Direct and Indirect Speech – Rules, Examples, Practice Questions and Answers
Direct & Indirect Speech – Rules, Examples, Practice Questions & Answers
Direct and Indirect Speech is an important topic in English Grammar. It is also called Reported Speech. Direct Speech gives the exact words spoken by a person, while Indirect Speech reports the meaning of those words without using the exact words.
1. What is Direct Speech?
When we report the exact words spoken by a person, we use Direct Speech. The exact words are placed inside quotation marks or inverted commas.
Riya said, “I am happy.”
The words “I am happy” are the exact words spoken by Riya. Therefore, this is Direct Speech.
2. What is Indirect Speech?
When we report what someone said without using their exact words, we use Indirect Speech.
Riya said that she was happy.
The original words are not repeated exactly. Only the meaning of Riya's words is reported.
3. Difference Between Direct and Indirect Speech
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Exact words are used. | The meaning is reported. |
| Quotation marks are used. | Quotation marks are removed. |
| A comma is generally used before the quotation. | A comma is generally not used. |
| Pronouns remain according to the speaker. | Pronouns may change according to the context. |
| Question form may remain. | Question form changes into statement word order. |
4. Main Rules of Direct and Indirect Speech
Rule 1: Remove Quotation Marks
When Direct Speech is changed into Indirect Speech, quotation marks are removed.
Direct: He said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: He said that he was tired.
Rule 2: Use "that" for Statements
For ordinary statements, that is commonly used to connect the reporting verb with the reported speech.
Direct: She said, “I am busy.”
Indirect: She said that she was busy.
Direct: Rahul said, “I like cricket.”
Indirect: Rahul said that he liked cricket.
Rule 3: Change the Pronouns
Pronouns may need to be changed according to the speaker, listener, and context.
Direct: Ravi said, “I am ready.”
Indirect: Ravi said that he was ready.
Direct: Sita said to me, “You are very kind.”
Indirect: Sita told me that I was very kind.
Direct: They said, “We are happy.”
Indirect: They said that they were happy.
Rule 4: Change the Tense
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech usually moves one step back.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Simple Present | Simple Past |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Simple Past | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| will | would |
| can | could |
| may | might |
5. Tense Change – Detailed Examples
A. Simple Present → Simple Past
Direct: He said, “I play cricket.”
Indirect: He said that he played cricket.
Direct: She said, “I like English.”
Indirect: She said that she liked English.
B. Present Continuous → Past Continuous
Direct: She said, “I am reading a book.”
Indirect: She said that she was reading a book.
Direct: He said, “I am watching television.”
Indirect: He said that he was watching television.
C. Present Perfect → Past Perfect
Direct: Rahul said, “I have completed my homework.”
Indirect: Rahul said that he had completed his homework.
Direct: She said, “I have finished my work.”
Indirect: She said that she had finished her work.
D. Simple Past → Past Perfect
Direct: He said, “I visited Pune.”
Indirect: He said that he had visited Pune.
Direct: She said, “I bought a new dress.”
Indirect: She said that she had bought a new dress.
E. will → would
Direct: She said, “I will help you.”
Indirect: She said that she would help me.
Direct: He said, “I will come tomorrow.”
Indirect: He said that he would come the next day.
F. can → could
Direct: He said, “I can swim.”
Indirect: He said that he could swim.
G. may → might
Direct: She said, “I may go there.”
Indirect: She said that she might go there.
6. Change of Time and Place Words
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the previous day |
| last week | the previous week |
| next week | the following week |
| ago | before |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
Example:
Direct: He said, “I will come here tomorrow.”
Indirect: He said that he would come there the next day.
7. Direct and Indirect Speech for Statements
For statements, we commonly use said that or told + object + that.
Direct: She said, “I am hungry.”
Indirect: She said that she was hungry.
Direct: She said to me, “I am hungry.”
Indirect: She told me that she was hungry.
Important: We use an object after told.
❌ She told that she was hungry.
✅ She told me that she was hungry.
8. Yes/No Questions
Questions that can be answered with Yes or No are changed using if or whether.
Direct: He said to me, “Are you ready?”
Indirect: He asked me if I was ready.
Direct: She said to him, “Do you know Rahul?”
Indirect: She asked him whether he knew Rahul.
In Indirect Speech, the question changes into normal statement word order.
❌ He asked me if was I ready.
✅ He asked me if I was ready.
9. Wh-Questions
Words such as what, where, when, why, who, whom, which and how remain in the reported question.
Direct: She said to me, “Where do you live?”
Indirect: She asked me where I lived.
Direct: Father said to me, “Why are you crying?”
Indirect: Father asked me why I was crying.
Direct: The teacher said, “When will you finish your work?”
Indirect: The teacher asked when I would finish my work.
10. Commands and Orders
For commands and orders, we generally use: told / ordered + object + to + verb.
Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Sit down.”
