Direct and Indirect speech In English Grammar,
report someone’s words — either exactly or indirectly. Let’s understand everything step by step.
🔹 Definition
Type Definition Example
The exact words spoken by a person are written within inverted commas (“ ”). He said, “I am learning English.”
The meaning of the speaker’s words is reported without using quotation marks. He said that he was learning English.
🔹 Basic Structure
Speech Type Structure Example
Direct Speech Reporting Clause + “ He said, “I play cricket.”
Indirect Speech Reporting Clause + that + Reported Clause He said that he played cricket.
🔹 Key Terms
Term Meaning
The verb before the quoted speech (said, told, asked, etc.)
Reported Speech The actual words spoken by the speaker
Words like that, if, whether, to , etc., used to connect sentences
🔹 General Rules for Conversion
Rule Explanation
1️⃣ Remove commas and quotation marks.
2️⃣ Use that to connect reported speech (in statements).
3️⃣ Change the
4️⃣ Change
5️⃣ Change time and place words according to the context.
Change of Time and Place
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
today that day
yesterday the previous day
tomorrow the next day
now then
here there
ago before
this that
these those
Pronoun Change Rules
Person Change According To Example
1st Person (I, we, my, our) He said, “I am happy.” → He said that he was happy.
2nd Person (you, your) He said to me, “You are smart.” → He told me that I was smart.
3rd Person (he, she, they, them) No change She said, “He is my friend.” → She said that he was her friend.
🪄 Easy Trick:
🔹 Tense-wise Changes (with Table Examples) 🔸 Present Tense
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said, “I play cricket.” He said that he played cricket.
He said, “I am reading a book.” He said that he was reading a book.
He said, “I have finished my work.” He said that he had finished his work.
He said, “I have been studying since morning.” He said that he had been studying since morning.
🔸 Past Tense
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said, “I went to school.” He said that he had gone to school.
He said, “I was playing football.” He said that he had been playing football.
He said, “I had done my homework.” He said that he had done his homework. (No change)
🔸Future Tense
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said, “I will go there.” He said that he would go there.
He said, “I will be waiting.” He said that he would be waiting .
He said, “I will have finished it.” He said that he would have finished it.
Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
Rule Example
Use asked or enquired instead of said He said, “Do you like music?” → He asked if I liked music.
For yes/no questions, use if or whether She said, “Are you ready?” → She asked whether I was ready.
Remove question form (use statement order) He said, “Where do you live?” → He asked where I lived.
Imperative Sentences (Commands, Requests, Advice)
Direct Speech Reporting Verb Indirect Speech
He said, “Open the door.” told He told me to open the door.
She said, “Please help me.” requested She requested me to help her.
The teacher said, “Don’t be late.” told The teacher told us not to be late.
Exclamatory Sentences
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said, “Wow! What a beautiful scene!” He exclaimed with joy that it was a beautiful scene.
She said, “Alas! I failed.” She exclaimed with sorrow that she had failed.
They said, “Hurrah! We won the match.” They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
Modals Change in Indirect Speech
Direct Indirect
will → would
shall → should
can → could
may → might
must → had to / must (depending on sense)
Special Rules & Exceptions
Rule Example
Reporting Verb in Present or Future → No change in tense He says, “I eat mangoes.” → He says that he eats mangoes.
The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.” → The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
“That” is omitted in questions, commands, and requests He said, “Do you know me?” → He asked if I knew him.
Quick Summary Chart
D. to InD. D. to InD.
is → was are → were
am → was have → had
will → would shall → should
can → could may → might
🧩 Practice Exercise Convert the following sentences into Indirect Speech 👇
1️⃣ He said, “I am a student.”
Conclusion Mastering Direct and Indirect Speech helps you in grammar, comprehension, and sentence improvement questions in all government exams.
