Mastering Direct and Indirect Speech
Unlock The Power of Voice in Communication
Did you know that 70 percent of communication relies on how words are reported - directly or indirectly?
Mastering this skill is essential for clear, accurate expression, especially when supporting SSC CGL Aspirants with unique learning skills.
Know what you'll learn in this blog:
- What is direct speech?
- What is indirect speech?
- Main rules to change indirect speech - pronoun (S. O. N) rule
- What is reported speech?
- What is a reporting verb?
- Direct and Indirect Flowchart
- Rules to convert all tenses, modals
- Conversion of (imperative, interrogative & exclamatory) sentences into indirect speech
- How to change the sentences like - universal truth, historical facts into indirect speech
- Direct vs. Indirect Speech
- Exercise to ace the competition
- Frequently asked questions about, "Direct & Indirect Speech"
Direct Speech 💬 repeats someone's exact words in quotation marks:
Key Features: (Direct Speech)
- The exact words are written in "quotation marks".
- It tells exactly what was said.
- Usually used in conversation or stories.
Direct Speech: Arjun said, "I will help you with your project tomorrow".
Formula: Subject +Reporting Verb + Reported Speech in Quotation Marks.
Indirect Speech: Arjun said that he would help you with your project the next day.
Formula: Subject + Reporting Verb + Connector (that) + Statement.
Key Features: (Indirect Speech)
- The exact words are not used in indirect speech.
- It reports the meaning.
- Quotation marks are not used.
While in indirect speech message is conveyed without quotation marks and often adjusts pronouns, tenses, and time references:
Direct Speech: Arjun said, “I finished my homework last night.”
Indirect Speech: Arjun said that he had finished his homework the previous night.
on the way the wolf 🐺 asked her where she was going and what she had got in her bag.
Wolf: “Where are you going, Little Red Riding Hood? What have you got in that bag?”
Indirect Speech:
The wolf asked Little Red Riding Hood where she was going and what she had got in her bag.
Little Red Riding Hood told her grandma that the wolf had asked her where she was going and what she had got in her bag.
Red Riding Hood is reporting the wolf's question to Grandma, rather than making it look as though the wolf himself is giving the indirect speech.
If you are preparing for exams or fond of writing stories, mastering this topic
will make your communication skills more accurate and perfect.
Learn, Convert & Score High in SSC CGL English
Reporting Verbs
These Verbs introduce Indirect Speech. 💬
- said
- told
- asked
- requested
- advised
- suggested
- explained
- shouted
- warned
- replied
- whispered
- inquired
Indirect speech: The master asked for a glass of water
Tense Changes
Main rules to remember
- Present Indefinite - Past Indefinite
- Present Continuous - Past Continuous
- Present Perfect - Past Perfect
- Past Simple - Past Perfect
- Will/Shall - Would
- Can/May - Could/Might
Pronoun Changes
What is S →O→ N rule?
- S = Subject (of reporting verb)
- O = Object (of reporting verb)
- N = No Change
First Person (I, we, my, our) → in the Reported Speech are changed into the person of the subject of the Reporting Verb.
Direct Speech: I said, " I am reading a storybook."
Indirect Speech: I said that I was reading a storybook.
or
Indirect Speech: You said that you were reading a storybook.
👉Point to remember:
Pronoun "I" changes to "You" (assuming someone else is reporting what you said; if you are reporting your own past words, it would be "I said that I was reading a storybook".)
Direct Speech: You said, " I am reading a storybook".
Indirect Speech: You said that you were reading a storybook.
Conjunction "that" is added to connect the main clause and the reported clause.
- The Present Continuous Tense (am reading) shifts into the Past Continuous Tense (were reading) because the reporting verb (said) is in the past tense.
- Pronoun "I" shifts to (you) to match the subject of the sentence. (You said).
Direct Speech: She said, " I am reading a story book".
Indirect Speech: She said that she was reading a storybook.
👉Here,
Conjunction: The word "that" is added to connect the clauses.
Tense Shift: The Present Continuous tense (am reading) moves back into the Past Continuous tense (was reading) because the reporting verb (said) is in the past tense.
Pronoun: The pronoun I changes to she to match the subject (She said).
Pronouns of the Second Person in the Reported Speech are changed into the person of the object of the Reporting Verb, i.e. the noun or pronoun coming after the Reporting Verb.
Direct Speech: He said to me, "You are timid".
Indirect Speech: You told me that I was timid.
When converting direct speech into indirect speech, several grammatical changes occur:
1. Pronoun Changes: The pronouns in the sentence are often adjusted based on the perspective shift. In this case, “you” changes to “I” because the speaker is now reporting what was said to them.
2. Tense Shifts: If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb tense in the quoted speech typically shifts back.
Present tense changes to past tense. In this example, “are” becomes “was.”
3. Quotation marks: In indirect speech, quotation marks are removed as the exact words are not being quoted.
4. Reporting Verb: The reporting verb can remain in the past tense, as “told” does in this sentence.
By following these rules, “He said to me, ‘You are timid’” becomes “He told me that I was timid.”
Direct Speech: I said to you, "You are timid".
Indirect Speech: I told you that you were timid.
The transformation from direct to indirect speech requires several grammatical changes:
1. Reporting Verb:
The verb "said to" is often changed to "told" when the sentence is directed at a specific listener. Alternatively, "said" can remain if it's followed by "that" and the statement.
2. Pronoun Change:
The pronoun "you" in direct speech changes to match the perspective of the speaker in indirect speech. In this case, it remains "you" as the listener is directly addressed.
3. Tense Shift:
In indirect speech, the present tense "are" changes to the past tense "were" to reflect the reporting of a past statement. This is known as back shifting and is a common rule unless the information is still true or universally applicable.
4. Removal of Quotation Marks:
Quotation marks are not used in indirect speech since the words are not directly attributed to the speaker.
5. Conjunction:
The word "that" is often used to introduce the reported speech, although it can sometimes be omitted in informal contexts.
Direct Speech: I said to him, "You are timid".
Indirect Speech: I told him that he was timid.
In indirect speech, the sentence "I said to him, 'You are timid'" can be transformed into "I told him that he
was timid."
