Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct and Indirect Speech
Rules that must be followed while using direct and indirect speech are given below. Follow
and practice these rules to change direct speech into indirect speech.
Before learning the rules you need to know these two parts of Direct and Indirect Speech.
Reporting Verb: Direct speech has two parts, the first part of the sentence is known as
reporting verb as it tells about the person who is speaking (Rohan said, He says, etc.).
For Examples:
In the above two sentences, the first part is reporting verbs. In the first sentence, ‘He says’
is reporting verb and in the second sentence, ‘The teacher says’ is reporting verb.
Reported Speech: The second part of the sentence or the words which is actually said
by the speaker is known as reported speech.
For Examples:
As in the above sentence inverted commas are removed in indirect speech and the
conjunction ‘that’ is also used.
If the reported speech (the part of the sentence which is inside inverted commas) is habitual
action or universal truth.
If the reporting verb is in the present tense then the tense will not be changed.
For examples:
In the above sentence, reporting verb is in the present tense so it will not change into the
past and reported speech is also a universal truth that can not be changed.
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 2. Change in tense: When the reporting verb is in the past
tense then reported speech will be changed into past tense in indirect speech.
Will Would
May Might
Can Could
Shall Should
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 3. Change in Time: If the word related to time is given in
the sentence then it will be changed in indirect speech. Some rules must be followed while
doing this and those are given in the following table.
Now Then
Here There
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 5. Yes/No Interrogative sentences: If a direct speech
sentence starts with an auxiliary verb/helping verb, the joining clause will be changed into if
or whether.
Note: While changing the interrogative sentence reporting verbs (verbs used in the first part)
such as ‘said/ said to’ changes to enquired, asked, or demanded.
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 6. Request, Command: Some verbs, such as requested,
ordered, urged, and advised, are used in indirect speech. For the negative statements, the
word forbidden is used. As a result, in indirect communication, the imperative mood that is
present in direct speech is replaced by the infinitive word.
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 7. Exclamatory Sentence: Interjections words are removed
from exclamatory sentences that express (grief, sorrow, delight, or applaud) and the sentence
is transformed into an assertive sentence.
Students exclaimed with joy that India had won the match.(Indirect Speech)