📘 1. What is Reported Speech? (Core Definition)
When we convey someone else's message in our own words without changing the meaning of what they said, it is called Indirect Speech or Reported Speech. Conversely, quoting the exact words spoken by a person using quotation marks is called Direct Speech.
✅ Direct Speech Example
Rohan said to me, "I am writing a letter now."
📌 Indirect Speech Example
Rohan told me that he was writing a letter then.
⚙️ 2. General Conversion Rules
A) Backshift of Tenses (When Reporting Verb is in Past Tense)
• Simple Present $\rightarrow$ Simple Past (V1 $\rightarrow$ V2)
• Present Continuous $\rightarrow$ Past Continuous (is/am/are $\rightarrow$ was/were)
• Present Perfect / Simple Past $\rightarrow$ Past Perfect (has/have/V2 $\rightarrow$ had + V3)
• Will $\rightarrow$ Would | Can $\rightarrow$ Could | May $\rightarrow$ Might
B) Pronoun and Time/Place Shifts
• Pronouns shift according to the speaker and listener (1st person changes to match subject, 2nd to object).
• Now $\rightarrow$ then | Here $\rightarrow$ there | Today $\rightarrow$ that day | Yesterday $\rightarrow$ the previous day | Tomorrow $\rightarrow$ the next day.
🔄 3. Specific Sentence Conversions (Statements, Questions, Commands)
A) Statements (Declarative Sentences)
Rule: Use reporting verb told (if object is present) or said. Connect using conjunction 'that'.
Example: He said, "I like this painting." $\rightarrow$ He said that he liked that painting.
B) Questions (Interrogative Sentences)
• Change reporting verb to asked, inquired, or wanted to know.
• Yes/No Questions: Use conjunction 'if' or 'whether', and change sentence structure to statement form.
• Wh- Questions: Retain the Wh- word (who, what, where) as the connector instead of 'if'.
Examples:
He said to me, "Are you coming?" $\rightarrow$ He asked me if I was coming.
She said, "Where do you live?" $\rightarrow$ She asked me where I lived.
C) Commands and Requests (Imperative Sentences)
Rule: Change reporting verb to ordered, requested, advised, commanded or told. Connect the main verb using an infinitive 'to + V1' (or 'not to' for negative commands).
Examples:
The teacher said to the boy, "Sit down." $\rightarrow$ The teacher ordered the boy to sit down.
He said to me, "Please help me." $\rightarrow$ He requested me to help him.
📝 4. CBSE Class 10 Reported Speech Board Practice Drill
Test your mastery before appearing for the exam. Select the correct indirect speech option for each sentence below:
- Rahul said to his sister, "Open the window, please."
(A) Rahul requested his sister to open the window. (B) Rahul ordered his sister to open the window. - The doctor said to me, "Take this medicine twice a day."
(A) The doctor told me to take this medicine twice a day. (B) The doctor advised me to take that medicine twice a day. - Aarti said, "Where are you going for your summer vacation?"
(A) Aarti asked where I was going for my summer vacation. (B) Aarti asked where was I going for my summer vacation. - The teacher said to the students, "Do not make a noise in the corridor."
(A) The teacher told students to not make a noise. (B) The teacher forbade the students to make a noise. - Amit said, "I have completed my science project."
(A) Amit said that he has completed his science project. (B) Amit said that he had completed his science project.
👉 Click Here to View Complete Answer Key & Explanations
2. Option B ('this' changes to 'that', and reporting verb changes to 'advised' for medical direction)
3. Option A (In indirect questions, the word order changes back to subject-verb structure: 'I was going')
4. Option B ('Forbade' inherently carries a negative meaning, replacing 'told not to')
5. Option B (Simple past reporting verb shifts 'have completed' to past perfect 'had completed')