Indirect: The teacher told the students to sit down.
Direct: The officer said to the soldier, “Move forward.”
Indirect: The officer ordered the soldier to move forward.
11. Requests
For polite requests, we can use asked or requested.
Direct: She said to me, “Please help me.”
Indirect: She asked me to help her.
Direct: He said to me, “Please wait here.”
Indirect: He requested me to wait there.
12. Negative Commands
For negative commands, use not to + verb.
Direct: Mother said to me, “Do not waste your time.”
Indirect: Mother told me not to waste my time.
Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Do not make noise.”
Indirect: The teacher told the students not to make noise.
13. Advice
For advice, we commonly use advised + object + to + verb.
Direct: The doctor said to me, “Take rest.”
Indirect: The doctor advised me to take rest.
Direct: Father said to me, “Work hard.”
Indirect: Father advised me to work hard.
14. Exclamatory Sentences
Exclamatory sentences express emotions such as joy, sorrow, surprise, admiration, and happiness.
Direct: She said, “What a beautiful flower!”
Indirect: She exclaimed with admiration that it was a very beautiful flower.
Direct: He said, “Alas! I have failed.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he had failed.
Direct: They said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
Indirect: They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
15. Universal Truth
When the reported speech expresses a universal truth, scientific fact, or general truth, the tense generally remains unchanged.
Direct: The teacher said, “The Earth moves around the Sun.”
Indirect: The teacher said that the Earth moves around the Sun.
Direct: The teacher said, “Water boils at 100°C.”
Indirect: The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
16. Practice Questions
Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech:
- Ravi said, “I am tired.”
- She said, “I like music.”
- Rahul said, “I have completed my homework.”
- They said, “We are going to school.”
- He said, “I will help you.”
- Sita said, “I can speak English.”
- He said to me, “Are you ready?”
- She said to me, “Do you know my brother?”
- He said to me, “Where do you live?”
- Father said to me, “Why are you late?”
- The teacher said to the students, “Open your books.”
- Mother said to me, “Do not waste food.”
- She said to me, “Please help me.”
- The doctor said to him, “Take proper rest.”
- He said, “What a beautiful place!”
- She said, “Alas! I have lost my purse.”
- They said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
- The teacher said, “The Earth moves around the Sun.”
- He said, “I visited Mumbai yesterday.”
- She said, “I will meet you tomorrow.”
17. Answers
1. Ravi said that he was tired.
2. She said that she liked music.
3. Rahul said that he had completed his homework.
4. They said that they were going to school.
5. He said that he would help me.
6. Sita said that she could speak English.
7. He asked me if I was ready.
8. She asked me whether I knew her brother.
9. He asked me where I lived.
10. Father asked me why I was late.
11. The teacher told the students to open their books.
12. Mother told me not to waste food.
13. She asked me to help her.
14. The doctor advised him to take proper rest.
15. He exclaimed with admiration that it was a very beautiful place.
16. She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
17. They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
18. The teacher said that the Earth moves around the Sun.
19. He said that he had visited Mumbai the previous day.
20. She said that she would meet me the next day.
18. More Practice Questions
Change the following into Indirect Speech:
- Meena said, “I am studying English.”
- Ajay said, “I have finished my work.”
- Rohan said, “I went to Pune.”
- She said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
- He said to me, “Can you help me?”
- Mother said to me, “Where are you going?”
- The teacher said to the boy, “Stand up.”
- Father said to me, “Work hard.”
- She said to him, “Please give me a glass of water.”
- The policeman said to the driver, “Do not park here.”
- He said, “I am watching a movie.”
- She said, “I have bought a new bag.”
- Rahul said to me, “Will you come with me?”
- The teacher said to Rahul, “Why are you absent?”
- Mother said, “The food is ready.”
19. Answers to More Practice Questions
1. Meena said that she was studying English.
2. Ajay said that he had finished his work.
3. Rohan said that he had gone to Pune.
4. She said that she would call me the next day.
5. He asked me if I could help him.
6. Mother asked me where I was going.
7. The teacher told the boy to stand up.
8. Father advised me to work hard.
9. She requested him to give her a glass of water.
10. The policeman told the driver not to park there.
11. He said that he was watching a movie.
12. She said that she had bought a new bag.
13. Rahul asked me if I would go with him.
14. The teacher asked Rahul why he was absent.
15. Mother said that the food was ready.
20. Quick Revision – Direct & Indirect Speech
Statement: said + that
Yes/No Question: asked + if/whether
Wh-Question: asked + question word
Command: told/ordered + object + to
Request: asked/requested + object + to
Negative Command: told + object + not to
Advice: advised + object + to
Exclamation: exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise/admiration
Universal Truth: Tense generally remains unchanged.
21. Important Points to Remember
- Remove quotation marks when changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.
- Change pronouns according to the context.
- C
Comments
Post a Comment