Hiranandani Foundation School International

2024-2025
SUBJECT: English Language GRADE – VII DATE: 16th March, 2025

STUDENT`S NAME: TOPIC – Miscellaneous Worksheet: 18

Grammar Topics (Notes +
Exercises)

Topics Covered: Direct-Indirect Speech, Punctuations, Connectives (Time

Adverbials), Literary Devices/Figures of Speech

Direct-Indirect Speech

Direct Speech:

-When we want to quote someone's exact words, we use direct speech. This involves repeating
their words and enclosing them in quotation marks (" "). For instance:

Emma exclaimed, "I'm so excited for the concert tonight!"

-Direct speech is commonly found in novels, articles, and news reports. For example:

The mayor stated, "Our goal is to reduce traffic congestion in the city centre."

-While "said" is the most frequently used verb to introduce direct speech, other verbs like "asked",
"replied", and "yelled" can also be employed. Consider the following examples:

When I bumped into Alex, I asked, "Are you going to the party tonight?"

Alex replied, "I'm not sure, but I'll let you know soon."

The coach yelled, "You need to run faster if you want to win this game!"
Indirect Speech:

-When sharing someone's words without using their exact words or quotation marks, we use indirect
speech. For instance:

Direct speech: "I'm going to the movies tonight."

Indirect speech: She says she's going to the movies tonight.

-When reporting present-tense statements, we typically only change the subject, not the verb tense.
However, when reporting past-tense statements, we often shift the verb tense back one step:

Direct speech: "I lived in Paris for five years."

Indirect speech: He said he had lived in Paris for five years.

-In summary, indirect speech allows us to convey someone's message without using their exact
words, and we adjust the verb tense depending on the original statement's tense.

-The following chart displays how

direct-indirect speech works with
different tenses and the modal verbs.
-When utilising indirect speech, we can use the verbs "say" or "tell". Both verbs can be used to
convey someone's message, but there's a key difference between them.

The verb "say" can be used without an object pronoun, whereas the verb "tell" (or told) requires an
object pronoun, such as "me", "her", or "us", to indicate who was told.

Using "tell":

- She told him she would be working late tonight.

- They told us they had already eaten dinner.

Using "say":

- He said he was going to the gym after work.

- They said they would be arriving at the party around 8pm.

In summary, both "say" and "tell" can be used in indirect speech, but "tell" requires an object
pronoun to indicate who was told.

Changing Time Expressions

-When reporting speech, we often need to adjust time expressions to reflect the change in time.
This ensures that the reported speech makes sense in the current context.

-For instance, when the original statement refers to a specific time or day, we need to modify it to
maintain the correct timeline.

-Here are some examples:

Direct speech: "I'm meeting my friend next Monday."

Indirect speech: He said he was meeting his friend the following Monday.

Direct speech: "I forgot my phone this morning."

Indirect speech: She said she had forgotten her phone that morning.
Direct speech: "I haven't eaten breakfast since Friday."

Indirect speech: He said he hadn't eaten breakfast since the previous Friday.

By adjusting time expressions, we can accurately report speech and maintain the original meaning.

Reporting Questions

-When reporting questions, we transform the question into a statement, shifting the verb tense one
step back, similar to regular indirect speech. There are two types of questions we can report:

1. Yes/No Questions

We use the word "if" to report yes/no questions. For example:

Direct speech: "Are they coming tonight?"

Indirect speech: She asked me if they were coming that night.

Notice how the question word "are" is replaced with "were" in the reported version.

2. Wh- Questions

For questions starting with words like what, where, who, etc., we retain the question word but
convert the question into a statement. For example:

Direct speech: "What time does the train leave?"

Indirect speech: He asked us what time the train left.

Direct speech: "How long will it take to get there?"

Indirect speech: They asked me how long it would take to get there.

Direct speech: "Who is going to the party?"

Indirect speech: She asked me who was going to the party.

When reporting questions, we typically use the verb "ask".

Reporting Orders and Requests

-When someone gives an order (direct speech) the imperative form is utilised. The imperative form
is a verb without a subject.

To report an order (indirect speech), the word ‘tell’ is utilised, followed by the infinitive form of the
verb (to + verb).

Examples:

• Direct speech: "Finish your homework."

