Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.
When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.
Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.
To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.
It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:
Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.
In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.
When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:
In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:
In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.
Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:
In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.
When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:
In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.
Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.
When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.
The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.
To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.
For example:
When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.
You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.
By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.
Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:
Here is an example to illustrate the process:
Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.
Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.
By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.
Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:
Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.
Here are some examples of indirect speech:
In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.
Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.
What is direct and indirect speech?
Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.
How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?
To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).
What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?
The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.
What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?
Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .
What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?
The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”
What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?
Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.
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This website is AMNAZING
MY NAAMEE IS KISHU AND I WANTED TO TELL THERE ARE NO EXERCISES AVAILLABLEE BY YOUR WEBSITE PLEASE ADD THEM SSOON FOR OUR STUDENTS CONVIENCE IM A EIGHT GRADER LOVED YOUR EXPLABATIO
sure cries l miss my friend
he saiad,” we are all sinners”. convert into indirect speech
He said that they were all sinners.
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noun as in direct discourse
Weak matches
Susannah, goaded into direct speech by what seemed to her his wilful slowness, answered with the blood still hotter in her cheeks.
Never man heard from the stars in direct speech—that were almost like words with God.
This frank statement did not surprise the prelate, who was used to her direct speech and energetic temper, and liked both.
The beauty, politeness, and clear direct speech of the children, are remarkable.
Apply this principle to other examples of direct speech interrupted by narrative.
Words related to direct speech are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word direct speech . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.
noun as in report in which a speakers' exact words are quoted
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
75 other terms for direct speech - words and phrases with similar meaning.
Alternatively
Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms
ThoughtCo / Vin Ganapathy
Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer. Contrast with indirect speech . Also called direct discourse .
Direct speech is usually placed inside quotation marks and accompanied by a reporting verb , signal phrase , or quotative frame.
"While direct speech purports to give a verbatim rendition of the words that were spoken, indirect speech is more variable in claiming to represent a faithful report of the content or content and form of the words that were spoken. It is important to note, however, that the question of whether and how faithful a given speech report actually is, is of a quite different order. Both direct and indirect speech are stylistic devices for conveying messages. The former is used as if the words being used were those of another, which are therefore pivoted to a deictic center different from the speech situation of the report. Indirect speech, in contrast, has its deictic center in the report situation and is variable with respect to the extent that faithfulness to the linguistic form of what was said is being claimed." (Florian Coulmas, "Reported Speech: Some General Issues." Direct and Indirect Speech , ed. by F. Coulmas. Walter de Gruyter, 1986)
When a speaking event is reported via direct speech forms, it is possible to include many features that dramatize the way in which an utterance was produced. The quotative frame can also include verbs that indicate the speaker's manner of expression (e.g. cry, exclaim, gasp ), voice quality (e.g. mutter, scream, whisper ), and type of emotion (e.g. giggle, laugh, sob ). It can also include adverbs (e.g. angrily, brightly, cautiously, hoarsely, quickly, slowly ) and descriptions of the reported speaker's style and tone of voice, as illustrated in [5].
[5a] "I have some good news," she whispered in a mischievous way. [5b] "What is it?" he snapped immediately. [5c] "Can't you guess?" she giggled. [5d] "Oh, no! Don't tell me you're pregnant" he wailed, with a whining nasal sound in his voice.
The literary style of the examples in [5] is associated with an older tradition. In contemporary novels, there is often no indication, other than separate lines, of which character is speaking, as the direct speech forms are presented like a dramatic script, one after the other. (George Yule, Explaining English Grammar . Oxford University Press, 1998)
An interesting new way of signaling direct speech has developed among younger English speakers and is spreading from the United States to Britain. This occurs entirely in spoken conversation, rather than in writing.
- . . . Though the construction is new [in 1994] and not yet standard, its meaning is very clear. It seems to be used more often to report thoughts rather than actual speech. (James R. Hurford, Grammar: A Student's Guide . Cambridge University Press, 1994)
Even in the days of audio and video recording, there can be surprising differences in direct quotations attributed to the same source. A simple comparison of the same speech event covered in different newspapers can illustrate the problem. When his country was not invited to a meeting of the Commonwealth of Nations in 2003, the president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, said the following in a televised speech, according to The New York Times :
"If our sovereignty is what we have to lose to be re-admitted into the Commonwealth," Mr. Mugabe was quoted as saying on Friday, "we will say goodbye to the Commonwealth. And perhaps the time has now come to say so." (Wines 2003)
And the following according to an Associated Press story in the Philadelphia Inquirer .
