Direct and Indirect speech
Direct speech:
Direct speech is the speech reported directly in words by the original speaker, without any change of tense, pronouns etc..
(eg) She said, “I hate you”.
He said, “I’m very happy”
Naveen said, “I’m very busy”.
Indirect speech:
Indirect speech is a structure in which we report what somebody said.
(eg) She said that she hates me.
He said that he was happy.
Naveen said that he was very busy.
Reporting Statement in the Present tense:
Direct to Indirect:
1. He says, “I’m going home”.
He says that he is going home.
2. He said, “I have written the letter”.
He said that he had written the letter.
3. Tom said, ”I want to buy a new car”.
Tom said that he wanted to buy a new car.
Reporting Statement in the Past tense:
Direct to Indirect:
1. He said, “I don’t know his name”.
He said that he didn’t know his name.
2. He said “I have broken my leg”.
He said that he had broken his leg.
3. He said, "Bill arrived on Saturday"
He said that Bill had arrived on Saturday.
Reporting Statement in the Future tense:
Direct to Indirect:
1. He said, “I’ll phone from the airport”.
He promised that he will ring from the airport.
2. He said, ”We’re going tomorrow”.
He said that they were going the next day.
3. Jerry said, "I'll be using the car next Friday".
Jerry said that she would be using the car next Friday.
Direct to Indirect Speech
Rule:1
The adverb of nearness should be put into those of distance.
Direct Speech | Indirect speech |
Now | Then |
Here | There |
Hither | Thither |
Hence | Thence |
This | That |
These | Those |
Ago | Before |
Thus | So |
Today | That day |
Tonight | That night |
Hereafter | Thereafter |
Last night | The previous night |
Yesterday | The day before / the previous day |
Tomorrow | The next day |
Last week | The week before |
Last month | A month before |
Next week | The week after |
Rule:2
Change in the Tense form:
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
Simple Present Tense | Simple Past Tense |
Simple Past Tense | Past perfect Tense |
Present Continuous Tense | Past Continuous Tense |
Past Continuous Tense | Past Perfect Continuous Tense |
Present Perfect Tense | Past Perfect Tense |
Present Perfect Continuous Tense | Past Perfect Continuous Tense |
Past Perfect Continuous Tense | Past Perfect Continuous Tense |
Rule:3
If the reporting verb is in the present tense or future tense there is no change in the Verb in the indirect speech.
Antony said that he eats a mango.
2. He said, “I will start a new Job”.
He said that he would start a new Job.
Rule:4
Interrogative Sentence:
(i) Use If or Whether, if the sentence inside the “_” mark begin with a helping verb (auxiliary verb).
(ii) Use the given interrogative words (What, When, Where, Why, Whom, Whose, Which, now) if it does not begin with the helping verb.
(iii) Change the reporting verb (say, said) to (ask or enquire) in its correct tense.
(eg) 1. Ram said to Tom, “Do you like mangoes?”
Ram asked Tom if he liked mangoes.
2. He asked, ‘Are you happy?”
He asked whether I was happy.
3. He asked, “When are you leaving?”
He asked me When I was leaving.
Rule 5:
Exclamatory Sentence:
(i) exclaimed sorrowfully or joyfully
(ii) Use the conjunction 'that'
(iii) Omit the words (Oh, O, Alas, How, Hurrah, What)
(eg) 1. "How beautiful it is!" Said Tom
Tom exclaimed joyfully that it was very beautiful.
2. Alas! I have broken my brother’s watch.
He exclaimed sorrowfully that he had broken his brother’s watch.
3. John said “Oh! What a fine scene it is".
John exclaimed that it was a fine scene.
Rule:6
Imperative Sentence:
(i) Don’t use 'that'
(ii) Omit the word 'please'
(eg)1. “Be careful”, said he to her.
He ordered her to be careful.
2. Mohan said to Rita, ”Please give me a glass of water”.
Mohan requested Rita to give him a glass of water.
Request or Commands (future):
1. “Don’t be late”.
The teacher warned me not to be late.
2. “Will you open the door please?”.
He asked me to open the door.
3. “Pick it up”, father said to me.
Father told me to pick it up.
4. “Work hard”, said the teacher.
The teacher advised me to work hard.
Exception:
If the direct speech shows or states a universal truth or a habitual action then the tense does not change.
(eg) 1. The teacher said, “Honesty is the best policy”
The teacher said that honesty is the best policy.
2. Scientist said,” The earth revolves round the sun”.
Scientist said that the earth revolves round the sun.
Exercise :
1. Tom said, "I was watching a movie".
Tom said that he had been watching a movie.
2. She said to me, " I wanted to meet you".
She told me that she wanted to meet me.
3. "Where are you going", asked the policeman
The policeman asked me where I was going.
4. He said, " I am going back next week"
He said that he was returning the following week.
5. "Keep quiet" said the teacher to the student.
The teacher asked the student to keep quiet.
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