Reporting the Message: Indirect Speech for Class 7

This Grade 7 worksheet introduces Indirect (Reported) Speech, where students learn to report what someone said without using their exact words. The focus is on changing pronouns, tenses, and time expressions to fit the reporting context.

Why Indirect Speech Matters in Grammar?

Indirect speech is crucial for summarizing information. For Grade 7 students, mastering it is key because:
1. It is used to report news, stories, and conversations.
2. It improves narrative flow by avoiding repetitive dialogue.
3. It teaches the logical relationship between tenses (backshifting).
4. It enhances reading comprehension and summarization skills.

What’s Inside This Worksheet?

This worksheet includes five grammar-rich activities that build fluency with Indirect Speech:

Exercise 1 – Multiple Choice Questions
Students identify the correct Indirect Speech version of a sentence, ensuring proper tense and pronoun changes.

Exercise 2 – True or False
Learners evaluate statements about the rules and characteristics of converting speech into indirect form.

Exercise 3 – Fill in the Blanks
Students complete sentences regarding the specific changes required in Indirect Speech, such as changing 'this' to 'that'.

Exercise 4 – Sentence Rewriting
Students convert sentences from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech, applying backshifting and pronoun adjustments.

Exercise 5 – Paragraph Writing
Learners fill in the blanks in a news report using appropriate reporting verbs (e.g., announced, warned) that fit the context of the statements.

Answer Key (For Parents & Educators)

Exercise No. 1 Choose the correct answer from the options.
1. a) Rahul said that he lived in Delhi.
2. b) Anjali told me that she liked painting.
3. a) The teacher said the earth revolves.
4. b) Arjun said that he could swim well.
5. a) Neha told Pooja that she would come.
6. b) Kartik said that he had finished it.
7. a) Diya said that she is learning dance now.
8. b) Aryan said that he might visit Jaipur.
9. a) Nisha said that she had seen the fort.
10. b) Rohan said that he was studying then.

Exercise No. 2 Tick T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false.
1. Indirect speech reports words without quotes. T
2. Indirect speech changes pronouns to suit reporter. T
3. Indirect speech always uses the present tense. F
4. Indirect speech is also called reported speech. T
5. The tense does not change in indirect speech. F
6. Quotation marks are used in indirect speech. F
7. Indirect speech keeps the exact spoken words. F
8. That often links the reporting verb to the clause. T
9. Said and told are common reporting verbs. T
10. Pronouns change to match the speaker's view. F

Exercise No. 3 Fill in the blanks with the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1. The word 'this' changes to that in Indirect.
2. The word 'here' changes to there in Indirect.
3. The word 'today' changes to that day.
4. The word 'tomorrow' changes to the next day.
5. The word 'that' links the verb to the clause.
6. The pronoun 'I' changes to match the reporter.
7. The modal 'can' changes to could in Indirect.
8. The modal 'will' changes to would.
9. General truths do not change tense at all.
10. The word 'now' changes to then in Indirect.

Exercise No. 4 Rewrite the following sentences according to the directions given on the right.
1. Anjali said, “I am going to Agra.” -> Anjali said that she was going to Agra.
2. The teacher said, “The test is quite easy.” -> The teacher said that the test was quite easy.
3. Neha said, “I will come to the party today.” -> Neha said that she would come to the party that day.
4. Rahul said, “I like the movie very much.” -> Rahul said that he liked the movie very much.
5. Arjun said, “I have finished my homework.” -> Arjun said that he had finished his homework.
6. Pooja said, “I can solve the problem easily.” -> Pooja said that she could solve the problem easily.
7. Diya said, “I was reading a novel yesterday.” -> Diya said that she had been reading a novel the previous day.
8. Kartik said, “I visited the Red Fort last week.” -> Kartik said that he had visited the Red Fort the previous week.
9. Rohan said, “I am feeling very unwell today.” -> Rohan said that he was feeling very unwell that day.
10. Nisha said, “I shall join the school choir.” -> Nisha said that she would join the school choir.

Exercise No. 5 Read the paragraph and fill in the blanks with the correct words using the hints given below.
The reporter stated that a severe cyclone had struck the coast of Chennai early that very morning. She explained that the government was sending rescue teams to the worst affected areas. The minister declared that all schools would remain closed the following day for safety. A fisherman reported that his boat had been completely damaged by the strong winds. The weather office warned that heavy rainfall would continue for two more days at least. Several residents mentioned that they were moving to safer shelters with their families and belongings. The reporter announced that volunteers were distributing food packets and water to the victims. An elderly woman claimed that she had never seen such a terrible storm in her life. The relief commissioner assured that help would reach every single village by nightfall today. Everyone expected that the situation would improve very soon and life would return to normal.

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