"If our sovereignty is to be real, then we will say goodbye to the Commonwealth, [sic; second quotation mark missing] Mugabe said in remarks broadcast on state television. "Perhaps the time has come to say so." (Shaw 2003)
Did Mugabe produce both versions of these comments? If he gave only one, which published version is accurate? Do the versions have different sources? Are the differences in the exact wording significant or not? (Jeanne Fahnestock, Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion . Oxford University Press, 2011)
Literary English
Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone else has said. In direct speech, the exact words spoken by a person are quoted within quotation marks. In indirect speech, the words of the speaker are reported without using their exact words and without using quotation marks. Instead, the reported speech is often introduced by verbs such as “said,” “told,” “asked,” etc. Indirect speech allows us to convey what someone else said without necessarily repeating their exact words, often to provide a summary or to integrate it into a larger narrative.
Direct speech is also called reporting speech. There are two parts in a sentence in direct speech first part is known as reporting speech (in this sentence we know about reporting person) and the second part which is known as reported speech (indirect narration “example”, or indirect discourse). When we want to describe what someone said, one option is to use direct speech . We use direct speech when we simply repeat what someone says, putting the phrase between speech marks:
As you can see, with direct speech it is common to use the verb ‘to say’ and ‘to says’ (‘said’ in the past). But you can also find other verbs used to indicate direct speech such as ‘ask’, ‘reply’, and ‘shout’.
In grammar, when we want to report what someone said, without speech marks and without necessarily using exactly the same words, we use indirect speech. It is also known as reported speech. Look at the following sentences:
In above sentences, the reporter delivers the message of the boy using his real words (e.g.“I am going to school.”) In the indirect speech sentence, the reporter delivers his message but in his own words without any change in the meaning. Thus, both direct and indirect speeches are two different ways of reporting a statement of person. In simple words, quoting a person using your own words is called an indirect speech.
1 st person 2 nd person 3 rd person
Subject Object No change
I, we, you he, she, it,
My, our, us, me your they and noun.
Important word changes
The above rules are mandatory for converting direct speech into indirect speech. Hence, they should be memorized thoroughly. The following examples cover all the aforementioned rules. So, focus on every sentence to know how the above-mentioned rules have been used here.
Some special words will be changed when direct speech changes into indirect speech
If the reporting speech is in present tense or future tense, then no change is required to be made in the verb of reported speech.
Direct Speech: he says, “I live in Pakistan”.
Indirect Speech: he tells that he lives in Pakistan.
Direct Speech: you say to me, “you will go to Lahore”.
Indirect Speech: you tell me that I shall go to Lahore.
Direct Speech: I say, “she was ill”.
Indirect Speech: I tell that she was ill.
Present indefinite will be changed into past into past indefinite tense.
(First form into second form)
Present continues will be changed into past continues tense.
(is, am, are into was, were)
Present perfect will be changed into past perfect tense.
(has, had into had)
Present perfect continues will be changed into past perfect continues tense.
(has been, have been into had been)
Past indefinite will be changed into past perfect tense.
(second form into had)
Past continues will be changed into past perfect continues tense.
(was, were into had been)
Note : Past perfect, past perfect continues, future indefinite, future continues, future perfect, future perfect continues tense will not be changed.
Sentences that make a declaration are called assertive sentences. These sentences may be positive, negative, false, or true statements. To convert such sentences into indirect speech, use the rules as declared above except said is sometimes replaced with told . Look at the following examples:
Direct Speech: She says, “I am writing a letter to my brother.”
Indirect Speech: She says that she is writing a letter to her brother.
Direct Speech: She says, “I was not writing a letter to my brother.”
Indirect Speech: She says that she was not writing a letter to her brother.
Direct Speech: She said to me, “I am writing a letter to my brother.”
Indirect Speech: She told me that she was writing a letter to her brother.
Imperative sentences are sentences that give an order or a direct command. These sentences may be in the form of advice, appeal, request, or order. Mostly, it depends upon the forcefulness of the presenter. Thus, a full stop (.) or sign of exclamation (!) is used at the end of the sentence.
When we will be convert these types of sentences into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:
The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case order the speaker gives a direct command. Then said will be changed into ordered For example:
The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case request the speaker gives a request command. Then said will be changed into request.
For example:
The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case guide the speaker gives a piece of advice. Then said will be changed into advised .
