Chapter: UNIT 9 Direct and Indirect Speech
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition class 8
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
direct speechindirect speechreporting verbreported speechassertiveinterrogativeimperativeoptativeexclamatorylinkerquotation marktensemodalsubjectobjectpronounaskenquireordercommandrequestbegforbidproposesuggestwishprayexclaimjoysorrowwondergreetingfarewellnowthentodaythat daytomorrowthe following dayheretheremaymightwillwouldshallshould
📃 Word Formation Rules
► Direct + speech forms the compound noun direct speech, meaning প্রত্যক্ষ উক্তি.
► Indirect + speech forms the compound noun indirect speech, meaning পরোক্ষ উক্তি.
► Report + -ed forms reported, meaning প্রতিবেদন করা হয়েছে or জানানো হয়েছে.
► Report + -ing forms reporting, meaning প্রতিবেদনকারী or বক্তব্য জানানোর.
► Quote + -ation forms quotation, meaning উদ্ধৃতি.
► Interrogate + -ive forms interrogative, meaning প্রশ্নবোধক.
► Exclaim + -ation forms exclamation, meaning বিস্ময়সূচক উক্তি.
► Habit + -ual forms habitual, meaning অভ্যাসগত.
► Universal = uni- meaning one or all + versal meaning related to the whole; it means সর্বজনীন.
► Connect + -or forms connector, meaning সংযোজক.
► Propose and suggest are verbs used to express a proposal; their related nouns are proposal and suggestion.
► Request, command, order, wish and prayer can function as both nouns and verbs depending on sentence structure.
1. Core Terms of Speech (8 words)
direct speech[/dəˈrekt spiːtʃ/]nouneasy
Meaning: প্রত্যক্ষ উক্তি; বক্তার কথাকে হুবহু প্রকাশ করা
Alt: quoted speech
Example: In direct speech, the speaker's exact words are placed within quotation marks.
Syn: quoted speechAnt: indirect speech
💡 Exam tip: Direct speech uses inverted commas and usually keeps the original words unchanged.
indirect speech[/ˌɪndəˈrekt spiːtʃ/]nouneasy
Meaning: পরোক্ষ উক্তি; বক্তার বক্তব্য নিজের ভাষায় প্রকাশ করা
Alt: reported speech
Example: In indirect speech, the reporter conveys the speaker's message in his or her own words.
Syn: reported speechAnt: direct speech
💡 Exam tip: Indirect speech normally does not use inverted commas.
report[/rɪˈpɔːrt/]verbeasy
Meaning: জানানো; কারও বক্তব্য অন্যকে বলা
Alt: বিবরণ দেওয়া
Example: The student reported what the teacher had said.
Syn: convey, relateAnt: conceal
💡 Exam tip: Common reporting verbs include say, tell, ask, request and exclaim.
reporting verb[/rɪˈpɔːrtɪŋ vɜːrb/]nounmedium
Meaning: উক্তি প্রকাশকারী ক্রিয়া
Alt: বক্তব্য জানানোর verb
Example: In the sentence 'He said that he was ill', 'said' is the reporting verb.
Syn: speech verb
💡 Exam tip: The reporting verb often determines whether the tense changes.
reported speech[/rɪˈpɔːrtɪd spiːtʃ/]nounmedium
Meaning: যে বক্তব্য প্রতিবেদন করা হয়
Alt: পরোক্ষ বক্তব্য
Example: The reported speech follows the reporting verb in an indirect sentence.
Syn: indirect speechAnt: direct speech
💡 Exam tip: The reported speech is the message inside the quotation marks in direct speech.
quotation mark[/kwəʊˈteɪʃən mɑːrk/]nouneasy
Meaning: উদ্ধৃতি চিহ্ন; “ ” চিহ্ন
Alt: inverted comma
Example: Quotation marks show the exact words of a speaker.
Syn: inverted comma
💡 Exam tip: Remove quotation marks when changing direct speech into indirect speech.
linker[/ˈlɪŋkər/]nounmedium
Meaning: সংযোজক শব্দ; দুটি অংশ যুক্তকারী শব্দ
Alt: connector
Example: The word 'that' is used as a linker in many assertive sentences.
Syn: connector, conjunction
💡 Exam tip: Use that for assertive, optative and exclamatory sentences; use if or whether for yes-no questions.
convey[/kənˈveɪ/]verbmedium
Meaning: প্রকাশ করা; পৌঁছে দেওয়া
Alt: বক্তব্য জানানো
Example: The reporter conveyed the message accurately.
Syn: communicate, expressAnt: withhold
💡 Exam tip: Remember that indirect speech conveys meaning rather than exact wording.
