WBBSE Solutions For Class 9 English Functional Grammar Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues

Ram says, “Anil will come”.
Ram says that Anil will come.

In the first sentence, Ram’s speech is quoted in the actual words used by him, but in the second sentence, Ram’s speech is reported in the form of a narrative.

(প্রথম বাক্যে রামের উক্তি অবিকল উদ্ধৃত করা হয়েছে, কিন্তু দ্বিতীয় বাক্যে রামের কথার মর্ম বক্তা নিজের ভাষায় প্রকাশ করেছে। )

When a speech is quoted in the actual words used by the speaker, it is called Direct speech or narration.

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But when the speech is reported in the form of a narrative, giving the substance or meaning of the words used by the speaker, without quoting his actual words, it is called Indirect speech or narration.

(বক্তার উক্তি অবিকল উদ্ধৃত করা হলে তাকে Direct speech বা narration বলে। বক্তার উক্তির মর্ম প্রকাশ করা হলে তাকে Indirect speech বা narration বলে। )

The speech which is quoted in actual words (“Anil will come”) is called the Reported speech and the verb (here, says) that introduces the speech is called the Reporting verb.

যে উক্তিটি অবিকল উদ্ধৃত করা হয় (এখানে Anil will come ) তাকে Reported speech বলে, এবং যে verb (এখানে says) এই উক্তিটিকে সূচনা করে তাকে Reporting verb বলে।

Study the following sentences:

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Conversion Of Direct Speech Into Indirect General Rules

(Reported speech-এর পূর্বে সাধারণত that বসাতে হয়)

Statement or Assertive Sentences: The conjunction that is generally used before the reported speech in the form of a statement.

If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the verb in the reported speech is not changed at all.

(Reported verbft present future tense-Indirect-4 Reported speech- এর verb-এর tense- এর কোনো পরিবর্তন হয় না।)

If the reporting verb is in the past tense, change the verb in the reported speech into the corresponding past form.

(কিন্তু যদি Reporting verb-টি past tense-এর হয় তবে Indirect – এ Reported speech-এর verb-টিও অনুরূপ past tense-এ পরিবর্তিত হয়।

The reported speech in the direct narration begins with a capital letter and it is preceded by a comma.

In indirect speech, no comma should be used after the reporting verb.

To express simple futurity, we use shall in the first person and will in the second and third persons.

So in the last two examples, I shall in the Direct becomes he would in the Indirect.

For the same reason, in the last example, you will in the Direct becomes I should in the Indirect.

If the Direct speech states a universal truth, a habitual fact or, a past historical event, the tense of the verb in the reported speech is not changed.-

(যদি নিত্যসত্য, বা নিত্যকার অভ্যাস বা অতীতের ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনা বোঝায় তা হলে Indirect speech-এ তার verb-এর tense- এর কোন পরিবর্তন হয় না। )

Direct 

• He said honesty is the best policy
• He said god is good
  
• He said I take a bath the in the Ganga every morning
  
• He said, ‘India won freedom in 1947’.
  
• He said, ‘Columbus discovered America’.
  

Indirect

• He said that honesty is the best policy.
• He said that God is good.
• He said that he takes a bath in the Ganga every morning.
• He said that India won freedom in 1947.
• He said that Columbus discovered America

The Indirect speech should correspond in the persons of pronouns and verbs to the persons of the individuals in the Direct speech.

(Indirect speech -4 pronoun-4 verb-এর person-টি যে ব্যক্তি সম্বন্ধে বাক্যটি বলা হচ্ছে তার সাথে সামঞ্জস্য রেখে পরিবর্তন করতে হয়। )

Direct

• I said to him, “You are wrong.”
• He said to me, “I shall go, but you will stay.”

Indirect

• I told him that he was wrong.
• He told me that./ie would go, but I should
  stay

(প্রথম উদাহরণে you কথাটি him-কে বোঝায় বলে Indirect -এ তা he হয়েছে। দ্বিতীয় উদাহরণে I কথাটি ·

He-কে এবং you কথাটি me-কে বোঝায় বলে Indirect – এ I কথাটি he এবং you কথাটি I হয়েছে।

অন্যান্য উদাহরণেও লক্ষ্য করবে যে বক্তার অথবা যাকে বলা হয় তার person অনুসারে Reported speech-এর pronoun-এর person পরিবর্তিত হয়।

“Said to him”, etc. before “that” are not good English; write “told him”, “told me,” etc.

