Reported Speech (Direct & Indirect) - RBSE Class 10 English Grammar Complete Guide 2025-26

Reported Speech (Direct & Indirect)

प्रत्यक्ष एवं अप्रत्यक्ष कथन | Narration Change

RBSE Class 10 English Grammar | Board Exam 2025-26 | 1 Mark

🎯 What You Will Learn

Direct और Indirect Speech में अंतर
सभी 12 Tenses में बदलाव के नियम
SON Rule for Pronoun Changes
4 प्रकार के वाक्यों के Rules
55+ Practice Questions with Answers

Mark

Tense Rules

Sentence Types

55+

Questions

📋 Table of Contents

What is Reported Speech?
Direct vs Indirect Speech
Tense Change Rules
Pronoun Changes (SON Rule)
Time & Place Changes
Assertive Sentences

Interrogative Sentences
Imperative Sentences
Exclamatory Sentences
When Tense Does NOT Change
Practice Questions (55+)
FAQ for Google Snippets

01 What is Reported Speech?

Reported Speech (also called Indirect Speech or Narration) is a way of reporting what someone else has said without using their exact words.

Reported Speech (जिसे Indirect Speech या Narration भी कहते हैं) किसी की बात को उसके exact शब्दों के बिना बताने का तरीका है।

📝 Key Terms

Term	Meaning	Example
Reporting Verb	said, told, asked	He said, "I am happy."
Reported Speech	Actual words (in quotes)	He said, "I am happy."
Direct Speech	Exact words in " "	Ram said, "I am tired."
Indirect Speech	Reported without quotes	Ram said that he was tired.

02 Direct vs Indirect Speech

🔵 Direct Speech

Exact words of speaker
Uses quotation marks (" ")
Speaker के शब्द ज्यों के त्यों

Ram said, "I am reading a book."

🔴 Indirect Speech

Reported words (not exact)
No quotation marks
Uses "that" as connector

Ram said that he was reading a book.

🌟 FOUR MAIN CHANGES IN INDIRECT SPEECH 🌟

1
Tense
काल बदलो

2
Pronoun
सर्वनाम बदलो

3
Time Words
समय शब्द बदलो

4
Place Words
स्थान शब्द बदलो

03 Tense Change Rules (काल परिवर्तन)

⚠️ Important: Tense changes only when Reporting Verb is in Past Tense (said, told, asked)

Direct Speech	→	Indirect Speech
PRESENT → PAST
Simple Present (V1/V1+s)	→	Simple Past (V2)
Present Continuous (is/am/are + V-ing)	→	Past Continuous (was/were + V-ing)
Present Perfect (has/have + V3)	→	Past Perfect (had + V3)
PAST → PAST PERFECT
Simple Past (V2)	→	Past Perfect (had + V3)
Past Continuous (was/were + V-ing)	→	Past Perfect Cont. (had been + V-ing)
Past Perfect (had + V3)	→	No Change
MODALS → PAST MODALS
will / shall	→	would
can	→	could
may	→	might
must (obligation)	→	had to
NO CHANGE: would, could, might, should, ought to, used to

📝 Examples

1. Simple Present → Simple Past:

Direct: He said, "I write a letter." → Indirect: He said that he wrote a letter.

2. Present Continuous → Past Continuous:

Direct: She said, "I am reading." → Indirect: She said that she was reading.

3. Present Perfect → Past Perfect:

Direct: He said, "I have finished." → Indirect: He said that he had finished.

4. Will → Would:

Direct: He said, "I will help you." → Indirect: He said that he would help me.

04 Pronoun Changes - SON Rule

🌟 SON RULE - याद करने का आसान तरीका 🌟

Subject

1st Person (I, we) → Subject के अनुसार

Object

2nd Person (you) → Object के अनुसार

No Change

3rd Person (he, she, they) → No Change

Person	Direct	→	Indirect	Rule
1st	I, me, my, we, us, our	→	he/she, him/her, his/her, they, them, their	Subject
2nd	you, your	→	I/he/she/they, my/his/her/their	Object
3rd	he, she, it, they, him, her, them	→	No Change	No Change

📝 SON Rule Examples:

S Rule: He said, "I am happy." → He said that he was happy.

O Rule: He said to me, "You are intelligent." → He told me that I was intelligent.

N Rule: He said, "She is my sister." → He said that she was his sister.

05 Time & Place Word Changes

⏰ Time Words

Direct	→	Indirect
now	→	then
today	→	that day
yesterday	→	the previous day
tomorrow	→	the next day
last week	→	the previous week
next month	→	the following month
ago	→	before

📍 Place Words

Direct	→	Indirect
here	→	there
this	→	that
these	→	those
come	→	go
bring	→	take

06 Assertive Sentences (कथनात्मक वाक्य)

📋 Rules:

Remove quotation marks (" ") and comma
"said to" → "told"
Add "that" after reporting verb
Change tense, pronoun, time/place

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
He said, "I am busy."	He said that he was busy.
She said to me, "You are late."	She told me that I was late.
They said, "We have finished."	They said that they had finished.
Ram said, "I will come tomorrow."	Ram said that he would come the next day.

