1. What is Direct Speech?
When we quote the exact words spoken by a person, it is called Direct Speech.
The spoken words are put inside quotation marks (“ ”).
A reporting verb like say, tell, ask, reply is usually used.
✅ Example:
Ravi said, “I am very tired.”
2. What is Indirect Speech?
When we report the meaning of what someone said without using their exact words, it is called Indirect Speech (Reported Speech).
No quotation marks are used.
Pronouns, verbs, and sometimes time expressions are changed.
✅ Example:
Ravi said that he was very tired.
3. Important Changes from Direct → Indirect
When converting, some rules must be followed:
(A) Change of Pronouns
Pronouns change according to sense (who is speaking, to whom, about whom).
➡ Example:
Direct: She said, “I love my parents.”
Indirect: She said that she loved her parents.
(B) Change of Tenses
If the reporting verb is in past tense, the tense of the reported speech usually changes.
If reporting verb is in present or future, tense doesn’t change.
๐ Rules of tense change:
Direct Speech. Indirect Speech
Present Simple →. Past Simple
Present Continuous →. Past Continuous
Present Perfect →. Past Perfect
Past Simple →. Past Perfect
Past Continuous →. Past Perfect Continuous
Future (will) →. would
✅ Example:
Direct: He said, “I am watching TV.”
Indirect: He said that he was watching TV.
(C) Change of Time and Place Words
now → then
today → that day
tomorrow → the next day / the following day
yesterday → the previous day / the day before
here → there
✅ Example:
Direct: She said, “I will go tomorrow.”
Indirect: She said that she would go the next day.
4. Types of Sentences and Their Rules
(A) Assertive Sentences (Statements)
Use that in indirect speech.
✅ Example:
Direct: He said, “I like cricket.”
Indirect: He said that he liked cricket.
(B) Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
Use if/whether (for yes-no questions).
Use question word (what, where, why, when, how) if present in direct speech.
✅ Example 1 (Yes/No Question):
Direct: She said, “Do you like coffee?”
Indirect: She asked if I liked coffee.
✅ Example 2 (WH Question):
Direct: He said, “Where are you going?”
Indirect: He asked where I was going.
(C) Imperative Sentences (Commands/Requests/Advice)
Use to + verb for order, advice, request.
Use not to + verb for negative commands.
✅ Example:
Direct: The teacher said, “Open your books.”
Indirect: The teacher told us to open our books.
Direct: He said, “Don’t be late.”
Indirect: He told me not to be late.
(D) Exclamatory Sentences
Use words like exclaimed with joy, sorrow, surprise, regret etc.
✅ Example:
Direct: She said, “What a beautiful day!”
Indirect: She exclaimed with joy that it was a very beautiful day.
Direct: He said, “Alas! I am ruined.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.
5. Special Cases
Universal truths / proverbs → No tense change.
Direct: The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”
Indirect: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
Reporting verb in present/future tense → No tense change.
Direct: She says, “I am busy.”
Indirect: She says that she is busy.
✅ In short:
Direct = exact words (inside “ ”).
Indirect = reported meaning (no “ ”).
Pronouns, tense, and time/place words often change.
Rules differ for statements, questions, commands, and exclamations.
๐ Direct and Indirect Speech
Assertive (Statement)
Direct: He said, “I like football.”
Indirect: He said that he liked football.
Direct: She said, “I am happy.”
Indirect: She said that she was happy.
Interrogative (Yes/No Q.)
Direct: He said, “Do you play cricket?”
Indirect: He asked if I played cricket.
Interrogative (WH Q.)
Direct: She said, “Where are you going?”
Indirect: She asked where I was going.
Imperative (Command)
Direct: The teacher said, “Open your books.”
Indirect: The teacher told us to open our books.
Imperative (Negative)
Direct: He said, “Don’t run.”
Indirect: He told me not to run.
Request
Direct: She said, “Please help me.”
Indirect: She requested me to help her.
Advice
Direct: The doctor said, “Take rest.”
Indirect: The doctor advised me to take rest.
Exclamatory (Joy)
Direct: She said, “What a lovely day!”
Indirect: She exclaimed with joy that it was a lovely day.
Exclamatory (Sorrow)
Direct: He said, “Alas! I failed.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he had failed.
Universal Truth
Direct: The teacher said, “The earth is round.”
Indirect: The teacher said that the earth is round.
๐ญ Dialogue Example with Direct → Indirect Speech
Direct Speech (Dialogue):
Rahul said, “Where are you going?”
Sita replied, “I am going to the market.”
Rahul said, “Will you buy some fruits?”
Sita said, “Yes, I will bring apples.”
Indirect Speech (Reported Dialogue):
Rahul asked Sita where she was going.
Sita replied that she was going to the market.
Rahul asked her if she would buy some fruits.
Sita replied that she would bring apples.
๐ฏ Quick Tricks to Remember
Pronoun change → according to subject/object.
Tense change → backshift if reporting verb is past.
Time/place change → now→then, today→that day, tomorrow→the next day.
Remove quotation marks → use that, if/whether, to.
๐ 1. Assertive Sentences (Statements)
Direct:
Rohan said, “I am reading a novel.”
Indirect:
Rohan said that he was reading a novel.
Direct:
Meena said, “We have finished our homework.”
Indirect:
Meena said that they had finished their homework.
๐ 2. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
Direct:
The teacher said, “Did you complete the project?”
Indirect:
The teacher asked if I had completed the project.
Direct:
She said, “Why are you crying?”
Indirect:
She asked why I was crying.
๐ 3. Imperative Sentences (Commands/Requests/Advice)
Direct:
Father said to me, “Work hard.”
Indirect:
Father advised me to work hard.
Direct:
The policeman said, “Don’t park your car here.”
Indirect:
The policeman ordered us not to park the car there.
Direct:
She said to me, “Please lend me your pen.”
Indirect:
She requested me to lend her my pen.
๐ 4. Exclamatory Sentences
Direct:
He said, “Hurrah! We won the match.”
Indirect:
He exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
Direct:
She said, “What a pity!”
Indirect:
She exclaimed with sorrow that it was a great pity.
๐ 5. Universal Truths / Habits
Direct:
The teacher said, “Water boils at 100°C.”
Indirect:
The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
Direct:
He said, “The sun sets in the west.”
Indirect:
He said that the sun sets in the west.
๐ญ 6. Dialogue Example – Short Conversation
Direct Speech (Dialogue):
Amit said, “Where were you yesterday?”
Riya said, “I was at home.”
Amit said, “Why didn’t you come to school?”
Riya said, “I was not well.”
Indirect Speech (Reported Dialogue):
Amit asked Riya where she had been the previous day.
Riya replied that she had been at home.
Amit asked her why she had not come to school.
Riya answered that she had not been well.
๐ญ 7. Dialogue Example – Little Story
Direct Speech:
Teacher said, “Why are you late, Arun?”
Arun replied, “Sir, I missed the bus.”
Teacher said, “Don’t make excuses. Come on time from tomorrow.”
Arun said, “Yes Sir, I will be careful.”
Indirect Speech:
The teacher asked Arun why he was late.
Arun replied respectfully that he had missed the bus.
The teacher told him not to make excuses and to come on time from the next day.
Arun promised that he would be careful.
