Reported Speech

English Workbook Class 10 Solutions Unit 13 Reported Speech

1.Read and enjoy the following article?

The Road to English

(Adapted from an article by Arishban Bagchi (Hindu college) [The Hindustan Times, 4 October 1996]

• The great question, after you have failed to put yourself in an engineering or medical college in contemporary Indian society, is whether youll ever find a job
• "Oh ! He showed such promise during his early days," says the sister of the neighbour of your aunt in Timbuctoo. "Now look at my Bittoo," she goes on. "In spite of being so brilliant and all, he could only barely manage a grade A+ at MIT, and then he only just managed a well-paid job. How difficult getting jobs must be."
• The next line reads, "I wonder how your son will find a job, being a non-engineer, and that too in India."
• Your father friend, a prosperous doctor, decides to come visiting. Quite predictably, his first question on seeing you is the inevitable, "Why in heaven name did you not qualify in the pre-medical test ? Followed by the equally inevitable, "Now what are you going to do ?"
• He raves on about his nephew who has just gone to the UK for his FRCS, and his daughter who has just completed her MBBS from AIIMS with top results, and what exciting prospects they have.
• Your father into whose eyes you havent dared to look for quite some time, speaks up. "I have lost all hope for him. However, educating him is my duty and I wont shirk from it."
• Someone speaks up. "Let him go to college to study Physics or Chemistry." Everyone sits in silence. You cannot help feeling a little proud. At length, someone plucks up the courage: "It quite impossible to educate him any further. Youngsters these days never seem to listen to what we have to say."
• "I will study English Literature," you say, dropping a bombshell, fearless of the consequences. Amazingly, it works. The crowd hurries to disperse. You are so relieved to see their backs that you dont care. Thankfully, your parents voice no objection, remembering, perhaps, that you did manage to score highly in English in your Board exams
• So you finally take English literature as your subject of study

2.Work in pairs and list the speakers in the passage you have just read?

ans:

• The author (Arishban Bagchi)
• Bittoo mother
• A doctor
• Bittoo father
• Someone

Still working in pairs, answer the following

• Did anyone actually say (or write) "Oh ! He showed such promise during his early days ?" (Yes/No) How can you tell ?
• Is "Now look at my Bittoo", said by the same person as the extract in 1 above ? (Yes/No) How do you know ?
• In paragraph 4, who says "Now what are you going to do ?" What words help you to know ?
• ln paragraph 5, who is the speaker ? ____________ Discues and work out what must have been his exact words. Then write them below. (To be discussed as desired) (ii) Underline the verb which tells you how the person must have said this. [Hint: Try to work out the meaning of this verb.]
• How many of the nine paragraphs in the passage are reporting what someone has said ?
• How many paragraphs include the exact words of the various speakers (direct speech)?
• How many paragraphs have reported them indirectly (indirect speech) ?
• What is your conclusion about how writers report what someone says or has said in a newspaper article such as this ? ans:
  • Yes . It has been put in inverted commas
  • Yes . she goes on indicates it
  • Father friend, a prosperous doctor The words which help us to know are : his first question on seeing you ...... followed by the equally inevitable, "________ "
  • Father friend, a prosperous doctor
  "Look at my nephew who has just gone to the UK for his FRCS, and my daughter who has just completed her MBBS from AIIMS with top results. What exciting results they have !"
  • The verb to be underlined is - raves Meaning = talks furiously and wildly
  • Six
  • Six
  • Three
  • In a newspaper article, the writers report some very important words in direct speech ie, as they are spoken. They report some in indirect speech adding the words from their own side to exactly report the underlining emotions, feelings, moods or manners

  B. Reporting Verbs

  1.A reporting verb is used in both direct and indirect (reported) speech. The reporting verb usually adds to the meaning of each sentence for instance, it may show the speaker MOOD (e.g. agreed), PURPOSE (e.g. asked), MANNER OF SPEAKER (e.g. shouted). An example is?

