7

ENGLISH
Quarter 1- Module 9:
Changing Direct and Reported
Speeches (Questions)

Department of Education - MIMAROPA Region

English – Grade 7
Quarter 1- Module 9: Changing Direct and Reported Speeches (Questions)
Second Edition, 2021

Published by the Department of Education Regional

Director: Benjamin Paragas, CESO V Assistant
Regional Director: Atty. Suzette G. Medina Chief
CLMD: Mariflor B. Musa

Development Team of the Module

Author: Maria Carla G. Mutya

Editors: Mae Laarni M. Saporna
Marites S. Sena
Reviewers: SDO Marinduque LR Team
Illustrators: Lino O. Muhi
Arlene J. Briones
Layout Artist: Joseph Arnold L. Almonte
Management Team: Edna C. Oabel
Lany M. Semilla
Jelly L. Sore
Mariam B. Rivamonte

Printed in the Philippines by Department of Education – MIMAROPA Region

What I Need to Know

This module was designed based on your need and level of understanding. It
basically aims to guide you in using and changing direct speech to reported speech.
Mastery of this skill will surely help you bridge the gap for better communication.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. use direct and reported speech appropriately in varied contexts; and
2. change direct questions into reported questions and vice – versa.
 What I Know

Directions: Identify which of the following sets of statements shows the appropriate
converted direct and reported statements. On the line provided before each
number, draw a star ( ) if the set is correct, and a sun ( ) if not.
__1. The boy said, “I take a bath every day.”

The boy said that he takes a bath every day.

__2. Ayra said, “Joanne, your bag is open.”

Ayra said that Joanne your bag is open.

__3. Reyann said, “Mother gave me a necklace as a gift.”

Reyann said that her mother gave her a necklace as a gift.

__4. “Being helpful to our parents is a proof of our love for them,” said Madel.

Madel said that being helpful to our parents proves our love for them.

__5. “Philippines have a rich economy,” Carl said.

Carl said that the Philippines has a rich economy.

Changing Direct Speech to Reported Speech

Lesson
(questions)

As you go through this lesson, you will learn how to use direct and reported
statements appropriately by changing direct questions into reported questions and vice
versa. It is very important to analyze the questions carefully to come up with the correct
answers.
 What’s In

Directions: Read the short selection below and answer the questions that follow.

I Had a Dream
by Maria Carla G. Mutya

“What time is it?” my mother asked me as soon as I entered our

house. I looked at our grandfather’s clock and wondered why she
asked me what time it was when the clock is just around the corner.
“It’s almost three in the afternoon, Mom.” I answered.
“Are you sure? But, why is it dark already?” she asked. “Did you
close all the windows and doors?
I ignored her questions and said, “I am so tired and hungry.”
“Is it rainy? I wonder why -–”
“Mom, please, I am so hungry. Did you prepare my snacks?” I
interrupted. I looked at her as she slowly moved toward the kitchen
with everything falling down as if she intentionally did that to annoy me
more.
I went out angrily and found myself inside Hazel’s house. Hazel Illustrated by Maria Carla G. Mutya
August 4, 2020
is my best friend and also our neighbor.
“What brings you here?” she asked.
I told Hazel that mom asked me weird things like if I was sure that it was almost
three in the afternoon and why was it dark. Also, she asked if it was rainy. “It seems that
she can’t see anything because everything fell down as she stumbled upon the objects in
our kitchen.”
As soon as I said it, I ran towards our house and looked for my mother. I saw my
snacks in the table and my mother lying unconsciously in our messy kitchen floor.
“Mom! Mom! please wake up!” I cried as I tried to bring her consciousness. I closed
my eyes and cried hard.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in my bed, crying. My mother opened the
door and hurriedly came near me. I hugged her tight while she continued asking me what
happened and why did I cry.
I just embraced her and asked, “What time is it?”
“It’s almost three in the afternoon, why?” she said.
I looked into our grandfather’s clock and said, “Nothing Mom. I just had a dream.
Thank you for waking me up.”
Then I embraced my mother more tightly.
Process Questions
1. How would you describe the relationship of the author to her mother?
2. Do you consider the author as a good child before she had her dream?
3. Analyze the following questions taken from the selection. Notice the changes from the
way the questions were stated directly and the way it was written when reported.
A. “What time is it?” my mother asked me.
B. My mother asked me what time it was.
A. “Is it rainy?” she asked.
B. She asked if it was rainy.
4. How were the questions A stated? questions B?
5. Cite the changes upon rewriting the directed questions into reported questions.

