Class 10 English Unit 2: Festival and Celebrations: Grammar I: Interrogative Speech

 

Complete Guidelines to readings, writings, and grammatical exercises 

Grammar I: Indirect Speech "Interrogative"

Steps into Indirect Speech from Direct Speech

a.      Changing Word Order: In reported questions with a be-verb as a main verb, the word order is often changed. In a direct question, the word order is typically: question word-verb-subject (e.g., "Where are you from?"). In a reported question, the order becomes subject-verb. (She asked me where I was from.)

b.     Using a joining word: Words such as "if" or "whether" are used to report yes/no questions, whereas the wh-word is used instead in the case of wh-questions.

c.      Punctuation: When reporting a question, use a full stop at the end of the sentence, not a question mark. For example, "She asked if he was coming."

d.     Tense Changes: The tense of the reported question may need to change depending on the context and the original question. For example, present simple can become past simple.

e.      Changing time adverbials: The time adverbials are changed such as:

yesterday -  the previous day                   tomorrow- the following day

tonight – that night                                 this day- that day

ago – before                                           here – there

next day – the following day                   last night- the previous night

these – those

Direct Question: "Did you do your work yesterday?

Reported Question: They asked me if I had done my work the previous day.

f.       Use of Reporting Verbs: Reporting questions are often introduced by reporting verbs like "asked," "wondered," "inquired," or "wanted to know." Here's an example to illustrate the transformation of a direct question into a reported question:

Direct Question: "Are you coming to the party?"

Reported Question: She asked if I was coming to the party.

A.   Change the following sentences into indirect speech. The beginning of each sentence is given.

a.      "Are you working tonight?"

Agaman asked Timothy if she was working that night.

b.     "is this the road to the station?"

A stranger wanted to know from me if that was the road to the station.

c.      "Did you do your homework?"

My friend inquired her if she had done her homework.

d.     "Have you been to Paris?"

The tourist was asked if he had been to Paris.

e.      "How long have you been working in this company?"

Usha inquired of Anju how long she had been working in that company.

f.       "What flavor ice cream did you have at the party?"

My mother asked me what flavor of ice cream I had had at the party.

g.     "Have you studied reported speech before?"

The teacher wanted to know if we had studied reported speech before.

h.     "Where will you stay tonight?"

I asked him where he would stay that night.

i.       "How many players were shown a yellow card by the referee?"

Sumangal asked his friend how many players had been shown a yellow card by the referee.

j.       "What magic did the medicine have on the patient?"

Sarita wanted to know from Sommaya what magic the medicine had had on the patient.

B.    Change the following remarks into reported speech.

a.      Kritika asked me, "Why did you go out last night?"

Kritika asked me why I had gone out the previous night.

b.     "Who was that beautiful woman, Usha?" said Sunita.

Sunita asked Usha who that beautiful woman had been.

c.      "How is your mother?" said Gaurav to Yang Dolma.

Gaurav asked Yang Dolma how  her mother was.

d.     My friend wanted to know, "What are you going to do at the weekend?"

My friend wanted to know what I was going to do at the weekend.

e.      "Where will you live after graduation?" said my teacher.

My teacher asked where I would live after graduation.

f.       Anusha said to Melisha, "What were you doing when I saw you?"

Anusha asked Melisha what she had been doing when she had seen her.

g.     I say to the Pilgrim, "How was the journey?"

I asked the Pilgrim how the journey had been.

h.     "How often do you go to the cinema?" said Krishna.

Krishna asked how often I went to the cinema.

i.       "Do you live in Patan?" said the Principal.

The Principal asked if I lived in Patan.

j.       Niraj said to Luniva, "Did Phadindra arrive on time?"

Niraj asked Luniva if Phanindra had arrived on time.

For the Quiz of Indirect Speech, click the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1uXFOq2DUA

Writing I: Essay Writing

Write an essay describing a festival that is celebrated in your community. Include its brief history, people involved, major activities, religious or social importance, duration, and drawbacks, if any.

Festival Celebrated in my Community: Udhauli

Nepal is a country known for its cultural diversity, where various communities celebrate festivals at different times of the year. Among these, Udhauli is one of the major festivals celebrated by the Rai and Limbu communities in the eastern part of Nepal. This festival marks the end of the harvesting season and is observed to express gratitude for a good harvest. It also fosters unity, harmony, and brotherhood among the people.

The history of this festival is rooted in Kirat mythology. According to the legend, Paruhang, the Sun God, married Sumnima, the Earth Goddess. After their marriage, Paruhang left for meditation in the Himalayas, leaving Sumnima alone. Sumnima, possessing a magical creeper with the power to make people speak the truth, used it to compel Paruhang to promise never to abandon her again. Overjoyed by his vow, Sumnima performed a dance, which is now known as the Sakela dance, a central feature of the Udhauli festival. During Udhauli, people of all ages, both men and women, join in the Sakela dance, forming a circle while the rhythmic beats of traditional instruments like chyabrung and dhol fill the air. Another significant ritual is the Chula Puja, in which the Kirat people offer prayers and sacrifices, often of chickens or other animals, to honor nature. The festival concludes with a grand feast featuring various traditional dishes. Prayers are also offered to seek protection during the harsh winter months.

Udhauli is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Mangsir and holds immense religious and social significance for the Kirat community. It is mentioned in their holy scripture, the Mundhum, and serves as an occasion to worship nature and remember ancestors. The festival also emphasizes cultural preservation, as people don traditional attire and celebrate their heritage. While Udhauli is an occasion of joy and unity, it is not without its challenges. Some communities struggle to celebrate due to the loss of traditional knowledge or migration, which can dilute the cultural significance. Additionally, the expense involved in organizing feasts and rituals can be a burden for some families.

Overall, Udhauli is a vibrant festival that not only honors nature and ancestry but also strengthens the bonds within the community. Its cultural richness and emphasis on harmony make it a vital part of the Kirat tradition.

Click the link for How to Write an Essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuOWNNvupik

***

Click for Next Lesson: https://limbuchandrabahadur.blogspot.com/2025/04/class-10-english-unit-2-thanksgiving.html