💬 What is Direct Speech?
Direct speech is when we quote someone’s exact words and use quotation marks (“ ”).
Structure:
Speaker + Reporting Verb + , + “Exact words”
Example:
She said, “I am happy.”
🔁 What is Indirect (Reported) Speech?
Indirect speech is when we report what someone said without using their exact words. Quotation marks are removed, and some changes are made to tense, pronouns, and time/place words.
Structure:
Speaker + Reporting Verb + that + Reported Speech
Example:
She said that she was happy.
🛠️ Rules for Conversion
🧍 Pronouns
Change according to the subject/object of the reporting verb.
Example: “I am tired,” he said. → He said that he was tired.
⏳ Tense
If the reporting verb is in the past, change the tense of the reported speech.
| Direct Tense | Indirect Tense |
|---|---|
| Simple Present → | Simple Past |
| Present Continuous → | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect → | Past Perfect |
| Simple Past → | Past Perfect |
| Future (will) → | Would |
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the previous day |
| here | there |
| this | that |
Use “that” in statements (but not in questions).
🧪 Examples
🗣️ Direct Speech 🔁 Indirect Speech He said, “I am learning French.” He said that he was learning French. She asked, “Do you like music?” She asked if I liked music. “Close the door,” she said. She told me to close the door. “What a sight!” he exclaimed. He exclaimed that it was a wonderful sight.
| 🗣️ Direct Speech | 🔁 Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| He said, “I am learning French.” | He said that he was learning French. |
| She asked, “Do you like music?” | She asked if I liked music. |
| “Close the door,” she said. | She told me to close the door. |
| “What a sight!” he exclaimed. | He exclaimed that it was a wonderful sight. |
✍️ Sentence Type Conversions
✅ Statements
Direct: “I love coffee,” he said.
Indirect: He said that he loved coffee.
❓ Questions
Yes/No Questions
Direct: “Do you know her?” he asked.
Indirect: He asked if I knew her.
Wh- Questions
Direct: “Where are you going?” she asked.
Indirect: She asked where I was going.
🗂️ Commands and Requests
Use: told, asked, ordered, requested + to + verb
Direct: “Please help me,” she said.
Indirect: She requested me to help her.
Direct: “Don’t shout,” he said.
Indirect: He told me not to shout.
😲 Exclamations
Use: exclaimed, cried out, said with joy/sorrow
Direct: “What a beautiful day!” she said.
Indirect: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
📚 Common Reporting Verbs
Purpose Verbs Statements said, told, mentioned, explained Questions asked, inquired, wanted to know Commands told, ordered, instructed Requests asked, requested, begged Feelings exclaimed, cried, shouted
| Purpose | Verbs |
|---|---|
| Statements | said, told, mentioned, explained |
| Questions | asked, inquired, wanted to know |
| Commands | told, ordered, instructed |
| Requests | asked, requested, begged |
| Feelings | exclaimed, cried, shouted |
🧠 Practice Questions
1. “I am reading,” he said.
Answer: He said that he was reading.
2. She said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
Answer: She said that she would call me the next day.
3. He asked, “Where are you from?”
Answer: He asked where I was from.
4. “Don’t waste time,” the teacher said.
Answer: The teacher told us not to waste time.
5. “Did you complete the work?” he asked.
Answer: He asked if I had completed the work
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