Direct and Indirect Speech
Learn the rules • Understand the changes • Practise systematically
1. Let us understand with an example
Riya is talking to her friend.
Direct Speech: Riya said, “I am preparing for my English test.”
These are Riya's exact words. This is called Direct Speech.
Indirect Speech: Riya said that she was preparing for her English test.
This is called Indirect Speech or Reported Speech.
💡 Key Idea: The meaning remains the same, but the form of the sentence changes.
2. What is Direct Speech?
When we report the exact words spoken by a person, we use Direct Speech.
Example: The teacher said, “Complete your homework.”
The exact words of the teacher are placed inside inverted commas (“ ”).
Parts of Direct Speech
Taking the sentence: The teacher said, “Complete your homework.”
- The teacher said → Reporting clause
- Complete your homework → Reported speech
- “ ” → Inverted commas
3. What is Indirect Speech?
When we report what someone said without using their exact words, we use Indirect Speech.
Example: The teacher told us to complete our homework.
The quotation marks are removed and the sentence may undergo changes in pronouns, tense, time words, and sentence structure.
4. Direct → Indirect: The Main Changes
When changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech, check these core elements:
| No. |
What to Check |
What Happens? |
| ① |
Inverted commas |
Remove “ ”. |
| ② |
Pronouns |
Change them according to the speaker and listener. |
| ③ |
Tense |
The tense may change when the reporting verb is in the past. |
| ④ |
Time and place words |
Words such as today, tomorrow, now, here may change. |
| ⑤ |
Reporting verb |
said, said to, asked etc. may change according to the sentence type. |
| ⑥ |
Sentence structure |
Questions, commands, requests, and exclamations follow different patterns. |
5. Rule 1 — Statements
For ordinary statements, we generally use that to connect the clauses.
Direct: Rohan said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: Rohan said that he was tired.
✏️ Practice — Change into Indirect Speech
- Meena said, “I like Science.”
- Rahul said, “I am ready.”
- The teacher said, “The students are working hard.”
- Father said, “I will return soon.”
- Riya said, “I have finished my project.”
6. Rule 2 — Change of Pronouns
Pronouns change according to who is speaking and who is being spoken to.
Direct: Aman said, “I have completed my homework.”
Indirect: Aman said that he had completed his homework.
Common Pronoun Changes
| Direct Speech |
Possible Indirect Speech |
| I | he / she |
| we | they |
| my | his / her |
| our | their |
| me | him / her |
| us | them |
| you | I / we / he / she / they |
📌 Remember: Pronouns do not change mechanically. Their change depends on the context of the sentence.
✏️ Practice
- Sita said, “I am happy.”
- Mohan said, “I have lost my pen.”
- Riya said, “We are preparing our project.”
- Arjun said, “I will help my brother.”
- The boys said, “We have completed our work.”
7. Rule 3 — Change of Tense
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech generally changes back into the past format.
Tense Conversion Table
| Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech |
| Simple Present | Simple Past |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Simple Past | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| will | would |
| can | could |
| may | might |
Examples
- Simple Present → Simple Past:
Direct: He said, “I play cricket.”
Indirect: He said that he played cricket.
- Present Continuous → Past Continuous:
Direct: She said, “I am reading.”
Indirect: She said that she was reading.
- Present Perfect → Past Perfect:
Direct: Ravi said, “I have finished the work.”
Indirect: Ravi said that he had finished the work.
- Simple Past → Past Perfect:
Direct: She said, “I visited Delhi.”
Indirect: She said that she had visited Delhi.
✏️ Practice
- The teacher said, “The students work hard.”
- Riya said, “I am studying Mathematics.”
- Mohan said, “I have completed the project.”
- Anu said, “I visited the museum.”
- Father said, “I will help you.”
8. Rule 3 (Exception) — Universal Truth
⚠️ Important Exception
A statement expressing a universal truth, scientific fact, or habitual action normally does not change its tense, even when the reporting verb is in the past tense.
Direct: The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
Indirect: The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
❌ Incorrect: The teacher said that the Earth revolved around the Sun.
9. Rule 4 — Present/Future Reporting Verb
When the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the reported speech remains unchanged.
Direct: Riya says, “I am preparing for the test.”
Indirect: Riya says that she is preparing for the test.
Direct: Father will say, “I am busy.”
Indirect: Father will say that he is busy.
✏️ Practice
- The teacher says, “The students are ready.”
- Riya says, “I like reading.”
- Mother says, “I have finished my work.”
- The coach will say, “The players are ready.”
- Father says, “I will return soon.”
10. Rule 5 — Change of Time and Place Words
Words referring to time and place change when changing from direct to indirect speech depending on the context.
| Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech |
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day / following day |
| yesterday | the previous day |
| ago | before |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
| last week | the previous week |
| next week | the following week |
Direct: Ravi said, “I will finish this work tomorrow.”
Indirect: Ravi said that he would finish that work the next day.
✏️ Practice
- She said, “I will meet you tomorrow.”
- He said, “I completed the work yesterday.”
- Riya said, “I am busy now.”
- Aman said, “I will come here tomorrow.”
- The teacher said, “Complete these questions today.”