What’s New

Question Forms and Reported Speech

1. Word Order
Normal word order is used in reported questions, that is, the subject comes before the
verb, and it is not necessary to use 'do' or 'did':
Direct Reported
“What time is it?” my mother asked me. My mother asked me what time it was.
“Why is it dark already”, she asked. She asked why it was dark that
time.
2. Yes/No Questions
This type of question is reported by using 'ask' + 'if / whether' + clause:
Direct Reported
She asked if it was rainy.
“Is it rainy?” she asked.
She asked + if + it was rainy.

3. Question Words
This type of question is reported by using 'ask' (or another verb like 'ask') + question
word + clause. The clause contains the question in normal word order and with the
necessary tense change.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

"What is your name?" he asked me. He asked me what my name was.

 "How old is your mother?” he asked. He asked how old her mother was.

The teacher said to the boy, "Where The teacher asked the boy where he
do you live?" lived.

Moreover, reported questions are a form of reported speech. We usually introduce

the term “ask”:
He asked (me) if / whether… (Yes or No Question)
He asked me why / when / where / how … (WH questions)

Word Order should also be changed. After a question is reported, it is no longer a

question (and in writing there is no question mark). The word order is like that of a normal
statement (subject – verb – object).
Direct: She said, “Do you like coffee?”
Reported: She asked if I liked coffee.

In reported question, no auxiliary verb “do” is no longer written, also, pronoun

changed from “you” to “I” and verb tense backshift from “like” to “liked”.

Other Easy Pointers to Remember:

1. Reported questions are usually introduced with the verbs: ask, inquire, wonder, want to
know, etc.
2. OMIT the question mark and expressions such as: Please, Well, oh, etc.
Direct: “What did you make for dinner yesterday?” Bob asked me.
Reported: Bob asked me what I had made for dinner the day before.
3. When the direct speech begins with a question words who, where, how old, how long,
when, why, what, etc., introduce the quoted part with the same question word.
Direct: “Why do you want to leave your job?” Pam asked me.
Reported: Pam asked me why I wanted to leave my job.
4. When the direct question begins with an auxiliary, e.g. is, do, have, or modal verbs (can,
may, etc.), then the reported question begins with if or whether
Direct: “Do you love rock music?” he asked us.
Reported: “He asked us if/whether we liked rock music.
5. In changing reported questions to direct questions, follow the patterns:
Subject + asked + quoted question
Subject + asked + object+ quoted question
Changes in pronouns and tenses (backshift), as well as time and place in, should also
be applied.
 What is It

ACTIVITY 1: Ask it Right!

Directions: Read the given direct questions. Among the options given, choose the letter
of the best way each question should be reported.
1. "Where does your family usually go on vacation?" he asked.
A. He asked if my family usually goes on vacation.
B. He asked where does my family usually go on vacation.
C. He asked where my family usually goes on vacation.
D. He asked if your family usually go on a vacation.
2. "Have you met my sister?" she asked.
A. She wanted to know if I had met her sister. C. She told me to meet her sister.
B. She wanted to know if I will meet her sister. D. She told me to meet her sister.
3. "Will you help me, Christian?" she asked.
A. She asked Christian if he would help her. C. She asked if he would help her.
B. She asked if Christian would help me. D. He asked if he would help her.

ACTIVITY 2: Re-Direct!
Directions: Choose the direct question that counterparts each reported question.
1. She asked me if I had arrived on time.
A. “Did you arrive on time?” she asked. C. She asked, “Has you arrived on time?”
B. She asked, “Have you arrived on time?” D. She asked , “Can you arrive on time?”
2. Mother asked me if I could help her.
A. Mother asked, “ Do you help me?” C. Mother asked, “ Can you help me?”
B. Mother asked, “Did you help me?” D. Mother asked, “Could you help me?”
3. She asked me how my mother was.
A. “How is she?” mother asked. C. “How is my mother?” she asked.
B. “How is she?” she asked. D. “How is your mother?” she asked.
 What’s More

ACTIVITY 3: Work it Out!