The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case forbade the speaker stopped to do something. Then said will be changed into forbade .
The sentence, which expresses a prayer, keen wish, curse, happiness etc., is called an optative sentence . This kind of sentence generally starts with ‘may’ and ‘wish’. Sometimes, ‘may’ remains hidden.
The sentence, which expresses a sudden and deep excitement, wonder, shock, or sorrow, etc., is called an exclamatory sentence . In this kind of sentence must have exclamation mark (!) at the end of the sentence or in the central of the sentence.
When we will be converted these types of sentences into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:
In a prayer sentence said will be replaced by
When we will be changed direct speech to indirect speech always we will be replaced inverted commas that .
In a hope sentence said will be replaced by
When we will be changed direct speech to indirect speech always we will be replaced inverted commas that .
In a glad & happy sentence, said will be replaced by exclaimed with joy or exclaimed with joyfully. And exclamatory mark (!) will be removed.
In a sad or sorrow sentence, said will be replaced by exclaimed with sorrow or exclaimed with sorrowfully.
Which sentences, ask questions, are called interrogative sentences. Every interrogative sentence has question mark (?) at the ends.
To change interrogative sentences from direct speech into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:
When we will be changed sentence direct speech to indirect Said will be replaced by asked .
If interrogative sentence will be started from “ Wh ” mean when, whom, what, where, who, which, why, how, whose when we will be changed sentence direct speech to indirect speech inverted commas will not be replaced. Just it will be removed.
If the reported sentence will be started form helping verb, then if will be used in place of that .
After the changing sentence mark of interrogation (?) will be replaced with full stop (.).
Direct speech: He said to me, “Who are you”?
Indirect speech: He asked me who I was.
Direct speech: He said to me, “Where are you going”?
Indirect speech: He asked me where I was going.
Direct speech: Sunny said to me, “will you help me”?
Indirect speech: Sunny asked me if I would help him.
Sentences which have natural truth or universal truth in the part of reported speech are called universal sentences .
To change universal sentences from direct speech into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:
When we will be changed sentence direct speech to indirect Said will be replaced by
When we will be changed direct speech to indirect speech always we will be replaced inverted commas with that .
Always remember that universal truth will never change so we will not be changed reported speech portion.
Direct speech: The teacher said to the boys, “The earth revolves around the sun”.
Indirect speech: The teacher told the boys that the earth revolves around the sun.
Direct speech: Saif said, “Allah is one”.
Indirect speech: Saif told that Allah is one.
Direct speech: She said to him, “Honesty is the best policy”.
Indirect speech: She told him that honesty is the best policy.
Direct speech: Sunny said to Farrukh, “The sun rises in the east”.
Indirect speech: Sunny told Farrukh that the sun rises in the east.
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Introduction to direct speech or quoted speech.
Direct Speech, also known as Quoted Speech, is a common grammatical construction used in both written and spoken language. This tutorial serves as a comprehensive guide to mastering this important literary device. Let's start by understanding what direct speech is.
Table of Contents
Direct speech refers to the exact wording of someone's comments or speech as it was spoken. In written text, direct speech usually appears in quotation marks or inverted commas to denote that the words were spoken or written by another person. The actual text of direct speech punctuated with a speech tag, which identifies the speaker and might provide additional context.
In this example, "I love playing football," is the direct speech, and "John said," is the speech tag.
Following are some standard rules regarding the formatting and punctuating of direct speech:
Always use opening and closing quotation marks to indicate the start and end of the direct speech portion of the sentence. These could be double (“ ”) or single (‘ ’) quotation marks, depending on the convention of the media or publication.
The location of the speech tag can change, depending on the context and the intended effect. It can either be placed before, in between, or after the direct speech.
In direct speech, every new spoken line starts with a capital letter. Also, when the speech tag is at the end of the sentence, the quoted sentence should end with a comma, question mark, or exclamation mark but not with a period.
The speech tag typically has two parts: the noun (or noun phrase) that refers to the speaker and the reporting verb (e.g., "said", "asked", "whispered") that characterizes the mode of speech. It's also possible to add adverbial modifiers to describe the manner of speech.
While the rules mentioned above can guide you in punctuating most direct speeches correctly, some exceptions or overriding rules can alter punctuation and capitalization. Here are some examples:
If the speech tag interrupts the direct speech, both parts of the speech would begin with a lowercase letter, assuming they form a single sentence.
When a character speaks consecutive sentences, start the second one with a capital letter.