The grammatical rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech involve several key changes:
1. Reporting Verb:
The verb "said" is often changed to "told" when the sentence is directed at someone. If the sentence isn't directed at someone, "said" remains unchanged.
2. Pronouns:
The pronoun "you" is changed to "he" to match the subject of the indirect speech (assuming the subject is male).
3. Tense Shift:
The present tense "are" is changed to the past tense "was" because the reporting verb ("said" or "told") is in the past tense. This is known as back shifting.
4. Conjunction:
The word "that" is often used to introduce the reported clause, although it can sometimes be omitted in informal speech.
These changes help the sentence flow naturally in indirect speech while maintaining the original meaning.
Pronouns of the third person in the Reported Speech remain unchanged.
Direct Speech: I said to him, " He is a player".
Indirect Speech: I told him that he was a player.
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, several grammatical rules apply:
1. Change of Pronouns:
Pronouns need to be adjusted according to the perspective of the reporting speaker. In this example, "he" remains "he" since the subject being referred to doesn't change from the speaker's perspective.
2. Shift in Tense:
In indirect speech, the present tense
is typically changed to the past tense. Here, "is" becomes "was."
3. Removal of Quotation Marks:
Indirect speech does not use quotation marks. The sentence is restructured to remove them and often includes the word "that" to introduce the reported clause, although "that" can sometimes
be omitted in informal contexts.
4. Reporting Verb Adjustment:
"Said to" is often changed to "told"
when specifying the listener. However, "said" could remain if the listener is not specified (e.g., "I said that he was a player").
These are the foundational rules for transforming direct speech into indirect speech, ensuring clarity and grammatical accuracy in reporting someone's words.
Direct Speech: You said to me," He is a player".
Indirect Speech: You told me that he was a player.
Here are the grammatical rules applied in this transformation:
1. Pronoun Changes:
The pronoun “he” remains the same because the subject being referred to has not changed.
2. Tense Shift:
In reported speech, the tense of the verb usually shifts back one step in time. Since the direct speech uses the present tense “is,” it changes to the past tense “was” in indirect speech.
3. Quotation Marks:
- Direct speech uses quotation marks to enclose the exact words spoken.
- In indirect speech, these (quotation marks) are not used.
4. Conjunctions:
The conjunction “that” is often used to introduce the reported clause, although it can sometimes be omitted in informal speech.
5. Reporting Verb:
In this case, “said to” is changed to “told,” which is more commonly used when the object (me) is specified.
These rules help maintain clarity and ensure the reported speech accurately reflects the original message within the context of the new sentence structure.
Direct Speech: He said to you, "He is a player".
Indirect Speech: He told you that he was a player.
To convert direct speech to indirect speech, follow these general grammatical rules:
1. Remove Quotation Marks:
In indirect speech, the quotation marks are removed.
2. Change the Pronouns:
Adjust the pronouns to fit the context.
In this case, "He" remains "He," but if the speaker directly addresses the listener, pronouns might change to fit the perspective.
3. Adjust the Verb Tense:
The present tense verb "is" changes
to the past tense "was" because the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. This follows the sequence of tenses rule, where present simple becomes past simple.
4. Use a Reporting Verb:
In indirect speech, verbs like "said" or "told" are used to introduce the statement. Here, "said to" becomes "told."
5. Introduce the Reported Clause with 'That':
Although optional, "that" is often used to introduce the reported clause, helping to clarify the statement.
These rules help ensure clarity and maintain the original meaning of the statement while adapting it to indirect speech.
All nouns are in the third person.
Always remember
- First Person is changed into Subject. (S)
- Second Person is changed into Object. (O)
- Third Person requires no change. (N)
Pronouns change depending on the speaker
According to the speaker, listener & others
- I - he/she
- we - they
- you - she/he/they
- me - him/her
- us - them
- my/mine - his/her/their
- your /yours - his/her/their
Time and place words change
These words also change!
- tomorrow - the next day
- tonight - that night
- this - that
- these - those
- next day - the following day
- now - then
- last week - the previous week
- here - there
- ago - before
- hither - thither
- thus - so
- hence - thence
- next week - following week
- come - go
Sentence Types
Form remains but changes in structure
- Assertive: that + S + V
- Interrogative: if / whether + S + V
- Imperative: to + V
- Exclamatory: that + S + V! / how + adj/adv!
🎯 Follow this 5 - steps process for perfect conversation!
- Identify the reporting verb
- Change the tense
- Change the pronoun
- Change the time/place words
- Check punctuation & structure
Pro Tip:
Practice daily, revised regularly & score exceptionally!
Exam Tips for All Aspirants:
Don't forget using " that" to connect "Reporting Verb" and "Reporting Speech".
Focus on pronoun change. Always check tense of reporting verb.
Punctuation Changes in Direct & Indirect speech:
Direct speech
- Use quotation marks.
- Use comma before the speech 💬
Direct Speech: "I am happy", he said.
Indirect Speech
- Don't use quotation marks.
- End with a full stop.
Indirect Speech: She said that she was happy.
Learn punctuation rules through this image, because what you see 👀
you remember forever!
Basic Rules
- The reporting verb is used in past tense.
- The tense of the verb is not changed.
- Time and place expressions and pronouns are usually transformed.
- Use conjunction "that" to introduce the reported speech.
While in indirect speech message is conveyed without quotation marks and often adjusts pronouns, tenses, and time references:
Now the question is:
What is reported speech?
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of conveying what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using the speaker's original dialogue, reported speech involves paraphrasing or summarizing the statement. This often requires changes in pronouns, verb tenses, and other grammatical elements to fit the context of the new sentence structure.
For example,
Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John,
Reported speech: (here, "Reported Speech" means "Indirect Speech")
Indirect Speech: John said that he was going to the store.
We notice the shift from “am going” to “was going” and “I” to “he” to maintain
the correct tense and perspective.
Let's take another example:
Direct Speech: “Are you coming to the party?” Maya asked,
Reported speech: Maya asked if I was coming to the party.
These transformations reflect the perspective of the person reporting the dialogue and ensure the message remains clear and grammatically correct.
