NCERT Solutions | Class 8 English Grammar | Reported Speech

CBSE Solutions | English Class 8

Check the below NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Grammar Reported Speech Pdf free download. NCERT Solutions Class 8 English were prepared based on the latest exam pattern. We have Provided Reported Speech Class 8 English NCERT Solutions to help students understand the concept very well.

NCERT | Class 8 English

NCERT Solutions Class 8 English
Book:	National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
Board:	Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Class:	8th
Subject:	English
Chapter:	Grammar
Chapters Name:	Reported Speech
Medium:	English

Reported Speech | Class 8 English | NCERT Books Solutions

You can refer to MCQ Questions for Class 8 English Grammar Reported Speech to revise the concepts in the syllabus effectively and improve your chances of securing high marks in your board exams.

Direct and Indirect or Reported Speech
There are two ways of reporting what a person has said: direct and indirect.

Direct Speech
In direct speech, we repeat the original speaker’s exact words, e.g. He said,” I have lost my books”.
Remarks thus repeated are placed between inverted commas and a comma is placed immediately before the remark. Direct speech is found in conversations in books, in plays and in quotations.

Indirect Speech
In indirect speech, we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the speaker’s exact words.
e.g. He said (that) he had lost his books.
There is no comma after say in indirect speech. That can usually be omitted after say and tell + object.

Parts of Narration Sentence
A narration sentence has two parts. These are ,

Reporting Verb
Reported Speech

1.Reported Speech
The part of the narration sentence which is in the inverted called reported speech.
2. Reporting Verb
The part which is outside the inverted commas is called reporting verb,

e.g.

cbse-class-8-english-grammar-reported-speech-1

Expressions of Time and Place in Indirect Speech
cbse-class-8-english-grammar-reported-speech-2

Read the following sentences.

Direct He said, she’s my daughter.
Indirect He said that she was his daughter.
Direct “I saw her the day before yesterday”, he said.
Indirect He said he’d seen her two days before.
Direct “I’ll do it tomorrow”, he promised.
Indirect He promised that he would do it the next day.

This and that used as adjectives usually change to the
Direct He said, “I bought this earring/these earrings for my mother.”
Indirect He said that he had bought earring/the earrings for his mother.
This, these used as pronouns (Object) can become it, they/them
Direct He said, “We will discuss this tomorrow”.
Indirect He said that they would discuss it (the matter) the next day.

Change of Tense
In indirect speech, change of tense takes place if and only if the reporting verb is in past tense.
No change of tense is made if the reporting verb is in present or future tense.

1. When the Reporting Verb is in Present or Future Tense

e.g.

Direct Peter says, “I want to become an engineer”.
Indirect Peter says that he wants to become an engineer.
Direct The teacher will say, “Everybody has to maintain silence.
Indirect The teacher will say that everybody has to maintain silence”.
Direct My mother says, “ God will shower his blessings on us, some day”.
Indirect My mother says that God will shower his blessings on us some day.
Direct Tisha says to me, “TV is not working since last night.”
Indirect Tisha tells me that TV is not working since last night.
Direct Ginnie says to her friend, “I lost my new denim jacket.”
Indirect Ginnie tells her friend that she last her Denim Jacket.
Direct He will say, “I will reform all the system.”
Indirect He will say that he will reform all the system.
Direct The boss will say to his staff, “We are going to throw a party on the golden jubilee, of our company.
Indirect The boss will tell his staff that they are going to throw a party on the golden jubilee of their company.

2. When the Reporting Verb is in Past Tense
When the reporting verb is past tense, the change of reported speech takes place as shown below
cbse-class-8-english-grammar-reported-speech-3

Read the following examples.

Direct The man said to the boy, “ You are not serious about your studies.”
Indirect The man told the boy that he was not serious about his studies.
Direct Suhani said to her mother, “I learnt many new theories today.”
Indirect Suhani told her mother that she had learnt many new theories that day.
Direct Shipra said to her, “1 want to see you now at my home”.
Indirect Shipra told her that she wanted to see her then at her home.
Direct He said to me, “1 was observing you at the party”.
Indirect He told me that he had been observing me at the party.
Direct Diansa said to Salman, “I will not do anything for the house members tomorrow”.
Indirect Diansa told Salman that she would not do anything for the house members the next day.