Mastering direct speech or quoted speech can enhance your writing skills tremendously, helping you write compelling dialogue and effectively integrate quotes in your work. By following the guidelines set in this tutorial, you'll be well on your way to using direct speech like a pro. Happy writing!
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In English grammar , the term ‘speech’ refers to the process of communicating or expressing one’s thoughts. It is an exchange of ideas or even a conversation. There are two ways in which you can report speech – direct speech and indirect speech . Direct speech is used to report or rather repeat the words spoken by the speaker or writer in the way it is told by the speaker, whereas indirect speech is the way in which you convey what someone said to another person, not necessarily using the exact words of the speaker.
In this article, you will learn the meaning and definition of direct speech. Also, go through the rules to be followed when using the direct speech and the examples given to understand how to use them accurately.
Definition of direct speech.
Examples of direct speech, test your understanding of direct speech, frequently asked questions on direct speech in english, what is direct speech.
Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is a way in which you can report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone about something that is to happen at a later point of time. Let us now take a look at how various dictionaries define direct speech to further understand what it is.
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, direct speech is defined as “a speaker’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “when you use direct speech, you repeat what someone has said using exactly the words they used.” The Collins Dictionary defines direct speech as “speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used” and according to the Macmillan Dictionary, direct speech is defined as “the exact words that someone has said.”
Like every other grammar topic, there are rules to be followed when using direct speech. Let us look at each one of them to know how direct speech can be used accurately and effectively.
Name of the speaker says/said, “Exact words of the speaker.” |
---|
You can become an expert in using direct speech if you practise well. Here are some ways you can do it.
Now that you know the rules to be followed, take a look at the following examples to have a better idea of how it is done.
Rearrange the following sentences to form direct speech and punctuate them appropriately.
1. vishal / my / is / in / brother / participating / race / said / the / running
2. asked / i / devi / like / maths / problems / solving / free time/ your / in / do / you
3. friends / said / wearing / we / my / are / red / for / dresses / wedding / the / reception
4. responded / teacher / nobody / when / have / completed / the / you / project / many / of / how / asked / the
5. reach / says / tonight / bangalore / he / will / i
6. guest / the / danced / children / the / chief / said / beautifully
7. mom / Finn’s / they / all / said / singing / favourite / are / songs / his
8. Bellas / susan / are / the / said / live / performing / world / the / acapella / at / raiser / curtain
9. love / father / said / i / my / you
10. sing / asked / you / with / maria / her / me / will
Now, if you finished rearranging the sentences, check if you have done it correctly from the answers given below.
1. Vishal said, “My brother is participating in the running race.”
2. I asked Devi, “Do you like solving maths problems in your freetime?”
3. My friends said, “We are wearing red dresses for the wedding reception.”
4. Nobody responded when the teacher asked, “How many of you have completed the project?”
5. He says, “I will reach Bangalore tonight.”
6. The chief guest said, “The children danced beautifully.”
7. Finn’s mom said, “They are singing all his favourite songs.”
8. “The Bellas are performing live at the World Acapella Curtain Raiser”, said Susan.
9. My father said, “I love you.”
10. Maria asked, “Will you sing with me?”
Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is the way in which you report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone at a later point of time.
What is the formula of direct speech.
When using direct speech, you can follow the formula given below. Name of the speaker says/said, “Exact words of the speaker.”
Immediately after the phrase mentioning who said the particular sentence, add a comma followed by open quotation marks, the words of the speaker (capitalise the first letter of the first word) followed by a period, question mark or exclamation mark and the close quotation marks.
Here are a few examples of direct speech that you can refer to.
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13th June 2020 By Edify English Leave a Comment
Any word spoken by a speaker can be written in two different ways. Those two are direct and indirect speech. Direct Speech is when the speaker’s actual words are quoted and these words are put in inverted commas (“…..”) while Indirect Speech is when the speaker’s words are said indirectly with the same meaning without repeating the exact words. For Example, the statement in direct speech She said to me, “I am going to the park” changes into She told me that she was going to the park in indirect speech.
Basic Changes while changing from Direct speech to indirect speech
Example: He said to me, “I am happy” becomes He told me that he was happy
(The verb in the direct speech ‘am’ is converted into ‘was’.)
Example: He said to me, “I was happy” changes into He told me that he had been happy
Example: The peon said, “The professor is teaching in that classroom” changes into The peon said that the professor was teaching in that classroom.
