Reported speech | Direct speech | Indirect speech | Rules | Examples
What is reported speech?
When we tell someone what another person said. We can use direct speech or indirect speech.
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Direct and indirect speech
1. Direct speech
Coating the exact words of the speaker.
E.g – Sahil said, “I am enjoying the republic Day parade”.
2. Indirect speech
Narrating the words of the speaker.
E.g – Sahil said that he was enjoying the republic Day parade.
Rules
1. Remove the inverted commas (” “) and add ‘that’
2. Place a reporting verb (said, etc.) followed by conjunction before the reported speech.
3. Change the tense corresponding to the tense of the reporting verb.
4. Change the pronoun
5. Change the expressions of time and place.
Change of Tense
If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the verb in the reported speech is not changed.
The teacher says, “he is an intelligent boy.”
The teacher says that he is an intelligent boy.
The teacher will say, “he is an intelligent boy”.
The teacher will say that he is an intelligent boy.
Change of time and place
Now – Then
today – That day
tonight – That night
last night – The previous night
yesterday – the previous day/ the day before
tomorrow – the following day / the next day
the day – in two days’ time after tomorrow
Just – then
come – go
this – that
here – there
bring – take
these – those
hereby – thereby
later – after
Thus – so
ago – before
Change of tenses into past tense
Do – Did
Is/am – was
Are – were
Has/ have – Had
Simple form into past form
Will – would
shall – should
can – could
may – might
must – had to
Change of tenses
Present simple
• Play/plays
• Do / does not play
Radha said, “I played in the garden”.
Past simple
• Played
• Did not play
Radha said that she played in the garden.
Present continuous
• Is / am / are playing
Radha said, “I am playing in the garden”.
Past continuous
• Was / were playing
Radha said that she was playing in the garden.
Present perfect
• Has / have played
Radha said, “I have played in the garden before.”
Past perfect
• Had played
Radha said that she had played in the garden before.
Present perfect continuous
• Has / have been played
Radha said, “I have been playing in the garden.”
Past perfect continuous
• Had been playing
Radha said that she had been playing in the garden.
Past simple
• Played / did not play
Radha said, “I played in the garden yesterday.”
Past perfect
• Had played/had not played
Radha said that she had played in the garden the day before.
Past continuous
• Was / were playing
Radha said, “I was playing in the garden.”
Past perfect continuous
• Had been playing
Radha said that she had been playing in the garden.
Interrogative sentences
1. The teacher said to me, “Are you feeling well today?
The teacher asked me if I was feeling well that day.
2. I said to her, “Do you want my help?”
I asked her if she wanted my help.
Imperative sentences
1. Rohit said to Riya, “please go to the station with me.”
Rohit requested Riya to go to the station with him.
2. He said to me, “Trust in God and do the right”.
He advises me to trust in God and to do the right.
Exclamatory sentences
1. She said, “May you succeed to my son!”
She wished that her son might succeed.
2. The captain said, “Bravo! A good shot.”
The captain applauded him by saying that it was a good shot.
Universal truths or habits
1. Our teacher said, “Man is mortal.”
A teacher told us that man is mortal.
2. He said, “I walk every morning.”
He said that he walks every morning.
Change the sentences from direct to indirect
1. I saint said, “Life is full of struggle.
2. I said to him, “will you return tomorrow?”
3. She said to me “will you come to the party?”
4. I said to him, “should I depend on you for help?
5. Sweety said to Inder, “Go and post this letter.”
6. Cherry said to me, “please give me some money.”
7. He said, “May you live long!”
8. He said, “Alas! I have failed”
9. He said, “I wish that I was rich !”
10. The officer said to the peon, “show the visitor in.”