NOTES ON DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

1. Anshul said, I am working hard for the examination.

2. Anshul said that he was working hard for the examination.
In the first sentence, the actual words of the speaker are quoted. This is called DIRECT
SPEECH.
In the second sentence, we give the substance of what the speaker said without quoting
his exact words. This is called INDIRECT SPEECH.
Rules For Changing Direct Speech into Indirect
When changing the Direct Speech into Indirect, certain grammatical changes have to be
made.
Rule 1. If the reporting verb is a past tense, the tense of the verb in the Reported
Speech must be changed to the past tense.
(a) A simple present tense becomes a simple past.
Direct: He said, I am unwell.
Indirect: He said that he was unwell.
(b) A present continuous becomes a past continuous.
Direct: He said, My master is writing letters.
Indirect: He said that his master was writing letters.
( c )A present perfect becomes a past perfect.
Direct:He said, I have passed the examination.
Indirect: He said that he had passed the examination.
(d)The simple past becomes past perfect.
Direct:He said, The horse died in the night.
Indirect: He said that the horse had died in the night.

(e) The past continuous becomes past perfect continuous.

Direct:He said, I was singing the song.
Indirect: He said that he had been singing the song.
(f) Other verbs change as follows:
Shall should
Will would
May might
Can could

Exception to Rule 1: If the reported speech relates to some universal or habitual fact, the
Simple Present Tense in the Reported Speech remains unchanged; as
Direct: He proved, The Earth is round.
Indirect : He proved that the earth is round.

RULE 2.If the Reporting Verb is in Present or Future Tense, the tense of the verb in the
Reported Speech is not changed at all.
Direct: The servant says, Tea is ready.
Indirect: The servant says that the tea is ready.
Direct: The teacher will say, The boy is intelligent.
Indirect: The teacher will say that the boy is intelligent.
RULE 3: Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives, of the First and Second Person in Direct Speech
are changed into the Third Person in Indirect Speech.
1. Rama said, I am ill.
Rama said that he was ill.
2. I said to the boys, You should do your own duty.
I told the boys that they should do their duty.
RULE 4. In Reported Speech, the words expressing nearness are changed into words
expressing distance.
Now

becomes then

This

that

These

those

Here

there

Thus

so

Come
Today

go
that day

Tomorrow

the next day

Yesterday

the previous day

Last night

the previous night

Ago

before

CHANGE OF SPEECH IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF SENTENCES:

1.

Assertive Sentences (Statement)

Statements in the Indirect Speech are generally introduced by the Conjunction that.

Direct: You said to me, I do not think I can oblige you again in this way.
Indirect: You told me that you did not think you could oblige me again in that way.

2. Interrogatory Sentences(Questions)
In reporting a question in the Indirect Speech(1) The introductory Verb is changed to asked, inquired or demanded.
(2) Whether or if is used after such introductory verbs whenever the direct question admits of
one of the two answers(yes or no)
(3)The question mark(?) is not placed at the end of the sentence in Indirect Speech.
NOTE: In order to change an interrogatory sentence into a statement, always place the
PRONOUN before the verb.
(a) Direct: He said to me, What is your name?
Indirect: He asked me what my name is.
(b) Direct: He said to me, Do you want some tea?
Indirect: He asked me if I wanted some tea.
3. Imperative Sentences (Command and Requests)
In reporting a Command or Request in the Indirect Speech:
(1) The introductory verb is changed into request, beg, implore, entreat, order, command,
advise, threaten etc.
(2) The verb in the Reported Speech is put in the infinitive i.e. to + verb.
(3) Let is changed to should.
Direct: He said to me, Give me your pencil.
Indirect: He asked me to give him my pencil.

Direct: He said to us, Let us return home.

Indirect: He proposed to us that we should return home.
4. Exclamatory sentences (Exclamation and Wishes)
In reporting a wish or exclamation in the Indirect Speech:
(1)The introductory Verb is changed into wish, bless, pray, cry, exclaim, and declare
etc. with phrases as with joy, with regret, with sorrow, where necessary.
(2)The Interjection and Exclamation such as oh, well, hurrah, alas, brave, curse it are
omitted and their sense is expressed by means of phrases.
Direct: What a terrible storm it is! he said.
Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a terrible storm.
Direct: They said, Hurrah! We have won the match.
Indirect: He exclaimed with delight that they had won the match.
IMPORTANT NOTE The poem Frog And The Nightingale is also included in the
portion for Unit Test I English Grade X

In indirect speech, make changes to keep the speakers original meaning.

a. Change pronouns and possessives.
b. Change time phrases.
c. Change this and here.
Examples

He said to Ann, Tell me your problem.

He told Ann to tell him her problem.
Call me tomorrow.
She said to call her the next day.
Sign this form here.
She told him to sign that form there.