How to Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech: Steps & Examples
Direct and indirect speech are important tools in English grammar for reporting what others say. Understanding these concepts helps students in school exams, boosts communication, and improves both written and spoken English in daily life. Mastering them is essential for strong language skills.
| Aspect | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Quoting the exact words spoken. | Reporting the meaning using your own words. |
| Example | He said, “I am tired.” | He said that he was tired. |
| Punctuation | Uses quotation marks. | No quotation marks; uses ‘that’ or reporting verbs. |
| Tense Changes | No change from original. | Often changes, especially when the reporting verb is past tense. |
| Pronoun Changes | As per original speaker. | Changed to match reporting context. |
What Is Direct and Indirect Speech?
Direct and indirect speech in English grammar allow us to report what someone else said. Direct speech uses the speaker’s original words, while indirect speech changes those words to fit another sentence. Understanding the difference helps in school, exams, and confident communication.
Direct and Indirect Speech Conversion Rules
- Change pronouns: Match the point of view of the report.
- Adjust tenses: Usually, shift present to past tense. (E.g. “am” becomes “was”)
- Modify time expressions: (e.g., “today” becomes “that day”)
- Remove quotation marks and add ‘that’ (optional in spoken English).
- Use reporting verbs: ‘said,’ ‘told,’ ‘asked,’ ‘requested,’ etc.
Direct and Indirect Speech Examples
| Type | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | She said, “I like apples.” | She said that she liked apples. |
| Question | He asked, “Are you coming?” | He asked if I was coming. |
| Command | The teacher said, “Sit down.” | The teacher told us to sit down. |
| Request | Ram said, “Please help me.” | Ram requested me to help him. |
| Exclamation | She said, “Wow! That’s great!” | She exclaimed that it was great. |
Common Mistakes in Direct and Indirect Speech
- Forgetting to change pronouns and tenses.
- Leaving out important words like ‘that’ or forgetting reporting verbs.
- Placing punctuation outside quotation marks in direct speech.
- Not using the correct form for time expressions and modals.
Practice Exercises: Convert the Sentences
- 1. She said, “I am busy.”
- 2. “Can you help me?” asked Mohan.
- 3. The doctor said, “Take your medicine on time.”
- 4. He said, “We will meet tomorrow.”
- 5. The teacher said, “Do your homework.”
(Try converting these into indirect speech for revision. For more detailed practice, visit our Reported Speech Exercises page.)
Summary
Direct and indirect speech are essential English grammar tools for reporting spoken words. Direct speech uses exact words and quotation marks. Indirect speech changes verbs, pronouns, and time references to fit the new sentence. Regular practice with Vedantu helps students use them confidently in exams and conversations.
FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech – Rules, Examples & PDF Worksheets
1. What is direct speech with an example?
Direct speech reports the exact words spoken, enclosed in quotation marks. For example: He said, "I am going to the market."
2. What is indirect speech with an example?
Indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said without using the exact words. The tense often changes. For example: He said that he was going to the market.
3. How do you convert direct speech into indirect speech?
Conversion involves several steps:
• Remove quotation marks.
• Change pronouns as needed (I to he/she, my to his/her, etc.).
• Adjust tense (present to past, past to past perfect, etc.).
• Modify time and place words (today to that day, here to there, etc.).
• Use a reporting verb (said, asked, told, etc.) and often the conjunction that.
4. What are the rules for changing from direct to indirect speech?
Key rules include:
• Tense changes (usually).
• Pronoun changes to match the reporter's perspective.
• Time and place expressions are adjusted.
• Reporting verbs (said, told, asked etc.) are used.
• Quotation marks are removed.
• Questions change word order to statements (using if or whether).
• Commands/requests use infinitives.
5. What is an example of indirect speech?
She said that she would visit her aunt tomorrow. This indirectly reports her statement without using quotation marks.
6. What are reporting verbs?
Reporting verbs (e.g., said, told, asked, exclaimed, whispered) introduce the reported speech or clause, indicating how something was said.
7. What are the differences in punctuation between direct and indirect speech?
Direct speech uses quotation marks (") to enclose the exact words. Indirect speech omits quotation marks; punctuation is adjusted to fit the new sentence structure.
8. How are questions and exclamations handled in indirect speech?
Questions become statements introduced by if or whether. Exclamations are reported using verbs expressing emotion (e.g., exclaimed, cried).
9. Can indirect speech be used to report commands or requests?
Yes, using verbs like ordered, requested, advised, etc., followed by an infinitive.
10. Are there exceptions to reported speech rules?
Yes, exceptions apply to universal truths (facts that are always true), factual statements about the past, and when reporting something immediately after it was said. The tense may not change in these cases.
11. How do I change the tense when converting direct to indirect speech?
Generally, shift the tense back one step: Present Simple becomes Past Simple; Present Continuous becomes Past Continuous; Present Perfect becomes Past Perfect, etc. However, exceptions exist (see question 10).
12. What happens to time expressions when converting to indirect speech?
Time expressions often change to reflect the shift in time. For example: today becomes that day; tomorrow becomes the next day; yesterday becomes the previous day/the day before; now becomes then.
