“NCERT Class 10 English Guide: Mastering Reported Speech for Perfect Scores”
Achieving full marks in reported speech questions in your Class 10th English NCERT exam requires a clear understanding of how to convert direct speech into reported speech (also known as indirect speech) and vice versa. Here are some comprehensive strategies and tips to help you secure those 2 marks effortlessly.
Understand the Concept
Reported speech is used to tell someone what another person said, without quoting them directly. It usually involves changes to the tense, pronouns, and sometimes the time and place.
Key Changes to Remember
- Tense Shift: When converting from direct to reported speech, the tense usually shifts back one step if the reporting verb is in the past tense. For example, present simple shifts to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, and so on.
- Direct: He says, “I am reading.”
- Reported: He says that he is reading. (No change if the reporting verb is in present tense)
- Reported: He said that he was reading. (Change because the reporting verb is in past tense)
- Pronoun Changes: Pronouns change according to the context and perspective of the speaker.
- Direct: She says, “I enjoy dancing.”
- Reported: She says that she enjoys dancing.
- Time and Place Words: Words indicating time and place change to reflect the shift in the point of reference.
- Direct: “I will see you tomorrow,” he said.
- Reported: He said that he would see me the next day.
- Present Simple: Changes to Past Simple (e.g., “She says, ‘I am happy.'” becomes “She said she was happy.”)
- Present Continuous: Changes to Past Continuous (e.g., “He is playing now.” becomes “He said he was playing then.”)
- Present Perfect: Changes to Past Perfect (e.g., “They have finished their work.” becomes “They said they had finished their work.”)
- Future Simple: Changes to Past Conditional (e.g., “I will help you.” becomes “She said she would help me.”)
Pronoun Shift:
First Person (I, we) in Direct Speech: Changes to Third Person (he, she, they, we) in Reported Speech if the speaker is different from the reporting verb’s subject. (e.g., “I am here.” becomes “He said he was there.”)
Second Person (you) in Direct Speech: Changes to Third Person (he, she, they) in Reported Speech. (e.g., “Can you help me?” becomes “She asked if he could help her.”)
Demonstratives (this, that, these, those) in Direct Speech: May change depending on the context in Reported Speech. (e.g., “This is my book.” becomes “She said that was her book.”) (This is because the reference point changes from the speaker in direct speech to the reporting verb in indirect speech.)
Practice with Variety
Expose yourself to different forms of sentences in direct speech – statements, questions, commands, requests, and exclamations – and practice converting them into reported speech.
Know the Exceptions
Certain verbs like ‘tell’ require an object after them in reported speech. Also, if the direct speech is already in a past tense and reporting something still true, the tense may not change.
Regular Practice
Practice is key. Use worksheets, online quizzes, and past question papers to get accustomed to various sentence structures and reporting verbs.
Pay Attention to Instructions
In the exam, read the question carefully to understand what is required – converting direct speech to reported speech or vice versa – and follow the instructions precisely.
Review and Proofread
After writing your answer, review it to ensure that all the necessary changes have been made correctly. Look for tense, pronoun, time, and place changes.
Use Mnemonics
To remember the sequence of tenses and other changes, create mnemonics or short memory aids that can help you recall the rules quickly during exams.
Practice with Real Conversations
Try converting real-life conversations into reported speech. This not only enhances your understanding but also makes the learning process more engaging and practical.
Seek Feedback
Have your answers reviewed by teachers or peers to identify areas of improvement and gain confidence in your ability to use reported speech accurately.
Mastering reported speech involves understanding its rules, recognizing the context, and applying the changes accurately. By following these strategies and incorporating them into your study routine, you can ensure you’re well-prepared to tackle any reported speech questions in your Class 10th English NCERT exam and achieve full marks.