07 Interrogative Sentences (प्रश्नवाचक वाक्य)

📋 Two Types:

Type 1 (Yes/No): Starting with is, am, are, do, did, will, can → Use if/whether

Type 2 (Wh-): Starting with what, who, where, when, why, how → Keep Wh-word

🔴 Type 1: Yes/No Questions

Direct	Indirect
He said, "Are you happy?"	He asked if/whether I was happy.
She said, "Do you like tea?"	She asked if/whether I liked tea.
He said, "Will you come?"	He asked if/whether I would come.

🟢 Type 2: Wh-Questions

Direct	Indirect
He said, "Where do you live?"	He asked where I lived.
She said, "What is your name?"	She asked what my name was.
He said, "Why are you crying?"	He asked why I was crying.

08 Imperative Sentences (आज्ञार्थक वाक्य)

📋 Reporting Verb Selection:

Order:	ordered, commanded
Request (Please):	requested
Advice:	advised
Don't:	forbade, warned + not to

Direct	Indirect
He said, "Open the door."	He ordered me to open the door.
She said, "Please help me."	She requested me to help her.
Father said, "Work hard."	Father advised me to work hard.
He said, "Don't make noise."	He forbade me not to make noise.

09 Exclamatory Sentences (विस्मयादिबोधक वाक्य)

📋 Reporting Verbs:

Hurrah!	exclaimed with joy
Alas!	exclaimed with sorrow
What!/How!	exclaimed with surprise/wonder
Bravo!	applauded

Direct	Indirect
He said, "Hurrah! We have won."	He exclaimed with joy that they had won.
She said, "Alas! I am ruined."	She exclaimed with sorrow that she was ruined.
He said, "What a beautiful flower!"	He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful flower.

10 When Tense Does NOT Change

⚠️ Exceptions - Tense does NOT change when:

Universal Truth: The sun rises in the east. (No change)
Habitual Facts: I always drink tea. (No change)
Historical Facts: India got freedom in 1947. (No change)
Proverbs: Honesty is the best policy. (No change)
Reporting Verb in Present/Future: He says/will say that...
Already Past Perfect: had + V3 doesn't change

🧠 Memory Tricks (याद करने के तरीके)

🎯 SON Rule

Subject → 1st Person
Object → 2nd Person
No Change → 3rd Person

🎯 TIP Rule

Today → That day
Tomorrow → Next day
Yesterday → Previous day

🎯 RAFO Rule

Requested (Please)
Advised (सलाह)
Forbade (Don't)
Ordered (आदेश)

11 Practice Questions (55+ प्रश्न)

🟢 Level 1: Assertive (Q1-15)

Change into Indirect Speech:

Q1. He said, "I am very busy now."

Q2. She said, "I have done my homework."

Q3. Ram said to me, "You are my best friend."

Q4. They said, "We shall come tomorrow."

Q5. She said, "I was reading a book."

Q6. He said, "I can swim well."

Q7. Mother said, "I cooked food yesterday."

Q8. The teacher said, "The earth moves around the sun."

Q9. He said to her, "I love you."

Q10. She said, "I may go to Delhi."

Q11. Ram said, "I am writing a letter."

Q12. She said, "I had finished my work."

Q13. He said, "I must go now."

Q14. They said, "We have been living here for ten years."

Q15. She said to him, "You should work hard."

🟡 Level 2: Interrogative (Q16-30)

Q16. He said to me, "Are you coming to the party?"

Q17. She said, "Do you like ice cream?"

Q18. He said, "Where do you live?"

Q19. She said, "What is your name?"

Q20. He said, "Why are you late?"

Q21. Mother said, "Have you done your homework?"

Q22. He said, "When will you return?"

Q23. She said, "How did you solve this problem?"

Q24. He said to her, "Will you marry me?"

Q25. She said, "Who broke the window?"

Q26. He said, "Can you help me?"

Q27. She said, "Which book do you want?"

Q28. Teacher said, "Did you understand the lesson?"

Q29. He said, "How long have you been waiting?"

Q30. She said, "Whose pen is this?"

🔴 Level 3: Imperative & Exclamatory (Q31-45)

Q31. He said to me, "Open the door."

Q32. She said, "Please help me."

Q33. Father said, "Work hard."

Q34. He said, "Don't make a noise."

Q35. Teacher said, "Sit down."

Q36. She said, "Please give me some water."

Q37. He said, "Don't touch the wire."

Q38. Mother said, "Always speak the truth."

Q39. He said, "Hurrah! We have won the match."

Q40. She said, "Alas! I have lost my purse."

Q41. He said, "What a beautiful scene!"

Q42. She said, "How foolish you are!"

Q43. He said, "Bravo! You have done well."

Q44. She said, "What a lovely dress!"

Q45. He said, "How hot the weather is!"

📝 MCQ Type (Q46-55)

Q46. He said, "I am tired." The indirect speech is:

(a) He said that I am tired. (b) He said that he is tired.
(c) He said that he was tired. (d) He said that I was tired.

Q47. She said to me, "Are you coming?" The indirect speech is:

(a) She asked me that I was coming.
(b) She asked me if I was coming.
(c) She said me whether I was coming. (d) She told me if I was coming.

