THE CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, BANGALORE

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-25

ENGLISH NOTES – GRADE 11
GRAMMAR: REPORTED SPEECH

What is Reported Speech?

Reported speech, also called indirect speech, is used to communicate what someone said
without quoting their exact words. Instead of repeating the exact words spoken, we often
summarize or paraphrase the message.

For example:

• Direct Speech: She said, ‘I am tired.’

• Reported Speech: She said that she was tired.

Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Reported Speech

Direct Speech Reported

Element Explanation
Example Speech Example
‘I am going to She said that she
Pronoun Change The pronoun I changes to she (since the
the market,’ she was going to the
(Subject) reporting subject is she).
said. market.
‘I will help you He said that he
The object pronoun you changes
Pronoun Change with your would help me
to me (based on the reporter’s
(Object) homework,’ he with my
perspective).
said. homework.
‘This is my He said that this My changes to his (to match the subject of
Possessive Pronouns
book,’ he said. was his book. the reported speech).
In present tense (simple or continuous),
‘I eat lunch at She says that she
Verb Tense Change reported speech can sometimes keep the
12,’ she says. eats lunch at 12.
tense if the reporting verb is in the present.
He said that he
Past Simple → Past ‘I went to the
had gone to the Past simple changes to past perfect.
Perfect park,’ he said.
park.
Present Continuous ‘I am studying,’ She said that she Present continuous changes to past
→ Past Continuous she said. was studying. continuous.
‘I have finished He said that he
Present Perfect →
the work,’ he had finished the Present perfect changes to past perfect.
Past Perfect
said. work.
She said that she
Past Continuous → ‘I was working
had been Past continuous changes to past perfect
Past Perfect when you
working when I continuous.
Continuous called,’ she said.
called.
‘I will call you He said that he
Future Simple →
tomorrow,’ he would call me Future simple changes to conditional.
Conditional
said. tomorrow.

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 Direct Speech Reported
Element Explanation
Example Speech Example
She said that she
Future Continuous ‘I will be
would be Future continuous changes to conditional
→ Conditional traveling next
traveling next continuous.
Continuous month,’ she said.
month.
‘I will have He said that he
Future Perfect → completed it by would have Future perfect changes to conditional
Conditional Perfect tomorrow,’ he completed it by perfect.
said. tomorrow.
Modals (Can → ‘I can help you,’ She said that she
Can changes to could.
Could) she said. could help me.
He asked if he
Modals (May → ‘May I leave
might leave May changes to might.
Might) early?’ he asked.
early.
‘I will come to She said that she
Modals (Will →
the party,’ she would come to Will changes to would.
Would)
said. the party.
Modals (Shall → ‘Shall we go He asked if they
Shall changes to should.
Should) now?’ he asked. should go then.
Time Expressions ‘I will do it She said that she
Now changes to then.
(Now → Then) now,’ she said. would do it then.
‘I am going to He said that he
Time Expressions
the party today,’ was going to the Today changes to that day.
(Today → That Day)
he said. party that day.
Time Expressions ‘I will leave She said that she
(Tomorrow → The tomorrow,’ she would leave the Tomorrow changes to the next day.
Next Day) said. next day.
He said that he
Time Expressions ‘I went to the
had gone to the
(Yesterday → The shop yesterday,’ Yesterday changes to the day before.
shop the day
Day Before) he said.
before.
Place Expressions ‘I am here,’ he He said that he
Here changes to there.
(Here → There) said. was there.
Place Expressions ‘This is my pen,’ She said that that
This changes to that.
(This → That) she said. was her pen.
He said that he
Place Expressions ‘I bought these
had bought those These changes to those.
(These → Those) shoes,’ he said.
shoes.

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EXERCISES:

1. Spot and Correct the Errors:

a. He said that he will come tomorrow.

b. She asked me, 'What is the time?' (Reported Speech: She asked me what is the time.)
c. The teacher said, 'Don’t makes noise.'
d. They said, 'We were watching a movie.' (Reported Speech: They said that we were
watching a movie.)

2. Rewrite the Sentences with Corrections:

a. She said, 'I am going to the market now.' (Reported Speech: She said that she is going to
the market then.)
b. The doctor told me, 'Take the medicine.'
c. He asked, 'Where do you live?' (Reported Speech: He asked me where do I live.)
d. My mother said, 'Don’t forget your lunch.'

3. Rewrite the Dialogue in Reported Speech:

Dialogue:
Priya: 'Did you complete your project?'
Ravi: 'No, I couldn’t find the required materials.'
Priya: 'You should have started earlier.'

Task: Convert the conversation into reported speech.

4. Write a Paragraph Using Reported Speech:

Scenario:
A student discusses their holiday plans with a teacher. The teacher gives advice about being
responsible and safe.
Task: Write the conversation in reported speech as a short paragraph.

5. Create Reported Speech from Headlines:

a. 'Government Announces New Policies for Students'

b. 'Scientists Discover a New Species of Fish'
c. 'Sports Team Wins Championship After a Decade'
Task: Convert the headlines into reported speech, as if you are sharing the news with
someone.

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6. Complete the Sentences Using Reported Speech:

a. The journalist reported that _____________.

b. She told me that she _____________.
c. He asked if I _____________.
d. They wondered why _____________.

7. Rewrite a Story Using Reported Speech:

Scenario:
A boy tells his friend how he saved a stray puppy and brought it home.
Task: Rewrite the story in reported speech, capturing the main details.

8. Mixed Sentences:

a. Convert a formal announcement into reported speech.

• Announcement: 'The event will start at 10 a.m. sharp. All participants are requested to
be on time.'

b. Convert an informal conversation into reported speech.

• Conversation: 'Let’s go to the mall this evening,' she said.

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