Direct and Indirect Speech/Narration

Mastering direct and indirect speech is an essential part of learning English. These rules help us report spoken words accurately and effectively in various contexts, whether in conversation, writing, or exams. This guide will walk you through the meaning, rules, and examples of direct and indirect speech in a clear and easy-to-understand manner for beginners and young learners.

Table of Contents

• • What Is Direct and Indirect Speech?
  • Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech
  • Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
    • • Changing Tenses
      • Changing Pronouns
      • Handling Time and Place Words
      • Reporting Verbs
  • Rules for Interrogative Sentences
  • Rules for Imperatives, Requests, and Exclamations
  • Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech for All Tenses
  • Common Errors to Avoid
  • Practice Exercises
  • Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Direct and Indirect Speech?

Direct Speech: When you report someone’s exact words, it is called direct speech. Quotation marks are used to enclose the spoken words.

• • Example: John said, “I am happy.”

Indirect Speech: When you report the essence of someone’s speech but not their exact words, it is called indirect speech. The sentence is transformed to match the context of the speaker.

• • Example: John said that he was happy.

Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

Aspect	Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Quotations	Requires quotation marks	No quotation marks
Exact Words	Speaker’s exact words are used	Words are paraphrased
Tense	Tense remains the same	Tense often changes
Pronouns	No change in pronouns	Pronouns change to match context
Time/Place Words	Original time/place words are retained	Time/place words are adjusted

Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

1. Changing Tenses

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the direct speech usually changes. Here’s a simple guide:

Direct Speech Tense	Indirect Speech Tense	Example
Simple Present	Simple Past	Direct: “I eat apples.” Indirect: He said he ate apples.
Present Continuous	Past Continuous	Direct: “I am eating apples.” Indirect: He said he was eating apples.
Present Perfect	Past Perfect	Direct: “I have eaten apples.” Indirect: He said he had eaten apples.
Simple Past	Past Perfect	Direct: “I ate apples.” Indirect: He said he had eaten apples.
Past Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous	Direct: “I was eating apples.” Indirect: He said he had been eating apples.
Future	Conditional	Direct: “I will eat apples.” Indirect: He said he would eat apples.

 

2. Changing Pronouns

Pronouns in indirect speech must match the context of the reporting speaker.

Direct Pronoun	Indirect Pronoun	Example
I	He/She	Direct: “I am happy.” Indirect: He said he was happy.
We	They	Direct: “We are leaving.” Indirect: They said they were leaving.
You	I/We/They	Direct: “You are late.” Indirect: She said I was late.

 

3. Handling Time and Place Words

Certain words in direct speech change to reflect the shift in time or place in indirect speech.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech	Example
Now	Then	Direct: “I am busy now.” Indirect: She said she was busy then.
Today	That day	Direct: “I will go today.” Indirect: He said he would go that day.
Tomorrow	The next day	Direct: “I will leave tomorrow.” Indirect: He said he would leave the next day.
Yesterday	The previous day	Direct: “I came yesterday.” Indirect: She said she had come the previous day.

4. Reporting Verbs

The reporting verb (e.g., said, asked, told) often changes depending on the sentence’s context.

• • Statements: Use “said” or “told” (e.g., She said that she was tired.)
  • Questions: Use “asked” or “inquired” (e.g., He asked where I was going.)
  • Commands/Requests: Use “ordered,” “requested,” or “urged” (e.g., She requested me to open the door.)

Rules for Interrogative Sentences

When converting questions from direct to indirect speech:

1. Remove the question marks.

2. Use reporting verbs like “asked” or “inquired.”

3. Adjust word order to match a statement structure.

Type	Example
WH-Questions	Direct: “Where are you going?” Indirect: He asked where I was going.
Yes/No Questions	Direct: “Are you coming?” Indirect: She asked if I was coming.

Rules for Imperatives, Requests, and Exclamations

1. Imperatives:

• • Use “ordered” or “commanded.”
  • Convert the verb to the infinitive.
  • Example: Direct: “Close the door.” Indirect: He ordered me to close the door.

2. Requests:

• • Use “requested” or “pleaded.”
  • Convert the verb to the infinitive.
  • Example: Direct: “Please help me.” Indirect: She requested me to help her.

3. Exclamations:

• • Use “exclaimed” or “cried.”
  • Remove interjections like “Oh” or “Wow.”
  • Example: Direct: “Oh no, I’m late!” Indirect: She exclaimed that she was late.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech for All Tenses

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
“I love ice cream,” she said.	She said that she loved ice cream.
“Are you coming?” he asked.	He asked if I was coming.
“We will meet tomorrow,” they said.	They said that they would meet the next day.
“Close the window,” she ordered.	She ordered me to close the window.

Common Errors to Avoid

1. Forgetting to change the tense when required.

2. Retaining quotation marks in indirect speech.

3. Using incorrect pronouns.

Practice Exercises

Convert the following direct speech into indirect speech:

1. She said, “I am reading a book.”

2. He asked, “Did you finish your homework?”

3. The teacher said, “Be quiet!”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is direct speech?

Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, enclosed in quotation marks.

Q2: What is indirect speech?

Indirect speech conveys the essence of what someone said without quoting their exact words.

Q3: Why is indirect speech important?

It helps report conversations more naturally, especially in writing or storytelling.