Reported Speech

We may report the words of a speaker in two ways.

• We may quote his actual words. It is Direct speech. 
• We may report what he has actually said without quoting his exact words. It is Indirect or Reported Speech.

E.g. He said, "I am unwell."
Ans. He said that he was unwell.

In Direct speech we use the inverted commas to mark off the exact words of the speaker. While changing from Direct speech to Indirect speech, the following changes must be made. 

• After removing the inverted commas, we have to use the conjunction 'that' before we start with the indirect statement. 
• The first and the second person pronouns i.e. I, we, you - are changed to the third persons pronouns either he, she or they. 
• Simple present tense becomes simple past tense.
• Simple past tense becomes past perfect tense.
• Tense of universal truth and habitual actions remain the same. 

1. He said, "good evening, I've come to see if you have a room for just one night."
Ans. He wished her a good evening and added that he had come to see if she had a room for just one night.

2. "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment?" he asked.
Ans. He inquired humbly if he could come back and stay the next time he had to have a treatment.

3. "I ran out of pails," she explained.
Ans. She explained that she had run out of pails.

4. Mom said, "I'm tired, and its getting late. Think I'll go to bed."
Ans. Mom explained that she was tired and it was getting late, hence she would go to bed.

5. "I'm on my way," she said.
Ans. She said that she was on her way.

6. Kantabai said, "We realised that if we all bought cattle we would have grazing problems."
Ans. Kantabai said that they realized that if they all bought cattle, they would have grazing problems.

7. Smith: Good Morning, Mr. Jones. It is a long time since I saw you in town.
Jones: Good Morning, Mr. Smith. I only came up for business for few hours.
Ans. Smith wished Jones a good morning and added that it had been a long time since He had seen him in town. Jones greeted Smith in return and explained that he had come to town for business for just a few hours.

8. Kavita: Hello! May I speak to Mayank?
Avinash: Hello Kavita, mayank will come late today!
Ans. Kavita greeted Avinash over the telephone and requested to speak to Mayank. Avinash reciprocated (responded) the greeting and stated that Mayank would come late that day.

9. "I've got a big spot on my chin," said Keryn.
"Don't keep fingering it," said mother.
Ans. Keryn said that she had got a big spot on her chin. Mother advised her not to keep fingering it.

10. I haven't seen you for ages," said my uncle. "You have been travelling a great deal lately?" "Yes, uncle. I have just come back from Cochin."
Ans. My uncle said that he hadn't seen me for ages. he asked whether I had been travelling a great deal lately. I confirmed that I had just come back from Cochin.

11. Rajiv: Excuse me; I need some information regarding trains for Hyderabad.
Clerk: Certainly. You see there are two direct trains to Hyderabad everyday.
Ans. Rajiv requested for some information regarding trains for Hyderabad to he clerk for which he replied saying there were two direct trains to Hyderabad everyday.

12. Kiran: Good morning, teacher. My sister will not be able to attend school tomorrow.
Teacher : Where is she going?
Ans. Kiran wished teacher a good morning and added that his sister would not be able to attend school the next day. the teacher asked where she was going.

13. Master: "Well, Shailesh, I hear you are taking part in the speaking competition."
Pupil: "Yes; and I came to ask you to give me some hits on the art of public speaking."
Ans. The Master told Shailesh that he heard that he was taking part in the speaking competition. Shailesh confirmed that and added that he had come to ask him to give him some hints on the art of public speaking.