  The tourist complained that the hotel was hot and noisy

  In this sentence, the reporting word complained shows that the tourist was clearly unhappy about the arrangements

  Now work in groups of four. Read the following sentences carefully, and circle the reporting verbs. Then discuss and write the ways in which each reporting verb adds to the meaning of its arrangement

  • "When I was in school, I used to skip a few classes, especially Moral Science because of the bookish manner in which it was treated," confessed the retired IAS Officer
  • Saurav friends protested that he should have been included in the school badminton team, on the basis of his fine performance in the inter-house matches
  • "Make a circle, make a circle !" Mira shouted, firmly pulling and pushing the children till a kind of vague circle was formed
  • The music teacher warned the children against getting carried away and getting out of tune
  • "Father, you must tell me what you meant exactly when you said that I was the same as every other teenager," Varun insisted
  • "Oh God ! She is coming again," the children whispered to each other, when they saw Mrs Sharma striding towards their classroom for the third time that day
  ans:
  • Confessed to be circled is the reporting verb used in the sentence. It reveals the mood of the speaker as he admits his weakness of skipping the class which was contrary to rules.
  • protested is to be circled in the reporting verb used in the sentence. The verb shows Saurav friends mood
  • shouted is to be circled in the reporting verb in the sentence. Shouted shows Mira mood ie, irritable manner
  • warned is to be circled in the reporting verb in the sentence. It reflects music teacher manner of speaking to the children ie, threatening manner
  • insisted is to be circled in the reporting verb in the sentence. This verb shows Varan emphatic manner
  • whispered is to be circled in the reporting verb in the sentence. This verb shows children tone and manner i.e. afraid and disliking

  2.Look at the following example?

  The exact words of the Prime Minister : "I shall lead this great country on the path of peace and prosperity. Not only that, but I assure you that I will lower taxes and do everything in my power to reduce inflation."

  [Situation : A newsreader reports the words of the Prime Minister on the radio.]

  "The new prime Minister said that he would lead the country on the path of peace and prosperity. He also promised to lower taxes and reduce inflation."

  Working in pairs, note the changes the newsreader made while reporting the PM speech

  Reporting Verbs Used Changes in Other Words
• _______________________
• _________
• __________
• _______________________
• Shall ? _____
ans: Reporting Verbs Used Changes in Other Words
• Said
• The new Prime minister
• he
• Promised
• Shall ? would

Now do the same with this situation. The following is a conversation that took place between Neeta and Shobhna (in the presence of Shohhna mother) last week

Neeta : Can I borrow ?25 ? I have lost all my money on the bus this morning. Shobhna : But you asked me for a loan last week as well, you havent repaid that yet. Sorry, But I cant lend you any more.

Imagine it is now next week. Shobhna mother talks about it to her husband in her own words

"Neeta came in last week and asked Shobhna if she could borrow twenty five rupees. She explained she had lost all her money on the bus that morning. Shobhna reminded Neeta that she had asked her for a loan the previous week as well, and still hadnt repaid it. So she decided she couldnt lend Neeta any more

ans:

Read the exact words of Mrs Bhattacharya, a resident of Park Street, Kolkata

"Where do the two of you live ? You shouldnt make such a noise in the street. If you do it again, Ill have to complain to the police. So, be careful."

Now think of a situation in which Mrs Bhattacharya has to report what she said to somebody but not exactly as she has said above (eg. to a neighbour.)

ans:Situation. Mrs Bhattacharya reports this to her husband

Now report Mrs Bhattacharya words. Remember : You can decide whether to use direct or indirect speech forms

ans:When two boys were making a loud noise, (Mrs Bhattacharya) I asked them where they lived. I advised them not to make such a noise. Then I warned them to be careful as if they did it again, I would have to complain to the police

Work with your partner. Read the following. Decide on a likely situation in which what was said has been repeated. Then use your imagination and recreate the original ("direct") speech

Everyone at the hospital looked after me very well. As soon as I arrived, a nurse asked me how I felt. Then she asked me where I lived and whether she could contact my parents. I explained that you were out today, so she couldnt contact you. After that she asked me how that accident had happened and I said I didnt know

ans:Situation. A boy telling his parents about an accident he had met that day, and how he was treated in the hospital

Direct speech (in dialogue form)

Nurse : How do you feel

Boy : i am feeling nervous

Nurse : Where do you live ? Can I contact your parents

Boy : i live in Model Town. You cant contact my parents because they are out today

Nurse : Do you know how this accident happened

Boy : i dont know anything about it

C. Practising Reported Speech

1.Statements : Rewrite the following in reported speech?

