speech)

Answer

1. Zarina said, "I wish I could meet Mahendra Singh Dhoni."

2. The old lady exclaimed sadly that those golden days were gone.

3. Neetu said, "Alas! I have lost my lucky Pen."

4. Raja told Rani that he would never talk to her again.

5. Vinita excitedly told me to look at the beautiful rainbow.

6. Akhil exclaimed happily to his mother that he had got the scholarship.

7. My teacher said to me, "Congratulations on your performance in the test."

8. Looking at a beautiful dress at the shop, Turina exclaimed that she wanted that dress.

9. Manisha told Jiya that she had a very bad headache.

10. The dance director congratulated Rohith.

Let's Practise (188-189)

Read the following conversations. Change the narration of the sentences to messages

to be delivered.

1. Adrian is coming to visit India on invitation from his Indian penfriend, Disha, Disha lives in

Chennai. Adrian's flight arrives at Delhi. Disha's father, who is currently posted at Delhi, will

receive him at the airport. The telephonic conversation between Adrian and Disha is given

below. Disha needs to report the necessary information from this conversation to her father.

Adrian: Hi!

Disha: Hi! Have you booked your tickets?

Adrian: Yes! I'm so excited!

Disha: Me too. When is your flight?

Adrian: I start from London on 30 November early in the morning, and reach Delhi the same

day at 8 p.m. I'm taking a British Airways flight which goes from London Gatwick to Delhi.

Disha: My father will meet you at the airport.

Adrian: Great! Will he join me on the flight to Chennai?

Disha: Yes, he will. I will receive you both at the Chennai airport.

Adrian: Tell your dad I'll wear a pair of faded blue jeans and a light yellow shirt.

Disha: I will. He will probably wait for you near the arrival desk at the airport.

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2. A patient of Dr Siddiqui's called up his chamber and spoke to the receptionist. The following

conversation took place between them. The receptionist is supposed to report this to the

doctor.

Patient: May I please speak with Dr Siddiqui?

The receptionist: May I know who is speaking?

Patient: I am his patient, Murali Nair. He has been treating me since last month.

The receptionist: May I know what it is about?

Patient: He asked me to get blood tests done and inform him about the report.

The receptionist: Dr Siddiqui should be back in half an hour. Would it be possible for you to

call him then?

Patient: Sure. Please inform him that I'll call him in an hour.

The receptionist: I will. Thanks for calling.

3. Anil runs into a stranger while coming back from school one day and he asks him some

questions about his school. Anil reports this to Mrs Bakshi the next day.

Stranger: Hi! Are you a student of St Matthew's School?

Anil: Yes! I go to St Matthew's school. Have we met before?

Stranger: No, we haven't. Isn't Dr Dewan your principal?

Anil: He retired last month. Mr Das is in charge for now.

Stranger: Is Mrs Bakshi still the Class 8 English teacher?

Anil: Do you know Mrs Bakshi?

Stranger: Yes, I am an old student of hers. Tell Mrs Bakshi that Rahul Saxena hasn't forgotten

all that she taught him.

4. Shalini is making plans with Annie to go for a weekend trip. Shalini reports all the

information to her mother.

Shalini: So, where are we going then?

Annie: Jaisalmer! I really want to see the sand dunes!

Shalini: Okay. When are we leaving? For how long will we be there?

Annie: We are leaving on the morning of the 12th and we should be back on 20th.

Shalini: That sounds great! Are we taking the train to Jaisalmer?

Annie: Yes. We should reach by evening. The desert camp will send a Jeep to take us from the

station to the camp.

Shalini: Oh! Tell me more about the camp.

Annie: It is called Chirag Desert Camp and it is situated right in the middle of the dunes. They

will organize a sunrise camel ride, cultural evening and dinner under the stars on the dunes.

Shalini: It sounds so exciting! I cannot wait to go!

5. Tarun's mother is going out. She leaves instructions with Tarun for the cook, which he then

reports to the cook.

Mother: Tell Suman to make 15 chapattis and five paranthas.

Tarun: Okay. Can I have some rice and fish curry for lunch?

Mother: Sure. Tell Suman to use the fish kept in the red packet in the freezer. Also, tell her to

use the non-stick pan for the fish curry.

Tarun: Okay. Anything else?

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Mother: Yes. There is some brinjal in the fridge which needs to be cooked. Ask her to check if

any other vegetables are required for the week. Then call me and let me know.

Tarun: Okay, mother. I will tell Suman everything you have told me.

Answer

1. After Adrian and Disha had greeted each other, Disha asked him he had booked his

tickets, to which he replied in the affirmative. Adrian and Disha both said that they

were very excited. Disha asked Adrian when his flight was. Adrian replied that his

started from London on 30 November early in the morning, and reached Delhi the

same day at 8 p.m. He was taking a British Airways flight which went from London

Gatwick to Delhi. Disha informed him that her father would meet him at the airport.

Adrian asked Disha if he would join him on the flight to Chennai, to which Disha

replied in the affirmative. She said that she would receive both of them at the Chennai

airport. Adrian asked Disha to tell her dad that he would wear a pair of faded blue

jeans and a light yellow shirt Disha agreed and told him that her father would

probably wait for him near the arrival desk at the airport.

2. The patient asked the receptionist if he could speak with Dr Siddiqui. When the

receptionist asked him who he was, he said that he was his patient, Murali Nair whom

the doctor had been treating since the previous month. Answering the receptionist’s

query, he said that the doctor had asked him to get blood tests done and inform him

about the report. The receptionist informed him that Dr Siddiqui would be back in half

an hour and asked the patient to call him then. The patient agreed requested the

receptionist to inform Dr Siddiqui that he would call him in an hour. The receptionist

agreed and thanked the patient for calling.

3. The stranger greeted Anil and asked him if he was a student of St Matthew's

School, to which Anil replied in the affirmative. He asked the stranger whether they

had met before, to which the stranger replied in the negative. The stranger then asked

him if Dr Dewan was his principal. Anil said that he had retired the previous month

and that Mr Das was in charge for the time. The stranger asked Anil whether Mrs

Bakshi was still the Class 8 English teacher. Anil asked the stranger if he knew Mrs

Bakshi. The stranger confirmed this and said that he was an old student of hers. He

asked Anil to tell Mrs Bakshi that Rahul Saxena hadn't forgotten all that she had

taught him.

4. When Shalini asked Annie where they were going, Annie said Jaisalmer because she

really wanted to see the sand dunes. Shalini asked her when they were leaving and for

how long they would be there. Annie replied that they were leaving on the morning of

the 12th and they would be back on 20th. Shalini approved of the plan and asked

whether they were taking the train to Jaisalmer, to which Annie replied in the

affirmative. She added that they would reach by evening and that the desert camp

would send a jeep to take them from the station to the camp. Shalini wanted to know

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about the camp. Annie told her that it was called Chirag Desert Camp and was

situated right in the middle of the dunes. She added that they would organize a

sunrise camel ride, cultural evening and dinner under the stars on the dunes. Shalini

exclaimed that it sounded very exciting and that she was eager to go.

5. Mother asked Tarun to tell Suman to make 15 chapattis and five paranthas. Tarun

said he would and asked his mother if he could have some rice and fish curry for lunch

His mother agreed and asked him to tell Suman to use the fish kept in the red packet

in the freezer and to use the non-stick pan for the fish curry. His mother also added

that there was some brinjal in the fridge which needed to be cooked and asked Tarun

to tell Suman to check if any other vegetables were required for the week. If so, Tarun

was to call her and let her know. Tarun said that he would tell Suman everything she

had told him.