Let's know "Reporting Verb" in a very simple language:
What is a reporting verb?
A reporting verb is a verb used in grammar to indicate that someone is speaking or writing something. These verbs are essential for introducing direct or indirect speech and help convey the speaker's attitude, intention, or emotion. Common reporting verbs include "say," "tell," "ask," "explain," "suggest," "report," and "announce."
For instance,
"She said that she would come to the party,"
The verb "said" is the reporting verb.
It introduces the indirect speech that follows.
In the same manner,
"He asked if I was feeling better,"
The verb "asked" is the reporting verb, introducing the question indirectly.
Reporting verbs not only help in indicating who is speaking but also in providing context about how something was said.
For example,
"He whispered that he had a secret".
Suggests a quieter, more confidential manner of speaking compared to "He shouted that he had a secret."
Thus, the choice of reporting verb can significantly affect the interpretation of the dialogue or statement being reported.
Hope you understand what is reporting verb. We use them to introduce direct or indirect speech.
Before discussing the rules in detail, let us go through the flowchart first to know what exactly direct and indirect is:
A flowchart serves as visual aid that simplify the process of changing direct speech to indirect speech
by providing a clear, step by step guide. This helps in understanding the rules such as tense changes, pronoun adjustments, and modifications in time expression.
Struggling to remember
" Rules of Direct and Indirect Speech"
Don't worry, follow this simple and consistent strategy, learning
"Narration: Direct and Indirect Speech"
becomes easier and useful
for competitive exams
This article will help you, save this for your exam.
Rules to Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
Reporting verb
If the introductory or reporting verb is in present or future tense, the verb in reported speech is not changed.
Don't memorize rules,
Master the pattern
🎯Score Higher in SSC CGL!
In English grammar, when the introductory or reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the verb in the reported speech remains unchanged.
This is because the actions or states described are still considered relevant
or true at the time of reporting.
Here are a few examples:
1. Direct Speech: John says, “I am going to the store.”
Reported Speech: John says that he is going to the store.
Explanation: The introductory verb "says" is in the present tense, so the verb "am going" remains in the present continuous form in the reported speech.
2. Direct Speech: She will announce, “We have completed the project.”
Reported Speech: She will announce that they have completed the project.
Explanation: The reporting verb "will announce" is in the future tense, so
"have completed" remains in the present perfect tense because it is still relevant to the future context of the announcement.
3. Direct Speech: The teacher states, "The exam starts at 9 AM.”
Reported Speech: The teacher states that the exam starts at 9 AM.
Explanation: With "states" in the present tense, the verb "starts" stays in the simple present tense, indicating a scheduled future event that remains unchanged.
These examples demonstrate that when the context of the reporting is present or future, the tense of
the verb in the reported speech is not altered, maintaining the original meaning and relevance of the statement.
If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the reported speech is changed into the past tense.
When converting direct speech into reported speech, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb tense in the reported clause typically shifts back one tense. This process is known as back shifting. Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:
1. Direct Speech: She said, “I am going to the store.”
Reported Speech: She said that she was going to the store.
Explanation: In the direct speech, the verb "am going" is in the present continuous tense. When it is reported, it shifts to the past continuous tense "was going" because the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense.
2. Direct Speech: He said, “I have finished my homework.”
Reported Speech: He said that he had finished his homework.
Explanation: The present perfect "have finished" in direct speech changes to the past perfect "had finished" in reported speech due to the past tense reporting verb "said."
3. Direct Speech: They said, “We will attend the meeting.”
Reported Speech: They said that they would attend the meeting.
Explanation: The future tense "will attend" becomes "would attend" in reported speech, aligning with the past tense reporting verb.
4. Direct Speech: John said, “I can help you.”
Reported Speech: John said that he could help me.
Explanation: The modal verb "can" in direct speech changes to "could" in reported speech because of the past reporting verb.
This pattern helps maintain consistency in the timeline of events when narrating past conversations or statements.
Simple Present - write (✍️) changes into Simple Past - wrote (✍️)
Direct and indirect speech can be transformed from simple present to simple past by understanding the rules
of reported speech. Here are three examples:
1. Direct Speech: She says, “I write a letter.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she wrote a letter.
Explanation: When converting direct speech to indirect speech, the present simple tense "write" changes to the past simple tense "wrote."
Additionally, the reporting verb "says" is changed to "said," and the conjunction "that" is added to connect the clauses.
2. Direct Speech: He says, “They live in New York.”
Indirect Speech: He said that they lived in New York.
Explanation: The present simple tense "live" changes to the past simple tense "lived." The reporting verb "says" changes to "said," and "that" is used as a connector.
3. Direct Speech: She remarks, “John drives a car.”
Indirect Speech: She remarked that John drove a car.
Explanation: The present simple tense "drives" becomes the past simple tense "drove." The reporting verb "remarks" changes to "remarked," and "that" is used to link the clauses.
These transformations occur because, in reported speech, the verbs typically shift one step back in tense to reflect the action as already completed when the reporting occurs.
Present Continuous - is writing (📝) changes into Past Continuous - was writing (📝)
In English grammar, the change from present continuous to past continuous in reported speech involves a shift in both tense and pronoun.
1. Direct Speech: She says, “I am writing a novel.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she was writing a novel.
Explanation: The present continuous tense "am writing" changes to the past continuous "was writing" to reflect that the action was ongoing in the past. The pronoun "I" shifts to "she" to maintain the correct perspective in the reported speech.
2. Direct Speech: He says, “They are completing the project.”
Indirect Speech: He said that they were completing the project.
Explanation: The present continuous "are completing" shifts to the past continuous "were completing" to indicate the action was ongoing in the past. The pronoun "they" remains the same as the context does not require a change in perspective.
3. Direct Speech: I say, “We are preparing dinner.”
Indirect Speech: I said that we were preparing dinner.
Explanation: The present continuous "are preparing" converts to the past continuous "were preparing" to show the action was ongoing in the past. The pronoun “we” remains unchanged since the speaker is still part of the group being referred to.
Present perfect - has written (✍️) changes into Past Perfect - had written (✍️)
Let's explore the transformation of sentences from the present perfect tense to the past perfect tense, and how they shift in direct and indirect speech.
