Reported speech exercises for class 9: In this vast realm of English Grammar, reported speech, commonly known as indirect speech, plays an important role in conveying information relayed from another person. However, for class 9 students, grasping the nuances of reported speech is essential for effective communication and comprehension. The blog article below aims to provide class 9 students with engaging exercises to solidify their preparation.
This Blog Includes:
- What is Reported Speech?
- Reported Speech Rules to Know
- Quiz for Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9
- Exercise 1: Change Direct Speech to Reported Speech
- Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Reported Speech
- Exercise 3: Create Reported Speech
- Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks with the Appropriate Reported Speech
- Exercise 5: Convert Sentences to Indirect Speech
- Exercise 6: Change Into Reported Speech
- Exercise 7: Convert Sentences to Indirect Speech
- Exercise 8: Complete the Sentences to Reported Speech
- FAQs
What is Reported Speech?
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary definition of reported speech is “ A report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” As per the Macmillan Dictionary, the words that you use to report what someone else has said are known are reported speech.
Check out some examples of reported speech to get a basic idea:
- Direct Speech: “I like pizza,” she said.
- Reported Speech: She said she liked pizza.
- Direct Speech: “We will go to the beach tomorrow,” they said.
- Reported Speech: They said they would go to the beach the next day.
MUST READ! Reported Speech: Definition, Rules, Usage with Examples, Tips, Exercises for Students
Reported Speech Rules to Know
Here are some common rules for changing direct speech to reported speech:
➡️ We use conjunctions like ‘if’, and ‘whether’ after the reporting verb in reported speech
➡️ The reporting verb’s tense is never altered.
➡️ The verb of reporting varies according to sense: it can be told, inquired, asked, etc.
➡️ First and foremost, we do not use inverted commas in reported speech which must be clear from the example given above.
Also Read: Useful Idioms for IELTS Exams That Will Boost Your Score
Quiz for Reported Speech Exercises for Class 9
Here’s a quiz on reported speech for students. Each question presents a direct speech statement, and you need to rewrite it in reported speech. Choose the correct option for each question.
Question 1:
Direct Speech: “I love playing the guitar.”
a) He loves playing the guitar.
b) I love playing the guitar.
c) He loved playing the guitar.
d) I loved playing the guitar.
Question 2:
Direct Speech: “We are going to the park tomorrow.”
a) They are going to the park tomorrow.
b) We were going to the park tomorrow.
c) They were going to the park tomorrow.
d) We go to the park tomorrow.
Question 3:
Direct Speech: “She said, ‘I have already finished my homework.'”
a) She said that she already finished her homework.
b) She said that she had already finished her homework.
c) She says that she finished her homework already.
d) She said that she has already finished her homework.
Question 4:
Direct Speech: “The teacher exclaimed, ‘What a wonderful painting!'”
a) The teacher exclaimed that it was a wonderful painting.
b) The teacher exclaimed what a wonderful painting it was.
c) The teacher exclaimed that what a wonderful painting.
d) The teacher exclaimed a wonderful painting.
Question 5:
Direct Speech: “I will call you later.”
a) He said that he will call you later.
b) He said that he would call you later.
c) He says that he will call you later.
d) He says that he would call you later.
Question 6:
Direct Speech: “They said, ‘We haven’t received the email.'”
a) They said that they haven’t received the email.
b) They said that they didn’t receive the email.
c) They said that they hadn’t received the email.
d) They say that they haven’t received the email.
Question 7:
Direct Speech: “Tom said, ‘I can swim.'”
a) Tom said that he could swim.
b) Tom says that he could swim.
c) Tom said that he can swim.
d) Tom says that he can swim.
Answers:
- b) I love playing the guitar.
- a) They are going to the park tomorrow.
- b) She said that she had already finished her homework.
- b) The teacher exclaimed what a wonderful painting it was.
- b) He said that he would call you later.
- c) They said that they hadn’t received the email.
- a) Tom said that he could swim.
Also Read: 50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Interrogative Sentences
Exercise 1: Change Direct Speech to Reported Speech
Following are some useful reported speech exercises for class 9. Convert the following sentences from direct speech to reported speech:
Direct Speech: She said, “I am going to the store.”
Reported Speech: She said that she was going to the store.
Direct Speech: He said, “I will finish the project by Friday.”
Reported Speech: He said that he would finish the project by Friday.
Direct Speech: “We have completed our homework,” they said.
Reported Speech: They said that they had completed their homework.
Direct Speech: “They are coming to the party,” she said.
Reported Speech: She said that they were coming to the party.
Direct Speech: “I can speak French,” he said.
Reported Speech: He said that he could speak French.