Indirect speech: She told me to finish my homework.

• Direct speech: "Don't be late."

Indirect speech: He told us not to be late.

-When people put forth requests (direct speech), they utilise words like: can, could, or will.

To report a request (indirect speech), the word ‘ask’ is utilised, followed by the infinitive form of the
verb (to + verb).

Examples:

• Direct speech: "Can you help me?"

Indirect speech: He asked me to help him.

• Direct speech: "Will you attend the party?"

Indirect speech: She asked me to attend the party.

Exercises:

Q1. Convert the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

1. She said, "I eat breakfast every morning."

_______________________________________________________________________________

2. She mentioned, "Lucy is studying for her exam right now."

_______________________________________________________________________________

3. They shared, "We have traveled to many countries."

_______________________________________________________________________________

4. She said, "He has been playing tennis for three hours."

_______________________________________________________________________________

5. He said, "I went to the movies last night."

_______________________________________________________________________________

6. She recalled, "They were watching TV when I arrived."

_______________________________________________________________________________

7. He noted, "Ira had finished her homework before dinner."

_______________________________________________________________________________

8. They explained, "He had been working on the project for six months before he quit."

_______________________________________________________________________________

9. She confirmed, "I will attend the meeting tomorrow."

_______________________________________________________________________________

10. He mentioned, "They will be moving to a new house next month."

_______________________________________________________________________________

Q2. Convert the following sentences from indirect speech to direct speech.

1. He said he loves playing soccer.

_______________________________________________________________________________

2. She mentioned that her mom was cooking dinner.

_______________________________________________________________________________

3. They shared that they had visited Paris twice.

_______________________________________________________________________________

4. He said he had been learning Spanish for two years.

_______________________________________________________________________________

5. She said she went to the beach last summer.

_______________________________________________________________________________

6. He recalled that they were studying for their exams at 9 pm.

_______________________________________________________________________________

7. She noted that he had already eaten breakfast.

_______________________________________________________________________________

8. They explained that she had been working on the project for three months before she quit.

_______________________________________________________________________________

9. He confirmed that he would attend the conference the following week.

_______________________________________________________________________________

10. She mentioned that they would be traveling to Japan the following year.

_______________________________________________________________________________
Answer Key:

Exercises:

Q1. Convert the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech.

1. She said she eats breakfast every morning.

2. She mentioned that Lucy is studying for her exam at that moment.

3. They shared that they had traveled to many countries.

4. She said he had been playing tennis for three hours.

5. He said he had gone to the movies the night before.

6. She recalled that they were watching TV when she arrived.

7. He noted that Ira had finished her homework before dinner.

8. They explained that he had been working on the project for six months before quitting.

9. She confirmed that she would attend the meeting the next day.

10. He mentioned that they would be moving to a new house the following month.

Q2. Convert the following sentences from indirect speech to direct speech.

1. He said, "I love playing soccer."

2. She mentioned, "My mom is cooking dinner."

3. They shared, "We have visited Paris twice."

4. He said, "I have been learning Spanish for two years."

5. She said, "I went to the beach last summer."

6. He recalled, "We were studying for our exams at 9 pm."

7. She noted, "He had already eaten breakfast."

8. They explained, "She had been working on the project for three months before she quit."

9. He confirmed, "I will attend the conference next week."

10. She mentioned, "They will be traveling to Japan next year."

Punctuations

List of Punctuations:

1. Comma: It's used to separate items in lists, to create a pause between clauses, or separate
additional information from the main sentence.

Example: The city, which is known for its vibrant culture, hosts many festivals throughout the year.

2. Exclamation point: This mark emphasizes strong emotions, surprise, or excitement.

Example: What an amazing view!

3. Quotation mark: Quotation marks enclose direct speech, dialogue, or titles of short works.

Example: The teacher said, "Please hand in your assignments by tomorrow."

4. Ellipses: These indicate omitted words, trailing off in thought, or create suspense in writing.

Example: I'm not sure what's lurking in the shadows....

5. Colon: This punctuation mark introduces lists, explanations, quotations, or indicates time.

Example: The concert starts at 8:00 pm.

6. Semi-colon: Semi-colons separate closely related independent clauses or items in lists with
commas.

Example: I have visited many cities; Paris is my favorite.