Directions: Analyze the conversation between Maring and Duque. Suppose you have a
friend who wants to know about their conversation. Report it by changing
the direct questions into reported questions.
1. Maring: “Did you see a pretty white deer running towards here?”
Reported:
2. Duque: No. Why are you here?”
Reported:
Maring: “I am hunting wild animals.”
3. Duque: “Did your father find the right prince for you?”
Reported: _______________________________________________________
Maring: “No. I prayed to God.”
4. Duque: “Did Gods answer your prayer?”
Reported:
5. Maring: “Yes. Can I go now?”
Reported:
Duque: “Sure. Goodbye.”

What I Have Learned

In reporting direct questions, remember the V – O – W:

Verbs (asked, wondered, etc.) introduces reported questions.
Omit question mark and expressions.
WH questions introduce the clause with the same WH word used in the direct
question.
When the direct question begins with an auxiliary or modal verb (can, may
etc.), introduce the question with if or whether Changes are applied in:
Word order (normal word order of reported questions)
Pronouns
Tenses (backshift)
Time or place
 What I Can Do

Activity 4: Fix It!

Directions: Determine whether the following direct and reported questions are written
appropriately. If you find any mistake, identify the word or group of words which makes
the statement wrong. Write the letter that corresponds to your answer.
1. Angel asked Mary if she listens to the topic yesterday. No error.
A B C D
2. “Do you know where the computer laboratory is?” asked Daniel. No error.
A B C D
3. My mother wanted to know if I studied my lessons last night. No error.
A B C D
4. “Was it necessary to wash our hands every day?” she asked. No error.
A B C D
5. Lea said, “Carlo, where would you find the link for our lesson?” No error.
A B C D

Activity 5
A. Directions: Change the direct questions into reported questions:
1. “Why is Julie sad?” she asked.
She asked me _______________________________________________________________.
2. “How is your grandmother?” she asked.
She asked me _______________________________________________________________.
3. “Hey! How is the weather in Marinduque?” she asked.
She asked me _______________________________________________________________.
B. Directions: Change the reported questions into direct questions.
1. She asked me if my brother was in the garden.
______________________________________________________________________________.
2. Paula asked Ayra why she stayed late.
______________________________________________________________________________.
3. Bong asked Ace where the venue for the Grade 7 students’ orientation would be.
______________________________________________________________________________.
 What I Can Do More

Directions: Write a conversation between you and your family members on how you will
resolve a problem you encountered. You may use a separate sheet of paper
if necessary.

RUBRICS
Have used more than ten (10) combinations of direct and reported
25 POINTS
speech appropriately.
Have used at least eight (8) combinations of direct and reported speech
20 POINTS
appropriately.
Have used at least six (6) combinations of direct and reported speech
15 POINTS
appropriately.
Have used less than four (4) combinations of direct and reported speech
10 POINTS
appropriately.

Example: You have difficulty in reading. What should you and your family members have
to do to resolve it?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
 Answer Key

WHAT I KNOW
1.
2.
3.
4.
5

WHAT IS IT
Activity 1 - Ask it Right!
1. C
2. A
3. A
Activity 2 - Re-Direct!
1. A
2. C
3. D

WHAT’S MORE
Activity 3 – Work it Out
1. Maring asked Duque if he saw a pretty white deer running towards that place.
2. Duque answered no and asked why she as there.
3. Duque asked Maring if her father found the right prince for her.
4. He asked Maring if God answered her prayer.
5. Maring asked him if she could go then.

WHAT I CAN DO
Activity 4 – Fix It
1. C
2. D
3. D
4. A
5. B
Activity 5A (Assessment)
1. She asked me why Julie was sad.
2. She asked how my grandmother was.
3. She asked me how the weather in Marinduque was.
Activity 5B (Assessment)
1. “Why is your brother in the garden?” she asked.
2. “Ayra, why did you stay late?” asked Paula.
3. “Ace, where will be the venue for the Grade 7 students’ orientation?” Bong asked.

WHAT I CAN DO MORE

Answers may vary.
References

Reported Speech & Reported Questions Basics, Patty Villacorta-Melendreras Certified

Legal Translator/ English Professor,May 2, 2017,

[Link]
basics?from_action=save

Reported Speech, Iola Forriol May 2, 2010,

[Link]

Reported Questions ,Natalieh1, may 7, 2014

[Link]

Question Forms and Reported Speech, EF Education First 2020,

Accessed July 2,2020, [Link]
grammar/question- forms-and-reported-speech