2. Types of Sentences (8 words)
assertive[/əˈsɜːrtɪv/]adjmedium
Meaning: বর্ণনামূলক বা বিবৃতিমূলক
Alt: statement-giving
Example: An assertive sentence makes a statement or gives information.
Syn: declarativeAnt: interrogative
💡 Exam tip: Use 'said that' when changing an assertive sentence.
interrogative[/ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətɪv/]adjmedium
Meaning: প্রশ্নবোধক
Alt: questioning
Example: An interrogative sentence asks a question.
Syn: questioningAnt: assertive
💡 Exam tip: Change said to asked and use if, whether or the original Wh-word.
imperative[/ɪmˈperətɪv/]adjmedium
Meaning: আদেশ, অনুরোধ বা উপদেশমূলক
Alt: commanding
Example: 'Open the door' is an imperative sentence.
Syn: commanding, directiveAnt: permissive
💡 Exam tip: Use to before the verb in positive imperative sentences and not to in negative ones.
optative[/ˈɒptətɪv/]adjhard
Meaning: ইচ্ছা, প্রার্থনা বা আশীর্বাদসূচক
Alt: wish-expressing
Example: 'May you prosper in life' is an optative sentence.
Syn: volitional
💡 Exam tip: Use wished or prayed that and generally change may to might.
exclamatory[/ɪkˈsklæmətəri/]adjmedium
Meaning: বিস্ময় বা আবেগসূচক
Alt: expressing strong feeling
Example: The exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion.
Syn: emotionalAnt: unemotional
💡 Exam tip: Use exclaimed with joy, sorrow, surprise or wonder according to meaning.
statement[/ˈsteɪtmənt/]nouneasy
Meaning: বিবৃতি; বক্তব্য
Alt: declaration
Example: The indirect form of a question becomes a statement.
Syn: declaration, assertionAnt: question
💡 Exam tip: Interrogative and exclamatory direct speech usually become assertive in indirect speech.
command[/kəˈmɑːnd/]nouneasy
Meaning: আদেশ
Alt: authoritative instruction
Example: The officer gave a command to the soldiers.
Syn: order, instructionAnt: request
💡 Exam tip: Use ordered or commanded when the imperative sentence expresses authority.
request[/rɪˈkwest/]nouneasy
Meaning: অনুরোধ
Alt: polite appeal
Example: The boy made a request for a pen.
Syn: appeal, pleaAnt: refusal
💡 Exam tip: Use requested when the direct sentence contains please or expresses politeness.
3. Tense and Modal Changes (8 words)
tense[/tens/]nouneasy
Meaning: ক্রিয়ার কাল
Alt: time of an action
Example: The tense of the reported verb often changes after a past reporting verb.
Syn: verb form
💡 Exam tip: Present simple usually changes to past simple when the reporting verb is past.
present simple[/ˈprezənt ˈsɪmpəl/]nounmedium
Meaning: ঘটমান বা অভ্যাসগত বর্তমান কাল
Alt: simple present tense
Example: He says, 'I like songs' becomes He says that he likes songs.
Syn: simple present
💡 Exam tip: After a present reporting verb, present simple normally remains unchanged.
past simple[/pɑːst ˈsɪmpəl/]nounmedium
Meaning: সাধারণ অতীত কাল
Alt: simple past tense
Example: She said that she watched the film.
Syn: simple past
💡 Exam tip: Past simple generally changes to past perfect after a past reporting verb.
past perfect[/pɑːst ˈpɜːrfɪkt/]nounmedium
Meaning: অতীত সম্পূর্ণ কাল
Alt: earlier completed past action
Example: He said that he had finished the work.
Syn: pluperfect
💡 Exam tip: Past perfect usually remains past perfect in indirect speech.
modal[/ˈməʊdəl/]nounmedium
Meaning: ভাব প্রকাশকারী সহায়ক ক্রিয়া
Alt: auxiliary showing possibility or obligation
Example: May is a modal verb that can change to might.
Syn: modal verb, auxiliary
💡 Exam tip: Common changes include may to might, will to would and shall to should.
habitual[/həˈbɪtʃuəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: অভ্যাসগত
Alt: done regularly
Example: He said that he got up at six every day, describing a habitual action.
Syn: customary, usualAnt: occasional
💡 Exam tip: A habitual fact may keep its tense in indirect speech.
universal truth[/ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsəl truːθ/]nounmedium
Meaning: চিরন্তন সত্য
Alt: fact true at all times
Example: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
Syn: eternal truth, general truthAnt: temporary fact
💡 Exam tip: Do not change the tense of a universal truth.
remain[/rɪˈmeɪn/]verbeasy
Meaning: অপরিবর্তিত থাকা
Alt: continue to be
Example: The tense may remain unchanged when the reporting verb is present.