7. Hyphen: Hyphens join compound words, prefix words, or indicate word breaks.

Example: Self-portrait is a type of painting.

8. Dash: Dashes indicate breaks in thought, emphasize information, or provide additional details.

Example: The new policy—which includes stricter security measures—will be implemented next
month.

9. Parenthesis: Parentheses provide additional information, clarify meaning, or offer explanations.

Example: The new employee (who has five years of experience) will lead the project.

10. Full stop/period: This mark ends sentences, abbreviates words, or indicates decimal points.

Example: The capital of France is Paris.

11. Apostrophe: Apostrophes show possession, indicate missing letters in contractions, or form
plural nouns.

Example: The cat's toy is under the bed.

12. Question mark: This mark indicates direct questions or inquiry.

Example: Are you going to the party tonight?

Exercise:

Punctuate the sentences given below, along with capitalizations wherever necessary.

1. the teacher said please be quiet in the library

2. what is the capital of france

3. i love reading books about history and science

4. the cities i want to visit are paris rome and london

5. i heard a strange noise coming from the attic and then i saw something moving

6. the building the tall glass one was constructed by my uncle

7. the view was simply breathtaking

8. can you tell me what time the store closes on sunday

9. i have a lot of work to do tonight i need to finish my project and study for my exam

10. dr smith said the patient needs to rest for several days

Answer Key:

Exercise:

1. The teacher said, "Please be quiet in the library."

2. What is the capital of France?

3. I love reading books about history and science.

4. The cities I want to visit are Paris, Rome, and London.

5. I heard a strange noise coming from the attic, and then I saw something moving...

6. The building — the tall glass one — was constructed by my uncle.

7. The view was simply breathtaking!

8. Can you tell me what time the store closes on Sunday?

9. I have a lot of work to do tonight; I need to finish my project and study for my exam.

10. Dr. Smith said, "The patient needs to rest for several days."
 Connectives

Time Connectives:

What are Time Connectives?

-Time connectives are cohesive devices that help writers and speakers structure their ideas in a
chronological order, making it easier for the audience to follow the timeline of events or actions

-Time connectives often appear at the beginning of a sentence or paragraph, but can also be used
within a sentence.

Examples:

1. I'm excited for the school field trip tomorrow, where we'll get to visit a real museum.

2. Sometimes, I wish I could travel to different countries and experience new cultures.
3. The company donates a portion of its profits to charity annually, which makes me proud to work
there.

4. When I heard the fire alarm, I had to evacuate the building immediately and meet at the
designated assembly point.

5. I have a big test tonight, so I'm waking up early to study and make sure I'm well-prepared.

Exercise:

Underline the time connective in each sentence.

1. I recently read a book about a group of friends who went on a thrilling adventure.

2. She has already finished her homework, so now she can relax and watch TV.

3. My family often visits my grandparents' house for dinner on Sundays.

4. The school magazine is published monthly, and it features articles written by students.

5. Lately, I've been feeling really tired in the mornings, so I need to go to bed earlier.

6. Yesterday, we went to the park and played soccer with our friends.

7. Presently, the teacher is explaining the math lesson to the class.

8. Beforehand, I had prepared a list of questions to ask the guest speaker.

9. My mom likes to wake up early, so she can exercise and meditate before work.

10. The library books are issued fortnightly, so I need to return mine by next week.
Answer Key:

Exercise:

1. Recently

2. Already

3. Often

4. Monthly

5. Lately

6. Yesterday

7. Presently

8. Beforehand

9. Early

10. Fortnightly
Adverbial Connectives:

-Adverbial connectives (Conjunctive adverbs) are words that connect ideas or sentences, helping to
clarify meaning and create a smooth flow of thought. They help show relationships like contrast,
cause and effect, addition, or sequence.

Examples:

1. The school will provide lunch in addition to snacks.

2. The concert tickets finally went on sale today.

3. The instructions were clear, therefore we followed them.

4. For example, the planet Mars iof a rocky planet.

5. I wanted to go to the beach; however, it was raining.

Exercise:

Underline the adverbial connective in each sentence.