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Reported Speech
Read the following sentences and choose the correct reported speech option:
Direct Speech: “I saw Sarah yesterday,” Tom said.
a) Tom said he had seen Sarah yesterday.
b) Tom said he sees Sarah yesterday.
Correct Answer: a) Tom said he had seen Sarah yesterday.
Direct Speech: “I’m going to the cinema tonight,” she said.
a) She said she was going to the cinema that night.
b) She said she is going to the cinema tonight.
Correct Answer: a) She said she was going to the cinema that night.
Direct Speech: “We will travel to Paris next week,” they said.
a) They said they will travel to Paris next week.
b) They said they would travel to Paris the following week.
Correct Answer: b) They said they would travel to Paris the following week.
Direct Speech: “I have finished my work,” he said.
a) He said he has finished his work.
b) He said he had finished his work.
Correct Answer: b) He said he had finished his work.
Direct Speech: “I’m cooking dinner right now,” she said.
a) She said she was cooking dinner right then.
b) She said she is cooking dinner right now.
Correct Answer: a) She said she was cooking dinner right then.
Must Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples
Exercise 3: Create Reported Speech
Form reported speech for the following direct speech sentences:
Direct Speech: “She will be here soon,” he said.
Reported Speech: He mentioned that she would be there soon.
Direct Speech: “I don’t like seafood,” she said.
Reported Speech: She expressed that she didn’t like seafood.
Direct Speech: “They were studying in the library,” he said.
Reported Speech: He mentioned that they had been studying in the library.
Direct Speech: “I am working on a new project,” she said.
Reported Speech: She mentioned that she was working on a new project.
Direct Speech: “We have completed the assignment,” they said.
Reported Speech: They confirmed that they had completed the assignment.
Also Read: Tenses Rules: Charts, Examples, Types [PDF Available]
Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks with the Appropriate Reported Speech
Practise the following direct sentences to appropriate report speech.
She said, “I have been to Paris before.”
Reported Speech: She mentioned that she had been to Paris before.
“We will come early,” they said.
Reported Speech: They said that they would come early.
“He’s writing a novel,” she said.
Reported Speech: She mentioned that he was writing a novel.
“I won’t be able to attend the meeting,” he said.
Reported Speech: He said that he wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting.
“We were watching a movie,” they said.
Reported Speech: They mentioned that they had been watching a movie.
Also Read: Adjective: Definition, Usage, Example, Forms, Types
Exercise 5: Convert Sentences to Indirect Speech
Change the following sentences into indirect speech:
- He said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
- He said, “The sun rises in the east.”
- Rakesh said, “I am an early riser.”
- She said, “God is omnipresent.”
- The teacher said, “The First World War started in 1914.”
Exploring the Types of Reported Speech: A Complete Guide
Exercise 6: Change Into Reported Speech
Read the following sentences and convert them into reported speech.
- Rahul said, “I get up early every morning.”
- Andrew said, “I can do this work.”
- Priya said, “It is hot outside.”
- Raj said to Marie, “I will go to London tomorrow.”
- Archie said to me, “I will cook today’s dinner.”
Check Your Answers:
- Rahul said that he got up early every morning.
- Andrew said that he could do that work.
- Priya said that it was hot outside.
- Raj informed Marie that he would go to London the next day.
- Archie said to me that he would cook that day’s dinner.
Must Read: Reported Speech For Class 10: Exciting Exercises with Answers [PDF]
Exercise 7: Convert Sentences to Indirect Speech
Convert the following direct speech sentences into indirect speech.
- Direct Speech: “I love playing basketball,” said Sarah.
- Direct Speech: “We are going to visit Paris next month,” said Tom.
- Direct Speech: “She has already finished her homework,” said Jack.
- Direct Speech: “They will arrive at 9 o’clock,” said the receptionist.
- Direct Speech: “I have never been to Japan,” said Emily.
Answers:
- Sarah said that she loved playing basketball.
- Tom said that they were going to visit Paris the following month.
- Jack said that she had already finished her homework.
- The receptionist said that they would arrive at 9 o’clock.
- Emily said that she had never been to Japan.
Exercise 8: Complete the Sentences to Reported Speech
FAQs
Reported speech exercises help reinforce understanding of how to report what someone else has said. They aid in learning how to shift verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, and other changes when reporting speech.
When converting direct speech to reported speech, pay attention to the changes in verb tenses, pronouns, time expressions, and other relevant modifications based on the context and the tense used in the original sentence.
Common changes include the shift of tenses (present to past, future to conditional), pronoun changes, changes in time expressions (today to that day, tomorrow to the next day), and changes in modal verbs (can to could, will to would, etc.).
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