Page 99 - Grammar Glow - 7

Remember

The third person of the reported speech doesn’t change.

Change in Expressions of Time and Place

The words which indicate time, place and position of something change in a reported speech.

l Sahil said, “I was in Delhi last week.” (direct speech)

l Sahil said that he had been in Delhi the previous week. (reported speech)
Direct Indirect Direct Indirect

now then thus so

this that today that day
these those tomorrow the next day

here there yesterday the previous day
ago before last night the previous night

If the reporting verb is in present or future tense, then we do not change the tenses. Other changes
are made as discussed before.

1. Anil says, “I work in this office.” (direct speech)
Anil says that he works in this office. (indirect speech)
2. My sister will say, “I am very busy.” (direct speech)
My sister will say that she is very busy. (indirect speech)

Test Yourself

I. Rewrite the given sentences into indirect speech.

1. He said, “I will see what to do.”
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2. She said, “I may watch a film this evening.”
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3. They said, “We must reach home by sunset.”
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4. Micky promised, “I shall call tomorrow.”
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5. He said, “I can lift that box.”
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6. Tom said, “I like to catch fish.”

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