1. The new policy states that students must wear uniforms, thus promoting a more professional
atmosphere.

2. Her hard work paid off, hence she got excellent grades.

3. The new smartphone has a great camera; moreover, it also has a long-lasting battery.

4. I'm certainly going to the movies tonight with my friends.

5. In summary, the book was about a young boy's journey to find his lost dog.

6. Lately, I've been reading a lot of books on science and history.

7. For instance, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most famous coral reefs in the world.

8. Instead of watching TV, I decided to play soccer with my friends.

9. The school also offers a music program for students who are interested.

10. Meanwhile, the teacher was preparing the next day's lesson plans.
Answer Key:

Exercise:

1. Thus

2. Hence

3. Moreover

4. Certainly

5. Summary

6. Lately

7. Instance

8. Instead

9. Also

10. Meanwhile
 Literary Devices/Figures of Speech

1. Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together.

Example: "She sells seashells by the seashore."

2. Sibilance: The repetition of "s" or "sh" sounds in words that are close together.

Example: "The snake slithered silently through the grass."

3. Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together.

Example: "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain."

4. Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close together, but not
necessarily at the beginning.

Example: "Lucky Lucy lounged on the locker."

5. Personification: Giving human-like qualities or characteristics to non-human things, such as

objects, animals, or ideas.

Example: "The sun smiled down on us."

6. Metaphor: A comparison between two things.

Example: "He is a lion on the soccer field."

7. Simile: A comparison between two things using "like" or "as."

Example: "He runs like a cheetah."

8. Hyperbole: An exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.

Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a whole elephant."

9. Oxymoron: A combination of two words that are opposite in meaning.

Example: "bitter sweet"

10. Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or
sentences.

Example: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the
fields and in the streets."

11. Antithesis: The juxtaposition (placement of two or more elements side by side) of two
contrasting ideas or words in a balanced and parallel structure.

Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

12. Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate the sounds they describe.

Example: "The firework exploded with a loud boom."

13. Repetition: The repeated use of a word or phrase for emphasis or effect.
Example: "We must, we must, we must increase our efforts."

14. Imagery: Imagery is a literary device used to create vivid and sensory experiences for the
reader. It helps readers imagine and connect with the story by using descriptive language that
appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell).

Types of Imagery

1. Visual Imagery: Helps readers see or visualize the scene or image.

Example: "The golden sun sank slowly into the ocean, painting the sky with hues of pink and
orange."

2. Auditory Imagery: Helps readers hear the sounds or noises.

Example: "The firework exploded with a loud boom that echoed through the night air."

3. Tactile Imagery: Helps readers feel the texture or sensation.

Example: "The soft, fluffy kitten curled up in my lap, purring contentedly."

4. Olfactory Imagery: Helps readers smell the scent or aroma.

Example: "The sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted through the house, making my
stomach growl with hunger."

5. Gustatory Imagery: Helps readers taste the flavor or sensation.

Example: "The juicy, ripe strawberry exploded with sweetness in my mouth."

Exercise

Identify the literary device/figure of speech which has been utilised in each sentence (more
than one answer is possible for few of the sentences).

1. The buzzing bees flew around the bright blue flowers. _____________________

2. The soft sand slipped silently through my fingers. _____________________

3. The happy hippopotamus harmonized with the hummingbirds. _____________________

4. The warm water wrapped around my weary body. _____________________

5. The bright stars twinkled like diamonds in the sky. _____________________

6. He was a shining star on the soccer field. _____________________

7. She sang as sweetly as a songbird. _____________________

8. I'm so tired I could sleep for a thousand years. _____________________

9. The deafening silence was oppressive. _____________________

10. We will fight for freedom, we will fight for justice, we will fight for equality. __________________

11. It was a moment of pure joy, yet utter despair. _____________________

12. The firework exploded with a deafening crash. _____________________

13. The golden light of sunrise crept over the rolling hills. _____________________

14. We must work together, we must stand united, we must fight for our rights. _________________

15. The scent of freshly cut grass filled the air. _____________________
Answer Key:

1. Alliteration

2. Sibilance, Consonance

3. Alliteration, Consonance

4. Consonance, Assonance

5. Simile

6. Metaphor

7. Simile

8. Hyperbole

9. Oxymoron

10. Anaphora, Repetition

11. Antithesis

12. Onomatopoeia

13. Visual Imagery

14. Anaphora, Repetition

15. Olfactory Imagery