Example: She said, “I have passed the test” becomes She said that she had passed the test.
Example: The teacher said, “The sun rises in the East” becomes The teacher said that the sun rises in the east in indirect speech.
Example: Samuel said, “I know the university’s address.” and the indirect speech for that is Samuel said that he knows the university’s address
Rules for converting Interrogatory sentences
Example: He said to her, “Will you marry me?” changes into He asked her whether she would marry him in the indirect speech.
Rules for Converting Imperative Sentences
Example: My father said to me, “prepare well for your examination” . It can be converted to My father advised me to prepare well for my examination.
Rules for Converting Exclamatory Sentences
Example: The coach said, “Hurrah! we won the match!” is changed as The coach exclaimed with joy that we had won the match.
These are the changes in helping verbs while changing from Direct and Indirect Speech
Am/ Is | Was |
Are | Were |
Have/ Had/ Did | had |
Do/ Does | Did |
Will | Would |
Shall | Should |
Can | Could |
May | Might |
Must | Had to |
Was/ Were | had been |
Should | Should |
Had | Had |
Would | Would |
Could | Could |
Note: There is no change in the helping verbs “would, should, could, might, had” in the direct speech and they remain the s ame in indirect speech as well.
Changes in Time and Place
This | That |
These | Those |
Here | There |
Now | Then |
Today | That Day |
Tonight | That Night |
Tomorrow | The next day/ The following day |
The Day after tomorrow | In two days |
The Day before yesterday | Two days before |
Ago | Before |
Next | The following |
Last | The previous |
Thus | So |
This Evening | That Evening |
Hence | Thence |
Cha nges in pronoun s
The changes in pronouns in indirect speech depends on the subject and the object of the reporting verb.
Example: She said, “I watched a movie” can be converted into She said that she had watched a movie . Hence, the first person in the direct speech “I” has become “she” based on the subject.
Had there been “he” instead of “she”, the first person in reported speech changes accordingly into “he”.
Example: She said to me, “You watched a movie” can be converted into She told me that I had watched a movie.
Example: I said to her, “He will play Chess” can be converted into I told her that he would play Chess.
Stay tuned for more examples of direct and indirect speech.
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We often convey a message or give information about what someone said, thought or felt to somebody else. In order to do this you can use the grammar structure named direct or quoted speech, or indirect or reported speech. Indeed this structure can be a source of confusion for ESL learners because they mix it with active and passive voice . Read the whole article to know about direct and indirect speech rules.
To learn more about direct and indirect speech click here.
Initially we will look at direct and indirect speech, then look at how to convert speech from direct to indirect or vice-versa.
Direct Speech / Quoted Speech Saying or quoting exactly what someone has said is called direct speech (sometimes called quoted speech) Here what a person says appears within quotation marks (“…”) a nd should be word for word.
Indirect Speech / Reported Speech Saying or reporting what someone said without quoting his exact words is called indirect speech. Here we don’t use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and does not have to be word for word.
Reporting Verb The verb in the first part of sentence (i.e. say, said, tell, admit, complain, explain remind, reply think, hope, offer, refuse etc.) before the statement of a person in sentence is called reporting verb.
How to Change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech?
If the reported sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it to fit in with the time of reporting, and adverb of nearness should be put into those of distance.
Note: If something is said and reported at the same time, then the time expression can remain the same.
A) If the reporting verb is in present or future (i.e say, says or will say) then don’t change the tense that you can find within the quotation marks.
B) If reporting verb is in the past tense. the tense of the verbs in the reported speech or indirect speech must be generally changed. This is because when we use reported speech, we are usually talking about a time in the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past). The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too.
Tense Change As a rule when you report something someone has said you go back a tense. Present Simple › Past simple
Present continuous › Past continuous
Present perfect › Past perfect
Present perfect continuous › Past perfect continuous
Past simple › Past perfect
Past perfect › Past perfect
Past perfect continuous › Past perfect continuous
Modal verb forms also sometimes change: Will › would
Can › could
Must › had to
May › might
Note – There is no change to; could, would, should, might and ought to.
If indirect speech the words within quotation marks talk of a universal truth or habitual action or when a sentence is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true then the tense inside the quotation marks is not changed at all.
You can also use the present tense if you are talking about a future event.
We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence.
