NARRATION -----ASSORTED SENTENCES --CHANGE FROM DIRECT TO INDIRECT SPEECH - EXERCISES

NARRATION -----Change  of Different types of sentences from Direct speech into Indirect speech   -----Assertive Sentences                             

There are two different ways of expressing things. First a  statement given by the speaker himself and the second the same statement conveyed by another person to someone. The former is direct form of speech whereas the latter is indirect form of speech.While making  changes from the former to the latter and vice versa there are certain rules to be observed.

Direct speech consists of two parts:-

1. Reporting speech 2. Reported speech



These two parts are separated from each other by a comma (,) and inverted commas (“  ”). 

The part outside the inverted commas forms reporting speech (i.e. who is reporting and to whom) and that enclosed within the inverted commas is reported speech (i.e. the matter that is being reported).  

The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter. 


In Indirect Speech


- inverted commas are not used, but generally reporting speech and reported speech are joined together by the conjunction like ‘that’, ‘if’ or ‘whether’ etc. 

-the comma between reporting speech and reported speech is removed.

- The signs of question mark and exclamation are not used. Instead full stop sign is used.

- The tense of reporting speech is not changed.

-The forms of interrogative, imperative, exclamatory and optative sentences are changed to assertive sentence.

- The tense of reported speech is changed according to the tense of reporting speech.

--First Person in the reported speech changes according to Subject & Second person according to object  in the reporting speech. For third person there is no change.

EXERCISES   FOR PRACTICE

TEST EXERCISE

Change Narration of the following sentences.

1. The teacher told the student that where he could get that information was not certain to him.

2. The mother told the daughter that if she got late in the evening she should stay there for the night. 

3. My friend says that whether ladies are more active than men on social media these days is a matter of debate.

4. She asked her friend why she had not gone to see her brother the previous day.

5. The old lady prayed to her son that God might bless him with great success in  life.

(ANSWERS)

1. The teacher said to the student," Where you can get this information is not certain to me".

2. The mother said to the daughter, "If you get late in the evening you should stay there for the night". 

3. My friend says," Whether ladies are more active than men on social media these days is a matter of debate."

4. She said to her friend," Why have you not gone to see your brother  yesterday?"

5. The old lady said ," My son!  May God bless you with great success in  life!"

Change Narration of the following paragraph.

A rabbit came running to a lion and said," Sir! I have a news for you but it is not good one."

The lion said to him, " What news have you with you and what of it is bad for me?"

The rabbit  replied to him,"There is another lion in this forest. He claims himself to be the king of the forest."

The lion roared," What are you saying,  little creature? Are you in your senses?"

The rabbit replied in mild voice," Sir, he met me while I was coming to you. Please come with me. I shall escort you to that lion."        

TYPE I

 ONE

Change the Narration - Select the correct option.

1. She said," You are  going to the office,  aren't you?"

a. She told that you were not going to the office.
b. She confirmed whether you were going to the office.
c. She confirmed that you were not going to the office.

2. " How clever of you to have solved the sum so easily," said the mother.

a. The mother expressed surprise that it was so clever of him to have solved the sum very easily.

b. The mother told that he was very clever in having solved the sum so easily.

c. The mother exclaimed admiringly that it was very clever of him to have solved the sum so easily.

3. "When I was young I was a hockey player ," said he to her.

a. He told her that when he was young he had been a hockey player.

b. He told her that when he was young he was a hockey player.

c. He told her that when he had been young he had been a hockey player.

4. The old man said, " My son, what would you like to become when you grow up?"

a. The old man said  what his son would like to become when he grew up.

b. The old man asked his son what he would like to become when he grew up.

c. The old man asked his son what he wanted to become when he grew up.

5. The visitor said to the landlord, " With whom were you talking when I entered the room?"

a. The visitor asked the landlord with whom  you had been talking when he entered the room.

b. The visitor asked the landlord with whom he had been talking when he entered the room.

c. The visitor asked the landlord with whom he had been talking when he had entered the room.

(ANSWERS)

1.b 2.b 3.b 4.b 5.b

TYPE II

 ONE

(Assertive Sentences)

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech.

1. The shopkeeper said to the customer, "If you purchase goods worth rupees one thousand or more I shall allow you discount on the amount of purchases you make."

 The shopkeeper  told the customer that If he purchased goods worth

 rupees one thousand or more he would allow him discount on the 

amount of purchases he made.

(Note Generally 'if and that' are not used together while removing inverted commas but in this sentence 'that' is connective for assertive sentence and 'if' denotes condition in original sentence itself)

2. She said to him, “ How you manage your affairs is worth appreciating.”

She told him that how he managed his affairs was worth appreciating.

3. The girl said to her mother,” Where she disappeared after her performance on the stage is a mystery.”

The girl told her mother that where she had disappeared after her performance on the stage was a mystery.

4. The captain said to the players, "Why we could not win the match is a matter of concern for me."

The captain  told the players that why they could not win the match was a matter of concern for him.

