Direct and Indirect Speech
Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech is essential to improve both spoken and written English, especially when reporting what someone else has said. These two forms are used to report speech in different ways.
1. What is Direct Speech?
Direct Speech is when we quote the exact words of the speaker, without any changes.
Structure:
Subject + said/asked + “exact words”
Example:
Rohan said, “I am going to the market.”
She said, “I love chocolate.”
Key Features of Direct Speech:
Quotation marks (“ ”) are used.
The words inside the quotes are not changed.
It’s used in storytelling, conversations, interviews, etc.
2. What is Indirect Speech?
Indirect Speech is when we report what someone said using our own words, without quotation marks, and often with some changes in the sentence structure, pronouns, and verb tenses.
Structure:
Subject + said/asked/told + that + reported speech
Example:
Rohan said that he was going to the market.
She said that she loved chocolate.
Changes from Direct to Indirect Speech
Here’s how a sentence typically changes when converting from direct to indirect speech:
1. Remove Quotation Marks
Direct: He said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: He said that he was tired.
2. Change in Pronouns
Direct: She said, “I will help you.”
Indirect: She said that she would help me.
Tip: Pronouns change according to the speaker and the listener.
3. Change in Tenses
Usually, when the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech changes as well:
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| am/is → was | “I am happy.” → She said that she was happy. |
| are → were | “They are late.” → He said that they were late. |
| have → had | “I have a car.” → He said that he had a car. |
| will → would | “I will go.” → She said that she would go. |
| can → could | “I can swim.” → He said that he could swim. |
If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense usually doesn’t change.
4. Change in Time Expressions
Words that refer to time or place also often change.
Example:
Direct: She said, “I will meet you tomorrow.”
Indirect: She said that she would meet me the next day.
Examples for Practice
Direct: He said, “I play football every day.”
Indirect: He said that he played football every day.Direct: She said, “I am cooking dinner.”
Indirect: She said that she was cooking dinner.Direct: They said, “We went to the zoo yesterday.”
Indirect: They said that they had gone to the zoo the day before.
What about Questions?
Direct: He asked, “Where are you going?”
Indirect: He asked where I was going.
In questions, remove “?” and use if/whether for yes-no questions or use question word (what, why, where, etc.) as it is.
Summary – Rules for Conversion:
Remove quotation marks.
Change the pronouns.
Adjust the tense (if needed).
Modify time/place words.
Keep sentence structure smooth.
Why It Matters:
Helps in writing essays, news reports, and articles
Useful in conversations and interviews
Builds clarity and accuracy in communication