When we change a sentence from direct speech to indirect speech, there is usually a change of tense and pronouns.

For example, the simple present tense changes to the simple past tense. Likewise, the present continuous tense changes to the past continuous tense. The present perfect tense changes to the past perfect. The simple past also changes to the past perfect. The past perfect in the direct speech does not undergo any change in the indirect speech.

Modal auxiliary verbs also change. Will becomes would, can becomes could, may becomes might, shall becomes should.

Study the examples given below.

• ‘I have watched this movie,’ the girl said. (Reported speech)
• The girl said that she had watched that movie. (Indirect speech)
• ‘I want this car,’ the little boy said.
• The little boy said that he wanted that car.

Worksheet

Sentences are given in the direct speech. Change them into the indirect / reported speech. This reported speech worksheet is helpful for students preparing for their class 10 English exam conducted by TN Board.

1. ‘What do you want?’ he said.

2. ‘I will be working late tonight,’ he said.

3. ‘You should consult a doctor,’ she said.

4. ‘Why are you crying?’ he said to me.

5. ‘Do you know Shyam?’ he said to me.

6. ‘I will wait until you return,’ he said to me.

7. The traffic cop said, ‘You cannot park here.’

8. ‘She will come if you invite her,’ mother said to me.

9. ‘I am quitting my job,’ she said.

10. ‘Can you lend me some money?’ Rahul said to me.

11. ‘I have applied for that job,’ she said.

12. ‘I appreciate your honesty,’ the teacher said to the boy.

13. ‘Are there any good restaurants here?’ the traveler asked the passerby.

14. ‘Help me please,’ the injured man cried.

15. ‘Listen carefully,’ said the teacher to the students.

16. ‘How careless you are!’ my mother said.

17. ‘How can we solve this problem?’ they asked.

18. ‘The patient needs urgent blood transfusion,’ said the doctor.

19. ‘You will lose your job if you miss another deadline,’ my boss said to me.

20. ‘I am not going to wash your clothes,’ she said.

Answers

1. He asked what I wanted.

2. He said that he would be working late that night.

3. She said / suggested that I should consult a doctor.

4. He asked me why I was crying.

5. He asked me if / whether I knew / know Shyam.

6. He told me that he would wait until I returned.

7. The traffic cop said that I could not park there.

8. Mother told me that Rashmi would come if I invited her.

9. She said that she was quitting her job.

10. Rahul asked me if / whether I could lend him some money.

11. She said that she had applied for that job.

12. The teacher told the boy that he appreciates / appreciated his honesty.

13. The traveler asked the passerby if / whether there were any good restaurants there.

14. The injured man cried for help.

15. The teacher told the students to listen carefully.

16. My mother exclaimed that I was very careless.

17. They wondered how they could solve that problem.

18. The doctor said that the patient needed urgent blood transfusion.

19. My boss warned me that I would lose my job if I missed another deadline.

20. She said that she was not going to wash my clothes.