Direct Speech: She said, “I have written a letter.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she had written a letter.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the present perfect tense "have written" changes to the past perfect tense "had written" because the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. This shift reflects that the action of writing the letter was completed before the time of reporting.
Direct Speech: He remarked, “They have finished the project.”
Indirect Speech: He remarked that they had finished the project.
Explanation: Similarly, "have finished" becomes "had finished" in indirect speech. This transformation indicates that the completion of the project occurred prior to the moment when the remark was made.
Direct Speech: She explained, “We have seen the movie.”
Indirect Speech: She explained that they had seen the movie.
Explanation: The change from "have seen" to "had seen" in indirect speech signifies that the
viewing of the movie was an event that happened before the explanation took place
Simple Past - wrote (✍️) changes into Past Perfect - had written (✍️).
1. Direct Speech: Alice said, “I wrote the report yesterday.”
Indirect Speech: Alice said that she had written the report the previous day.
Explanation: In the direct speech, "wrote" is in the simple past tense. When converting to indirect speech, it changes to "had written," which is the past perfect tense. Additionally, "yesterday" changes to "the previous day" to maintain the sequence of time.
2. Direct Speech: John remarked, “I visited the museum last week.”
Indirect Speech: John remarked that he had visited the museum the previous week.
Explanation: The verb "visited" in the direct speech is in the simple past tense. In the indirect speech, it changes to "had visited," which is in the past perfect tense. The time expression "last week" is altered to "the previous week" for accuracy in reported speech.
3. Direct Speech: Sarah exclaimed, “I saw a great movie on Saturday.”
Indirect Speech: Sarah exclaimed that she had seen a great movie on Saturday.
Explanation: Here, "saw" is in the simple past tense in direct speech and is transformed to "had seen," in the past perfect tense for indirect speech. The day "Saturday" does not change because it is specific and does not affect the sequence of events relative to the reporting time.
Past Continuous - was writing (📝) changes into Past Perfect Continuous - had been writing (📝).
To convert direct speech to indirect speech, we often need to adjust the verb tenses and pronouns to fit the context of the reporting. Here are three examples with explanations:
1. Direct Speech: John said, “I was writing a letter.”
Indirect Speech: John said that he had been writing a letter.
Explanation: In this example, "was writing" in direct speech changes to
"had been writing" in indirect speech. This shift from the past continuous
tense to the past perfect continuous tense indicates that the action was ongoing in the past at the time John spoke, and it's now being reported later on.
2. Direct Speech: Mary said, “They were playing football when it started raining.”
Indirect Speech: Mary said that they had been playing football when it started raining.
Explanation: Here, "were playing" changes to "had been playing" to reflect the past perfect continuous tense. This change suggests that the action of playing football was happening before and up to the moment it started raining, which is now being recounted at a later time.
3. Direct Speech: Peter said, “She was cooking dinner when I arrived.”
Indirect Speech: Peter said that she had been cooking dinner when he arrived.
Explanation: In this case, "was cooking" becomes "had been cooking" in indirect speech. This transformation indicates that the cooking was an ongoing action in the past, which was interrupted
by Peter's arrival and is now reported
in a narrative form.
The key change in each example is the transformation from the past continuous to the past perfect continuous tense, aligning the timing of the action with the context of reporting.
Modals (will, can, may) changes into would, could, might
Here are three examples of changing modals from direct speech to indirect speech, along with explanations for each transformation:
1. Direct Speech: “I can finish the report by tomorrow,” said John.
Indirect Speech: John said that he could finish the report by the next day.
Explanation: In this example, the modal verb “can” is changed to “could” when converting from direct to indirect speech. This shift indicates a change in tense to reflect the reporting of speech, aligning with the past tense form of the reporting verb “said.” Additionally, “by tomorrow” is changed to “by the next day” to reflect the change in perspective of time.
2. Direct Speech: “You must submit the assignment today,” the teacher instructed.
Indirect Speech: The teacher instructed that we had to submit the assignment that day.
Explanation: Here, the modal “must” is changed to “had to” in indirect speech. This transformation is necessary because “must” does not have a past form. The phrase “today” is altered to “that day” to maintain consistency in the temporal point of view.
3. Direct Speech: "Will you attend the meeting?” asked Sarah.
Indirect Speech: Sarah asked if I would attend the meeting.
Explanation: In this case, the modal “will” is changed to “would” in indirect speech. This change reflects the backshift in tense that often occurs in reported speech. Furthermore, the structure changes from a question to a statement, necessitating the use of “if” to introduce the indirect question.
Personal Pronouns and possessive adjectives of the first person are changed according to the subject of
the reporting verb.
In English, when we report speech, we often need to change personal pronouns and possessive adjectives to match the subject of the reporting verb. This ensures that the sentence remains clear and grammatically correct. Here are a few examples to illustrate this concept:
1.Direct Speech: “I will take my book to the library,” said John.
Reported Speech: John said that he would take his book to the library.
Explanation: In the reported speech, the first-person pronoun “I” changes to “he,” and the possessive adjective “my” changes to “his,” because John is the subject of the reporting verb “said.”
2. Direct Speech: “We have finished our project,” said the students.
Reported Speech: The students said that they had finished their project.
Explanation: Here, the first-person pronoun “we” changes to “they,” and the possessive adjective “our” changes to “their,” since the students are the subject of the reporting verb “said.”
3. Direct Speech: “I think my idea is the best,” said Maria.
Reported Speech: Maria said that she thought her idea was the best.
Explanation: The pronoun “I” changes to “she,” and “my” changes to “her,” because Maria is the subject of the reporting verb “said.”
By making these changes, we maintain clarity about who is speaking and whose possessions or actions are being referred to in the reported speech.
Pronouns and possessive adjectives of the third person remain unchanged:
Pronouns and possessive adjectives for the third person remain unchanged in English, regardless of the gender of the subject they refer to. For instance, the pronouns are "he," "she," and "they," while the possessive adjectives are "his," "her," and "their."
Examples:
1. He/Him/His: "He is going to his friend's house. I saw him yesterday." In this example, "he" is the subject pronoun, "him" is the object pronoun, and "his" is the possessive adjective, all referring to a male subject.
