Direct and direct speech

1. DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
Definition of Direct Speech
Direct speech repeats, or quotes the exact words spoken or
written. When direct speech is used in writing, the words are
enclosed within quotation marks also known as inverted commas ("
") Examples:
i. Martha said, ‘’Books are becoming more and more expensive.’’
ii.They said, ‘’Our exams are around the corner.’’
Indirect Speech
Reported or indirect speech is when we say or write what someone
else has said without necessarily using exactly the same words. For
example:
i. Martha complained that books were becoming more expensive.
ii. They said that their exams were around the corner.

2. Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
Punctuation Rules
The following punctuation rules are applied in reported
• The Inverted commas are excluded.
• The question mark is converted to full stop.
• The exclamation mark is also usually omitted.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Punctuation omitted
John said, "I am quite good here." John stated that he was quite
Inverted commas
Mark asked, "How old is your puppy? Mark inquired about how old my
puppy was. Question mark

3. Rules for Changing Pronouns in Indirect Speech
Change of pronoun in indirect speech is done with following
rules
First Person Change:
The first person singular pronoun changes to the third
person singular pronoun For example:
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
a)She said, " I am quite fine here" She announced
was quite fine there
b)He said, " I write everyday" He declared that
everyday
• The first person plural pronoun changes to third person
plural pronoun. For example:
a)They said, "We have made good progress" They declared
had made good

4. Second Person Pronouns:
The second person singular pronoun changes to the third person
pronoun
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said to her, "You are an intelligent girl" He told her that she
intelligent girl.
Third Person Pronouns:
The third Person whether singular or plural in direct speech remains
unchanged in indirect speech, For example:
Direct Speech Indirect
Speech
He said, "They prefer singing." He mentioned that they
singing.
They said, "It is hard to bear extreme cold." They complained that it

5. Rules for Changing Tenses from Direct to Indirect speech
• The simple present tense in direct speech changes to the
tense in the indirect speech. For example:
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
John said, "I always wait for Mark here.’’ John stated that he
waited for Mark there.
• The present continuous tense changes to the past continuous
in indirect speech. For Example:
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
James said, "I am waiting for Mark“ James stated said that
waiting for Mark
• The present perfect tense changes to the past perfect tense in
indirect speech. For example:
Direct Speech Indirect
Speech
Amina said, "I have completed my essay“ Amina announced that

6. • The Present Perfect Continuous tense changes to the Past Perfect
Continuous tense in indirect speech. For example:
Direct Speech Indirect
Speech
Sam said, "I have been waiting for Mark.“ Sam stated that he
had been
waiting for Mark.
• The Simple past tense changes to the Past Perfect tense in the
indirect speech. For example:
Direct speech Indirect Speech
Speech
She said, "Mark received a letter“ She announced that Mark had
received a letter.
• The Future simple tense auxiliary verbs will/shall change to
would/should in the indirect speech. For example:
Direct speech Indirect
Indirect Speech

7. • Future Continuous Tense: ‘’will be’’ + -ing or present participle form
of the verb changes to ‘’would be’’+ ing or present participle form
of the verb). For example:
Direct speech Indirect Speech
Alex said, "I will be teaching you Music .“ Alex said announced he
would be teaching
me Music.
Rules for ChangingTime Adverbs from Direct to Indirect Speech
Speech
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Today That day
Yesterday The day before
Tomorrow The next day
Now Then

8. Ago Before
Here There
This That
Next week The following week
Next month The following
month
Last night The night before/The previous
night
Examples
Direct speech Indirect speech
He said, "I am waiting here for you" He said that he was waiting
there for me.
She said, "We will come tomorrow" She said that they would come

9. Some commonly used verbs in reported or indirect speech:
i. Said: declared, stated, mentioned, suggested, maintained etc
ii. Asked: requested, enquired, inquired, probed etc
iii. Advised: warned, directed, instructed, admonished etc
iv. Queried: demanded, interrogated, probed, etc