Following is the study materials for 10th Class / SSC English grammar for the board exams of AP and Telangana students as per new syllabus and exam pattern. The grammar topic is reported speech / direct and indirect speech.
A) 'Yes' or 'No' Questions:
When we talk, we also report 'yes' or 'no' questions and information questions as well.
We shall now discuss how to report information questions. When a 'yes' or 'no' question is reported the indirect or reported clause is introduced either by the word 'if' or 'whether'.
Eg: i) Husband to wife, ''Are you ready?" (Direct)
= The husband asked his wife if she was ready. (Indirect)
ii) Uday said to his father, "Have you paid the fees?" (Direct)
= Uday asked his father whether he had paid the fees (Indirect).
We see in the above sentences that the (auxiliary) verb which is placed before the subject in direct speech is put after the subject in indirect speech. When a question is reported, the indirect clause begins with 'if' or 'whether' and if there is any auxiliary verb, it is placed after the subject.
The reporting verbs used in questions other than ask are enquire, wonder, want to know.
Eg: i) Pothanna said to Vineeth, "Can you swim?" (Direct)
= Pothanna wanted to know if Vineeth could swim. (Indirect)
ii) Akhila said to Bhavani, "Is Mr. Narender on leave?". (Direct)
= Akhila enquired Bhavani whether Mr. Narender was on leave. (Indirect)
iii) My friend said, ''Shall we ever forget the comedian MS Narayana?" (Direct)
= My friend wondered whether we would ever forget the comedian MS Narayana. (Indirect)
B) Reporting Information Questions:
When an information (or Wh-) question is reported, the indirect clause begins with a whword.
No conjunction is used.
In the direct speech the verb is placed before the subject.
In the indirect speech the verb is placed after the subject.
In the direct speech a question mark is placed at the end of the sentence.
In the indirect speech a full stop is placed at the end.
Eg: i) The teacher said to Shabariram, ''What are you doing"
= The teacher asked Shabariram what he was doing.
ii) The doctor said to the patient, ''When did you come here?"
= The doctor wanted to know when the patient had come there. (OR)
The doctor asked the patient when he/ she had come there.
Note that when 'do' and 'does' are used as auxiliary verbs in direct speech, they are omitted in indirect speech.
Eg: i) A to B: ''Where does the teacher live?"
= A asked B where the teacher lived.
ii) Doctor to patient, ''Do you eat meat?"
= The doctor asked the patient if/ whether (s)he ate meat.
