APEEJAY SCHOOL NOIDA
WORKSHEET – DIRECT & INDIRECT SPEECH
When the actual words of a speaker are repeated, and are indicated with the help of inverted
commas, the sentence is said to be in direct speech. eg. Reema said, “I want to go shopping.”
NOTE: Reema said – is called reporting verb. (It introduces the reported speech)
“I want to go shopping” – is called reported speech.
When words and thoughts of the speaker are reported without repeating the actual words spoken by
him, then the sentence is said to be in indirect speech.eg. Reema said that she wanted to go
shopping.
While changing from direct to indirect speech, certain changes are made.
RULES TO REMEMBER
Change of tenses
Present simple ----------- Past simple
Present continuous -------Past continuous
Present perfect-------------Past perfect
Past simple ----------------Past perfect
Past continuous -----------Past perfect continuous
Past perfect ---------------No change
Past perfect continuous---No change
Change of expression of time & place
Tomorrow------the next day/the following day
Yesterday------the day before/the previous day
Tonight---------that night
Today-----------that day
This -------------that
These------------those
Next day--------the following day
Last week-------the previous week
Here--------------there
Ago---------------before
Now--------------then
Change of verbs & modals
Is / am / are -----------was / were
Was / were -----------had been
Has / have ----------- had
Do ------------------- did
Did ------------------ done
Will / shall --------- would / should
Must ---------------- had to
Would / should / might / ought to ------- no change
Changes in personal pronouns & possessive adjectives
Pronouns in the third person and their corresponding possessive adjectives do not change
in reported speech.
Eg. (a) She said, “He is unwell.”
She said that he was unwell.
(b) He said, “Her dress is ready.”
He said that her dress was ready.
Pronoun of the second person (you) and its corresponding possessive adjective (your)
change into the same person as the object of the reporting verb.
Eg. (a) He said to her, “You are an understanding person.”
He told her that she was an understanding person.
(b) Reva said to him, “Your bag is new.”
Reva told him that his bag was new.
First person pronouns (I, me, we) and the possessive adjectives (my, our) change into the
same person as the subject of the reporting verb in direct speech.
Eg. (a) She said, “I enjoy listening to music.”
She said that she enjoyed listening to music.
(b) He said, “My parents want to meet Mr.Sharma.”
He said that his parents wanted to meet Mr.Sharma.
NOTE:
If the reporting verb is in present tense or future tense, the tense in the indirect speech
doesn‟t change.
In case of universal truth or habitual action or if it is still true at the time of reporting, there
is no change in the tense.
Changing different types of sentences into indirect speech
1. Declarative sentences / Statements
The reporting verb ‘said’ changes to ‘told’, if it is followed by an object otherwise it
remains the same.
In declarative sentence, while writing in reported speech, inverted commas are removed and
conjunction ‘that’ is used.
Eg. (a) Rohini said, “I am feeling energetic.” (Direct speech)
Rohini said that she was feeling energetic. (Indirect speech)
(b) Rohini said to Ria, “I need a new washing machine.” (Direct speech)
Rohini told Ria that she needed a new washing machine. (Indirect speech)
2. Imperative sentences (Commands / requests )
In these sentences, the reporting verb ‘say’ changes to asked, commanded, warned, ordered,
advised, requested, asked, begged, suggested etc. depending on the mood of the sentence.
The verb of the reported speech is changed into an infinitive (to + verb)
Eg. He said, “Open the window.” (Direct speech)
He ordered to open the window. (Indirect speech)
We don‟t use a conjunction (that) to introduce a reported speech.
Eg. (a) The class monitor said, “Boys, stand up.” (Direct speech)
The class monitor asked the boys to stand up. (Indirect speech)
(b) He said to her, “Go there.” (Direct speech)
He ordered her to go there. (Indirect speech)
(c) The teacher said, “Children, don‟t get friendly with strangers.” (Direct speech)
The teacher warned children not to get friendly with strangers. (Indirect speech)
3. Interrogative sentences( Questions)
The reporting verb is usually changed into verbs like „ask‟, „enquire‟ and „demand‟.
The inverted commas and the mark of interrogation are omitted.
The structure of reported speech is changed from interrogative to assertive form.
We use conjunctions „if‟ or „whether‟ to introduce the reported speech if the question can be
answered in YES or NO.
No conjunction is used after the reporting verb when we have „-Wh‟ interrogative words.
Eg. (a) The teacher said to her students, “Have you understood the experiment?” (Direct speech)
The teacher asked her students if they had understood the experiment. (Indirect speech)
(b) I said to Meera, “When are your parents coming?”
I asked Meera when her parents were coming.
4. Exclamatory sentences (wish, sudden feelings)
The reporting verb said is changed to exclaimed, wished, prayed etc.
The exclamatory form is changed to statement form and exclamation mark is removed.
The reporting verb is joined with reporting speech with conjunction ‘that’.
All interjections are omitted and suitable adverbs or other expressive words are used.
Eg. (a) She said, “Oh! What a lovely dress.”
She exclaimed with admiration that it was a lovely dress.
(b) Raghav said to Rohan, “A very happy birthday.”
Raghav wished Rohan a very happy birthday.
(c) She said, “Alas! He is no more.”
She exclaimed with sorrow that he was no more.