2. She/Her/Her: "She is reading her book. I talked to her this morning." Here, "she" is the subject pronoun, "her" is both the object pronoun and the possessive adjective, referring to a female subject.
3. They/Them/Their: "They are planning their vacation. I met them last week." In this example, "they" is the subject pronoun, "them" is the object pronoun, and "their" is the possessive adjective, which can refer to a singular non-binary person or a group of people.
These pronouns and possessive adjectives are used to avoid repetition and clarify ownership or relationships in sentences. The choice between "he," "she," and "they" depends on the gender identity of the person being referred to, with "they" serving as a gender-neutral option.
Pronouns and possessive adjectives of the second person are changed according to the object of the reporting verb.
When reporting speech or writing, pronouns and possessive adjectives often need to be adjusted to fit the perspective of the person doing the reporting. This is especially true for second-person pronouns, which are typically changed to match the object of the reporting verb. Let's look at some examples to clarify this concept:
1. Direct Speech: "I will help you with your project," Sarah said to John.
Reported Speech: Sarah told John that she would help him with his project.
In this example, the pronoun "you" changes to "him," and the possessive adjective "your" changes to "his" because John is the object of the reporting verb "told."
2.Direct Speech: "Can you lend me your book?" Lisa asked you.
Reported Speech: Lisa asked if you could lend her your book.
Here, the pronoun "you" remains the same because it refers to the listener (you) in both direct and reported speech. However, "me" changes to "her" to reflect that Lisa is the one requesting the book.
3. Direct Speech: "Do you think your friends will join us?" Mark asked them.
Reported Speech: Mark asked them if they thought their friends would join them.
In this instance, "you" changes to "they," and "your" changes to "their" because "them" is the object of the reporting verb "asked."
These adjustments ensure that the reported speech accurately reflects
who is speaking to whom and maintains clarity in communication.
Conversion of Commands and Requests into Indirect Speech:
The verb of the reported speech is changed into an infinitive (to + verb).
In reported speech, when the main verb is a verb of command, request, advice, or suggestion, it can often be followed by an infinitive form rather than a clause. This transformation allows the sentence
to be more concise and clearer. Here are a few examples to illustrate this concept:
1. Direct Speech: The teacher said, “Please submit your assignments by Friday.”
Reported Speech: The teacher asked the students to submit their assignments by Friday.
2. Direct Speech: He said, “Don’t touch the hot stove.”
Reported Speech: He warned them not to touch the hot stove.
3. Direct Speech: She said, “You should see a doctor.”
Reported Speech: She advised him to see a doctor.
4. Direct Speech: His mother said, “Go to bed early.”
Reported Speech: His mother told him to go to bed early.
In these examples, the verbs “asked,” “warned,” “advised,” and “told” are followed by infinitives ("to submit," "not to touch," "to see," and "to go") to convey the original commands, warnings, or advice in a more streamlined manner. This structure helps in maintaining the essence of the original statement while adapting it to a reported speech format.
When statements giving advice are changed into indirect speech, the reporting verb say changes into advise, forbid, suggest, warn etc.
When transforming direct speech into indirect speech, particularly when the original statement involves giving advice or instructions, the reporting verb often changes to reflect the nature of the statement.
Here are a few examples and explanations:
1. Advise: This verb is used when the original statement is intended to offer guidance or recommendations. For example:
Direct speech: “You should study hard for the exams,” the teacher said.
Indirect speech: The teacher advised the students to study hard for the exams.
2. Forbid: This verb is suitable when the statement prohibits or disallows an action.
For instance:
Direct speech: “You must not enter the restricted area,” the guard said.
Indirect speech: The guard forbade us from entering the restricted area.
3. Suggest: Use this verb when the original statement proposes an idea or plan.
For example:
Direct speech: “Let’s go for a walk,” he said.
Indirect speech: He suggested going for a walk.
4. Warn: This verb is appropriate when the statement involves cautioning someone about potential danger or issues.
For instance:
Direct speech: “Watch out for the slippery floor,” she said.
Indirect speech: She warned us about the slippery floor.
By using these reporting verbs, indirect speech clearly conveys the intent behind the original statement, making it easier for the listener or reader to understand the nature of the advice or instruction given.
When requests are changed into indirect speech, the reporting verb say changes into request, ask, beg, plead, invite etc.
When transforming direct speech into indirect speech, particularly with requests, the reporting verb often changes to better reflect the nature of the interaction. This change helps convey the speaker's intentions more accurately. Here are some examples and explanations:
1. Direct Speech: “Please close the window,” she said.
Indirect Speech: She requested that he close the window.
In this example, "said" is replaced with "requested," indicating that the original statement was a polite request rather than a mere statement.
2. Direct Speech: “Could you help me with the homework?” he said.
Indirect Speech: He asked if I could help him with the homework.
Here, "said" becomes "asked," illustrating that the speaker was making a request for assistance.
3. Direct Speech: “I’m begging you to stay,” she said.
Indirect Speech: She begged him to stay.
The word "begged" in indirect speech conveys the urgency and pleading nature of the original request.
4. Direct Speech: “Would you like to join us for dinner?” she said.
Indirect Speech: She invited him to join them for dinner.
In this case, "invited" is used in place of "said," highlighting that the speaker extended an invitation.
These examples demonstrate that the choice of reporting verb in indirect speech is crucial for accurately reflecting the original tone and intent of the speaker's words.
Conversion of Interrogative Sentences into Indirect Speech:
The question mark is replaced with a full stop, and the interrogative sentence is changed into simple sentence in indirect speech.
Converting an interrogative sentence into a indirect speech involves changing the structure and punctuation to remove the question format. Here are a few examples with explanations:
Example,
Direct Speech: He asked, “Are you coming to the party?”
Indirect Speech: He asked if you were coming to the party.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the question mark is replaced with a period, and the sentence is restructured to remove the question format. The verb tense may change, and interrogative words like “are” become “were,” while “if” or “whether” is used to introduce the question.
Example:
Direct Speech: She wondered, “What time does the show start?”
