Direct and Indirect Speech
(Reported Speech)
• We can report
someone else’s speech either
directly—using the exact words of
the speaker—or
indirectly—restating the speaker’s
words in a different way without
changing the original meaning of
the speaker
• GENERAL RULES OF REPORTED SPEECH
1. While reporting universal truths, sayings,
proverbs, and habitual actions, the tense
does not change in the reported speech.
• EXAMPLES
• The teacher said, “ the earth revolves round the sun.”
The teacher said(that) the earth revolves round the sun.
• “ I always celebrate my birthday with my friends,” said Meera.
Meera said( that) she always celebrates her birthday with her friends.
• She said, “One swallow does not make a summer.”
• She said that one swallow does not make a summer.
11. If the reporting verbs are in the present or in
the future tense, the tense of the verb in he
reported speech does not change.
• John says, “I like sweets.”
John says that he likes sweets.
• Sabina will say, “ I like sweets.”
Sabina will say that she likes sweets.
Victor has said, “ I like sweets.”
Victor has said that he likes sweets.
He says, “ I will never come back.”
He says that he will never come back.
My father will say, “I cannot buy you a car.”
My father will say that he cannot buy me a car.
In all other situations verb tenses change to
corresponding past tense forms.
1. Simple present tense changes to simple past tense.
Ron said, “I like my boss.”
Ron said that he liked his boss.
2. Present continuous changes to past continuous.
• Example
• Reena said, “ I am going to visit my boy friend tomorrow.”
• Reena said that she was going to visit her boy friend the next day.
3. Present perfect tense changes to past perfect tense.
• Example
• Vishnu said, “ I have bought a new laptop .”
• Vishnu said that he had bought a new laptop
4.Present perfect continuous changes to past perfect continuous
tense.
• Example
• Muneer said, “ I have been learning English for two months.”
• Muneer said that he had been learning English for two months.
•
5. Simple past changes to past perfect.
• Example
• Saharan said, “ I bought a new car.”
• Saharan said that he had bought a new car.
6. Past Continuous tense changes to past perfect continuous tense.
Example
Martha said, “ I was watching TV when my father came home from
work yesterday.”
Martha said that she had been watching T V when her father came
home from work the previous day.
7. Past Perfect tense remains the same in Reported Speech.
Example
Balu said, “ I had cooked dinner when my wife came home from
work yesterday.”
Balu said that he had cooked dinner when his wife had come home
from work the day before
8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense remains the same in Reported
Speech.
• Example
• Jane said, “ I had been studying for two hours when the lights went
out.”
• Jane said that she had been studying for two hours when the lights
went out
