Direct and Indirect Speech
Step-by-Step Learning Guide
Master Reported Speech
Learn the rules of Direct and Indirect speech through simplified rules and interactive practice.
1️⃣ The Basics
🔹 Direct Speech
Repeats the exact words of the speaker.
It is written inside quotation marks (“ ”).
Example: Rita said, “I am tired.”
🔹 Indirect Speech
Reports speaker’s words without quotation marks.
Usually changes tense, pronouns, and time expressions.
Example: Rita said that she was tired.
2️⃣ Change of Tense & Pronouns
A. Change of Tense (If Reporting Verb is in Past)
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | Past Simple |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Past Simple | Past Perfect |
| Will / Can | Would / Could |
👉 Note: If the reporting verb is in present tense, tense does not change.
Example: He says, “I am busy.” → He says that he is busy.
B. Change of Pronouns
- 1st person (I, we, my) → Change according to Subject.
- 2nd person (you, your) → Change according to Object (Listener).
- 3rd person (he, she, they) → Usually no change.
3️⃣ Time and Place Adverbs
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the previous day |
| here / this | there / that |
| ago | before |
Example: She said, “I will call you tomorrow.” → She said that she would call me the next day.
4️⃣ Questions & Commands
D. Questions
1. Yes/No Questions: Use if/whether.
“Are you ready?” → He asked if I was ready.
2. Wh-Questions: Keep the wh-word (what, where, why).
“Where do you live?” → He asked where I lived.
E. Commands and Requests
Use to + verb (for positive) or not to + verb (for negative).
“Close the door.” → He told me to close the door.
“Don't touch it.” → He warned me not to touch it.
5️⃣ Special Sentences
F. Optative (Wishes/Prayers)
Reporting verb changes into wished, prayed, cursed, blessed.
“May you live long!” → He wished that I might live long.
G. Exclamatory (Strong Feelings)
Use exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise.
“Hurrah! We won.” → He exclaimed with joy that they had won.
H. Suggestions (Using “Let”)
“Let us” → suggested that we should
“Let me” → requested to be allowed
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