SSC CHSL Topic Wise Study Material – English Language – Direct and Indirect Speech

SSC CHSL Topic Wise Study Material – English Language – Direct and Indirect Speech

SSC CHSL Study MaterialSSC CHSL Previous PapersSSC CHSL Practice Workbook

Introduction
In the questions based on Direct and Indirect Speech, a sentence is given in Direct/Indirect speech. Below the sentence, four alternatives are suggested. Out of these alternatives, you have to choose the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct Speech.

Brisk Tips

• Look at the tense of the reporting verb and follow the rules.
• Recognise the tense of the reported speech and change it accordingly.
• Look for the correct use of conjunction (that, whether, if etc).
• Keep in mind the situations when the tense of the reported speech should not change.
• Remember to change the pronouns and the words expressing nearness.

Direct Speech :
Direct speech is a sentence that reports speech or thought in its original form, as phrased by the original speaker. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks.
Indirect Speech :
It expresses the content of statements, questions or other utterances, without quoting the exact words of the speaker.

Read the following Sentences

1. Rama said, “ Harry is an idle boy.
2. Rama said that Harry was an idle boy.

These two sentences illustrate the two ways in which we may report the words of a speaker. In the first sentence, we give the exact words used by the speaker. This is called Direct Speech or Narration.
Note In the first sentence, said is called the Reporting Verb and Harry is an idle boy is called the Reported Speech.
In the second sentence, we do not give the exact words of the speaker but give only the substance of what he said. This is called Indirect Speech or Narration.

Direct Speech :

1. The exact words of the speaker are put within inverted commas
2. The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter.
3. A comma is placed after the reporting verb to separate it from the second part of the sentence.

Indirect Speech :

1. The reported words are not placed within inverted commas.
2. No comma is placed after said.
3. The reported speech is introduced by the conjunction that.
4. The tense of the verb in the reported speech is changed from the Present to the Past.

Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, all present tenses of the direct speech are changed into the corresponding past tenses.

Examples

1. Simple present becomes simple past.
   Direct He said, “I like this sweet.’’
   Indirect He said (that), he liked that sweet.
2. Present continuous becomes past continuous.
   Direct He said, “My elder brother is writing a letter.”
   Indirect He said (that), his elder brother was writing a letter.
3. Present perfect becomes past perfect.
   Direct Siddharth said, “I have passed the, examination.”
   Indirect Siddharth said (that), he had passed the examination.

Note : Shall of the future tense is changed into should. Will of the future tense is changed into would or should.

As a rule, the simple past in the direct becomes the past perfect in the indirect.
Direct He said, “It rained last night.”
Indirect He said (that), It had rained the previous night.

If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses of the direct speech do not change, e.g., we may rewrite the examples, putting the reporting verb in the present tense, thus

1. She says he is unwell.
2. Ajay.has just said his master is writing letters.
3. He says he has passed the examination.
4. He says the horse died in the night.

If the reported speech contains universal truth, proverb, mathematical fact, historical fact, habitual act the tense of the reported speech remains unchanged in the indirect speech.

The pronouns of the direct speech are changed, where necessary, so that their relations with the reporter and his hearer, rather than with the original speaker, are indicated.
Observe following examples
Direct My friend said to him, “ I don’t believe you.”
Indirect My friend said she didn’t believe him.

Words expressing nearness in time or place are generally changed into words expressing distance.

Direct Harish said, ” He is very excited to be here this evening.”
Indirect Harish said that he was very excited to be there that evening,

In reporting questions the indirect speech is introduced by some such verbs as asked, enquired etc.
When the question is not introduced by an interrogative word, the reporting verb is followed by whether or if.
Examples
Direct She said to me, “What are you writing?”
Indirect She asked me what I was writing.
Direct “Where do you live?” asked the boy
Indirect The boy enquired where I lived.

