Narration

He says, "I am a student".

Reporting verb Reported speech

R1. Rules of changing tense.

Direct speech indirect speech

Present indefinite tense > Past indefinite tense

Present continuous tense > Past continuous tense

Present perfect tense > Past perfect tense

Present perfect continuous > Past perfect continuous

Past indefinite tense > Past perfect tense

Past continuous tense > Past perfect continuous

R2.Rules of changing person.

Ø First person changes according to subject of the reporting verb.

Ø Second person changes according to the object of the reporting verb.

Ø Third person is always unchangeable.

Example-

1st person:

Direct: He said to me, ‘I have done my duty'.

Indirect: He said to me that he had done his duty.

2nd person:

Direct: He said to me, ‘you are fine''.

Indirect: He told me that I was fine.

3rd person:

Direct: I said to you, ‘She is a lover girl''.

Indirect: I said to you that she was a lover girl.

R3.Changing some important words.

Direct Indirect Direct Indirect

This That today that day

These Those Tomorrow the next

Here There

Ago before Yesterday the previous day

Come Go

Thus So

Hither Thither Last Next

Hence Thence Next Following

Now Then

R4. Using connector:

*Assertive, Optative, Exclamatory sentence = that

*Interrogative sentence = If/Whether/WH word

*Imperative sentence = to

R5. Changing of reporting verb.

*Assertive sentence= Say/Tell

*Interrogative sentence= Ask/Enquire of

*Imperative sentence= Order, Advise, Request, Command

Note: If Reported speech starts with ''Let us'' then the verb will be ''Propose/Suggest.

*Optative sentence= Pray/Wish.

*Exclamatory sentence= Exclaim with joy/Exclaim with sorrow/Exclaim with surprise/Wish (Good morning)/Bid (See off).

R6. Rules of changing modal auxiliary verb.

Direct Indirect

Shall Should

Will Would

Can Could

May Might

Try practicing

Assertive sentence

Direct: Akash said, ‘I am reading a book''.

Indirect; Akash said that he was reading a book.

Direct: Meghla said to Sohel,''I love you''.

Indirect; Meghla told Sohel that she loved him.

Interrogative Sentence

Direct: Robi said to Romel,''Do you like to read poetry?

Indirect: Robi asked Romel if he liked to read poetry.

Direct: A man said to his father, ‘What are you doing?

Indirect: A man asked his father what he was doing.

Imperative Sentence

Direct: Abir said to me, ‘Please give me some money''.

Indirect: Abir requested me to give him some money.

Direct: The teacher said to the student, ‘Always speak the truth''.

Indirect: The teacher advised the student to speak the truth.

If the sentence be negative;

Direct: He said to me, ‘don’t do this''.

Indirect: He ordered me not to do this.

Direct: Jamal said to me, ‘Let us go out for a walk.''

Indirect: Jamal proposed me that we should go out for a walk.

Optative Sentence

Direct: John said to me, ‘May God bless you.''

Indirect: John prayed that God might bless me.

Direct: Father said to me, ‘May you prosper in life.''

Indirect: Father wished me that I might prosper in life.

Exclamatory Sentence

Direct: He said, ‘alas! I am undone.''

Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he was undone.

Direct: They said, ‘hurrah! We have won the game.''

Indirect: They exclaimed with joy that they had won the game.