Indirect Speech: She wondered what time the show started.
Explanation: The original question is embedded in the statement without a question mark. The verb tense changes from present to past, and "does" is omitted, maintaining the indirect structure.
Example,
Direct Speech: They asked, “Can we meet tomorrow?”
Indirect Speech: They asked if they could meet tomorrow.
Explanation: The auxiliary verb “can” changes to “could,” and the sentence is stated as a fact rather than a question, incorporating “if” to introduce the inquiry.
Questions with verbs like do, does, or did are usually changed into indirect speech by using if/whether:
In English grammar, when converting direct questions that start with auxiliary verbs like "do," "does," or "did" into indirect speech, the question is often introduced with "if" or "whether." This transformation helps to report the question in a statement form rather than as a direct inquiry. Here are a few examples and explanations:
1. Direct Speech: "Do you like coffee?"
Indirect Speech: She asked if I liked coffee.
Explanation: The direct question "Do you like coffee?" is transformed by removing the auxiliary "do" and changing the verb "like" to its past form "liked," as indirect speech usually requires a backshift in tense. "If" introduces the reported clause.
2. Direct Speech: "Does he work here?"
Indirect Speech: She inquired whether he worked there.
Explanation: In this case, "does" is removed, and "work" is changed to "worked." "Whether" can be used interchangeably with "if" to introduce the indirect question.
3. Direct Speech: "Did they finish the project?"
Indirect Speech: He wondered if they had finished the project.
Explanation: The auxiliary "did" is omitted, and the verb "finish" is changed to its past perfect form "had finished" to reflect the backshift in tense. "If" is again used to introduce the indirect question.
Using "if" or "whether" in indirect speech helps to convey the sense of inquiry without retaining the direct question format, making the sentence fit seamlessly into the narrative.
When direct questions are changed into indirect speech the word order is the same as that of a statement. The verb comes after the subject. The wh - words are repeated:
When transforming direct questions into indirect speech, it is crucial to maintain the word order of a statement, where the verb follows the subject. Additionally, any question words such as "who," "what," "where," "when," "why," and "how" are repeated in the indirect form. This structure helps convert a question into
a more declarative form, which fits naturally into the flow of a sentence.
For example,
Direct Speech: “Where is the library?”
Indirect speech: “He asked where the library was.”
Notice how the verb "was" follows the subject "the library," similar to a statement.
Another example is:
Direct Speech: “What time does the meeting start?”
Indirect speech: “She inquired what time the meeting started.”
Here, the structure mirrors a statement, with "the meeting" preceding "started."
This transformation ensures clarity and coherence when reporting questions, making them fit seamlessly into larger narratives or discussions.
Conversion of Exclamatory Sentences into Indirect Speech:
Converting exclamatory sentences into indirect speech involves a few key steps to ensure the original emotion or emphasis is conveyed in a more subdued manner. Here are the rules and examples to clarify the process:
1. Change the Reporting Verb: In indirect speech, the reporting verb is often changed to express the exclamation.
Common verbs used are "exclaimed," "said with joy," "cried out," "remarked," or "shouted," depending on the context and emotion conveyed in the original sentence.
2. Remove the Exclamation Mark: When converting to indirect speech, exclamation marks are replaced by a period at the end of the sentence.
3. Use Conjunctions: Words like "that" are often used to connect the reporting clause with the reported speech, though they can sometimes be omitted in informal contexts.
4. Change Pronouns and Tenses: As with other indirect speech, pronouns and verb tenses are adjusted according to the context and timing of the sentence.
5. Retain the Emotional Content: Although the sentence structure changes, it’s important to maintain the emotional tone of the original exclamation by choosing appropriate words.
Examples
Direct Speech: She exclaimed, “What a beautiful painting!”
Indirect Speech: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
Explanation: The exclamatory “What a beautiful painting!” is converted into a statement.
The reporting verb “exclaimed” reflects the emotion. The exclamation mark is removed, and “that” is used to introduce the reported speech.
Direct Speech: He shouted, “How wonderful it is to see you!”
Indirect Speech: He shouted that it was wonderful to see her.
Explanation: The exclamation is turned into a statement, with “shouted” indicating the intensity.
The exclamation mark is omitted, and pronouns and tenses are adjusted to fit the indirect format.
By following these rules, you can effectively convert exclamatory sentences into indirect speech while preserving their original emotional impact.
No Change Zone:
Direct speech: “The sun rises in the east,” said the preacher
Indirect Speech: The preacher said that the sun rises in the east.
Here are the grammatical rules applied:
1. Reporting Verb:
In indirect speech, the reporting verb “said” remains unchanged when reporting a universal truth, as these truths remain constant regardless of
the tense or context.
2. Conjunction:
The conjunction “that” is often used to introduce the reported clause, although it can be optional in informal speech.
3. Present Simple Tense:
Universal truths, like “the sun rises in the east,” typically remain in the present simple tense when converting to indirect speech because their truth is timeless and not affected by the reporting verb's tense.
4. Pronouns and Time References:
In this case, there are no pronouns or time references to adjust. However, generally, pronouns and time references may need to be changed to fit the context of the indirect speech.
By maintaining these rules, the indirect sentence accurately conveys the original statement's meaning in a reported form.
When converting direct speech into indirect speech, several changes are made to accommodate the
shift from a direct quote to a reported statement. Let’s transform the given sentence and then discuss
the grammatical rules applied:
Direct Speech: The minister said, "Our country became independent on 15 August, 1947".
Indirect Speech: The minister said that their country had become independent on 15 August 1947.
Grammatical Rules Applied:
1. Change of Pronouns: The pronoun “our” in direct speech is changed to “their” in indirect speech to match the perspective of the speaker being reported.
2. Change of Tense: When reporting past events, the past simple tense in direct speech (“became”) often shifts to the past perfect tense (“had become”) in indirect speech. This is particularly true if the reporting verb is in the past tense.
3. Omission of Quotation Marks: Quotation marks are removed when converting direct speech to indirect speech.
4. Addition of 'that': In indirect speech, the word “that” is often used to introduce the reported clause, although it can sometimes be omitted in informal contexts.