Syn: continue, stayAnt: change
💡 Exam tip: Present or future reporting verbs normally allow the original tense to remain.
4. Changes of Person and Time (9 words)
person[/ˈpɜːrsən/]nounmedium
Meaning: ব্যাকরণে বক্তা, শ্রোতা বা তৃতীয় ব্যক্তি
Alt: grammatical person
Example: The first person changes according to the subject of the reporting verb.
Syn: grammatical person
💡 Exam tip: First person follows the reporting subject; second person follows the reporting object.
subject[/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/]nouneasy
Meaning: কর্তা
Alt: doer of an action
Example: In 'He said', 'he' is the subject of the reporting verb.
Syn: doer, agentAnt: object
💡 Exam tip: The first person in reported speech agrees with the reporting subject.
object[/ˈɒbdʒɪkt/]nouneasy
Meaning: কর্ম; ক্রিয়ার ওপর যার প্রভাব পড়ে
Alt: receiver of an action
Example: In 'He said to me', 'me' is the object of the reporting verb.
Syn: receiverAnt: subject
💡 Exam tip: The second person changes according to the reporting object.
pronoun[/ˈprəʊnaʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: সর্বনাম
Alt: word used instead of a noun
Example: The pronoun 'I' may change to 'he' or 'she' in indirect speech.
Syn: substitute noun
💡 Exam tip: Check person, number and gender before changing pronouns.
reference[/ˈrefrəns/]nounmedium
Meaning: উল্লেখ বা নির্দেশ
Alt: mention of a person or thing
Example: The pronoun must clearly refer to the correct person.
Syn: allusion, indication
💡 Exam tip: Use the speaker's name in brackets mentally to identify the correct pronoun.
now[/naʊ/]adveasy
Meaning: এখন
Alt: at the present time
Example: He said, 'I am working now' becomes He said that he was working then.
Syn: at presentAnt: then
💡 Exam tip: Now generally changes to then after a past reporting verb.
today[/təˈdeɪ/]adveasy
Meaning: আজ
Alt: on this day
Example: She said that she would leave that day.
Syn: this dayAnt: yesterday
💡 Exam tip: Today usually changes to that day when the reporting time is different.
tomorrow[/təˈmɒrəʊ/]adveasy
Meaning: আগামীকাল
Alt: on the next day
Example: Mother said that I would return the following day.
Syn: the next dayAnt: yesterday
💡 Exam tip: Tomorrow changes to the next day or the following day.
here[/hɪər/]adveasy
Meaning: এখানে
Alt: in this place
Example: Nayon said that he went there every day.
Syn: in this placeAnt: there
💡 Exam tip: Here generally changes to there if the place of reporting is different.
5. Reporting Verbs and Functions (9 words)
ask[/ɑːsk/]verbeasy
Meaning: জিজ্ঞাসা করা
Alt: put a question
Example: The teacher asked the student whether he knew the answer.
Syn: question, enquireAnt: answer
💡 Exam tip: Use ask instead of say for interrogative sentences.
enquire[/ɪnˈkwaɪər/]verbmedium
Meaning: অনুসন্ধান করা; জিজ্ঞাসা করা
Alt: seek information
Example: The officer enquired of the man where he lived.
Syn: inquire, askAnt: ignore
💡 Exam tip: Use enquire of someone in formal indirect questions.
order[/ˈɔːrdər/]verbeasy
Meaning: আদেশ করা
Alt: give an authoritative instruction
Example: The officer ordered the soldiers to stop.
Syn: command, directAnt: request
💡 Exam tip: Use order when the speaker has authority over the listener.
forbid[/fəˈbɪd/]verbmedium
Meaning: নিষেধ করা
Alt: prohibit
Example: The father forbade his son to eat junk food.
Syn: prohibit, banAnt: allow
💡 Exam tip: Forbid is commonly used for negative imperative sentences.
beg[/beɡ/]verbeasy
Meaning: কাকুতি-মিনতি করা
Alt: ask earnestly
Example: The poor man begged for a piece of bread.
Syn: plead, imploreAnt: demand
💡 Exam tip: Use begged when the request is urgent or emotional.
propose[/prəˈpəʊz/]verbmedium
Meaning: প্রস্তাব করা
Alt: suggest a plan
Example: Atanu proposed that they should play cricket.
Syn: suggest, recommendAnt: oppose
💡 Exam tip: Use propose or suggest with that when direct speech begins with Let us.
wish[/wɪʃ/]verbeasy
Meaning: শুভকামনা করা; ইচ্ছা প্রকাশ করা
Alt: desire or hope
Example: She wished that I might prosper in life.