When there is uncertainty as to the particular person to whom the pronoun in the Indirect speech refers, the name of the person should be placed in brackets.

(অনেক সময় Indirect-এ পরিবর্তিত করবার পর pronoun-গুলি ঠিক কাকে বোঝাচ্ছে এ ব্যাপারে ভ্রান্তি হয়। সেক্ষেত্রে pronoun-এর পাশে bracket-এ ব্যক্তির নাম বসানো বাঞ্ছনীয়।

Direct

• He said to Ram, “ You are wrong.”
• Hari said to Jatin, “You will pass”.

Indirect

• He told Ram that he (Ram) was wrong.
• Hari told Jatin that he (Jatin) would pass

Sometimes the introductory portion is left out and the speech only is given.

To turn such speeches into the Indirect form, the sentence should begin as He told Ram, or He told me or I told her, or something like this.

Thus,

Direct 

• I cannot do it.
• This is a nice house

Indirect

• He told me (or, I told him, or you told me) that he (or, I or you) could not do it.
• He says (or, He is saying or he will say) that this is a nice house.

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Examples Worked Out

Direct

• He says, “I am happy”.
• She says to me, “You are wrong”.
• You shall say, “I was ill”.
• The teacher says, “The sky is blue.”
• He says “Ram will be angry.”
• You will say, “Madan is rich.”
• He says, “I am playing”.
• Arun says, “I was ill.”

Direct

• He said, “Ram is happy.” ,
• I said, ‘You were present.”
• Ramen said to me, “I do it.”
• The girl said, “I shall dance.”
• You said, “I am playing.”
• He said, “I was reading.”
• Father said, “The sun rises in the east.” The boy said, “I play in the field every day.” ‘
• He said, “I have done it.”

Indirect

• He says that he is happy.
• She tells me that I am wrong.
• You shall say that you were ill.
• The teacher says that the sky is blue.
• He says that Ram will be angry.
• You will say that Madan is rich.
• He says that he is playing.
• Arun says that he was ill.

Indirect

• He said that Ram was happy.
• I said that you had been present.
• Ramen told me that he did it.
• The girl said that she would dance.
• You said that you were playing.
• He said that he had been reading.
• Father said that the sun rises in the east. The boy said that he plays in the field every day.
• He said he had done it.
• Change into the Direct form of Speech:
• He said that he was sorry.
• I told him that I had once seen him before. You told me that as you did not know me, you could not help me.

Interrogative Sentences: In converting such sentences change the reporting verb in to ask or enquire; then add whether or if, if the question admits of one of the two answers yes or no;

The conjunction “that” is never used in such cases.

Direct 

• He said to me, “Are you ill V
• You said to me, “Do you hear me ?”
• Ram said to me, “Can you speak French?”

Indirect

• He asked (or enquired of) me if (or whether)
• I was ill.
• You asked me if I heard you.
• Ram asked (or enquired of) me if I could speak French

But

Direct 

• He said to me, “What are you doing ?”
• He said to me, “When will you go home ?”
• You said to.me, “Why have you failed ?”

Indirect 

• He asked me what I was doing.
• He enquired of me when I would go home.
• You asked me why I had failed

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Worked Out Examples

Direct

• Ram said to me, “Are you well?”
• He said to me, “What is your name?”
• She said, “Are the books good?”
• I said to him, “Do you like it?”
• I said to him, “Did you go there?”
• She said to me, “Am I not tall ?”
• I said to him, “Will you go there?”
• He said to me, “Do you have a sister?”
• I said to him, “What is your name?”
• He said to me, “How old are you?”
• You said to me, “Who is your teacher?”
• I said to him, “Why is she crying?”
• She said, “May I help you?”