5. No Change in Date: Specific time expressions like dates remain the same, so “15 August, 1947” does not change.
By applying these rules, the sentence maintains its original meaning while fitting the structure of indirect speech.
Key Changes in Indirect Speech
Time and place words change
- tomorrow - the next day
- tonight - that night
- this - that
- these - those
- next day - the following day
- now - then
- last week - the previous week
- here - there
- ago - before
- hither - thither
- thus - so
- hence - thence
- next week - following week
- come - go
👉Point to Remember
- Direct Speech: exact words
- Indirect Speech: meaning of our own words
Key changes in Indirect Speech
⌛ Time words change
- last night - the previous night
- today - that day
🕥 Tense may change
- I am - she was
- I will - he would
👧 Pronouns may change
- I - she/ he
- us - them
- we - they
- me - him/her
- my - his/ her
- our - their
📍Place words may change
- here - there
- this - that
Direct vs. Indirect Speech
In the above picture, Rohan greeted Neha and asked how she was doing.
Neha responded by saying she was good and thanked him. Rohan then asked
if she would like to watch a movie with him, to which Neha agreed enthusiastically,
saying it sounded great.
Grammatical Rules for Indirect Speech:
1. Reporting Verbs:
Use verbs like 'said,' 'asked,' or 'told' to introduce the indirect speech. For example, "Rohan said" becomes "Rohan asked."
2. Pronoun Changes:
Pronouns may need to be adjusted to fit the perspective of the reporter.
For instance,
"I" becomes "she" when reporting Neha's response.
3. Tense Changes:
If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the reported speech usually shifts back a tense, e.g., present simple changes to past simple. However, if the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the reported speech tense remains unchanged.
4. Removing Quotation Marks:
Quotation marks are not used in indirect speech, as the speech is paraphrased rather than quoted.
5. Conjunctions:
Use conjunctions like 'that' or 'if' to connect the reporting clause with the reported clause.
For example,
Direct Speech: "Rohan said, 'Do you want to watch a movie?'"
Direct Speech: "Rohan asked if she wanted to watch a movie."
Understanding the concept of direct and indirect speech is essential for accurately reporting what someone has said.
Here is a detailed explanation of the differences, along with rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct vs. Indirect Speech
Direct Speech involves quoting the exact words spoken by a person. It is often enclosed in quotation marks.
For example:
Direct Speech: She said, “I am going to the market.”
Involves paraphrasing the spoken words without quoting them exactly.
For example:
Indirect Speech: She said that she was going to the market.
Key Differences (Direct and Indirect Speech) Most Important for All Competitive Exams
1. Quotation Marks: Direct speech uses quotation marks, while indirect speech does not.
2. Tense Changes: When converting to indirect speech, the tense of the verbs usually changes. For example, present simple might change to past simple.
3. Pronoun Changes: Pronouns often change to match the perspective of the reporter.
4. Time and Place Expressions: References to time and place often change to reflect the context of reporting.
5. Punctuation: Direct speech uses punctuation such as commas and quotation marks, whereas indirect speech often uses the word “that” and changes punctuation accordingly.
Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
1. Change in Tenses:
Present Simple to Past Simple
(e.g., “I go” becomes “she went”).
Present Continuous to Past Continuous
(e.g., “I am going” becomes “she was going”).
Present Perfect to Past Perfect (e.g., “I have gone” becomes “she had gone”).
Simple Past to Past Perfect (e.g., “I went” becomes “she had gone”).
2. Change in Pronouns:
First-person pronouns change according to the subject of the reporting verb.
(e.g., “I” becomes “he/she”).
Second-person pronouns change according to the object of the reporting verb.
(e.g., “you” becomes “I/he/she/they”).
Third-person pronouns usually remain unchanged.
3. Time and Place Expressions:
“Now” changes to “then.”
“Today” changes to “that day.”
“Tomorrow” changes to “the next day"
or “the following day.”
“Yesterday” changes to “the day before.”
“Here” changes to “there.”
4. Punctuation:
Remove quotation marks.
Use conjunctions like “that” to connect the reporting clause (e.g., She said, “I am tired” becomes
She said that she was tired).
Understanding these rules helps to accurately convert direct speech into indirect speech, ensuring clarity and maintaining the intended meaning of the original statement.
10 Practice Questions to Master Direct and Indirect Speech in SSC, Banking, and
UPSC Exams
Exercise to Beat the Competitive Exams:
Direct and Indirect Speech: Practice Exercise with Answers
Here are ten multiple-choice questions focused on direct and indirect speech, along with explanations for each answer:
1. Which of the following sentences is an example of indirect speech?
a) He said, “I will go to the market.”
b) He said that he would go to the market.
c) “I will go to the market,” he said.
Answer: b) He said that he would go to the market.
Explanation: Indirect speech conveys
the meaning of what someone said without quoting their exact words. Option
b) changes the pronoun and verb tense appropriately.
2. Identify the correct transformation from direct to indirect speech:
"She said, ‘I am reading a book.’"
a) She said she was reading a book.
b) She said she has been reading a book.
c) She said she is reading a book.
Answer: a) She said she was reading a book.
Explanation: The present continuous tense "am reading" in direct speech changes to
past continuous "was reading" in indirect speech since it is reporting a past action.
3. Which of the following is the correct indirect speech for:
"Tom asked, ‘Are you coming with us?’"
a) Tom asked if I was coming with them.
b) Tom asked if you are coming with them.
c) Tom asked if you were coming with him.
Answer: a) Tom asked if I was coming with them.
Explanation: The question format changes to a statement, and the present tense verb "are"
changes to past tense "was," while "you" changes to the appropriate pronoun in context.
4. Convert the direct speech to indirect:
"The teacher said, ‘Complete the assignment by Monday.’"
a) The teacher said to complete the assignment by Monday.
b) The teacher said that I should complete the assignment by Monday.
c) The teacher said complete the assignment by Monday.
Answer: b) The teacher said that I should complete the assignment by Monday.
Explanation: Direct orders change to suggestions or advice in indirect speech, often using "should" or "to" for the command.
