DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone else has said.

Direct Speech

Direct speech, also known as quoted speech, involves quoting the exact words spoken by a
person. It is often enclosed in quotation marks and is attributed to the original speaker.

Structure:

 The exact words of the speaker are placed within quotation marks.
 A comma usually separates the reporting clause from the quoted words.

Examples:

1. He said, "I am going to the market."

2. "I will meet you at 5 PM," she said.
3. They asked, "Can we come with you?"

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves paraphrasing what someone has said
without quoting their exact words. The reporting verb is often in the past tense, and pronouns
and verb tenses are adjusted accordingly.

Structure:

 No quotation marks are used.

 The sentence is often introduced with a reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked)
followed by a conjunction like "that," though "that" can sometimes be omitted.
 Pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions may change to fit the context.

Examples:

1. He said that he was going to the market.

2. She said she would meet us at 5 PM.
3. They asked if they could come with us.

Key Changes in Indirect Speech

1. Pronouns: Change according to the context.

o Direct: She said, "I am happy."
o Indirect: She said that she was happy.
2. Tenses: Change according to the reporting verb, typically shifting back one tense.
o Direct: He said, "I am eating."
o Indirect: He said that he was eating.
3. Time and Place Expressions: Change to reflect the passage of time.
 o
Direct: "I will see you tomorrow," he said.
o
Indirect: He said that he would see me the next day.
4. Modals: May also change.
o Direct: She said, "I can help you."
o Indirect: She said that she could help me.

Examples of Changes in Tense

 Present Simple to Past Simple:

o Direct: He says, "I like this book."
o Indirect: He said that he liked that book.
 Present Continuous to Past Continuous:
o Direct: She says, "I am reading."
o Indirect: She said that she was reading.
 Present Perfect to Past Perfect:
o Direct: They say, "We have finished our work."
o Indirect: They said that they had finished their work.
 Past Simple to Past Perfect:
o Direct: He said, "I ate breakfast."
o Indirect: He said that he had eaten breakfast.
 Will to Would:
o Direct: She said, "I will come."
o Indirect: She said that she would come.

Special Cases

 Questions: Reporting questions involves changing the structure from a question to a

statement.
o Direct: He asked, "Where are you going?"
o Indirect: He asked where I was going.
 Commands and Requests: Reporting commands or requests often uses "to" +
infinitive.
o Direct: She said, "Please close the door."
o Indirect: She asked me to close the door.

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone else has said.

Direct Speech

Direct speech, also known as quoted speech, involves quoting the exact words spoken by a
person. It is often enclosed in quotation marks and is attributed to the original speaker.

Structure:

 The exact words of the speaker are placed within quotation marks.
 A comma usually separates the reporting clause from the quoted words.

Examples:

1. He said, "I am going to the market."

 2. "I will meet you at 5 PM," she said.
3. They asked, "Can we come with you?"

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves paraphrasing what someone has said
without quoting their exact words. The reporting verb is often in the past tense, and pronouns
and verb tenses are adjusted accordingly.

Structure:

 No quotation marks are used.

 The sentence is often introduced with a reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked)
followed by a conjunction like "that," though "that" can sometimes be omitted.
 Pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions may change to fit the context.

Examples:

1. He said that he was going to the market.

2. She said she would meet us at 5 PM.
3. They asked if they could come with us.

Key Changes in Indirect Speech

1. Pronouns: Change according to the context.

o Direct: She said, "I am happy."
o Indirect: She said that she was happy.
2. Tenses: Change according to the reporting verb, typically shifting back one tense.
o Direct: He said, "I am eating."
o Indirect: He said that he was eating.
3. Time and Place Expressions: Change to reflect the passage of time.
o Direct: "I will see you tomorrow," he said.
o Indirect: He said that he would see me the next day.
4. Modals: May also change.
o Direct: She said, "I can help you."
o Indirect: She said that she could help me.

Examples of Changes in Tense

 Present Simple to Past Simple:

o Direct: He says, "I like this book."
o Indirect: He said that he liked that book.
 Present Continuous to Past Continuous:
o Direct: She says, "I am reading."
o Indirect: She said that she was reading.
 Present Perfect to Past Perfect:
o Direct: They say, "We have finished our work."
o Indirect: They said that they had finished their work.
 Past Simple to Past Perfect:
o Direct: He said, "I ate breakfast."
 o Indirect: He said that he had eaten breakfast.
 Will to Would:
o Direct: She said, "I will come."
o Indirect: She said that she would come.

Special Cases

 Questions: Reporting questions involves changing the structure from a question to a

statement.
o Direct: He asked, "Where are you going?"
o Indirect: He asked where I was going.
 Commands and Requests: Reporting commands or requests often uses "to" +
infinitive.
o Direct: She said, "Please close the door."
o Indirect: She asked me to close the door.

key points summarising the important aspects of direct and indirect speech:

Direct Speech

1. Quotation Marks: Use quotation marks to enclose the exact words spoken.
2. Structure: Reporting clause, comma, quotation marks.
o Example: He said, "I am tired."
3. Verbatim Reporting: The exact words of the speaker are quoted without changes.

