2. Direct Speech
• When exact words that are spoken by the speaker
are used to report what he or she has said, we
use the direct speech.
• For ex. The teacher said, ‘Sit down and Don’t
Make Noise’.
• While writing direct speech we always enclose
them with quotation marks(‘…’). The verb in the
quotation words is called reporting verb.
3. Rules For Writing Direct
Speech:
• The reporting verb is followed by a comma (,)
• The words of the speaker are written in
inverted comma’s (‘…’)
• The first word within the inverted comma
begins with a capital letter.
4. Indirect Speech
• When we use our own words to report what a person has said,
we use Indirect Speech. This speech is also known as Reporting
Speech.
• For ex. My teacher told me that she will be on leave tomorrow.
• Many times in newspapers reports or in such reports Indirect
Speech is used more often.
• This speech is used to talk about past.
5. Rules for Writing Indirect
Speech
• The Reporting Verb is followed by ‘that’.
• The Reported Speech is not placed within inverted
commas (‘…’)
• The reported speech is changed in such a way that
it’s pronouns and tenses are suitable for the
reporter.
7. Change Of Tense
1. If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the
verb in Indirect Speech is not changed at all.
A. He says, ‘I am going to school’. (Direct Speech)
He says that he is going to school. (Indirect Speech)
B. He will say, ‘I am studying’. (Direct Speech)
He will say that he is studying. (Indirect Speech)
8. 2. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the verb in the reported
speech is changed to a corresponding form of the past tense.
A. Simple Present becomes Simple Past.
Ex. He said, ‘I play football’.
He said that he played football.
B. Present Continuous becomes Past Continuous.
Ex. He said, ‘I am writing an essay’.
He said that he was writing an essay.
9. C. Present Perfect becomes Past Perfect.
Ex. He said, ‘I have written an essay’.
He said that he had written an essay.
D. Simple Past becomes Past Perfect
Ex. He said, ‘I wrote a letter’.
He said that he had written a letter.
10. E. Past Continuous becomes Past Perfect Continuous.
Ex. He said, ‘I was writing an essay.’
He said that he had been writing an essay.
F. Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous remain unchanged.
Ex. He said, ‘The storm had damaged the roads.’
He said that the storm had damaged the roads.
Ex. He said, ‘Anna had been dancing.’
He said that Anna had been dancing.
11. G. Will changes to would, shall to should or would, can changes to
could, and may changes to might.
Ex. He said, ‘I will write a letter.’
He said that he would write a letter.
12. Change of Pronouns and
Possessive Adjectives
The first and second person pronouns and possessive adjectives are changed
to the person of the subject of the reporting verb.
Ex. I said, ‘I want to go to the summer camp.’
I said that I wanted to go to the summer camp.
Ex. You said, ‘I am unwell today.’
You said that you’re unwell that day.
Ex. She said, ‘I was studying.’
She said that she had been studying.
13. Change of Punctuation
1. We use inverted commas in direct speech to mark the exact words used by the speaker. The
inverted commas aren’t used in Indirect Speech.
Ex. My brother said, ‘I’m going to the exhibition.’
My brother said that he was going to the exhibition.
2. The introductory verb in Direct Speech is followed by a comma. In the Indirect Speech, the
comma is removed.
Ex. Karim said, ‘I have a new computer.’
Karim said that he had a new computer.
14. 3. In Direct Speech, the ending punctuation mark of the quoted words
should always be inside the inverted commas.
Ex. He asked, ‘Can I go to the book fair?’
15. Change of Time and Place
Indicators
• When we change the tense of the verb while converting from direct to Indirect Speech, words
that denote time and place are also changed accordingly.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Now Then, at that time
Today That day
Tonight That night
Tomorrow The next day, the day
after
Yesterday The previous day, the day
before
Ago Before
Here There
This That
16. Changing Assertive Sentences in Direct
Speech to Indirect Speech
1. If the reporting verb in the Direct Speech has an Indirect Object, the word say is
changed to told in the Indirect Speech.
2. The comma following the reporting verb in Direct Speech is replaced by the
conjunction that in the Indirect Speech.
3. The tense, pronouns and time and place indicators change according to the rules
discussed previously.
Ex. The king said to his minister, ‘This is a trick.’
The king said to his minister that that was a trick.
18. 1. The reporting verb in the Direct Speech is replaced by the words ask or enquire in the Indirect
Speech.
2. Interrogative sentences in Direct Speech are changed into Assertive sentences in the Indirect
Speech.
3. If the question in Direct Speech begins with a wh- question, no conjunction is used in the
Indirect Speech.
4. If the question in Direct Speech begins with a verb, the conjunction If is used in the Indirect
Speech.
5. The tense, pronouns and time and place indicators change according to the rules discussed
previously.
Ex. Harish said, ‘Why is Rama crying?’
Harish asked why Rama was crying.
Ex. Patul said, ‘Do you have an extra pencil?’
Patul enquired if I had an extra pencil.
19. Changing Imperative Sentences in
Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
1. The reporting verb in Direct Speech is changed to a verb expressing a command, advice or request.
2. The verb of the quoted words is changed into an infinitive.
3. The tense, pronouns and time and place indicators change according to the rulers discussed
previously.
Ex. ‘Be quiet!’ said the principal.
The principle commanded them to be quiet.
Ex. He said to Varshini, ‘Lend me your book, please.’
He requested Varshini to lend him her book.
Ex. The monitor said to the students, ‘Don’t lean on the wall.’
The monitor forbade the students to lean on the wall.