Commands and Requests
In reporting commands and requests, the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing command or request and the imperative mood is changed into the infinitive.
Examples
Direct Rohan skid to Neeraj, “Go away.”
Indirect Rohan ordered Neeraj to go away.
Direct The man said to him, “ Please wait here till I return.”
Indirect The man requested him to wait there till he returned.
Exclamations and Wishes

In reporting exclamations and wishes the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing exclamation or wish.
Examples
Direct The farmer said,” Alas! I am undone.”
Indirect The farmer exclaimed sadly, that he was undone.
Direct The teacher said, “Bravo ! You have done well.”
Indirect The teacher applauded him, saying that he had done well.

Reference Corner

1. In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct speech.
“How often do you go to the gym?” said Deepak to Juned. ssc (10 + 2) 2017
(a) Deepak asked Juned that how often he goes to the gym
(b) Deepak asked Juned that how often he has been going to the gym
(c) Deepak asked Juned how often he went to the gym
(d) Deepak asked Juned that how often he went to the gym
Answer. (c) Deepak asked Juned how often he went to the gym
While changing into indirect speech ‘how’ will be used as conjunction and the tense of the reported . speech will be changed to past indefinite.

Directions (Q. Nos. 2 and 3) A sentence has been given in Direct I Indirect. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect /Direct. SSC (10 + 2) 2015

2. The peon said to his officer, “Please forgive me”.
(a) The peon requested his officer that he forgive him
(b) The peon requested his officer to forgive him
(c) The peon said to his officer that he should forgive him
(d) The peon told his officer please forgive him
Answer. (b) Reporting verb will be changed to ‘requested’ and ’to’ will be used as conjunction word.

3. My brother told me that he would buy me a notepad the next day.
(a) My brother said to me, “I will be bu5ing you a notepad tomorrow”
(b) My brother said to me, “I would buy you a notepad tomorrow” .
(c) My brother said to me, “I shall buy you a notepad tomorrow”
(d) My brother, “I am going to buy you a notepad tomorrow”
Answer. (c) I shall buy you a notepad tomorrow’ will be the proper reported speech in Direct speech.

Directions (Q. Nos. 4-8) In questions a sentence has been given in Direct/ Indirect. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect / Direct. SSC (10 + 2)2013

4. Ashmita advised me to go and see a doctor.
(a) Ashmita asked me, “Will you go and see a doctor?”
(b) Ashmita told me, “Go and see the doctor”
(c) “Shouldn’t you go and see a doctor?” asked Ashmita
(d) “You should go and see a doctor,” said Ashmita
Answer. (b)

5. Suresh asked Prasad whether he had watched the cricket match on television the previous night?
(a) Suresh asked Prasad, “Have you watched the cricket match on television last night?”
(b) Suresh said to Prasad, “Did you watch the cricket match on television last night?”
(c) Suresh said to Prasad, “Did you watched the cricket match on television last night?”
(d) Suresh asked Prasad, “Did you watch the cricket match on television previous night?”
Answer. (b)

6. Father said to me, “You are idling away your time.”
(a) Father told me that I am idling away my time
(b) Father told me that you are idling away your time
(c) Father told me that you were idling away your time
(d) Father told me that I was idling away my time
Answer. (d)

7. The captain said to his men, “Fall into line.”
(a) The captain warned his men to fall into line
(b) The captain told his men that they should fall into line
(c) The captain said to his men that they can fall into line
(d) The captain commanded his men to fall into line
Answer. (d)

8. The priest said, “May God pardon this sinner.”
(a) The priest prayed if God will pardon that sinner
(b) The priest said that God might pardon the sinner
(c) The priest prayed that God would pardon this sinner
(d) The priest prayed that God might pardon that sinner
Answer. (d)

Practice Exercise

Directions (Q.Nos. 1-28) In questions below, a sentence has been given in Direct / Indirect Speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect / Direct Speech.

