Reported Speech DIRECT and INDIRECT
Reported Speech
We use direct speech when we repeat someone’s words and
indirect speech when we use our own words to report what
someone else has said. We use an appropriate reporting verb,
When we want to report what people say, we use reporting verbs. Some of the reporting verbs are: tell, ask, reply, warn, say, report,
answer, explain, exclaim, mention, promise, suggest, order, etc. or example:
Harish complained that he was being ignored.
He asked if they could take the bat.
Rita told her not to stay back.
In indirect speech, we change the question to a statement.For Example
Direct Speech: He said to his friend, ‘Where do you live?’
Indirect Speech: He asked his friend where he lived.
You can see how the question has been changed into a statement.
Direct Speech: She asked her mother, ‘What are you doing?’
Indirect Speech: She asked her mother what she was doing.
Here if we write -‘Was she doing it is still a question so it will be wrong.
Indirect speech has only statements so we use a full stop at the end of the sentence.
Yes/no questions
In yes/no questions, we use if or whether to report the question.
In yes/no questions, we use if or whether to report the question. ‘Are you going to the fair?'
He asked me if I was going to the fair.
'Have you finished the work?'
She asked me whether I had finished the work.
Questions with a question word
In what, where, why, who, when or how questions, we use the question word to report the question.
'What is the length of this slate?'
He asked me what the length of the slate was..
'Where did he go?'said she.
She asked where he went.
Reporting verbs
The most common reporting verb for questions is ask, but we can also use verbs like enquire, want to know or wonder.
Direct Speech to Indirect Speech conversion – Present Tense
When the reporting verb of direct speech is in past tense then all the present tenses are changed to the corresponding past tense in indirect speech.
Simple Present Changes to Simple Past
Direct to indirect speech example:
Direct: “I am overjoyed”, she said.
Indirect: She said that she was overjoyed.
Present Perfect Changes to Past Perfect.
Direct to indirect speech example:
Direct: “I have been to Agra”, she told me.
Indirect: She told me that she had been to Agra.
Direct To Indirect Speech Conversion – Reporting Verb
The tenses of direct speech do not change if the reporting verb refers to the future or is in present tense.
Direct to indirect speech example:
Direct: She says/will say, ‘I like the painting’
Indirect: She says/will say she likes the painting.In indirect speech, tenses do not change if the sentence in the Direct Speech is of a habitual action or universal truth.
Direct to indirect speech example:
Direct: He said, ‘The Earth moves around the Sun.’
Indirect: He said that the Earth moves around the Sun.
Simple Past Changes to Past Perfect
Direct to indirect speech example:
Direct: She said, “I sang loudly.”
Indirect: She said that she had sung loudly.
Direct: I said,’She did not know the way’
Indirect: I said that she had not known the way
(Did not changes into had not)
Past Continuous Changes to Past Perfect Continuous
Direct to indirect speech example
Direct: “We were playing outside”, they told me.
Indirect: They told me that they had been playing outside.
Present Continuous Changes to Past Continuous
Direct to indirect speech example:
Direct: “I am playing football”, she said
Indirect: She said that she was playing football.
Present Perfect Changes to Past Perfect
Direct to indirect speech example:
Direct: Namita said, “She has completed the assignment“.
Indirect: Namita said that she had completed the assignment.
Past Perfect remains as Past Perfect it does not changeDirect Speech: He said,’I had found a kite’
Indirect Speech: He said that he had found a kite
Direct Speech Indirect speech
Can could
May Might
Must Had to/ Would have to
Should Should
Might Might
Could Could
will Would
Would would
Ought to Ought to
Now Then
Here There
Today That day
Tomorrow The next day
Last week The previous week
This That
Tonight That night
Ago Before
Come Go
Next FollowingAn imperative sentence expresses ideas such as advice, order, request, suggestion, instruction, permission, allowance etc.
In order to change an imperative sentence into the indirect speech, we use a to-infinitive and with reporting verb.Reporting Verbs Advise, command, request, suggest, threaten, order, forbid, propose, prompt etcIndirect: The man requested the boy to keep the book on the table..Direct: The man said to the boy, ‘Please keep the book on the table.’ Direct: I said to him, ‘ Obey your elders.’ Indirect: I advised him to obey his elders.Direct: Ruhi said to me, ‘Please lend me your box.’Direct: The teacher said to the students, ‘Sit straight.’ Indirect: The teacher advised the students to sit straight. Indirect: Ruhi requested me to lend her my box.Exclamatory sentences express a sudden emotions such as joy, sorrow, regret, surprise etc. Common explanatory phrases are given below:Hurrah! Ha!Alas! Oh!Bravo!What! Oh! How!An exclamatory sentence has a sign of exclamation after it which changes into a full stop in the indirect speech.In indirect speech, the exclamatory phrase or word (interjection) is replaced by ‘exclaimed with joy, sorrow, surprise etc.’The word 'that' is added in the indirect speech.Examples are given below:Direct: The girl said, ‘Hurrah! I have stood first.’
Indirect: The girl exclaimed with joy that she had come first.
Direct: The old woman said, ‘Alas! He is no more.’
Indirect: The old woman exclaimed with sorrow that he was no more.
Direct: Ruhi said, ‘What a beautiful bird!’
Indirect: Ruhi exclaimed with delight that it was a very beautiful sight. OR Ruhi exclaimed with delight that the sight was very beautiful.
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