Direct and Indirect Speech
What is Direct and Indirect Speech?
The words of a speaker can be reported in two ways:
1. Using the direct words of thespeaker
2. Reporting what the speakersaid
Direct speech involves quoting the exact words of the speaker.
Indirect (Reported) speech is used to report what a person said.
Examples
Direct: Suraj said, "I don’t like this hotel at all."
Indirect: Suraj said that he doesn’t like that hotel atall.
Direct: Kevin said, "Please pass me a sheet ofpaper."
Indirect: Kevin requested someone to pass him a sheet of paper.
Direct: Lalit asked, "Why is Omi standing outside the class?"
Indirect: Lalit asked why Omi was standing outside the class.
• Use quotation marks to open and close directspeech.
• Place a comma before the quotationmarks.
Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech
• Use the present tense in indirect speech to report facts and universaltruths.
• Direct Speech: “My name is Soham,” hesaid.
• Indirect Speech: He said that his name isSoham.
• Use the present tense to report a future event in indirectspeech.
• Direct Speech: "Next week's session is on time management,” shesaid.
• Indirect Speech: She said next week's session will be on angermanagement.
Rules for Changing Modal Auxiliaries in Indirect Speech
Rules for Changing Expressions of Time
Direct to Indirect Speech – Types of Sentences
The reporting verb ‘said’ is changed according to the following rules from direct to indirect speech.
Examples
Direct Speech: Soniya said, “I am going to visit grandma next week.”
Indirect Speech: Soniya said that she was going to visit grandma the following week.
Direct Speech: Jalpa said, “Amit, please give my pencil boxback.”
Indirect Speech: Jalpa requested Amit to give her pencil boxback.
Direct Speech: Mother said to me, “What will you eat for dinner?Buy some fresh vegetables on your way back home.”
Indirect Speech: Mother asked me what I would eat for dinner and asked me to buysome fresh vegetables on my way back home.
Direct Speech: Noorie said, “Tejal, what have you brought for lunch?”
Indirect Speech: Noorie asked Tejal what she had brought for lunch.
Direct Speech: Jeevan asked Nitin, “Where are you going for vacation? Nitin said, “I am going to Sikkim.”
Indirect Speech: Jeevan asked Nitin where he was going for vacation. Nitin replied that he was going to Sikkim.
Direct Speech: Jatin said, “I hope Sunil recovers soon from his illness.”
Indirect Speech: Jatin wished that Sunil might recover soon from his illness.
Direct Speech: The teacher said to the students, “You will be taken to the laboratory after five minutes for your practical exam.”
Indirect Speech: The teacher told the students that they would be taken to the laboratory after five minutes for their practical exam.
Direct Speech: “Excuse me. Do you know the way to the ticket counter?” the tourist asked Chetan.
Chetan said, “Yes. First take the escalator and then the first right.”
Indirect Speech: The tourist asked Chetan if he knew the way to the ticket counter.
Chetan told him to take the escalator and then the first right.
Direct Speech: Mahesh told Namrata, “I have signed a new contract.”
Indirect Speech: Mahesh told Namrata that he had signed a new contract.