Practice Direct and Indirect Speech for Class 7 - Free PDF With Solutions 2025-26
FAQs on Class 7 English Grammar: Direct and Indirect Speech Made Easy
1. What types of questions are most important from Direct and Indirect Speech for the Class 7 English exam?
For the CBSE Class 7 exam for the year 2025-26, the important questions on Direct and Indirect Speech typically focus on converting different sentence types. Students should expect questions that test their ability to:
Convert assertive (statement) sentences.
Change interrogative (question) sentences to statements.
Transform imperative (command/request) sentences.
Handle sentences with universal truths or habitual facts where the tense does not change.
2. Why is changing pronouns correctly in indirect speech so critical for getting full marks?
Changing pronouns (like 'I' to 'he/she' or 'my' to 'his/her') is critical because indirect speech reports what someone said from an outsider's point of view. Not changing the pronoun alters the entire meaning. For example, converting 'She said, "I will call you"' to 'She said that she would call me' is correct. A common mistake is leaving the pronouns unchanged, which is a key area examiners check for and deduct marks.
3. How are marks typically awarded for a question on converting a sentence to indirect speech?
In exam questions, marks are awarded for the correct application of multiple rules within a single sentence. For full marks, you must ensure:
The reporting verb is appropriate (e.g., 'told', 'asked').
The tense is correctly backshifted (e.g., simple present to simple past).
Pronouns and words denoting time/place (e.g., 'now' to 'then', 'today' to 'that day') are changed.
The correct conjunction (like 'that', 'if', or 'whether') is used.
Missing even one of these steps can result in a loss of marks.
4. Why does the verb tense not change when reporting a universal truth in an exam question?
The verb tense does not change when reporting a universal truth because the fact remains true at all times, regardless of when it was spoken. For example, the sentence 'The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun"' becomes 'The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.' Changing 'revolves' to 'revolved' would incorrectly imply that this fact is no longer true. This is an important exception frequently tested in exams.
5. What is an important rule to remember when converting questions (interrogative sentences) to indirect speech?
A crucial rule is that the interrogative structure must be changed to a declarative (statement) structure, and the question mark must be removed. The reporting verb changes to 'asked' or 'enquired'. For yes/no questions, the conjunction 'if' or 'whether' must be used. For example, 'He said to me, "Do you know the answer?"' correctly becomes 'He asked me if I knew the answer.'.
6. How does the choice of reporting verb (e.g., said, told, requested) affect the final answer and marks?
The reporting verb is vital as it sets the tone and grammatical structure of the indirect sentence. Using the wrong one is a common error. Key points to remember for exams are:
'Told' must be followed by an object (e.g., 'He told me...'). Using 'told' without an object is incorrect.
'Asked' is used specifically for questions.
'Ordered', 'requested', or 'advised' are used for imperative sentences and are followed by an object and an infinitive ('to' + verb). Selecting the most accurate verb demonstrates a higher level of understanding.
7. What is the most common mistake students make in 'Direct and Indirect Speech' questions and how can it be avoided?
The most common mistake is forgetting to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past tense (like 'said' or 'told'). For example, changing 'He said, "I am unwell"' to 'He said that he was unwell'. To avoid this, always check the tense of the reporting verb first. If it's in the past, you most likely need to backshift the tense of the dialogue, unless it's a universal truth.











