Reported Speech
EXPLANATION
DIRECT SPEECH:
Quoting the exact words of the speaker is
called “The Direct Speech”.
EXAMPLE:
Raju said, “I am writing a letter now”.
EXPLANATION
INDIRECT SPEECH:
Reporting of what a speaker said without
quoting his exact words is called ‘Indirect
Speech’.
EXAMPLE:
Raju said that he was writing a letter then.
TIPS
DIRECT SPEECH
said

INDIRECT SPEECH

-

becomes

said / said that

said to -

becomes

told that

[The pronoun ‘that’ is not necessary]
RULES
INDIRECT SPEECH [ Verb]

DIRECT SPEECH [Verb]

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Simple Present
Present Continuous
Present Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous
Simple Past
Past Continuous
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Simple Past
Past Continuous
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Tips - Continues
DIRECT SPEECH [Verb]

9. Future with “will”
10. Future with “going to”
11. Can
12. Must / Have to
13.May / Might
14. Should / Ought to

INDIRECT SPEECH [ Verb]
9. Would
10. Was / Were going to
11. Could
12. Had to
13. might
14. Should / Ought to
Rules for Changing ADVERBS
Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

now

then

here

there

this

that

these

those

ago

before

thus

so

to-day

that day

to-night

that night

yesterday

the day before (or)
the previous day

tomorrow

the next day (or)
the following day

last week

the week before

next week

the week after
EXAMPLES
The following sentences use quoted speech. Change the following sentences from quoted
speech to reported speech. Then see below to get the answers and the explanations.

1.) Jayanthi said, “I am watching TV.”
__________________________________________
2.) Professor Jones said, “I worked all day!”
__________________________________________
3.) The President said, “I will be visiting Italy in
December.”
__________________________________________
EXAMPLES – Continues…
4.) The weatherman announced, “It may rain today.”
_________________________________________________
5.) My father screamed, “I have to go to the airport,
tomorrow!”
_________________________________________________
6.) My mother said, “I must take your father.”
__________________________________________________
Continues…
Continues…

EXAMPLES – Continues…
7.) The psychologist said, “You should calm down.”
___________________________________________
8.) I responded, “I ought to leave the office.”
___________________________________________
9.) Mani said, “I love visiting China and Korea.”
___________________________________________
EXAMPLES – Continues…
• 10.) Mala said, “I can be a great Scholar,
really!”
_____________________________________
11.) Suresh said, “Close the windows”
_____________________________________
12.) Babu will say, “I have already done my
homework.”
_____________________________________
Answers
1.) Jayanthi said, “I am watching TV.”
Jayanthi said that she was watching TV.
2.) Professor Jones said, “I worked all day!”
Professor Jones said he had worked all day.
3.) The President said, “I will be visiting Italy in December.”
The President said that he would be visiting Italy in
December.
4.) The weatherman announced, “It may rain today.”
The weatherman announced that it might rain that day.
Answers – Continues…
5.) My father screamed, “I have to go to the airport, tomorrow!”
My father screamed that he had to go to the airport the next day.
6.) My mother said, “I must take care of your ill father.”
My mother said she had to take care of my ill father.
7.) The Psychologist said, “You should calm down.”
The Psychologist said that I should calm down.
 
8.) I responded, “I ought to leave the office.”
I responded that I ought to leave the office.
Answers – Continues…
9.) Mani said, “I love visiting China and Korea.”
Mani said he loved visiting China and Korea.
10.) Mala said, “I can be a great Scholar, really!”
Martin said that he could be a great Scholar.
11.) Suresh said, “Close the windows”
Suresh told me to close the windows.
12.) Babu will say, “I have already done my homework.”
Babu will say that he had already done his homework.
Reported speech
Reported speech

Reported speech

  • 1.
  • 2.
    EXPLANATION DIRECT SPEECH: Quoting theexact words of the speaker is called “The Direct Speech”. EXAMPLE: Raju said, “I am writing a letter now”.
  • 3.
    EXPLANATION INDIRECT SPEECH: Reporting ofwhat a speaker said without quoting his exact words is called ‘Indirect Speech’. EXAMPLE: Raju said that he was writing a letter then.
  • 4.
    TIPS DIRECT SPEECH said INDIRECT SPEECH - becomes said/ said that said to - becomes told that [The pronoun ‘that’ is not necessary]
  • 5.
    RULES INDIRECT SPEECH [Verb] DIRECT SPEECH [Verb] 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Simple Present Present Continuous Present Perfect Present Perfect Continuous Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous
  • 6.
    Tips - Continues DIRECTSPEECH [Verb] 9. Future with “will” 10. Future with “going to” 11. Can 12. Must / Have to 13.May / Might 14. Should / Ought to INDIRECT SPEECH [ Verb] 9. Would 10. Was / Were going to 11. Could 12. Had to 13. might 14. Should / Ought to
  • 7.
    Rules for ChangingADVERBS Direct Speech Indirect Speech now then here there this that these those ago before thus so to-day that day to-night that night yesterday the day before (or) the previous day tomorrow the next day (or) the following day last week the week before next week the week after
  • 8.
    EXAMPLES The following sentencesuse quoted speech. Change the following sentences from quoted speech to reported speech. Then see below to get the answers and the explanations. 1.) Jayanthi said, “I am watching TV.” __________________________________________ 2.) Professor Jones said, “I worked all day!” __________________________________________ 3.) The President said, “I will be visiting Italy in December.” __________________________________________
  • 9.
    EXAMPLES – Continues… 4.)The weatherman announced, “It may rain today.” _________________________________________________ 5.) My father screamed, “I have to go to the airport, tomorrow!” _________________________________________________ 6.) My mother said, “I must take your father.” __________________________________________________
  • 10.
    Continues… Continues… EXAMPLES – Continues… 7.)The psychologist said, “You should calm down.” ___________________________________________ 8.) I responded, “I ought to leave the office.” ___________________________________________ 9.) Mani said, “I love visiting China and Korea.” ___________________________________________
  • 11.
    EXAMPLES – Continues… •10.) Mala said, “I can be a great Scholar, really!” _____________________________________ 11.) Suresh said, “Close the windows” _____________________________________ 12.) Babu will say, “I have already done my homework.” _____________________________________
  • 12.
    Answers 1.) Jayanthi said,“I am watching TV.” Jayanthi said that she was watching TV. 2.) Professor Jones said, “I worked all day!” Professor Jones said he had worked all day. 3.) The President said, “I will be visiting Italy in December.” The President said that he would be visiting Italy in December. 4.) The weatherman announced, “It may rain today.” The weatherman announced that it might rain that day.
  • 13.
    Answers – Continues… 5.)My father screamed, “I have to go to the airport, tomorrow!” My father screamed that he had to go to the airport the next day. 6.) My mother said, “I must take care of your ill father.” My mother said she had to take care of my ill father. 7.) The Psychologist said, “You should calm down.” The Psychologist said that I should calm down.   8.) I responded, “I ought to leave the office.” I responded that I ought to leave the office.
  • 14.
    Answers – Continues… 9.)Mani said, “I love visiting China and Korea.” Mani said he loved visiting China and Korea. 10.) Mala said, “I can be a great Scholar, really!” Martin said that he could be a great Scholar. 11.) Suresh said, “Close the windows” Suresh told me to close the windows. 12.) Babu will say, “I have already done my homework.” Babu will say that he had already done his homework.