Indirect

• Ram asked (or, enquired of) me if (or, whether) I was well.
• He asked me what my name was.
• She enquired if the books were good.
• I asked (or, enquired of) him if he liked it.
• I asked him if I had gone there.
• She asked me if she was not tall.
• I asked him if he would go there.
• He asked me if I had a sister.
• I asked him what his name was.
• He asked me how old I was.
• You asked me who my teacher was.
• I asked him why she was crying.
• She asked if she might help me.

Imperative Sentences: In converting such sentences, change the verb in the reported speech into the Infinitive form (i.e., use “to” before the verb of the Reported speech) and the reporting verb into some such words as ‘tell’, ‘request’, ‘command’, ‘beg’, ‘entreat’, as the sense of the speech may require.

(Reported speech-এর verb-টিকে Infinitive form-এ (অর্থাৎ verb-এর পূর্বে to বসাও) এবং reporting verb-tell, request, command, beg, entreat, etc.

Direct

• My friend said to me, “Go home at once.”
• He said to me, “Do not go there”.
• I said to him, “Please explain the passage.”
• The general said to the soldiers “Marchon.” ‘
• I said to him, “Excuse me, sir”

Indirect 

• My friend told or advised me to go home at once.
• He told or advised ordered me not to go there.
• I requested him to explain the passage.
• The general ordered the soldiers to march on.
• I begged him to excuse me

Vocatives may be omitted, as in the last example, or may be dealt with as below ( বাদ দেওয়া বা অন্যভাবেও পরিবর্তন করা চলে)।

Direct 

• He said, “Ram go there”.
• He said, “Friends, lend me your ears”.
• He shouted, “Stop, you villain!”

Indirect 

• He told Ram to go there.
• Addressing them as friends, he requested them to lend him their ears.
• He shouted to the villain to stop. Or, He ordered the villain to stop. Or, Calling the man a villain, he ordered him to stop.

In the Indirect form such expressions as please, sir in the Direct are left out, or they are rendered by such expressions as kindly, politely, etc.

Even when the introductory verb is in the past tense, would, should, might, could and must do not normally change.

Direct 

• She said, “I would help him if I could”.
• He said to me, “You must leave the place”.
• The man said, “Could I speak to Mr Roy?” ‘
• He said, “I might be there”.
• I said to him “Would you like to see the’ picture?
• He said, “I should go there”.
• She said, “I couldn’t come on Monday”.
• The police said, “The thief must be somewhere around.

Indirect

• She said that she would help him if she could.
• He told me that I must leave the place.
• The man asked if he could speak to Mr Roy.
• He said that he might be there.
• I asked him if he would like to see the picture.
• He said that he should go there.
• She said that she couldn’t come on Monday.
• The police said that the thief somewhere around

Imperative sentences with ‘Let’: When Let in the Direct speech expresses a proposal or suggestion, we may use should for let, and change the reporting verb into propose or suggest.

(যদি-Direct speech-টি Let দ্বারা আরম্ভ হয়, এবং এই Let দ্বারা কোন proposal বা suggestion বোঝায়, তা হলে reporting verb-টিকে propose বা suggest-এ পরিবর্তিত করবে এবং পরে let-এর স্থানে should ব্যবহার করবে)।

But when Let does not express a proposal, it should be changed into might or might be allowed, or into some other form according to the sense.

(যদি – Let দ্বারা proposal না বোঝায়, তবে let-কে might বা might be allowed বা অনুরূপ form-এ পরিবর্তিত করবে)।

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Worked Out Examples

Optative Sentences: In optative sentences, the reporting verb is changed into a wish or prayer, and the optative form is changed into a statement. (Reporting verbটিকে wish বা pray-তে পরিবর্তিত করে ইচ্ছাবোধক বাক্যটিকে সাধারণ statement-এ পরিণত করবে।)

Direct 

• He said, “Let him do whatever he likes.”
• He said, “Let me come in.”
• He said, “Let me have some milk.”
• He said to me, “Let him say whatever he
• likes, I shall certainly support you.