Exception
The tense of the reported speech, is kept as it is

1. If, it is a universal truth or ‘habitual action or historical fact’ irrespective of the reporting verb. e.g.

Direct Our teacher says/will say /said, “The Earth is round”.
Indirect Our teacher says/will say/said that the Earth is round.
Direct My father said to me yesterday, “God always observes our passion for our dreams”.
Indirect My father told me yesterday that God always observes our passion for our dreams.
Direct Neha said, “India is great”.
Indirect Neha said (that) India is great.
Direct Mr Nene said to his students, “ I am unable to hear low voices”.
Indirect Mr Nene told his students that he is unable to hear low voices.
Direct Ravi said to his younger brother, “Salim was also called Jahangir.”
Indirect Ravi told his younger brother that Salim was also called Jahangir.

2. If the reported speech is about two simultaneously happening actions.

e.g.

Direct Sahil said, “The dogs were barking while I was walking in the park”.
Indirect Sahil said the dogs were barking while he was walking in the park.
3. If the reported speech is about an imaginary sentence,

e.g.

Direct Mohan said, “If I were a bird, I would fly everywhere”.
Indirect Mohan said (that) if he were a bird, he would fly everywhere.

Change of Person
First and second person pronouns are changed to third person or according to the person spoken to or spoken about we must take care that during the change of person number and case of the pronoun remains same. The number and case can be changed by the following way
cbse-class-8-english-grammar-reported-speech-5

Interrogative Sentences into Indirect Speech
When we have to change a direct question into indirect speech, it is necessary to make the following changes

tense, pronouns, possessive adjectives and adverbs of time change as in statements.
the interrogative change to the assertive form.
the interrogative change to the assertive form.
the question mark is omitted.
the reporting verb says/tells is changed to ask etc.

(A) Verbal (Yes-No Type Questions)
While changing these questions into indirect speech ‘if or ‘whether’ is used instead of ‘that’,

e.g.

Direct “Is there anybody?” she asked.
Indirect She asked if/whether anybody was there.
Direct Santa said to Banta, “Do you like Sonakshi?”
Indirect Santa asked Banta whether he liked Sonakshi.
Direct The lady said, “Do you want to ask any question?”
Indirect The lady asked if they wanted to ask any question
Direct Charles said to his mother, “Shall we go for the party tonight?” ‘
Indirect Charles asked his mother if they would go for the party that night.
Direct The policeman says to the man, “Have you seen the burglars?
Indirect The policeman asks the man whether he has seen the burglars.
Direct I said to my sister, “Can you iron my clothes for me?”
Indirect I asked my sister if she could iron my clothes for me.

(B) Wh Type Questions
In these type of questions, no external connector is used. The wh-word itself acts as a connector.

e.g.

Direct The teacher said to Manu, “Why are you late?”
Indirect The teacher asked Manu why she was late.
Direct He said to me, “Where do you live?”
Indirect He asked me where I lived.
Direct Shatayu said to his father, “How did you write this?”
Indirect Shatayu asked his father how he had written it.
Direct She said to the shopkeeper, “How much is the price of this book?”
Indirect She asked the shopkeeper how much the price of the book was.
Direct Father asks his son, “What all do you know about her?”
Indirect Father asks his son what all he knows about her.
Direct “What is the name of your pet cat?” Said Shamli to her niece.
Indirect Shamli asked her niece what the name of her pet cat was.

Imperative Sentences into Indirect Speech
Imperative sentences are of three kinds: advice, order and request. So, according to the type of sentence the reporting verb ‘said/said to’ is changed into ordered, requested, advised etc. And instead of ‘that’ ‘to’is used to join the reported speech,

e.g.