• Sheela to Rashmi: "You can come and stay at my place if youre ever in Delhi"
• Anand to Renu : "I dont know what Gayathri is doing these days. She hasnt visited us for ages"
• Teacher to Students : "We shall go on a field trip to study water pollution"

ans:

• Sheela told Rashmi that she could come and stay at her place if she was ever in Delhi
• Anand told Renu that he didnt know what Gayathri was doing those days as she had not visited them for ages
• The teacher informed the students that they would go on a field trip to study water pollution

Changes

See the Workbook on Pages 255-258

2.Questions in indirect speech?

Rewrite the following in indirect speech

• He said, "Who has moved into the neighbouring house ?"
• He said, "What have you bought for Deepawali ?"
• He said to me, "Why didnt you wear your new dress for the party ?"
• "Is anyone there ?" he asked
• "Shall I wait for the doctor or come again tomorrow ?" she asked the receptionist

ans:

• He asked who had moved into the neighbouring house
• He asked her what she had bought for Deepawali
• He asked me why I had not worn my new dress for the party
• He enquired if anyone was there
• She asked the receptionist if she would wait for the doctor or come again the following day

Points to Remember

• If the direct question begins with a question word (when, where, who, how, why, what etc), the question word is repeated
• Tenses, pronouns, possessive adjectives and adverbs of time and place change as in statements
• The interrogative form of the verb changes to the affirmative form. The question mark (?) is therefore replaced by a full stop
• He said, "Where does she live ?"
• He asked where she lived

If the introductory verb is say, it must be changed to a verb of inquiry, e.g. ask, inquire, wonder, want to know etc

If the direct question does not have a question word, if or whether must be used

3.Commands, requests and advice in indirect speech?

• The General said," Move the tanks to the battlefield immediately."
• "Dont drive too fast", the instructor said to me
• "If I were you, Id buy that property immediately", the agent said to Anwar
• "Why dont you change into something more comfortable ?" he said to his guest
• "Go on, taste it", said the cook to the guest
• you will notice that direct commands, requests and advice are usually expressed by a suitable reporting verb in indirect speech (Refer Section B)
ans:
• The General ordered to move the tanks to the battlefield immediately
• The instructor warned me not to drive too fast
• The agent told Anwar that if he were him, he would buy that property immediately
• He asked his guest why he didnt change into something more comfortable
• The cook urged the guest to taste it (the dish)

4.Let, let him etc?

Examples

• He said, "Let have our lunch before starting the journey". He suggested that they should have their lunch before starting the journey
• He suggested having their lunch before starting the journey

5.Exclamations?

6.Change the following into indirect speech. Change tense and time expressions only when necessary. You may use a variety of reporting verbs from the box below?


• "Human nature changes," sighed the old man
• "Well win the match next week." said Vasu optimistically,(reporting just after he said it)
• "I saw him with Akanksha yesterday," she whispered
• "Sanjay, Im sorry we didnt visit you in Bombay (now Mumbai) last week," Arun said (reporting immediately after he said it)
• "This rice tastes awful," he muttered
• "Would you like to come to the party with us tomorrow, Gopa ?" Sushila asked, (reporting later in the week.
)
• "Please, Ma, please," they begged. "Well play on the veranda and porch. We wont take a step off the veranda." (reporting immediately after)
• "Dont be a fool," Raghu said roughly, pushing him aside. Even Mira said, "Stop howling, Ravi. If you want to play, you can stand at the end of the line," and she put him there very firmly. (reporting immediately after)
ans:
• The old man exclaimed that human nature changes
• Vasu assured that they would win the match next week
• She confided that she had seen him with Akanksha the previous day or the day before
• Arun apologised to Sanjay saying that they hadnt visited him in Bombay last week
• He complained that that rice tasted awful
• Sushila asked Gopa if she would like to go to the party with them the next day
• They pleaded their mother to let them play on the veranda and porch assuring her that they wont take a step off the veranda
• Pushing him aside, Raghu warned Ravi not to be a fool. Even Mira scolded him to stop howling and putting him there very firmly she advised him to stand at the end of the line if he wanted to play

7.Correct the errors in the following sentences. Write out the correct sentence in the space provided?

