Direct and Indirect Speech- Rules
Rules that must be followed while using direct and indirect speech are given below. Follow
and practice these rules to change direct speech into indirect speech.
Before learning the rules you need to know these two parts of Direct and Indirect Speech.
Reporting Verb: Direct speech has two parts, the first part of the sentence is known as
reporting verb as it tells about the person who is speaking (Rohan said, He says, etc.).
For Examples:
He says, “I have done my work”.
The teacher says, “The Earth is round.”
In the above two sentences, the first part is reporting verbs. In the first sentence, ‘He says’
is reporting verb and in the second sentence, ‘The teacher says’ is reporting verb.
Reported Speech: The second part of the sentence or the words which is actually said
by the speaker is known as reported speech.
For Examples:
He says, “I have done my work”.
The teacher says, “The Earth is round.”
All Direct and Indirect Speech Rules
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 1. Remove inverted commas and use ‘that’: While
changing direct speech into indirect speech, remove inverted commas and use that instead of
commas.
Direct to Indirect speech Example:
Rahul says, “There are eight planets.” (Direct Speech)
Rahul says that there are eight planets. (Indirect Speech)
As in the above sentence inverted commas are removed in indirect speech and the
conjunction ‘that’ is also used.
Note:- In indirect speech, tense does not change:
If the reported speech (the part of the sentence which is inside inverted commas) is habitual
action or universal truth.
If the reporting verb is in the present tense then the tense will not be changed.
For examples:
My teacher says, “The earth is round’’.
In the above sentence, reporting verb is in the present tense so it will not change into the
past and reported speech is also a universal truth that can not be changed.
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 2. Change in tense: When the reporting verb is in the past
tense then reported speech will be changed into past tense in indirect speech.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Simple Present Simple Past
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Simple Past Past Perfect
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Will Would
May Might
Can Could
Shall Should
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 3. Change in Time: If the word related to time is given in
the sentence then it will be changed in indirect speech. Some rules must be followed while
doing this and those are given in the following table.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Today That day
Tomorrow Next day or the following day
Yesterday Previous day
Now Then
Tonight That night
Yesterday night Previous night
Tomorrow night Following night
Here There
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 4. Interrogative sentences: No conjunction is used, if a
sentence in direct speech starts with a question word (what/where/when)
as the “question-word” itself acts as conjunction.
Direct to Indirect speech Example
“Where are you going?” asked the boy. (Direct Speech)
The boy asked where I was going. (Indirect Speech)
Note: While changing the interrogative sentence into indirect speech remove the question
mark ‘?’.
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 5. Yes/No Interrogative sentences: If a direct speech
sentence starts with an auxiliary verb/helping verb, the joining clause will be changed into if
or whether.
Direct to Indirect speech Example:
He asked me “Do you come with me?” (Direct Speech)
He enquired whether/if I am coming with him. (Indirect Speech)
Note: While changing the interrogative sentence reporting verbs (verbs used in the first part)
such as ‘said/ said to’ changes to enquired, asked, or demanded.
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 6. Request, Command: Some verbs, such as requested,
ordered, urged, and advised, are used in indirect speech. For the negative statements, the
word forbidden is used. As a result, in indirect communication, the imperative mood that is
present in direct speech is replaced by the infinitive word.
Direct to Indirect speech Example
She said to her, “Please do this work.” (Direct Speech)
She requested her to complete that work. (Indirect Speech)
Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 7. Exclamatory Sentence: Interjections words are removed
from exclamatory sentences that express (grief, sorrow, delight, or applaud) and the sentence
is transformed into an assertive sentence.
Direct to Indirect speech Example
Students said, “Hurrah! India has won the match.”(Direct Speech)
Students exclaimed with joy that India had won the match.(Indirect Speech)