Indirect Speech

1. No Quotation Marks: Do not use quotation marks.

2. Reporting Clause: Often introduced with a reporting verb (said, told, asked) and
sometimes the conjunction "that."
o Example: He said that he was tired.
3. Changes in Pronouns: Pronouns are adjusted to fit the context.
o Example: Direct: "I am happy," she said. Indirect: She said that she was
happy.
4. Changes in Tense: Tenses usually shift back (present to past, past to past perfect).
o Example: Direct: "I am eating," he said. Indirect: He said that he was eating.
5. Changes in Time and Place Expressions: Words like "now," "today," "tomorrow"
change to "then," "that day," "the next day," respectively.
o Example: Direct: "I will see you tomorrow," he said. Indirect: He said that he
would see me the next day.

Reporting Questions

1. Yes/No Questions: Introduced with "if" or "whether."

o Example: Direct: "Are you coming?" he asked. Indirect: He asked if I was
coming.
2. Wh- Questions: Question word remains but the sentence structure changes to a
statement.
 o Example: Direct: "Where are you going?" she asked. Indirect: She asked
where I was going.

Reporting Commands and Requests

1. Commands: Use "to" + infinitive.

o Example: Direct: "Close the door," he said. Indirect: He told me to close the
door.
2. Requests: Use "to" + infinitive.
o Example: Direct: "Please help me," she said. Indirect: She asked me to help
her.

Modal Verbs Changes

1. Will becomes would.

2. Can becomes could.
3. May becomes might.
4. Shall becomes should.
5. Must sometimes becomes had to.
o Example: Direct: "I can swim," he said. Indirect: He said that he could swim.

Special Cases and Exceptions

1. General Truths: Tense may not change for universal facts.

o Example: Direct: "The sun rises in the east," she said. Indirect: She said that
the sun rises in the east.
2. Time Clauses: Tense in time clauses often remains unchanged.
o Example: Direct: "When I was young, I played football," he said. Indirect: He
said that when he was young, he played football.
3. Immediate Reporting: Tense may not change if reporting happens immediately.
o Example: Direct: "I am hungry," he says. Indirect: He says that he is hungry.

By keeping these key points in mind, you can effectively convert between direct and indirect
speech, ensuring clarity and correctness in your reporting.

statements

Present Simple to Past Simple:

 Direct: "I like ice cream," he said.

 Indirect: He said that he liked ice cream.

Present Continuous to Past Continuous:

 Direct: "I am reading a book," she said.

 Indirect: She said that she was reading a book.
Present Perfect to Past Perfect:

 Direct: "I have finished my homework," he said.

 Indirect: He said that he had finished his homework.

Past Simple to Past Perfect:

 Direct: "I saw the movie yesterday," she said.

 Indirect: She said that she had seen the movie the day before.

Will to Would:

 Direct: "I will call you later," he said.

 Indirect: He said that he would call me later.

Questions

Yes/No Questions:

 Direct: "Do you like pizza?" he asked.

 Indirect: He asked if I liked pizza.
 Direct: "Have you finished your project?" she asked.
 Indirect: She asked if I had finished my project.

Wh- Questions:

 Direct: "Where are you going?" he asked.

 Indirect: He asked where I was going.
 Direct: "What time does the train leave?" she asked.
 Indirect: She asked what time the train left.

Commands and Requests

Commands:

 Direct: "Shut the door," he said.

 Indirect: He told me to shut the door.
 Direct: "Finish your homework," the teacher said.
 Indirect: The teacher told us to finish our homework.

Requests:

 Direct: "Please help me," she said.

 Indirect: She asked me to help her.
 Direct: "Could you pass the salt?" he said.
 Indirect: He asked me to pass the salt.
Mixed Tenses and Conditions

First Conditional:

 Direct: "If it rains, we will cancel the picnic," she said.

 Indirect: She said that if it rained, they would cancel the picnic.

Second Conditional:

 Direct: "If I were rich, I would travel the world," he said.

 Indirect: He said that if he were rich, he would travel the world.

Third Conditional:

 Direct: "If I had known, I would have helped," she said.

 Indirect: She said that if she had known, she would have helped.

General Truths

No Change in Tense:

 Direct: "The Earth orbits the sun," he said.

 Indirect: He said that the Earth orbits the sun.

Immediate Reporting

No Change in Tense:

 Direct: "I am tired," she says.

 Indirect: She says that she is tired.

Special Expressions

Time and Place Changes:

 Direct: "I will see you here tomorrow," he said.

 Indirect: He said that he would see me there the next day.

Pronoun Changes:

 Direct: "We are going to the party," she said.

 Indirect: She said that they were going to the party.

These examples should help clarify how to convert various types of sentences from direct to
indirect speech, taking into account changes in pronouns, tenses, time expressions, and the
structure of questions and commands.