# Direct Speech is also called a quoted speech, as it uses the exact
words of the speaker. Indirect speech is termed as reported speech, as it
narrates what is said by the speaker.
# Direct Speech is from the speaker’s standpoint, whereas indirect
speech is from the listener’s standpoint.
#Direct speech is when we use the exact rendition of the words of the
speaker. Conversely, in an indirect speech own words are used to report
the speaker’s statement.
#The inverted comma is used in direct speech, but not in indirect
speech.
The tense of direct speech remains unchanged when the reporting verb is in the
present or future tense.
Eg : Isha says, “I am pretty.”
Isha says that she is pretty.
Rohan will say, “I am tall.”
Rohan will say that he is tall. REPORTING VERB
If the direct sentence contains the universal truth and habitual action, then it
remains unchanged in the Indirect Speech.
They said, “The sun rises in the east.”
They said that the sun rises in the east.
He said, “ I am an early riser.”
He said that he is an early riser.
Direct Indirect Direct Indirect
Now Then Yesterday The day before
This That Tomorrow The next day
These Those Last night The previous night
Ago Before Today That day
Hence Thence Hither Thither
Thus So Here There
Pronoun Direct Indirect
The first person She said, “I am in ninth She said that she was in
pronoun (I, we) change class.” ninth class.
after the person of the
subject.
The second person
pronoun (you) changes She said to me, ‘You play She told me that I played
to first person . well.’ well.
The third person He said, ‘She is playing He said that she was
pronoun do not well.’ playing well.
change.
Assertive / declarative sentences are usually
introduced by the conjunction ‘that’.
Eg: They said to Anuj, “You are a brave boy.”
They told Anuj that he was a brave boy.
The form said to me changed to told me.
Eg: The teacher said to me, “I have never seen
such a lazy girl as you are. ”
The teacher told me that she had never seen such
a lazy girl like as I was.
When ‘Let’ in direct speech expresses suggestion- use should .
Eg: I said to him, “Let us go out for a walk.”
I suggested that we should go out for a walk.
When ‘Let ’ does not express suggestion (personal demands )– use
might or might be allowed .
Eg 1:
She said to her classmates, “Let me do my sums, please. ”
She told her classmates that she might be allowed to do her sums.
Eg 2: He said to me,” Let me go outside.”
Indirect speech :—* He told/requested me that he might go
outside. ( no propose, no should)
The reporting verb is changed to inquired, asked ,
demanded etc.
In direct question expecting ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer –
use whether /if
Eg: He said to me , “Do you know the way ?”
He asked me if I knew the way.
If question begins with what , why, when who ,
whose , how, which – same word used
Eg:Rajat said to me , “ Why do you look so sad and
gloomy?”
Rajat asked me why I looked so sad and gloomy.
The reporting verb changed to wish, bless, pray , cry,
exclaim, declare, confess, with regret, with delight,
with sorrow where ever necessary.
Eg:“What a horrible accident it is !”he said
He exclaimed that it was a horrible accident .
Expressions like Alas, Bravo, Oh, Wow, Hurrah etc to
be omitted.
Eg:They said, “Hurrah! We won the game.”
They exclaimed with joy that they had won the game .
Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph.
Raju: Hello! Is Shyam in the office?
Receptionist: Yes, but have you got an appointment?
Raju: No, but tell him that his childhood friend from Kanpur has come
to meet him.
Receptionist: Please be seated. I’ll inform him now.
Write the conversation in reported speech.
Raju greeted the receptionist and asked
her…(a)…………….……………The receptionist replied affirmatively
but asked(b)………………….. Raju replied that he did not have it, but
told her(c)………………………… Then the receptionist requested him
(d)…………………. and said that she ………………….(e)…………………..
inform him then.
Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph.
Teacher : Have you completed your project?
Naresh : No madam, I am still working on it.
Teacher : How long will you take?
Naresh : I shall finish it in three days time.
Write the conversation in reported speech.
The Teacher asked Naresh (a) _______________. Naresh replied that
(b)_________________ . The Teacher wanted to know
(c)_________________ to which Naresh replied that
(d)______________.
Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph.
Dave : Are the invitation cards for the dinner and dance programme ready?
Lizy : I forwarded them to almost all the guests last week.
Dave : Has John finalized the arrangements for the food ?
Lizy : He has already spoken to the caterers.
Write the conversation in reported speech.
Dave asked Lizy (a) ______________ ready or not. Lizy replied that she
(b) __________________. Dave further wanted to know (c)
________________ to which Lizy answered that (d)______________.
Exercise - 1
(a) if/whether Shyam was in the office.
(b) him whether he had got an appointment..
(c) to tell him that his childhood friend from Kanpur had come to meet him. .
(d) to be seated and said that she would inform him then.
Exercise – 2
(a) if/ whether he had completed his project.
(b) He hadn’t and that he was still working on it.
(c) how long he would take
(d) He would finish it in three days time.
Exercise – 3
(a) if/whether the invitation cards for the dinner and dance were
(b) had forwarded them to almost all the guests the previous week.
(c) whether John had finalized the arrangements for the food
(d) he had already spoken to the caterers.