5. The guest said to the host," What pleases me is the way you treat us during our visit.”

The guest told the host that what pleased him was the way he treated them during their visit.

(2 to 5 Note Generally in sentences starting with words 'What, why, where, why etc. no word is used while removing inverted commas, but that is the case when the sentence is in interrogative form. These sentences are not interrogative but are assertive sentences. In assertive sentences that is used while removing inverted commas.) 

TWO

1. His brother said to me, “I assure you that I shall complete this project within one month. You can have faith on me."

His brother assured me that he would complete that project within one month and told me to have faith on him.

2. She said to her friend,  "I appreciate the way you handled such a delicate issue in the meeting yesterday."  

She expressed her appreciation  to her friend for  the way she handled such a delicate issue in the meeting the previous day."

3. The inspector said to the people, “ I fear the culprit has fled out of the city but I assure you that my team will catch him soon." 

The inspector expressed his fear to the people that the culprit had fled out of the city but he assured them that his team would catch him soon.

4. The receptionist said to the visitor," The boss is still busy, you will have to wait for sometime for his call." 

The receptionist told the visitor that the boss was still busy and he  you would have to wait for sometime for his call. 

5. She said to her friends, "We must hurry as we are getting late for our meals."

She told her friends that they must hurry as they were getting late for their meals.

TYPE III

EXERCISES 

(Interrogative Sentences)

ONE

1. John said to his sister, “Is it not a surprise to see your friend here today?”

John asked his  sister if it was not a surprise to see her friend there that day.

2. The doctor said to  his patient, “Are you taking medicine prescribed to you regularly?”

The doctor asked his patient if he was taking medicine prescribed to him regularly.

3. She said to me,” Do you know how to swim? Will you accompany me to the pool?"

She asked me if I knew how to swim and if I would accompany her to the pool.

4.he captain said to the players, “Will you put your heart and soul in playing the game so that we may win the match?”

 The captain asked the players if they would put their heart and soul in playing the game so that they might win the match.

5. The stranger said to the lady,” Have you ever been to my village? ”

The stranger asked the lady if she had ever been to his village.

TYPE IV

EXERCISE 

(Interrogative Sentences)

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech

ONE

1. The old man said to the child, “Why did you break this window pane?”
    The old man asked the child why he had broken that window pane.

2. The teacher said , “Boys, what are you doing here? Why  do you not go to your class rooms?”

     
    The teacher  asked the boys what they were doing there and why they did not go to their class rooms.

3. Her brother said to her, “What present should I bring for you when I return?”

  
    Her brother asked her what present he should bring for her when he returned.

4. The rich man said to the beggar, “Why do you not do any work?      Do you not feel ashamed in begging alms from others?”

    The rich man asked the beggar why he did not do any work and if he did not feel ashamed in begging alms from others.

5. Boys said to the teacher,“When do you intend to start the class   today ?”

   
   Boys asked  the teacher when he intended to start 
   the class that day.

EXERCISE

MIXED INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

ONE

1. The traveler said to the cab man, “How long will you take to               reach the destination?  Can't you drive the cab a little faster?”

    
    The traveler asked the cab man how long he would take to 
    reach the destination and if he could not drive the cab a little              faster.

2. The customer said to the  shopkeeper, “What is the price of this          article? Can you  give me two of these articles?”

   The customer asked the shopkeeper what the price of that article       was and if he could give  him two of those articles.

3.The old lady  said, “Can you tell me where does this road lead           to? Will you guide my way to the railway station, young man?”

   The old lady asked the young man if he could tell her where that         road led to and if he would guide her way to the railway station.

4.The priest said, “Where does this young lady come from? Can           you tell me this, gentleman?

   The priest asked the gentleman where that young lady came from
 and if he could tell him that.

5. Shylock  said “ How can you call me a cheat ? Will you not pay          me my dues according to the deed, Portia ?”
  

   Shylock asked Portia how she could call him a cheat and if she           would not pay him his dues according to the deed.

TWO

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech

1. The boss said to his secretary, "When is the meeting going to start today? Have all the participants reached the venue? "

 The boss asked his secretary when the meeting was going to start that day and if  all the participants had reached the venue.

2. She said to her friends, "Why are you so late today? Do you not know my mother has been waiting for you for two hours?"

She asked her friends why they were so late that day and if they did not know her mother had been waiting for them for two hours.

3. His friend said to him, " Would you like to have dinner with us tonight?"

His friend asked him if he would like to have dinner with them that night.

4. His wife said to him, “When do you intend to go on your trip and who is accompanying you?”

 His wife asked him when he intended to go on his trip and who was accompanying him.

5. The lady said to her daughter, “ Will you carry this bag for me when I go to market for shopping?"

 The lady asked her daughter if she would carry  that bag for her when she went to market for shopping.

TYPE V

EXERCISE 

( Exclamatory Sentences)    

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech

1. The woman said, “What a beautiful child this is!
    The woman exclaimed that that child was very beautiful.

2. His aunt said, “What a pleasant surprise to see you here!”

    His aunt exclaimed that it was a pleasant surprise to 
    see him there.

