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Syllabus

Direct and Indirect Speech — Syllabus

ICSE · Class 8 · English Language: Grammar and Composition

What Direct and Indirect Speech covers in ICSE Class 8 English Language: Grammar and Composition: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session.

79 questions30 flashcards2 formulas & key relations5 concepts

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4 Topics · ICSE Class 8 English Language: Grammar and Composition · 2026-27

Topics in Direct and Indirect Speech

1

Core Ideas

  • Direct speech reproduces the exact words of the speaker, set off by inverted commas.
  • Indirect speech expresses the speech in the reporter's own words.
  • Direct speech is set off by inverted commas.
2

Tense Changes in Indirect Speech

  • With a past reporting verb, is/are/am changes to was/were.
  • was/were changes to had been.
  • had been has no change.
3

Pronoun and Time Place Changes

  • First person pronouns change according to who the speaker is.
  • Second person pronouns change according to the person being addressed.
  • Third person pronouns remain unchanged in indirect speech.
4

Reporting Statements

  • Say is used without a personal object, and tell is used with a personal object.
  • Say may be retained or changed to tell when reporting statements.
  • That is used as a conjunction for reporting statements and can sometimes be omitted.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Reporting speech by changing words, tenses, pronouns, and time or place expressions

Direct speechIndirect speechReporting verbsTense changesPronoun changesTime and place wordsStatementsQuestions

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Direct and Indirect Speech for ICSE Class 8 English Language: Grammar and Composition?
Key topics in Direct and Indirect Speech include Core Ideas, Tense Changes in Indirect Speech, Pronoun and Time Place Changes, Reporting Statements. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 8 exams.
How should I revise Direct and Indirect Speech for Class 8 exams?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 79 practice questions on Direct and Indirect Speech. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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All ICSE Class 8 English Language: Grammar and Composition Syllabus

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