Class Notes

Class: Topic: W.sheet on narration and ïf conditionals

VIII
Subject:
ENGLISH

Rules For changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.

Rule 1:
The adverbs of nearness should be put into those of distance.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Now Then

Here There

Hereafter Thereafter

This That

these Those

ago Before

Thus So

Today That day

Tonight That night

last night The previous night

Yesterday The day before /the previous day

Tomorrow The next day / the following day

last week The week before / the previous week

next week The week after / the following week

last month The month before / the previous month

next month A month after

hither Thither

Hence Thence

Rule 2: Tenses
1. If the reporting verb is in the Present or Future Tense (e.g., say, will say) there is no change in
the tense of the verb in the Indirect speech.

Aksa says, “I eat a mango”. (D.S.)

Aksa says, that she eats a mango. (I.S.)

2. If Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense, all Present Tenses of the Direct Speech are changed to
the coresponding Past Tenses. Thus:
Examples:
1. Simple Present Tense in the Direct Speech becomes Simple Past Tense.
Jahnvii said, “I write a letter”. (D.S)
Jahnvii said that she wrote a letter. (I.S)

2. Past Tense in the direct becomes Past Perfect or remains unchanged.

Angel said, “I brought a pen yesterday”. (D.S)
Angel said that she had bought a pen the day before. (I.S)

3. Present Continuous in the direct becomes Past Continuous.

Jeeya said, “I am going to church”. (D.S)
Jeeya said that she was going to church. (I.S)

4. Present Perfect in the direct becomes Past Perfect.

Kamal said, “I have done my home work”. (D.S)
Kamal said that he had done his home work. (I.S)

5. Present Perfect Continuous in the direct becomes Past Perfect Continuous.

He said, “I have been reading a novel”. (D.S)
He said that he had been reading a novel. (I.S)

Exception:
If the direct speech contains the Universal Truth, the tense of the direct speech remains
unchanged even if the reporting verb is in the past.

The teacher said, “The Sun rises in the East”. (D.S)

The teacher said that the Sun rises in the East. (I.S)

Rule 3: Pronoun
1. We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence.
Examples:
1. “We are the best students,” he said.
He said they were the best students.

2. “They called us,” he said.

He said they had called them.

3. “I like your jeans,” she said.

She said she liked my jeans.

4. “I can lend you my car,” he said.

He said he could lend me his car.

2. Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is
confusing.
Examples:
“He killed them,” Kevin said.
Kevin said that the man had killed them.

3. This and These are usually changed to that and those respectively, unless the thing pointed out
is near at hand at the time of reporting.
Examples:
1. “They will finish it this year,” he said.
He said they would finish it that year.

2. “I brought you this book,” she said.

She said she had brought me that book.

3. “We want these flowers,” they said.

They said they wanted those flowers.

Imperative Sentence (Order or Request)

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.
1. “Don’t talk in the class” said the teacher to the boys. (D.S.)
The teacher advised the boys not to talk in the class. (I.S.)

2. “Please give me something to eat. I am hungry” the old man said to them. (D.S.)
The old man requested them to give him something to eat and said that he was hungry (I.S.)

3. “Be careful” said he to her. (D.S.)

He ordered her to be careful. (I.S.)

A. Rules for Exclamatory Sentences

Sentence which expresses strong feeling of joy or sorrow or wonder is called exclamatory
sentence.
For example.
 Hurrah! We won the match.
 Alas! I failed the test.
 Wow! What a nice shirt it is.

In reporting exclamations and wishes the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb expressing
exclamation or wish.
Examples:
Direct: She said, “Alas ! I failed in exam.”
Indirect: She exclaimed sadly that she had failed in exam.
Direct: He said, “Bravo ! you have done well.”
Indirect: He applauded him, saying that he had done well.

B. Rules for Interrogative

There are two main kinds of interrogative sentences. The ones which start with an auxiliary verb
and the others which start with a question word such as what, why, when, where, how, etc.

Interrogative sentences beginning with an auxiliary verb are changed into the indirect speech by
using the connective if or whether.

The reporting verb said (or any other word used as the reporting verb) changes to asked, queried,
questioned, demanded of or inquired of in the indirect speech. Note that of is used
after inquired and demanded only when the reporting verb has an object.

Note that the indirect narration is always in the assertive form. In other words, the interrogative
sentences in the direct speech will change into assertive sentences in the indirect speech.

Direct: She said to me, “Are you coming with us?”

Indirect: She asked me if I was going with them.
Direct: She said to me, “Are you unwell?”
Indirect: She asked me if I was unwell.
Direct: She said to him, “Am I to wait for you till eternity?”
Indirect: She inquired of him if she was to wait for him till eternity.

Change the following into indirect speech and write in the blanks-
1. Father : How was the paper?

Son : It was easy. I could solve all the problems.

Father : Start preparing for the economics paper. You do not have much time left

Son : Yes father, I shall immediately start.

Answer-
The father asked his son ………………………….. Son replied that ………………………….. He …………………………..
all the problems. Father further advised him ………………………….. economics paper. He
………………………….. much time left. Son agreed with his father and said that he …………………………..
start.

2. Inspector : Were you sleeping when the robbers entered the bank?

Guard : No, Sir. The bank had closed and I had just gone to relieve myself.
 Inspector : What did you see when you came back?

Guard : The iron grill lock was broken and the bank looked ransacked but the robbers could not take
away anything as I had returned quickly.

Inspector : Yes, I can see that not much damage has been done but you have to be more careful in
future.

Answer-
Inspector asked the guard ………………………….. entered the bank. Guard replied in the negative and said
that __________________ and ………………………….. Inspector further asked him ………………………….. The
guard replied that ………………………….. and the bank ___________, but the robbers …………………………..
as he ………………………….. Inspector said that he ………………………….. but also warned him
…………………………. .

3. Employee : Please grant me two weeks’ leave.

Boss : Why do you need it for such a long time?

Employee : I have to visit my ailing mother.

Boss : Ok, I shall grant you leave but do not overstay your leave.

Answer-
The employee requested his boss _______________ The boss asked him _______________. The
employee replied______________. The boss agreed to _____________ but ______________

Exercises
if-clauses, type I
Complete the sentences.
1. If it (rain) , we (stay) at home.
2. If you (know/not) the way, I (pick) you up.
3. My mum (bake) a cake if you (come) to see us.
if-clauses, type II
Complete the sentences.
1. If you (study) harder, you (get) better marks in your tests.
2. If I (be) rich, I (travel) around the world.
3. She (come) to the market with us if she (have/not) to work.
if-clauses, type III
Complete the sentences.
1. If you (help) us, we (finish) the work in next to no time.
2. I (call) you earlier if I (lose/not) your phone number.
3. They (go/not) to the theatre by car if the weather (be) better.
if-clauses, mixed
Complete the sentences.
1. If I (have) a compass, I would give it to you.
2. If he hadn’t been ill, he (run) the marathon.
3. If you go to Ireland, you (need) a raincoat.
4. We (miss/not) the train if we had got up earlier.
5. If we lived in the country, the kids (play) outside all day long.