Indirect

• He said that he (a third person) might (or might be allowed to) do whatever he liked.
• He requested that he might be allowed to come in.
• He wished that he might have some milk.
• He told me that he (a third person) might say whatever he liked, but he (the speaker) would certainly support me.

Exclamatory Sentences: If the Direct form is an exclamation, the reporting verb is changed to some such verb as ‘exclaim’, ‘cry out’, ‘pray’, or ‘wish’, and the exclamation is turned into a statement.

But new words and phrases have often to be introduced to express the full meaning, (Reporting verb-টিকে অর্থানুযায়ী exclaim, cry out, pray, wish – ইত্যাদিতে পরিবর্তিত করে বাক্যটিকে সাধারণ statement-এ পরিণত করবে। Interjection-টি বাদ দিয়ে Exclamatory sentence-টিকে Assertive sentence-এ পরিবর্তিত করতে হয়।)

Direct 

• He said to me, “May you be happy.”
• He said to you, “May God .bless you.”

Indirect

• He wished or prayed that I might be happy.
• He prayed that God might bless you

[ অনেক সময় what, how এবং who এই word-গুলি exclamatory sentence-এ ব্যবহৃত হয়ে আতিশয্য ( excess ) বা অভাব (absence) বোঝায়। Indirect Narration করবার সময় তাদের পরিবর্তে অর্থানুযায়ী great, greatly, very, very much, none বা ওই জাতীয় word ব্যবহার করতে হয়।]

table-Words indicating time and place: Adjectives, Adverbs and Verbs in the Direct speech, expressing nearness, are often changed into similar words expressing remoteness:

[Reported speech-এ নিকটে বোঝায় (স্থানবাচক ও কালবাচক) এইরূপ word-গুলি Indirect speech-এ সাধারণত দূরত্ববোধক অনুরূপ শব্দে পরিবর্তিত করতে হয়।]

[ অনেক স ময় what, how এবং who এই word-গুলি exclamatory sentence-এ ব্যবহৃত হয়ে আতিশয্য ( excess ) বা অভাব (absence) বোঝায়।

Indirect Narration করবার সময় তাদের পরিবর্তে অর্থানুযায়ী great, greatly, very, very much, none বা ওই জাতীয় word ব্যবহার করতে হয়।]

Direct 

• He said, “Alas! I am undone !”
• He said, “What a fool I am !”
• He said, “Goodbye, my friends.”’
• “Bless’ his kind heart !” they cried.
• “Bravo! well done” they cried.
• “So help me Heaven !” he cried, “ I will never do so again.”
• He said, “By Jove! What good news

Indirect 

• He cried out in sorrow that he was undone.
• He exclaimed with grief that he was a great fool.
• He bade his friends goodbye. (Or, He bade goodbye to his friends).
• They blessed him for his kind heart.
• They applauded him, for (or said that) he had done well.
• He prayed to Heaven to help him in his resolve not to do so again.
• He swore by Jove that it was very good news.

In the following examples, the indirect speeches have been framed without much addition of new words or phrases:

Direct 

• He said to me, “How happy you are !”
• He said, “What a nice thing it is !”
• He said, “What was my joy to see the thing !”
• I said, “Who knew that this would happen !”

Indirect 

• He told me that I was very happy.
• He said (or exclaimed with joy) that it was a very nice thing.
• He said that his joy to see the thing was very great.
• I said that none knew that that would happen

Questions and Answers: “Yes” and “No”-In changing answers into the Indirect form, sentences are to be given completely by supplying the words understood. (Direct speech-এ যে সব কথা ঊহ্য থাকে Indirect speech-এ তা পূরণ করে দিতে হয়। )

Direct 

• He said, “Thank you.”
• He said, “Curse the rain.”
• He said, “Good morning.”
• He said, “Congratulations!

Indirect 

• He thanked me.
• He cursed the rain.
• He greeted me (or wished me) good morning.
• He congratulated me.

Direct

• “What is your name ?” “Ramesh”.
• I said to him, “How long will you stay ?”
• He replied, “For five days.”
• He said to me, “Are you ill ?” I replied, “No (or Yes) ” 1
• He said to me, “Do you know Ram ?”
• I said, “No”.