• The nurse enquired how I am.
• He said he live in Connaught Circus.
• They asked when I have arrived.
• The taxi driver asked where I want to go.
• I warn Sanjay to be careful while crossing the road.
• Rohit couldnt understand where all the children are gone
ans:
• The nurse enquired how I was.
• He said that he lived at Connaught (Place) Circus.
• They asked when I had arrived.
• The taxi driver asked where I wanted to go.
• I warned Sanjay to be careful while crossing the road.
• Rohit couldnt understand where all the children were gone

8.You said that .... Look at the horoscope page from a newspaper. Find your zodiac sign. Imagine that you have come to the end of the week and nothing has happened, according to the horoscope. Write a letter of complaint to Madam Kiran. Report what Madam Kiran said would happen and then describe what actually happened. You may wish to write something similar to the letter in the example below?

Dear Madam Kiran

I am writing to complain about your horoscope prediction for Virgo last week

Firstly, you said that my relationships would be successful. In fact I had terrible squabbles with my mother and with no fewer than three different friends. You assured me that there would be a new admirer in my life who would make me feel confident about my future. Well, I have a new admirer but he is making my life a misery for me ...

ans:I requested for his help in a friendly manner. But, he took it otherwise. This has added to my worry. Now I am in a fix what to do

Secondly, you said that I would enjoy a new closeness or affinity with my husband. But he is still his old self. He is still indifferent and detached. I saw some silver lining in your prediction. But alas ! this has proved all wrong

Thirdly, your prediction about the money matters proved totally wrong. On the contrary, I have been given an increment in my salary. Also, my husband has been promoted with a big raise in his salary

I regret that your horoscope predictions for Virgo proved wrong in my case

Yours Pragya Verma

D. Reported Speech - Summary

1.Read the following extract from Oliver Twist, a novel by Charles Dickens?

"Where is my little brother ?" cried Nancy, when she reached the police station

"There are no little boys here, madam," answered an officer

"Where is he, then ?" she persisted, and began describing what oliver looked like

The officer informed her that he had been driven to the home of a gentleman in Pentonville. When Fagin heard the news, he exploded, "The boy must be found, even if we have to kidnap him."

Working in pairs, (a) note down the reporting verbs used in the above passage. Then, (b) describe in a few words the mood or purpose of the speakers

Reporting Verbs

• cried
• answered
• persisted
• describing
• informed
• exploded

Mood/Purpose/Manner

• worried, anxious, upset,
• polite, responsible
• curious, emphatic, demanding
• anxious, demanding
• conscious of duty, responsible
• angry, emphatic, worried, restless

2.Below are some common remarks made by youngsters, their parents and guardians. They show the differences of opinions on modern music and film between the three groups. First read them carefully?

On the basis of the above comments, write an article for your school magazine, entitled : "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. " Here are some tips

• Make your article interesting and readable by reporting the feeling in the above speech bubbles
• Use both direct and indirect ways of reporting
• Use a variety of reporting verbs to suit the mood, purpose, and manner of the speakers above. You may wish to use some of the reporting verbs listed below
• You may like to read the article "The Road to English" (A1) again, for some ideas
ans:

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Modern music and films have undergone a drastic change for the last two decades. New electronic instruments have brought a sea-change in rhyme, rhythm and pitch in the songs. But my father friend has declared that it is not music. It is simply an ear¬splitting noise which almost maddens a man. My father said, "It is no music at all" because of fast beats. I tried to assert that it was lively. I asked if they could imagine a party with the sort of music that they had about 20 years ago

And films, the elderly people dont like modern films. My aunt protested, "The films today are so cheap that no one can see them with one family." At this my friend contended, "The actors and actresses today are so natural." Another friend of mine added that he couldnt stand the theatrical and sing-song way in which actors delivered their lines in old films. Modern day films are more and convincing realistic. Another uncle of mine announced that the films in their time had meaningful stories. The argument came to an end with a concluding remark of my grandfather. He said, "Everyone thinks their time was the best."