Syn: desire, hopeAnt: dislike
💡 Exam tip: Use wished for good wishes and optative sentences.
pray[/preɪ/]verbeasy
Meaning: প্রার্থনা করা
Alt: ask God earnestly
Example: The mother prayed that God might help her daughter.
Syn: supplicate, pleadAnt: curse
💡 Exam tip: Use prayed when the sentence is addressed to God or expresses a religious wish.
exclaim[/ɪkˈskleɪm/]verbmedium
Meaning: বিস্ময় বা আবেগ প্রকাশ করে বলা
Alt: cry out emotionally
Example: The players exclaimed with joy that their team had won.
Syn: cry out, shoutAnt: whisper
💡 Exam tip: Add with joy, sorrow, wonder or surprise according to the emotion.
6. Emotions, Greetings and Connectors (8 words)
joy[/dʒɔɪ/]nouneasy
Meaning: আনন্দ
Alt: great happiness
Example: The children shouted with joy after winning the match.
Syn: happiness, delightAnt: sorrow
💡 Exam tip: Hurrah usually changes to exclaimed with joy.
sorrow[/ˈsɒrəʊ/]nouneasy
Meaning: দুঃখ
Alt: deep sadness
Example: The boy cried out with sorrow when his father died.
Syn: grief, sadnessAnt: joy
💡 Exam tip: Alas usually indicates sorrow or grief.
wonder[/ˈwʌndər/]nouneasy
Meaning: বিস্ময়
Alt: feeling of surprise or admiration
Example: She looked at the beautiful painting with wonder.
Syn: amazement, surpriseAnt: indifference
💡 Exam tip: What or how exclamations may be reported with wonder or surprise.
greeting[/ˈɡriːtɪŋ/]nouneasy
Meaning: শুভেচ্ছা
Alt: words of welcome or salutation
Example: The teacher offered a morning greeting to the students.
Syn: salutation, welcomeAnt: farewell
💡 Exam tip: Good morning can be changed to wished the students good morning.
farewell[/ˌfeəˈwel/]nouneasy
Meaning: বিদায়
Alt: act of saying goodbye
Example: The friends exchanged a warm farewell.
Syn: goodbye, leave-takingAnt: greeting
💡 Exam tip: Goodbye may be reported with bade or wished someone goodbye.
whether[/ˈweðər/]conjunctionmedium
Meaning: কিনা
Alt: introducing an alternative question
Example: He asked me whether I had called him.
Syn: if
💡 Exam tip: Whether can introduce a yes-no question in indirect speech.
that[/ðæt/]conjunctioneasy
Meaning: যে
Alt: introducing a reported statement
Example: She said that she had finished the task.
Syn: the fact that
💡 Exam tip: That is the usual linker for assertive and exclamatory reported speech.
please[/pliːz/]adveasy
Meaning: অনুগ্রহ করে
Alt: polite expression used in requests
Example: The student said, 'Please help me.'
Syn: kindlyAnt: rudely
💡 Exam tip: Please often signals that requested, begged or politely asked should be used.
💡 Exam Tips
• First identify the kind of sentence: assertive, interrogative, imperative, optative or exclamatory.
• Remove the inverted commas and adjust the punctuation when changing direct speech into indirect speech.
• If the reporting verb is in the past tense, usually move the reported verb one step back in tense.
• Do not change the tense of a universal truth, historical fact or habitual fact when the meaning remains true.
• Change the first person according to the subject of the reporting verb.
• Change the second person according to the object of the reporting verb.
• Usually do not change the third person.
• Use that for assertive sentences; use a Wh-word as linker for Wh-questions.
• Use if or whether for questions that can be answered with yes or no.
• Change an interrogative sentence into an assertive word order; do not use question order in indirect speech.
• For imperative sentences, use to before the verb and not to for negative commands.
• Choose the reporting verb according to sense: ordered, requested, advised, begged, forbade or asked.
• Let us generally expresses a proposal or suggestion and changes to should in indirect speech.
• For optative sentences, use wished or prayed that and commonly change may to might.
• For exclamatory sentences, use exclaimed with joy, sorrow, wonder or surprise and change the sentence into a statement.
• Remember common time and place changes: now to then, today to that day, tomorrow to the following day, here to there, this to that and yesterday to the previous day.
• If the reporting time and place remain the same, words such as today, here and tomorrow may remain unchanged according to context.
• Check pronouns, tense, modal verbs, time words, place words, punctuation and reporting verbs before finalising the answer.