1. Doshi said to his wife, “Please select one of these necklaces.”
(a) Doshi requested his wife to select one of those necklaces
(b) Doshi said to his wife to please select one of these necklaces
(c) Doshi told his wife to please select One of those necklaces
(d) Doshi pleased his wife to select one of those necklaces

2. “Where will you be tomorrow, “I said, “in case I have to ring you?”
(a) I asked where you will be the next day in case I will ring him
(b) I asked where he would be the next day in case I had to ring him
(c) I said to him where he will be in case I have to ring him
(d) I required about his where abouts the next day in case I would have to ring up

3. Seeta said to me, “Can you give me your pen?”
(a) Seeta asked me can I give her my pen
(b) Seeta asked me if I can give me your pen
(c) Seeta asked me if I could give her my pen
(d) Seeta asked me if I gave her my pen

4. The father warned his son that he should be beware of him.
(a) The father warned his son, “Baware of him”
(b) The father warned his son, “Watch that chap”
(c) The father warned his son, “Be careful about him.”
(d) The father warned his son, “Don’t fall into the trap.”

5. Manna asked Rohan, “Have you’sat in a trolley bus before?”
(a) Manna asked Rohan whether he had sat in a trolley bus earlier
(b) Manna asked Rohan had he sat in a trolley bus before
(c) Manna asked Rohan if he sat on a trolley bus before
(d) Manna asked Rohan if he has ever sat in a trolley bus

6. Farhan asked Geeta, “Could you lend me a hundred rupees until tomorrow?”
(a) Farhan asked Geeta whether she could lend him a hundred rupees until tomorrow
(a) Farhan asked Geeta whether she could lend him a hundred xupees until the next day
(c) Farhan asked Geeta whether she could lend me a hundred mpees until the next day
(d) Farhan asked whether Geeta could lend me a hundred rupees until the next day

7. I said to my brother, “Let us go to some hill station for a ch ange.”
(a) I suggested to my brother that they should go to some hill station for a change
(b) I suggested to my brother that we should go to some hill station for a change
(c) I suggested to my brother that let us go to some hill station for a change
(d) I suggested to my brother that let them go to some hill station for a change

8. I wondered how many discoveries went unheeded.
(a) I said, “How many discoveries have gone unheeded !”
(b) I said, “How m;my discoveries went unheeded !”
(c) I said, “Do discoveries go unheeded !”
(d) I said, “How many discoveries go unheeded!”

9. Gopan said to me, “Can you do these sums for me?”
(a) Gopan asked me if I could do those sums for him
(b) Gopan asked me if I can do those sums for him
(c) Gopan asked me if f can do these sums for him
(d) Gopan asked if I could do these sums for him

10. The boss said, “It’s time we began planning our work”.
(a) The boss said that it was tine they had begun planning their work
(b) The boss said that it was time we had begun planning our work .
(c) The boss said hat it was rime they began planning their work .
(d) The boss said that it was time we began planning his work

11. The Captain said to his men. “Stand at ease.”
(a) The Captain u’ged his men to stand at ease
(b) The Captain wanted his men to stand at ease
(c) The Captain told his men that they should stand at ease
(d) The Captain commanded his men to stand at ease

12. Pawan said to me, “If hear any news, I’ll phone you.”
(a) Pawan told me hat if he heard any news, he will phone me
(b) Pawan told me that if he will hear any news, he will phone me
(c) Pawan told me if he had heard any news, he would phone me
(d) Pawan told ne that if he heard any news, he would phone me

13. The teacher said to Maliesh, “Congratulations ! Wish you success in life.”
(a) The teacher congratulated Mahesh and’ said wish you success in life
(b) The teacher wished congratulations and success in life to Mahesh
(c) The teacher sari congratulations to Mahesh and wished him success in life
(d) The teacher congratulated Mahesh and wished him success in life

14. The poor examinee said, “O God, take pity on me.”
(a) The poor examinee prayed God to take pity on him
(b) The poor examinee, invokng God, implored him to take pity on him
(c) The poor examinee exclaimed that God take pity on him
(d) The poor examine asked God to take pity on’him

15. “I have seer the film before” Suneetha says.
(a) Suneetha said Uiat she had seen the film before
(b) Suneetha savs dial she has been the film before
(c) Suneetha said, that the film was seen by her before
(d) Suneetha said that saw the film earlier .