On the whole, trends change with the changing times. Change is the Law of Nature.

3.Read the following excerpt from a newspaper report. Tiger numbers up, but habitat a worry?

New Delhi : India tiger population has gone up. On Monday, environment minister Jairam ramesh will announce an increase of over 100 tigers across the country at a three-day international conference of experts on tigers

But can India keep this rising numbers intact ? According to the government own study on tiger reserves, India cannot hold more than 1000 to 1200 tigers, with its forests having witnessed a degradation in the last two decades

"Where is the habitat to keep so many tigers safe ?" asked Vivek Menon, chief executive officer of the Wildlife Trust of India. "Constant habitat destruction and illegal mining is causing wildlife stress," said Dharmendra Kandhal, a wildlife biologist

Hindustan Times-March 28, 2011

• Where do you find sentences in direct speech in the above excerpt
• Why has the reporter used the exact words of Mr. Menon and Mr. Kandhal
• Change the sentences in direct speech to indirect speech and then read the excerpt. Does it sound better or worse ? Why
ans:
• Sentences in direct speech are in the last para of the text. "Where is the habitat to keep so many tigers safe ?" asked Vivek Menon, chief executive officer of the Wildlife Trust of India
"Constant habitat destruction and illegal mining is causing wildlife stress" said Dharmendra Kandhal, a wildlife biologist
• The reporter has used the exact words of Mr Menon and Mr Kandhal as they are very important words. It is to emphasise their viewpoints
• Vivek Menon, chief executive officer of the Wildlife Trust of India asked where the habitat to keep so many tigers was safe. Dharmendra Kandhal, a wildlife biologist said that constant habitat destruction and illegal mining were causing wildlife stress
-

It sounds worse in Indirect speech because the meaning has changed due to past form of verbs

4.Given below are notes on a news report covering an operation by Indian Navy that nabbed 16 pirates. Using the notes write a newspaper report. Remember to use a combination of direct and indirect speech. Make the report interesting and dramatic?

Navy sinks ship, nabs 16 pirates

• Indian navy- intensifying search for pirates- following approval of government for aggressive measures
• Saturday-sinking of private mother ship- 400 nautical miles west of Lakshadweep Islands
• 16 pirates captured- 12 Iranian and 4 Pakistani sailors held as hostages rescued- 120 pirates captured in last two months- In earlier three operations 104 pirates captured- facing trial in Mumbai courts
• Saturday operation- began 10 am-naval patrol aircraft spotted Morteza- Iranian traveler used as mother vessel by brigands- offshore patrol vessel INS Suvarna and coast Guard Ship Sangram sent to intercept Morteza- Pirates given warning- ordered to stop- but they fired- Suvarna returned limited fire- disabled Morteza- people seen abandoning ship- according to an official
• Later 16 pirates and 16 sailors picked up from the waters
• All being taken to Mumbai; will be handed over to police for investigation said official. You may write this report in 3-4 paragraphs
ans:

Indian navy sinks ship, nabs 16 pirates

Lakshadweep Island (PTI): India Navy has succeeded in capturing the all 16 pirates who had held 12 Iranian and 4 Pakistani sailors as hostages on Saturday in an aggressive operation. The operation began at 10:00 am. A naval patrol aircraft spotted 6 Morteza Iranian traveler used as mother vessel by brigands offshore patrol vessel. INS Suvarna and coast Guardship Sangram were sent to intercept Morteza

The pirates were warned and ordered to stop but they fired. Suvama returned limited fire. Morteza was disabled. According to an official, people were seen abandoning the ship. The ship sank in the sea area of 400 nautical miles west of Lakshadweep Islands. Later, 16 pirates and 16 sailors were picked up from the waters. All are being taken to Mumbai. "They will be handed over to police for investigation," said an official

In the last two months, 120 pirates have been captured. 104 pirates, who were captured in earlier three operations, are facing trials in Mumbai Court