Free PDF Download: Key Concepts of Direct and Indirect Speech for Class 10 CBSE
FAQs on Master Direct and Indirect Speech in Class 10 CBSE English Grammar (2025-26)
1. What types of important questions on Direct and Indirect Speech are expected in the CBSE Class 10 English board exam for 2025-26?
For the Class 10 board exams, you can expect a variety of question formats testing your understanding of reported speech. The most common types include:
Sentence Transformation: Converting a sentence from direct to indirect speech, or vice-versa.
Gap-filling Exercises: Filling in blanks in a passage with the correct reported verbs or transformed phrases.
Dialogue Completion: Reporting a conversation between two speakers in a paragraph form.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): Selecting the correct indirect speech equivalent from a set of options.
2. What are the most crucial rules for converting Direct to Indirect Speech that are frequently tested in exams?
To score full marks, focus on these three critical changes:
Backshifting of Tenses: The verb tense in the reported clause usually moves one step back into the past (e.g., Present Simple becomes Past Simple). This is a non-negotiable rule unless reporting a universal truth.
Changing Pronouns: Pronouns (I, you, we, my, your) must be changed to reflect the perspective of the person reporting the speech (e.g., he, she, they, his, her).
Changing Adverbs of Time and Place: Words indicating nearness must be changed to words indicating distance (e.g., 'now' becomes 'then', 'here' becomes 'there', 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day').
3. Why is it so important to change pronouns and time adverbs correctly in reported speech for the board exam?
Changing pronouns and adverbs is not just a grammatical rule; it's essential for logical consistency. Indirect speech reports what someone said from a different point in time and space. For example, if 'I will meet you here tomorrow' is reported a week later, the 'I', 'you', 'here', and 'tomorrow' are no longer accurate. Failing to change them creates a sentence with a confusing or incorrect meaning, which will lead to a deduction of marks.
4. How do you correctly convert interrogative (question) sentences into indirect speech? What are the common traps?
Converting questions is a high-frequency topic. The key is to change the reporting verb to 'asked' or 'enquired' and transform the question into a statement.
For Yes/No questions: Use the conjunctions 'if' or 'whether'. Example: He said, "Are you coming?" becomes "He asked if I was coming."
For 'Wh-' questions: The 'Wh-' word (what, why, where) itself acts as the conjunction. Example: She said, "Where do you live?" becomes "She asked where I lived."
A common trap is forgetting to change the question's structure (subject before verb) and incorrectly adding a question mark at the end.
5. How are marks typically awarded for questions on Direct and Indirect Speech in the Class 10 English paper?
In the CBSE evaluation, marks are awarded for a completely correct transformation. There is usually no partial credit for getting only one part right. The examiner checks for:
Correct reporting verb (e.g., 'told', 'asked', 'ordered').
Correct conjunction (e.g., 'that', 'if', 'to').
Accurate backshifting of the tense.
Correct change in pronouns and adverbs.
Proper punctuation (ending with a full stop).
6. What is a frequently asked conversion involving imperative sentences (commands or requests) in Class 10?
A frequently tested area is converting commands and requests. The reporting verb changes to reflect the mood (e.g., 'ordered', 'requested', 'advised'), and the main verb in the reported speech changes to an infinitive (to + verb). For example:
Direct: The teacher said to the students, "Do not make noise."
Indirect: The teacher forbade/instructed the students not to make noise.
7. How can universal truths or habitual facts be considered an important exception in reported speech questions?
This is a common exception that is often tested to check a student's deeper understanding. If the direct speech states a universal truth, scientific fact, or a habitual action, the tense of the verb does not change in the indirect speech, regardless of the tense of the reporting verb. For example:
Direct: The geography teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun."
Indirect: The geography teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun. (Tense remains unchanged).
Ignoring this exception is a frequent cause of losing marks.
8. Beyond rules, what is a key strategy to avoid careless mistakes with reported speech in the exam?
An effective strategy is the three-step check. After converting a sentence, re-read your answer and check for these three things in order:
Tense: Did I correctly shift the tense back (unless it's a universal truth)?
Pronoun: Does the new pronoun logically match the speaker and the listener?
Time/Place: Did I change words like 'now', 'today', or 'here' to their 'distant' equivalents?
This systematic check helps catch over 90% of common errors made under exam pressure.