Direct Neena said to him, “Open your book”.
Indirect Neena ordered him to open his book.
Direct The inspector said to his constables, “Go and find them everywhere”.
Indirect The inspector ordered his constable to go and find them everywhere.
Direct Shahista said to me, “Please, allow me to help you”.
Indirect Shahista requested me to allow her to help me.
Direct She said to her mother, “ Please, take care of my children”.
Indirect She requested her mother to take care of her.
Direct He said to me, “Take proper rest”. Indirect He advised me to take proper rest.
Direct The officer said to his soldiers, “Follow me .
Indirect The officer ordered his soldiers to follow him.

Exclamatory Sentences into Indirect Speech
While changing exclamatory sentences into indirect speech, the reporting verb is changed into exclaimed with joy, sorrow etc.
‘What, how’ are changed into very, great etc.

e.g.

Direct He said, “What a great idea!”
Indirect He exclaimed that it was a great idea.
Direct The players said, “Hurrah! we won the match”.
Indirect The players exclaimed with joy and said that they had won the match.
Direct “What a pity!” said the woman. Indirect The woman exclaimed that it was a great pity.
Direct “Eh! How beautiful the doll is!” said angel.
Indirect Angel exclaimed with surprise that it was a very beautiful doll.
Direct “Bravo! only you could do this”, said the manager to his team.
Indirect The manager exclaimed with appreciation and acknowledged his team that only they could do this.

Sentences Beginning with ‘Let’
1. Sentences that express suggestions.

Direct Veena said, “Let us go for a movie in the evening”.
Indirect Veena suggested that they should go for a movie in the evening.
Direct Renu said to me, “Let us decide something quickly”.
Indirect Renu suggested that we should decide something quickly.

2. If they have a force of an order or request.

Direct Sudhir said to his friend, “Let me sit alone for a while”.
Indirect Sudhir requested his friend to let him sit alone for a while.
Direct The security officer said to the guard, “Let them come in”.
Indirect The security officer ordered the guard to allow them to come in.

Points to Remember
(i) During the change take care of the followings
said to—told says to—tells
say to—tell
But, according to the relation of subject to its object we
change said to /says to/ say to into enquired/asked/
suggested also.
(ii) Inverted comma is replaced by that/if/to/not to/ ‘wh’ words
according to different sentences Assertive sentence – that
Interrogative sentence – ‘wh’ word/ If
Imperative sentence – to/ not to

Yes and No in Indirect Speech
“When answer is either in affirmatiive or in negative form.”

Direct He said, “Can you swim?” and I said “No.”
Indirect He asked (me) if I could swim and I said I couldn’t.
Or
He asked (me) if I could swim and I answered in negative.
Direct He said, “Will you have time to do it?” and I said “Yes”.
Indirect He asked if I would have time to do that and I said that I would.
Or
He asked if 1 would have time to do that and I affirmed.

Offers and Suggestions in Indirect Speech

Offers (To advance with something)
Direct “Shall I bring you some tea?”
Indirect He offered to bring me some tea.
Suggestions (Putting up advice)
Direct “Shall we meet at the theatre?”
Indirect He suggested meeting at the theatre.

Chapter Practice

ncert class 8 english grammar book, Question 1.

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.

1. John said, ‘I love this city.’
2. “Be nice to others”, Priya said.
3. “Don’t waste your money” he said to the boys.
4. She said, “everyone loves her.”
5. She said, “He works in a bank.”
6. Seema said, ‘I don’t have a laptop.”
7. Kanika said, “I don’t go to the gym very often.”
8. “We don’t travel much”, she said.
9. He said, “we like working in London.”
10. She said, “she never gets up early on Sunday.”

NCERT Solutions for Class English Grammar , Answer :

John said that he loved that city.
Priya told me to be nice to others.
He advised the boys not to waste their money.
She said that everyone loved her.
She said he worked in a bank.
Seema said that she didn’t have a laptop.
Kanika said that she didn’t go to the gym very often.
She said that they didn’t travel much.
He said that they liked working in London.
She said that she never got up early on Sundays.

ncert class 8 english grammar book pdf, Question 2.

Change the following into indirect speech.