Indirect 

• I asked him what his name was. He replied that his name was Ramesh.
• I asked him how long he would stay. He replied that he would stay for five days.
• He asked me if I was ill. I replied that I was not (or that I was).
• He asked me if I knew Ram. I replied that
• I did not.

Direct 

• Yes, Sir, I shall go.
• No, Sir, I have not seen it.

Indirect

• He promised that he would go.
• He denied that he had seen it. Or, He denied having seen it.

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Narration Change Of Passages

When sentences of the same kind’ occur consecutively in the reported speech, the reporting verb is to be used only once in the Indirect speech and the sentences are connected by conjunctions like and, but, etc.

(একই passage-এ একই ধরনের একাধিক sentence থাকলে Indirect করবার সময় reporting verbটি একবারেই থাকে এবং sentence-গুলি সাধারণত and, but ইত্যাদি conjunctions দ্বারা যুক্ত হয়। )

• Direct: Ram said to me, “What is your name? What do you want?”
• Indirect: Ram asked me what my name was and what I wanted.
• Direct: She said, “Ram is a good student. He is very poor.”
• Indirect: She said that Ram was a good student but he was very poor.

When sentences of different kinds (e.g. Assertive, Interrogative, Imperative, Exclamatory, etc.) occur in the reported speech, different reporting verbs are appropriate to the different sentences that have to be used in the indirect form.

(কোনো কোনো সময়ে Direct Narration এ Reported speech-এর মধ্যে বিভিন্ন প্রকারের sentence থাকে, কোনটি Assertive, কোনটি Interrogative, কোনটি Imperative অথবা কোনটি Exclamatory। এইরূপ speech-কে Indirect করবার সময় পূর্বোক্ত নিয়ম অনুসারে বিভিন্ন প্রকারের verb ব্যবহার করতে হয়। ) The teacher said, “Stand up Nabin.

Why have you not prepared for your lesson? I shall write to your father.”

Direct: The teacher ordered Nabin to stand up and asked him why he (Nabin) had not prepared his lesson. He also told him that he would write to his (Nabin’s) father.

Indirect: Indirect speech is very frequently used in reporting dialogues, conversations, etc. Note the following examples:

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Reporting Dialogues And Conversations

Indirect speech is very frequently used in reporting deluges, conversations, etc.

Dr Sen: I am your friend’s physician.
Moni and Ruby: We are your neighbours.

Report: Dr Sen told Moni and Ruby that he (Dr Sen) was their friend’s physician. Moni and Ruby pointed out that they were his (Dr Sen’s) neighbours

Note the changes in pronouns. Use your common sense to change the pronouns. Tenses of reported and reporting verbs also change depending on the time of reporting.

Look at the following examples:

Gargi: I am sorry. I am late today.
Teacher: That is all right. But don’t be late again.

Report:

Immediately afterwards:

Gargi apologises for being late. The teacher tells her not to worry, advising her not to be late again.

As the dialogue was reported immediately afterwards the tenses of the dialogue are retained while writing the report.

After a few days:

Gargi apologised for being late. The teacher told her not to worry and advised her not to be late again.

As the dialogue was reported at a late date, past tense is used in reporting.

Raju: Kanu where are you going?
Kanu: I am going to meet Apu and his family.
Raju: Don’t be late. We shall have to attend a party in the evening.

Report: Raju asked Kanu where he was going. Kanu replied that he was going to meet Apu and his family.

Raju: advised him not to be late as they would have to attend a party in the evening.
Irine: Is it very cold today, Marie?
Marie: Yes, you must put on warm clothes. It is snowing outside.
Irine: Is it? Well, I didn’t know it.

Report: Irine asked Marie if it was very cold that day. Marie replied that it was, and advised Irine to put on warm clothes. It was snowing outside. Irene asked if it was so and then added that she had not known it.

Dialogues and conversations may be converted into reports in many ways. But the converted reports must contain the main points of the dialogues or conversations. Study the following example.

