Direct And Indirect Speech 4h2h4x

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

Ravi said, “I am very busy”. 1.We have given the exact words used by the speaker. This way of quoting is called direct speech. Such words are placed between inverted commas (‘…..’ or “…….”)

Ravi said that he was very busy. 2. We have reported the idea, indirectly, without quoting the actual words of the speaker. This method is called indirect speech (or reported speech)

3. When the reporting verb (e.g. the verb said in the example above) is in the past tense, the tenses of the verb in direct speech usually change as follows: The simple Present changes to the Simple Past. Direct : He said, “I am unwell”. Indirect : He said that he was unwell.

4. The Present Continuous changes to the Past Continuous. Direct : He Said, “I’m waiting for my sister”. Indirect : He said that he was waiting for his sister.

5. The Present Perfect changes to the Past Perfect. Direct : She said, “I’ve done my homework”. Indirect : She said that she had done her homework.

6. The Simple Past changes to the Past Perfect.

Direct : “Pa took my pen, “said Rekha. Indirect : Rekha said that Pa had taken her pen.

7. The will-can-may forms change to the wouldcould-might forms. Direct : “My father will be back on Sunday. “he said. Indirect : He said that his father would be back on Sunday. Direct : “You may go home, “said the boss. Indirect: The boss said I might go home.

8.

The

Past

Continuous

normally

remains

unchanged. When the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses do not change. Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

He says. “I am unwell”.

He says that he is unwell.

He has just said, “My father

He has just said that his father Will

be back on Sunday”.

Will be back on Sunday.

9. Words or phrases expressing nearness in time generally change to those expressing distance: Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

Now

then / at that time

Today

that day

Tonight

that night

Last (week, month, etc.)

the previous (week, month, etc.,)

Next (month, year, etc.)

the following (month, year, etc.)

Yesterday

the previous day

Tomorrow

the next day

10. Statements The conjunction that is put after the reporting verb.

Eg. He said to me “I have got a first class” He told me that he had got a first class.

11. Imperatives (ie. Commands and Requests) In indirect imperatives, a verb such as ask, tell, order, command, request is followed by a personal object and the to-infinitive. Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

2. “Open the gate, “he said to

He ordered the servant to

the servant. 2. “Please help me with my

open the gate. She requested her brother

Homework”, she said to her to help her with her homework brother. 3. “Read this book”, said the teacher.

The teacher advised me to read that book.

12.Questions Indirect questions do not have the same word order as direct questions often have. In indirect questions the verb comes after the subject as in statements.

13. In wh-questions (i.e. question which begin with a question word like what, who, when,

where) Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

1.He said, “What are you doing?”

He asked what I was doing.

2.“Where do you live?” he said.He asked where I lived. 3.“When did she visit you?” said Mohan,

Mohan wanted to know when she had visited me.

14. In yes-no questions (i.e. questions which do not begin with a question word), the conjunction if or

whether is placed before the indirect question. Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

1. “Has your brother gone

He wanted to know

to Delhi?” he said.

Whether my brother had gone to Delhi.

2.Shankar said, “Can you swim, Shankar asked Kishore Kishore?”

whether he could swim.

15. Exclamations Exclamations normally become statements in indirect speech. They are often introduced by verbs like exclaim, remark, say, etc. Direct Speech 1. She said, “How lovely the

Indirect Speech She remarked that the house

house is!” 2. “What a strange idea!” he said.

was very lovely. He said that it was a very strange idea.

3. Mary said, “How dreadful!”. Mary exclaimed that it was very dreadful.

16. Below are sentences of the type which you may find it difficult to turn into indirect speech. Direct Speech 1. “Thank you”, he said 2. She said, “Welcome”.

Indirect Speech He thanked me. She welcomed me.

3. He said, “Happy Christmas!” He wished me a happy Christmas. 4. “Let’s go for a walk”. I said.

I proposed (or : suggested) that we should go for a walk.

17.The

Past

Continuous

normally

remains

unchanged. When the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses do not change. Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

He says. “I am unwell”.

He says that he is unwell.

He has just said, “My father

He has just said that his father Will

be back on Sunday”.

Will be back on Sunday.

18. Words or phrases expressing nearness in time generally change to those expressing distance: Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

Now

then / at that time

Today

that day

Tonight

that night

Last (week, month, etc.)

the previous (week, month, etc.,)

Next (month, year, etc.)

the following (month, year, etc.)

Yesterday

the previous day

Tomorrow

the next day

19.Changing

From direct to indirect we may change said to into “that”.

20.omition

From direct to indirect we may omit the question marks and exclamatory marks.

Thank you