Q48. He said, "Where do you live?" The indirect speech is:

(a) He asked that where I lived. (b) He asked if where I lived.
(c) He asked where I lived. (d) He asked where did I live.

Q49. She said, "Please help me." The indirect speech is:

(a) She ordered me to help her.
(b) She requested me to help her.
(c) She advised me to help her. (d) She told me to help her.

Q50. He said, "Hurrah! We have won." The indirect speech is:

(a) He said with joy that they have won.
(b) He exclaimed with joy that they had won.
(c) He exclaimed that they have won. (d) He told with joy that they won.

Q51. "now" changes to _______ in indirect speech:

(a) today (b) that day (c) then (d) this

Q52. "said to" changes to _______ for statements:

(a) asked (b) ordered (c) told (d) requested

Q53. For Yes/No questions, we use:

(a) that (b) what (c) if/whether (d) who

Q54. "can" changes to _______ in indirect speech:

(a) can (b) may (c) could (d) might

Q55. Which sentence keeps the same tense in indirect speech?

(a) He said, "I am happy."
(b) He said, "The sun rises in the east."
(c) He said, "I will come." (d) He said, "I can swim."

📋 Answer Key (उत्तर कुंजी)

🟢 Level 1 Answers (Q1-15)

Q	Indirect Speech
1	He said that he was very busy then.
2	She said that she had done her homework.
3	Ram told me that I was his best friend.
4	They said that they would come the next day.
5	She said that she had been reading a book.
6	He said that he could swim well.
7	Mother said that she had cooked food the previous day.
8	The teacher said that the earth moves around the sun.
9	He told her that he loved her.
10	She said that she might go to Delhi.
11	Ram said that he was writing a letter.
12	She said that she had finished her work.
13	He said that he had to go then.
14	They said that they had been living there for ten years.
15	She told him that he should work hard.

🟡 Level 2 Answers (Q16-30)

Q	Indirect Speech
16	He asked me if/whether I was coming to the party.
17	She asked if/whether I liked ice cream.
18	He asked where I lived.
19	She asked what my name was.
20	He asked why I was late.
21	Mother asked if/whether I had done my homework.
22	He asked when I would return.
23	She asked how I had solved that problem.
24	He asked her if/whether she would marry him.
25	She asked who had broken the window.
26	He asked if/whether I could help him.
27	She asked which book I wanted.
28	Teacher asked if/whether I had understood the lesson.
29	He asked how long I had been waiting.
30	She asked whose pen that was.

🔴 Level 3 Answers (Q31-45)

Q	Indirect Speech
31	He ordered me to open the door.
32	She requested me to help her.
33	Father advised me to work hard.
34	He forbade me to make a noise.
35	Teacher ordered them to sit down.
36	She requested me to give her some water.
37	He warned me not to touch the wire.
38	Mother advised me to always speak the truth.
39	He exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
40	She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
41	He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful scene.
42	She exclaimed that I was very foolish.
43	He applauded saying that I had done well.
44	She exclaimed that it was a very lovely dress.
45	He exclaimed that the weather was very hot.

📝 MCQ Answers (Q46-55)

Q46	Q47	Q48	Q49	Q50	Q51	Q52	Q53	Q54	Q55
(c)	(b)	(c)	(b)	(b)	(c)	(c)	(c)	(c)	(b)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the SON Rule in Reported Speech?

A: SON Rule helps change pronouns: S (Subject) - 1st person changes according to subject. O (Object) - 2nd person changes according to object. N (No change) - 3rd person remains unchanged.

Q: What is the difference between Direct and Indirect Speech?

A: Direct Speech uses exact words in quotation marks. Indirect Speech reports without quotation marks and changes tense, pronoun, and time/place words.

Q: When does tense NOT change in Indirect Speech?

A: Tense does not change for: Universal truths, historical facts, habitual actions, proverbs, and when reporting verb is in present/future tense.

Q: How to change Yes/No questions to Indirect Speech?

A: Use "if" or "whether" after "asked" and convert question to statement form. Example: "Are you happy?" becomes "He asked if I was happy."

Q: What reporting verbs are used for Imperative sentences?

A: Use ordered/commanded for orders, requested for please, advised for advice, and forbade/warned for don't.

📚 Previous Year RBSE Board Questions

RBSE 2023: He said to me, "Where are you going?"

Answer: He asked me where I was going.

RBSE 2022: She said, "I have finished my homework."

Answer: She said that she had finished her homework.

RBSE 2021: The teacher said to the students, "Work hard."

Answer: The teacher advised the students to work hard.

RBSE 2020: He said, "What a beautiful place it is!"

Answer: He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful place.

🎯 Board Exam Tips

Most Important

Assertive Sentences
Interrogative (Yes/No + Wh)
Tense Change Table

Quick Steps

Identify sentence type
Change reporting verb
Apply SON Rule
Change Tense + Time

Common Mistakes

Pronoun change bhoolna
Question mein "that" lagana
Time words na badalna

Reported Speech (Direct & Indirect) - RBSE Class 10 Grammar