Direct and Indirect Speech
ICSE · Class 8 · English Language: Grammar and Composition
Flashcards for Direct and Indirect Speech — ICSE Class 8 English Language: Grammar and Composition. Quick Q&A cards covering key concepts, definitions, and formulas.
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What is direct speech?
Answer
Direct speech reproduces the exact words of the speaker and is set off by inverted commas. Example: "I am really sorry for the mistake."…
What is indirect or reported speech?
Answer
Indirect speech expresses the speaker's words in the reporter's own words. It does not use inverted commas and usually uses a reporting word like said, told, or asked. Example: Ila said that she was r…
Why do we change words while reporting speech?
Answer
While reporting speech, care is needed for tenses, personal pronouns and possessives, and words showing nearness of time and place. Inverted commas are dropped, and a conjunction such as that, if, or …
What happens to the tense if the reporting verb is in present or future tense?
Answer
If the reporting verb is in present or future tense, the tense in the reported speech remains unchanged. Example: Indu says that the teacher is going to teach a new topic.
What happens to the tense if the reporting verb is in past tense?
Answer
If the reporting verb is in past tense, the tense in the reported speech usually changes to a corresponding past tense. Example: Renu said that she was not free that day, for Anu was coming to meet he…
What is the tense change for is/are/am and was/were in indirect speech?
Answer
With a past reporting verb: is/are/am changes to was/were, and was/were changes to had been. Example: I am really sorry becomes she was really sorry.
What is the tense change for has/have, do, and did in indirect speech?
Answer
With a past reporting verb: has/have changes to had, do changes to did, and did changes to had done. Example: has taken over becomes had taken over.
What is the tense change for will/shall, may/can, and must in indirect speech?
Answer
With a past reporting verb: will/shall changes to would, may/can changes to might/could, and must changes to had to. Example: will be held becomes would be held.
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