5. What is the correct indirect speech for:
"He exclaimed, ‘What a beautiful painting!’"
a) He exclaimed that it is a beautiful painting.
b) He exclaimed what a beautiful painting it was.
c) He exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
Answer: c) He exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
Explanation: Exclamatory sentences become declarative in indirect speech,
and the present tense "is" changes to
past tense "was."
6. Which option correctly transforms:
"She said, ‘I can finish the project today.’"
a) She said she can finish the project today.
b) She said she could finish the project that day.
c) She said she will finish the project today.
Answer: b) She said she could finish the project that day.
Explanation: The modal verb "can" changes to "could," and "today" becomes "that day"
when reported later.
7. Choose the correct indirect speech for:
"John said, ‘I will help you tomorrow.’"
a) John said he would help me the next day.
b) John said he will help you tomorrow.
c) John said he would help you tomorrow.
Answer: a) John said he would help me the next day.
Explanation: The future tense "will" changes to "would," and "tomorrow" becomes "the next day."
The pronoun "you" is contextually adjusted.
8. Select the correct indirect speech for:
"The manager said, ‘We must meet the deadline.’"
a) The manager said we must meet the deadline.
b) The manager said that they had to meet the deadline.
c) The manager said meeting the deadline is a must.
Answer: b) The manager said that they had to meet the deadline.
Explanation: "Must" often changes to "had to" in indirect speech to reflect obligation in the past tense.
9. What is the correct transformation for:
"He said, ‘I have seen that movie.’"
a) He said he had seen that movie.
b) He said he has seen that movie.
c) He said he saw that movie.
Answer: a) He said he had seen that movie.
Explanation: The present perfect tense "have seen" changes to past perfect "had seen" in indirect speech.
10. Convert the direct speech to indirect:
"She asked, ‘Where do you live?’"
a) She asked where did I live.
b) She asked where do I live.
c) She asked where I lived.
Answer: c) She asked where I lived.
Explanation: When converting questions in direct speech to indirect, the question format becomes a statement, and the present tense "do live" changes to past tense "lived."
Master Direct and Indirect Speech quickly with this visual trick - ideal for competitive exams
Learn Grammar through visuals - because what you see, you remember forever!
Common Questions About Direct and Indirect Speech Conversion
How do I correctly change tenses when converting direct to indirect speech?
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, it is essential to change the tense of the verbs appropriately to maintain the meaning of the original statement while reflecting the reporting context. Here are some general rules and examples to guide you:
1. Present Simple to Past Simple:
If the direct speech is in the present simple tense, change it to the past
simple in indirect speech.
Direct: “I eat breakfast at 7 a.m.,” she said.
Indirect: She said that she ate breakfast at 7 a.m.
2. Present Continuous to Past Continuous:
Convert present continuous to past continuous.
Direct: “I am reading a book,” he said.
Indirect: He said that he was reading a book.
3. Present Perfect to Past Perfect:
Present perfect becomes past perfect.
Direct: “I have finished my homework,” she said.
Indirect: She said that she had finished her homework.
4. Past Simple to Past Perfect:
Change past simple to past perfect.
Direct: “I saw the movie yesterday,” he said.
Indirect: He said that he had seen the movie the day before.
5. Will to Would:
Convert “will” to “would” for future tense.
Direct: “I will call you tomorrow,” she said.
Indirect: She said that she would call me the next day.
6. Can - Could:
Change “can” to “could”.
Direct: “I can swim,” he said.
Indirect: He said that he could swim.
7. Shall - Should:
Use “should” instead of “shall”.
Direct: “Shall we go?” he asked.
Indirect: He asked if they should go.
Remember, if the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense in the indirect speech may not change. Always consider the context and whether the statement’s timing has changed since it was made.
What happens to pronoun during conversion?
During conversion, pronouns often undergo changes to align with the new context or perspective. This typically happens in scenarios like converting direct speech to reported speech, changing the point of view in storytelling, or translating text between languages. Here are a few examples:
1. Direct to Reported Speech:
Direct: She said, “I am going to the store.”
Reported: She said that she was going to the store.
In this example, the pronoun “I” changes to “she” to reflect the shift from first-person to third-person narration.
2. Changing Point of View:
First-person: I enjoyed the concert last night.
Third person: He enjoyed the concert last night.
Here, “I” is converted to “he” to maintain consistency in the third-person narrative style.
3. Translation:
English: She loves her cat.
Spanish: Ella ama a su gato.
In translation, “her” changes to “su” to
fit the grammatical structure of Spanish.
In each of these cases, the pronoun conversion is necessary to preserve meaning and clarity while adapting to the new context or linguistic structure.
Do time and place expressions change in indirect speech?
Yes, time and place expressions often change when converting direct speech
to indirect speech. These changes are necessary to maintain the correct context and meaning of the original statement. Here are some examples:
1. Time Expressions:
Direct Speech: “I will see you tomorrow,” she said.
Indirect Speech: She said that she would see me the next day.
Direct Speech: “I met him yesterday,” he explained.
Indirect Speech: He explained that he had met him "the day before".
2. Place Expressions:
Direct Speech: “We can meet "here",” he suggested.
Indirect Speech: He suggested that they could meet "there".
Direct Speech: “I left my book "on the table",” she mentioned.
Indirect Speech: She mentioned that she had left her book "on the table".
These changes help to accurately convey the passage of time or change of location from the perspective of the person reporting the speech.
How do questions work in indirect speech?
In indirect speech, questions are reported without using the exact words of the speaker and without using a question mark. The sentence structure typically changes from a question format to a statement format. Additionally, the tense of the verb often shifts back, usually by one tense, to reflect the time passed since the question was asked.
For example, a direct question like “What are you doing?” when reported in indirect speech becomes “He asked what I was doing.” Notice how the question “What are you doing?” is transformed into a statement “what I was doing,” and the present tense “are” changes to the past tense “was.”
Another example is the direct question “Did she finish her homework?” In indirect speech, this becomes “He asked if she had finished her homework.” Here, the past simple “did” changes to the past perfect “had finished,” and the question word “if” is used to introduce the reported question.
Indirect questions thus convey the essence of the original query without maintaining the interrogative form.
Follow me on YouTube