I said to Prerana, “How do you travel to office everyday?” .
Shivam said to his mother, “Where does the rain come from?”
“Do you know the way to the paradise?”A crazy man asked me.
Maria said to her daughter, “At what time will you come back?”
The man said to the mechanic, “By what time will you have fixed the tyre of my bike?”
Varun says to Tarun, “Where did you go yesterday?”
“Is there anything special in it?” She asked.
“Hark! I can smell something here” said Mr Naik to his colleagues.
“Alas! we have lost the game.” said Shishir to his friend.
“How intelligent you are!” Manjiri said to her grandfather.

cbse english textbook for class 8 honeydew solutions, Answer :

I asked Prerana how she travel to office everyday.
Shivam asked his mother where the rain comes from.
A crazy man asked me whether I knew the way to Paradise.
Maria asked her daughter at what time she would come back.
The man asked the mechanic by what time he would have fixed the type of his bike.
Varun asks Tarun where he went yesterday.
She asked whether there was anything special in it.
Mr Naik exclaimed with fear and said to his colleagues that he could smell something there.
Shishir exclaimed with sorrow and told his friend that they have lost the game.
Manjiri told her grandfather that he was very intelligent.

cbse class 8 english grammar book pdf, Question 3.

Rewrite the sentences into direct speech from indirect speech.

Miara said that she wrote a letter.
Kiran said that she was going to the temple.
The teacher said that the Sun rises in the East.
He said that he had been reading a novel.
Nelson said that he had been playing badminton.
He ordered her to be careful.
Raman exclaimed joyfully that she was very beautiful.
He asked where she was going.
He said that he didn’t know the way and asked her if she did.
The Science teacher told the class that ice floats on water.

Cbse class 8 English Grammar , Answer :

Miara said, “I write a letter.”
Kiran said, “I am going to the temple.”
The teacher said, “The Sun rises in the East.”
He said, “I have been reading a novel.”
Nelson said, “I have been playing badminton.”
“Be careful”, he said to her.
“How beautiful she is!” said Raman.
He said, “Where is she going?”
“I don’t know the way. Do you?” he asked.
The science teacher told the class, “Ice floats on water.”

class 8 english grammar, Question 4.

Choose the correct options from the given set of options according to the rules of reported speech.

I asked Prerna……… she travelled to office.
(a) what
(b) how
(c) where
(d) who
Shivam asked……… mothers where she was to go.
(a) hers
(b) her
(c) one’s
(d) his
A crazy man asked me whether I……….. the way to paradise.
(a) know
(b) knew
(c) knows
(d) knowing
Leela asked her friend at……….. time she would come back.
(a) what
(b) where
(c) when
(d) how
The man asked the mechanic by what time he would……… fixed the type of the car.
(a) has
(b) had
(c) have
(d) be
Varun asks Tarun where he went……………..
(a) yesterday
(b) today
(c) tomorrow
(d) the last day
She asked….‘…there was anything special as it.
(a) how
(b) can
(c) if
(d) where
Gupta exclaimed with………….. that he could sense a fire is the adjacent building.
(a) joy
(b) sorrow
(c)pain
(d) fear
He exclaimed with sorrow that they………… last the game.
(a) had
(b) have
(c) has
(d) had been
She told me…………. she had been to London.
(a) if
(b) that
(c) whether
(d) when

Ncert class 8 English Grammar , Answer :

(b) how
(d) his
(b) knew
(a) what
(c) have
(d) the last day
(c) if
(d) fear
(a) had
(b) that

english grammar, Question 5.

Supply the most suitable and appropriate word to fill in the blanks with the help of rules of reported speech.

Miara said, “I write a letter.”
Miara told that she…….. a letter.
Kiran said, “I am going to the temple.”
Kiran told that……………. was going to the temple.
The teacher said, “The Sun rises in the East.”
The teacher told that the Sun…………… in the East.
He said, “Have I been reading books?
He asked if he……… been reading books.
Nelson said, “Did you notice it?
Nelson asked………. Did you noticed it.
He said to her, “Be careful.”
He told her…….. be careful.
Raman said, “How beautiful she is!”
Raman exclaimed with joy that she……. beautiful.
He said, “Where is she going?
He asked………. she was going.
He said, “I do not know the way.”
He told that he…….. not know the way.
Teacher said, “Ice floats on water.”
Teacher told that ice……… on water.