DIRECT AND

INDIRECT SPEECH
Ravi said, “I am very busy”.

1.We have given the exact words used by the

speaker. This way of quoting is called direct

speech. Such words are placed between inverted

commas (‘…..’ or “…….”)

Ravi said that he was very busy.

2. We have reported the idea, indirectly, without

quoting the actual words of the speaker. This

method is called indirect speech (or reported

speech)
3. When the reporting verb (e.g. the verb said in
the example above) is in the past tense, the
tenses of the verb in direct speech usually change
as follows:
The simple Present changes to the Simple Past.

Direct : He said, “I am unwell”.

Indirect : He said that he was unwell.
4. The Present Continuous changes to the Past
Continuous.

Direct : He Said, “I’m waiting for my sister”.

Indirect : He said that he was waiting for
his sister.
5. The Present Perfect changes to the Past
Perfect.
Direct : She said, “I’ve done my homework”.
Indirect : She said that she had done her
homework.
6. The Simple Past changes to the Past Perfect.

Direct : “Padma took my pen, “said Rekha.

Indirect : Rekha said that Padma had taken
her pen.
7. The will-can-may forms change to the would-
could-might forms.

Direct : “My father will be back on

Sunday. “he said.
Indirect : He said that his father would
be back on Sunday.
Direct : “You may go home, “said the boss.
Indirect: The boss said I might go home.
8. The Past Continuous normally remains
unchanged.

When the reporting verb is in the present

tense, the tenses do not change.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He says. “I am unwell”. He says that he is unwell.

He has just said, “My father He has just said that his father Will
be back on Sunday”. Will be back on Sunday.
9. Words or phrases expressing nearness in time
generally change to those expressing distance:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Now then / at that time
Today that day
Tonight that night
Last (week, month, etc.) the previous (week, month, etc.,)
Next (month, year, etc.) the following (month, year, etc.)
Yesterday the previous day
Tomorrow the next day
10. Statements

The conjunction that is put after the reporting

verb.

Eg. He said to me “I have got a first class”

He told me that he had got a first class.
 11. Imperatives (ie. Commands and Requests)

In indirect imperatives, a verb such as ask, tell,

order, command, request is followed by a
personal object and the to-infinitive.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
2. “Open the gate, “he said to He ordered the servant to
the servant. open the gate.
2. “Please help me with my She requested her brother
Homework”, she said to her to help her with her homework
brother.
3. “Read this book”, said the The teacher advised me to
teacher. read that book.
12.Questions

Indirect questions do not have the same

word order as direct questions often have. In

indirect questions the verb comes after the

subject as in statements.
13. In wh-questions (i.e. question which begin
with a question word like what, who, when,
where)
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

1.He said, “What are you doing?” He asked what I was doing.

2.“Where do you live?” he said.He asked where I lived.

3.“When did she visit you?” Mohan wanted to know

said Mohan, when she had visited me.

14. In yes-no questions (i.e. questions which do not
begin with a question word), the conjunction if or
whether is placed before the indirect question.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

1. “Has your brother gone He wanted to know
to Delhi?” he said. Whether my brother had
gone to Delhi.
2.Shankar said, “Can you swim, Shankar asked Kishore
Kishore?” whether he could swim.
15. Exclamations

Exclamations normally become statements in

indirect speech. They are often introduced by
verbs like exclaim, remark, say, etc.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
1. She said, “How lovely the She remarked that the house
house is!” was very lovely.
2. “What a strange idea!” he said. He said that it was a very
strange idea.
3. Mary said, “How dreadful!”. Mary exclaimed that it was
very dreadful.
16. Below are sentences of the type which you may
find it difficult to turn into indirect speech.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

1. “Thank you”, he said He thanked me.
2. She said, “Welcome”. She welcomed me.
3. He said, “Happy Christmas!” He wished me a happy
Christmas.
4. “Let’s go for a walk”. I proposed (or : suggested)
I said. that we should go for a walk.
17.The Past Continuous normally remains
unchanged.

When the reporting verb is in the present

tense, the tenses do not change.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He says. “I am unwell”. He says that he is unwell.

He has just said, “My father He has just said that his father Will
be back on Sunday”. Will be back on Sunday.
18. Words or phrases expressing nearness in
time generally change to those expressing
distance:
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Now then / at that time
Today that day
Tonight that night
Last (week, month, etc.) the previous (week, month, etc.,)
Next (month, year, etc.) the following (month, year, etc.)
Yesterday the previous day
Tomorrow the next day
19.Changing

From direct to indirect

we may change said to into “that”.
20.omition

From direct to indirect

we may omit the question marks and exclamatory
marks.
Thank you