Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 9 ICSE with Answers

Direct Speech:
Quoting the exact words of the Speaker is called Direct Speech.
Dhanush said, “I am writing a letter now”.

Indirect Speech:
Reporting of what a speaker said without quoting his exact words is called Indirect Speech.
Dhanush said that he was writing a letter then.

Looking for an easy way to Learning of English Grammar Exercises for Class 9 ICSE. You have to learn basic English Grammer topics like Tenses, Verbs, Nouns, etc… In this article, we will review the best English Grammer Topics and compare them against each other.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises for Class 9 ICSE with Answers PDF

Rules For changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.
Rule 1:
The adverbs of nearness should be put into those of distance.

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.

Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheets

1. Turn the following sentences into Indirect Speech.
1. ‘What do you want?’ she asked him.
2. ‘Are you coming with us?’ he asked me.
3. He asked, ‘When do you intend to make the payment?’
4. ‘Do you come from China?’ said the prince to the girl.
5. The poor man exclaimed, ‘Will none of you help me?’
6. ‘Which way should I go?’ asked the little girl.
7. Alladin said to the magician, ‘What have I done to deserve so severe a punishment?’
8. ‘Don’t you know the way home?’ I said to her.
9. ‘Do you write a good hand?’ the teacher said to the student.
10. ‘Have you anything to say on behalf of the accused?’ said the judge finally.
11. ‘Have you anything to tell me, little bird?’ asked Ulysses.
12. ‘Who are you, sir, and what do you want?’ they asked.
13. The king was impressed with the magician and asked, ‘What can I do for you?’
14. She asked, ‘What is it that makes you stronger and braver than other men?’
15. ‘Can you solve this problem?’ he asked me.

2. Complete the sentences in reported speech.
1. John said, “I love this town.”
John said ____________

2. “Do you like soccer ?” He asked me.
He asked me ____________

3. “I can’t drive a lorry,” he said.
He said ____________

4. “Be nice to your brother,” he said.
He asked me ____________

5. “Don’t be nasty,” he said.
He urged me ____________

6. “Don’t waste your money” she said to the boys.
She told the boys ____________

7. “What have you decided to do?” she asked him.
She asked him ____________

8. “I always wake up early,” he said.
He said ____________

9. “You should revise your lessons,” he said.
He advised the students ____________

10. “Where were you born?” he asked me.
He wanted to know ____________