16. He ordered his servant to do as he was told.
(a) fie ordered Iris servent, “Do as you are told”
(b) He said to his servant, “Do as you are told”
(c) He said to his servant, “Do as I told you”
(d) He said to his servant, “Do as you were told”

17. She said to the girl, “Did you do this?”
(a) She asked the girl that she did that
(b) She asked the girl if she did that
(c) She asked the girl if she had done that
(d) She told the girl that she had done that

18. He said to Manoj, “May you prosper.”
(a) He wished that Manoj should prosper
(b) He wished that Manoj may prosper
(c) He wished that Manoj might prosper
(d) He wished Manoj prosper .

19. The mother said, “What can I do for you, my son?”
(a) The mother said to her son what she could do for him
(b) The mother asked her son what she did for him
(c) The mother asked her son what she could to for him
(d) The mother asked what she could do for him, my son

20. My Daddy always says, “Getting up early in the morning is a good habit.”
(a) My Daddy’ always says that to get up early in the morning is a good habit
(b) My Daddy always says that getting up early in the morning is a good habit
(c) My Daddy always advises that gettingaip early in the morning was a good habit
(d) My Daddy always warns that to get up early in the morning was a good habit

21. ‘Be quiet” I said to them.
(a) I told them to be quiet
(b) I asked them to remain quiet
(c) I told to them for being quiet
(d) I ordered them to remain quiet –

22. The mother says to the child, “The Sun rises in the East.”
(a) The mother tells the child that the Sun rose in the East
(b) The mother says the child that the Sun rises in the East
(c) The mother tells the child that the Sun rises in the East
(d) The mother informs the child that the Sun rose in the East

23. I warned her that I could no longer tolerate her coming late.
(a) I said to her, “You can no longer tolerate my coming late”
(b) I said to her, “I can no longer tolerate your coming late”
(c) I said to her, “He can no longer tolerate her coming late”
(d) I said to her, “I can no longer tolerate she coming late”

24. I said to my mother, “I will certainly take you to Bangaluru this week.”
(a) I told my mother he would certainly take her to Bangaluru that week
(b) I told my mother that I would certainly take her to Bangaluru that week
(c) I told my mother that she would certainly take her to Bangaluru that week
(d) I told to my mother that I would take you to Bangaluru that week

25. “How long does the journey take” my co-passenger asked me.
(a) My co-passenger asked me how long does the journey take?
(b) I asked my co-passenger how long the journey would take
(c) My co-passenger wanted to know how long the journey would take
(d) My co-passenger asked me how long the journey did take

26. The Prime Minister said that no one would be allowed lo disturb the peace.
(a) The Prime Minister said, “We shall not allow any one to disturb the peace”
(b) The Prime Minister said, “We would not allow no one to disturb the peace”
(c) The Prime Minister said, “No one will be allowed to disturb the peace”
(d) The Prime Minister said, “No one can disturb the peace”

27. The spectators said, “Bravo ! Well done, players.”
(a) The spectators shouted that the players were doing very well
(b) The spectators exclaimed with joy that the players were doing very well
(c) The spectators applauded the players saying that they had done well
(d) The spectators applauded the players joyfully to do well,

28. I said to my friend, “Good Morning. Let us go for a picnic today.”
(a) I told good morning lo my friend and asked to go for a picnic that day
(b) I wished my friend good morning and proposed that we should go for a picnic that day
(c) I wished my friend good morning and proposed that they should go for a picnic that day
(d) I told good morning to my friend and suggested to go for a picnic today