3. Hamlet said, “How unlucky I am that I cannot find out any                solution!”

    Hamlet exclaimed that he was very unlucky that he could 
    not find out any solution.

4. The captain said, “Bravo ! well done,boys!”

    The captain applauded the boys saying that they had done well.

5. The leader said, “Alas! We have lost the game.”

    The leader exclaimed with sorrow that they had lost the game.

TWO

1. Boys said,” Hurrah! We have won the match!”

    Boys exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.

2. She said,” What a beautiful weather it is!”

    She exclaimed that it was a very beautiful weather.

3. Father said,”What a lazy fellow she is!”

    Father exclaimed that she was a very lazy fellow.  

4. The cobbler said,” How stupid I am!”

    The cobbler exclaimed that he was very stupid.

5. The girl said, ”What a stupid fellow I am!”

    The girl exclaimed that she was  a stupid fellow.    

THREE

1. The captain said, "Good morning,Friends!" 

    The captain bade his friends good morning.

        

2.  The leader said,"Farewell, my countrymen!"  

     The leader bade his countrymen farewell.

3. The boy said, "If I were a king!"
    The boy wished that he had been  a king.

4. The old lady said, "May you live long, my son!"
    The old lady prayed that her son might live long.

5.  They said," May you live a long and prosperous life!"
     They prayed that you might live a long and prosperous life.





TYPE VI


EXERCISE

(Imperative Sentences)

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech

ONE

1. The land lord said to his servant,"Go away and leave the room at        once."
    The land lord ordered his servant to go away and leave the room        at once.

2. She said to her maid servant,"Bring me a glass of water."
    She ordered her maid servant to bring her a glass of water.

3. The priest said to the boys,"Do not while away your time."
    The priest advised the boys not to while away their time.

4. Mother said to her son."Work hard lest you should fail."
    Mother advised her son to work hard lest he should fail.

5. The doctor said to the patient,"Do not smoke."
    The doctor advised the patient not to smoke.


TWO

1. The clerk said to the man,"Do not disturb me.Mind 
     your own business."
    The clerk forbade the man to disturb him and 
     advised him to mind his own business.

2.  The officer said to the peon."Let the visitor come  in." 

     The officer told the peon to let the visitor come in.        OR
     The officer told the peon that the visitor might be allowed to                come  in.

3.   The father said to his son,"Let us go out for a walk."
      The father suggested to his son that they should go out 
      for a walk.

4.   The girl said to her friend," Please show me your purse. "
      The girl requested her friend to show her her purse.

5.   The man said to me," Let us wait for our turn."    
      The man proposed to me that we should wait for our turn. 

TYPE VII

      
EXERCISE 

(Assorted Sentences)

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech


1. "Why didn't you obey my orders?" said the officer to the peon."Leave my service at once and do not come here again."

The Officer asked the peon why he had not obeyed his orders. He ordered him to leave his service at once and forbade him to come there again. 


2. She said to her friend," How pleasant weather it is! I like going out for a walk very much.Let us go out for a long drive. Please take your sister too along with and we all shall enjoy ourselves there very much." 

She exclaimed that it was  a very pleasant weather and told her friend that she liked going out for a walk very much. She proposed to her friend that they should go out for a long drive.She further requested her friend to take her sister too along with and told that they all would enjoy themselves there very much.


3.The host said to the guest," Please come in and have a seat. What brings you here? What can I do for you? Will you like to have a cup of coffee? "  

The host requested the guest to come in and have a seat. He asked him what brought him there and what he could do for him. He further asked him if he would like to have a cup of coffee. 


4.The girl said to her father," Why are you in such a pensive mood today? Please let me know its reason. It will be my pleasure if I can do anything for you. Have you not gone to your office today?
The father said to her daughter," No,I am fine. I have not gone to my office  because I want to see you. Are you free today?" 


The girl asked her father why he was in such a pensive mood that day. She requested him to let her know its reason and told him that it would be her pleasure if she could do anything for him. She asked him if he had not gone to his office that day. 
The father replied in negative and told her that he was fine and he had not gone to his office because he  wanted to see her. He asked her if she was free that day.


5.The officer said to the employee,"Why are you late today? Do you not know that I do not allow any body to come in the office late? What is the reason of your late arrival? I allow you to attend the office today as an exceptional case. Do not repeat this instance in future." The employee said,"I am late today because my son fell ill suddenly and I had to take him to the doctor. I am sorry for this and I assure you that I shall not repeat it in future."


The officer asked the employee why he was late that day and if he did not know that he did not allow any body to come in the office late. He asked him what the reason of his late arrival was. He informed him that he allowed him to attend the office that day as an exceptional case and advised him not to repeat that instance in future. The employee replied that he was late that day because hisson had fallen ill suddenly and he had to take him to the doctorand he was sorry for that and he assured him that he would notrepeat that in future.