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Actual Conversation

Sunil: Hello!
Subir: Hello! Could I speak to Tushar?
Sunil: I am afraid he is out. Can I take the message?
Subir: Oh, well, this is Subir here. I was wondering if Tushar will be free this afternoon.

I am going to the book exhibition. I’d like him to come with me if he is free. When will he be back?

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Reported Conversation

Here is Sunil’s reported speech. He reports to Tushar about the telephone call from Subir when Tushar comes back:

“When you were out, Subir telephoned. He wanted to know if you would be free this afternoon.

He is going to the book exhibition. He would like you to go with him if you were free. He wanted to know when you would be back.”

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Examples Worked Out

Convert into reported speech:

Question 1. “What are you doing here?” he cried in a gruff voice.
Answer: He cried in a gruff voice and asked what they were doing there.

Question 2. “Perhaps you have left it in the garden,” my aunt would suggest.
Answer: My aunt would suggest that perhaps I had left it in the garden.

Question3. He said, “Your brother has written me a letter.”
Answer: He said that my brother had written him a letter.

Question 4. “Wrap yourself up and don’t go out in the rain,” he said.
Answer: He advised me to wrap myself up and not to go out in the rain.

Question 5. The stranger said to the policeman, “Where is the bus stop?”
Answer: The stranger asked the policeman where the bus stop was.

Question 6. The teacher said, “Everest is the highest peak in the world.”
Answer: The teacher said that Everest is the highest peak in the world.

Question 7. “Let us have a picnic on Sunday,” they said.
Answer: They proposed or suggested that they should have a picnic on Sunday.

Question 8. The girl said to me, “Please remember me.”
Answer: The girl requested me to remember her.

Question 9. The teacher said to me, “Can you do the sum ?”
Answer: The teacher asked me if I could do the sum.

Question 10. Amal said, “Let me come in.”
Answer: Amal requested that he might be allowed to come in.

Question 11. “Have you lost anything today ?” said the teacher to the boy.
Answer: The teacher asked the boy if (or, whether) he had lost anything that day.

Question 12. He said, “I go to bed late at night.”
Answer: He said that he goes to bed late at night.

Question 13. “How shall I go there?” she said.
Answer: She asked how she would go there.

Question 14. “Don’t be late tomorrow”, he said to the boys.
Answer: He told the boys not to be late the next day.

Question 15. He said, “I have seen the boy. Do you know his name?”
Answer: He said that he had seen the boy and asked (or, enquired of) me if I knew his name.

Question 16.

1. Pradip said to me, “Are you going away today?”
2. The teacher said to the boys, “Do not make a noise.”
3. He said, “Alas! I am undone !”

Answer:

1. Pradip asked me if I was going away that day.
2. The teacher told the boys not to make a noise.
3. He cried out in sorrow that he was undone.

Question 17.

1. “What’s the subject this year?” he asked.
2. “Don’t disturb me, please,” said the lawyer to his assistant.

Answer:

1. He asked what the subject was that year.
2. The lawyer requested his assistant not to disturb him.

Question 18.

1. “How happy we were there!” they said to each other.
2. My mother said to my sister, “Would you sing for our visitors ?”
3. “Oh”, said Napoleon, “we can refuse nothing to him.”
4. The boy said, “I saw this old man long ago.”

Answer:

1. They said to each other that they had been very happy there.
2. My mother asked (or, enquired of) my sister if (or, whether) she would sing for our visitors.
3. Napoleon agreed that they could refuse nothing to him.
4. The boy said that he had seen that old man long before.

Question 19.

1. “How I would like to see him !” he used to say.
2. “Who hath dared to wound thee?” cried the Giant.

Answer:

• He used to say that he would have liked to see him very much.

Question 20. “I cannot understand why the spring is so late in coming”, said the Selfish Giant.
Answer: The Selfish Giant said that he could not understand why the spring was so late in coming and hoped there would be a change in the weather.

Question 21. “It is yesterday’s paper !” he would shout, throwing it down on the table.
Answer: He would shout and say that it was the previous day’s paper, throwing it down on the table.

Question 22. Ram said, “I shall go to the club today. Can you also join me ?”
Answer: Ram said that he would go to the club that day and asked me if I could also join him.