11. Rule 6 — Said vs. Told
Use told instead of said to when the person being spoken to is explicitly mentioned.
said to + listener → told + listener
Direct: Mother said to me, “Work hard.”
Indirect: Mother told me to work hard.
Direct: Ravi said to his friend, “I am busy.”
Indirect: Ravi told his friend that he was busy.
📌 Correct Usage Check:
❌ He told that he was tired.
✔ He said that he was tired.
✔ He told me that he was tired.
12. Rule 7 — Yes/No Questions
For questions that can be answered with a simple Yes or No, connect using if or whether.
Direct: The teacher said to Ravi, “Are you ready?”
Indirect: The teacher asked Ravi if he was ready.
📌
Key Points to Notice:
- said to → changes to asked
- if / whether is added to join clauses
- Question mark (?) is removed
- The sentence changes into statement word-order (Subject + Verb)
✏️ Practice
- Mother said to me, “Are you hungry?”
- The teacher said to Riya, “Have you completed your work?”
- Rahul said to me, “Do you play cricket?”
- Father said to Aman, “Did you finish your homework?”
- The coach said to the players, “Are you ready?”
13. Rule 8 — Wh-Questions
If a question begins with a question word (what, where, when, why, who, how), retain the question word as the joiner.
Direct: The teacher said to me, “Why are you late?”
Indirect: The teacher asked me why I was late.
⚠️ Important Structural Change:
Direct question order: Why are you late? (Verb before Subject)
Indirect speech order: ...why I was late. (Subject before Verb)
✏️ Practice
- The teacher said to Rohan, “Where do you live?”
- Mother said to me, “Why are you crying?”
- The coach said to the player, “How did you get injured?”
- Riya said to Neha, “When will you return?”
- Father said to me, “What are you doing?”
14. Rule 9 — Commands and Orders
For commands and imperative sentences, use reporting verbs like: ordered, told, instructed, commanded.
Structure: reporting verb + object + to + base verb
Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Open your books.”
Indirect: The teacher told the students to open their books.
Negative Commands
Use not to + verb for negative commands.
Direct: Mother said to me, “Do not waste food.”
Indirect: Mother told me not to waste food.
✏️ Practice
- The teacher said to the students, “Maintain silence.”
- The coach said to the players, “Run faster.”
- Father said to me, “Complete your homework.”
- The librarian said to the students, “Do not make noise.”
- Mother said to Riya, “Do not waste water.”
15. Rule 10 — Requests
For polite requests containing words like please, use verbs such as: requested, asked, begged.
Direct: Riya said to me, “Please help me.”
Indirect: Riya requested me to help her.
✏️ Practice
- The student said to the teacher, “Please explain this question.”
- Rahul said to me, “Please lend me your pen.”
- Mother said to the doctor, “Please help my son.”
- The old man said to the boy, “Please help me cross the road.”
- The student said to the librarian, “Please issue this book.”
16. Rule 11 — Advice
For sentences giving suggestions or general advice, use advised or urged.
Direct: The doctor said to me, “Take regular exercise.”
Indirect: The doctor advised me to take regular exercise.
Direct (Negative Advice): The doctor said, “Do not eat junk food.”
Indirect: The doctor advised me not to eat junk food.
✏️ Practice
- The teacher said to me, “Work harder.”
- Father said to Rahul, “Save your money.”
- The doctor said to the patient, “Drink more water.”
- Mother said to me, “Do not stay up late.”
- The coach said to the players, “Practise every day.”
17. Rule 12 — Exclamatory Sentences
Exclamatory sentences express emotions such as joy, sorrow, surprise, or admiration. Use suitable reporting phrases like: exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed with surprise, exclaimed with admiration.
Direct: Riya said, “What a beautiful painting!”
Indirect: Riya exclaimed with admiration that it was a very beautiful painting.
Direct: He said, “Hurrah! We have won the match!”
Indirect: He exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
✏️ Practice
- She said, “What a beautiful flower!”
- The boy said, “Hurrah! We have won!”
- He said, “Alas! I have lost my wallet.”
- Riya said, “How wonderful the performance is!”
- The students said, “Wow! Our team has won!”
18. Quick Revision Chart
| Sentence Type |
Reporting Verb |
Structure |
| Statement | said, told | that + statement |
| Yes/No Question | asked | if / whether + statement |
| Wh-Question | asked | wh-word + statement |
| Command | ordered / told | object + to + verb |
| Negative Command | told / ordered | object + not to + verb |
| Request | requested / asked | object + to + verb |
| Advice | advised | object + to + verb |
| Exclamation | exclaimed | that + statement |
19. The 5-Step Formula
When converting Direct Speech into Indirect Speech, follow these steps systematically:
Step 1: Identify
Determine what type of sentence it is (statement, question, command, request, exclamation).
Step 2: Remove
Remove inverted commas (“ ”) and change punctuation marks.
Step 3: Change
Change the reporting verb according to the context (e.g., said to → asked/told).
Step 4: Check
Check and update pronouns, tenses, and time/place words.
Step 5: Rearrange
Rearrange the sentence structure into standard statement order.
Direct Speech → Type → Reporting Verb → Pronoun → Tense → Time/Place → Final Sentence
