A. Read the following passage:

Maria said to her mother, "I am unwell. I am feeling feverish. But I have done all my homework." Maria's mother said, "I have already prepared the breakfast. You will take rest after your breakfast." Maria said, "Mothers are always caring."

In the passage above, the exact words of the speakers are put within quotation marks. Such words make a direct speech. When a direct speech changes into an indirect speech, it undergoes some changes.

Now notice the changes:

Maria told her mother that she was unwell. She also said that she was feeling feverish. But she had done her homework. Maria's mother said that she had already prepared the breakfast. She then said that Maria would take rest after having her breakfast. Then Maria said that mothers are always caring.

This is an example of indirect speech.

In a direct speech we say exactly what was said by the speaker. But in an indirect speech someone reports in a different way what was said by the speaker.

Read the following examples to see how a direct speech changes into an indirect speech:

He said, "I teach in a school" (Direct speech)

He said that he taught in a school. (Indirect speech)

They said, "We are going to the cinema." (Direct speech)
They said that they were going to the cinema. (Indirect speech)

Note: If the reporting verb (here 'said') is past tense the tense, of the direct speech will change in the indirect speech.

See the changes in the following examples:
He said, "I want the book. ".
He said that he wanted the book.

The simple present changes into simple past.
She said, 'I am coming.
She said that she was coming.

The present continuous changes into the past continuous.

He said, "I have completed the task."
He said that he had completed task.

The present perfect changes into the past perfect.
But if the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses in the direct speech do not change.

He says, "I am leaving."
He says that he is leaving.

We use inverted commas to mark off the exact words of the speaker. In the indirect speech, we do not use inverted commas. In changing the above direct speeches into indirect, certain other changes have been made. Such as:
i) We have used "that" after the reporting verbs.

ii) Change in time: Time is changed according to certain rules like now to then, today to that day, tomorrow to next day and yesterday to previous day.

Here is a table of some conversions of time.

B. Now rewrite the following in indirect speech:

1. Maria said to her mother, 'I have got 10 out of 10 in mathematics class test. I am very happy. My teacher became very happy. I'll do my homework regularly. Then I'll get good marks in every subject.' Mom said to Maria, 'Practice makes a man perfect'.
2. Give examples of the mentioned tenses and complete the table. One is done for you:

C. Change the following sentences into indirect speeches:
a. I say, "I want to sleep."
b. He says, "I like mangoes".
c. You said, "I will meet my teacher."
d. They said, "We are starting now."
e. Mother said to me, "I was waiting for you for a long time."
f. Maria says, "My father is an Engineer."
g. He said, "I have passed the math test."
h. She said to me, "You are my only friend."
i. He said, "I have got a bad headache.
h. Meena said, “I am very busy now.”