Question 23. He said to me, “When will you go home? I shall send my son with you.”
Answer: He asked me when I would go home and said that he would send his son with me.

Question 24. “But Issac, said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs to a mill.” “What is that?” asked Issac.
Answer: One of them told Issac that the latter had forgotten one thing that belonged to a mill. Issac enquired what that was.

Chapter 13 Direct And Indirect Reported Speeches And Reporting Dialogues Worked Out Examples On Reporting Conversations

Report the following conversations:

1. “What’s your name ?” Rabi asked me.
“My name is Chandan”, I said.

Report: Rabi asked me my name (or, Rabi asked me what my name was). I said that my name was Chandan.”

2. Dulal: I am busy. Come in the evening.
Khokan: I am sorry, I can’t come again. I’m leaving for Delhi tonight.

Report: Dulal said that he was busy and asked Khokan to come in the evening.
Khokan regretted that he could not come again, as he was leaving for Delhi that night.

3. “Children, go to bed; it is bedtime,” said Mrs Bose.
“Mother, can we be late for half an hour today?” said the children.

Report: Mrs Bose ordered the children to go to bed as it was bedtime.

But the children asked her if they could be late for half an hour that day.

4. Rebeca: Could you give me some money? Henry Oh yes. How much?

Answer: Rebeca wanted some money and Henry readily agreed, asking her how much she wanted.

5. ‘Who are you’? said the Swallow. I am the happy Prince’, answered the statue. ‘Why are you weeping then’? asked the Swallow; ‘You have quite drenched me.’

Report: The swallow asked the statue who he was. The statue replied that he was the Happy Prince. The Swallow then asked why he was weeping, and said that he (the statue) had quite drenched him.

6. Davy: You have a trade at present, Mr Faraday?
Faraday: Yes, sir, I am a bookbinder.
Davy: And you desire to change?
Faraday: Yes, sir, I am anxious to do so.
Davy: Why?

Report: Davy asked Faraday if he had a trade at that time. Faraday replied politely that he had, and he was a bookbinder. Davy then asked if he desired to change his trade. Faraday said that he was anxious to do so. Davy wanted to know the reason for that.

7. ‘But where is your little companion’? said the Giant, the boy I put into the tree’. ‘We don’t know’, answered the children. ‘He has gone away.’

You must tell him to be sure and come tomorrow’, said the Giant.

Report: The Giant asked the children where their little companion, the boy he had put into the tree, was.

The children answered that they did not know; he had gone away. The Giant said that they must tell him to be sure and come the day after.

8. Dr Vine: Are you trying to teach me my business? Take your coat off at once. Lester: I won’t.

Dr Vine: Oh, yes, you will. Take your coat off when I tell you. I know my business best, and I’ve no time to waste.

Report: Dr Vine enquired of Lester if he was trying to teach him his business. He then ordered him to take his coat off at once. Lester replied that he would not.

Dr. Vine asserted that he would have to, and again ordered him to take his coat off. He knew his business best, and he had no time to waste.

9. Teacher: Why are you late again today?
Student: I missed the bus, sir.
Teacher: Yesterday it was a traffic jam, today you missed the bus. You always have some excuse. I don’t believe you.
Student: Please, believe me, sir.

Report: The teacher asked the student why he was late again that day. The student replied politely that he had missed the bus. The teacher said that the previous day it had been a traffic jam, and that day he had missed the bus.

He always had some excuse and so he did not believe him. The student begged the teacher to believe him.

10. Policeman: Why are you driving on the right side of the road?
Visitor: Do you want me to drive on the wrong side?
Policeman: You are driving on the wrong side.
Visitor: But you said I was driving on the right side.
Policeman: That is right. You’re on the right and that’s wrong.

Report: The Policeman asked the visitor why he was driving on the right side of the road.

The visitor enquired if he (Policeman) wanted him to drive on the wrong side. The Policeman told that he was driving on the wrong side.

The visitor pointed out that he (Policeman) had said that he had been driving on the right side. The Policeman confirmed that to be right; the visitor was on the right and that was wrong.