Note: Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is confusing consider the examples below:
(If we only make mechanical changes, then the new sentence can have different meaning)
Rule 9. Reported Speech of Interrogative Sentences 1. Remove the quotation marks and question mark in the interrogative sentence. 2. Use ‘if’ or ‘whether’ if the sentence inside the quotation marks begins with a helping verb (Auxiliary verb). 3. Use the given interrogative word (what, when, where, why, who, whom, whose, which, now etc.) if it does not begin with the helping verb. 4. Don‘t use ‘that’ 5. Changing the reporting verb (say, said) into ‘ask, want to know wonder or inquire’ in its correct tense. 6. Omit helping verb like ‘do, does, did’. But don’t omit them when they are with ‘not’.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If is more common and whether is more formal.
1. Remove the quotation mark in an Imperative sentence. 2. Use ‘to’ if it is an affirmative sentence. (without don‘t) 3. Use ‘not to’ if the sentence begins without Don‘t. 4. Don‘t use ‘that’ 5. Omit the word ‘please’. Use the word ‘request’ instead of ‘say’. 6. If the direct speech contains a request or a command, the reporting verb (say, said) change to tell, request, order, command etc. in its correct tense. 7. The commands, requests and advice mostly have the same form in English: verb + object + infinitive (advise, ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge, warn etc.).
Negative: + object + not + infinitive.
Rule 12. Reported Speech of Advice If it contains advice the reporting verb changes into advised.
1. Change the exclamatory sentence into statement or assertive 2. Remove the quotation marks and exclamatory mark. 3. Use the conjunction ‘that’ 4. Omit the interjections such as Oh, O, Alas, how, what, hurrah. 5. Add the word ‘very’ to the adjective or adverb if necessary. 6. If the verb is not given, use ‘Be’ form verb (is, was, are, were, am) in its correct tense according to the subject. 7. Change the reporting verb (say, said) to ‘exclaim joyfully’ 8. Use ‘exclaim’ sorrowfully for sorrowful incidents.
In reported speech, the word that is often used, however it is optional. We recommend you no to use it because in some cases we don’t use ‘That’ in reported speech like: question, command request and order, so its better not to use it.
In direct speech, various punctuation conventions are used to separate the quoted words from the rest of the text: this allows a reader to follow what’s going on. Here are the basic rules: A) We use inverted commas (also called quotation marks, quotes or speech marks) to indicate direct speech. Double quotes (“) are preferred in American English, while single quotes (‘) are more common in British English:
B) Every time a new speakers says something, you should start a new paragraph:
C) There should be a comma, full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark at the end of a piece of speech. This is placed inside the closing inverted comma or commas.
D) If the direct speech is broken up by information about who is speaking, you need a comma (or a question mark or exclamation mark) to end the first piece of speech and a full stop or another comma before the second piece (before the inverted comma or commas):
Conclusion: I hope that the points that I have mentioned above about direct and indirect speech may prove beneficial for people learning English. All you need to do is to understand the crucial rules of direct and indirect speech, and don’t mix it with passive and active voice.
Check out Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises With Answers
If you would like to know more about direct or quoted speech, or indirect or reported speech, check out more in the book below.
Direct and indirect of simple future tense, all types of questions in english | 10 types of questions uses with exercises, the 10 best english online courses for beginners, 20 comments.
hello! I’m Abdullah and I want to ask a question related to indirect and direct speech.what would be the indirect sentence of this this speech: “I fell fed up” says trevor
Hello dear Abdullah. When the reporting verb (He says)is in simple present tense, then we don’t go one tense back,so the statement won’t be changed in this case and remains the same in reported speech.
Helo ,,pls let me know about one thing…if there is no object in reporting speech and “you” is used in reporting speech ,,in which pronoun v have to change “you”,,???
Tashakkur, bisyar malumati bud 🙂
You are welcome dear Raza.
This article is beneficial…thnkxx
You are welcome.
Very helpful thank you soooo muchhhh
I want a clarification for the following sentence. “Would you post this letter when you go out?”she said. She asked if I would post that letter when I go out . OR She asked if I would post that letter when I went out.
Change the narration. 1.’I must leave at once’ I said,’because i must not be late’ 2 .Tariq said the police could not prove that the man had been murdered .
very helpful understanding direct and indirect speech thank you very soooooo muuuuccccchhhh
You are welcome Mr. Moueez
Thank you . It’s really helpful
Welcome dear.
Useful article thank you.
Hope it is useful and informative.
Tomorrow is my English exam and this page is very helpful
Thank you Rahema. We always try to help people enhance their skills in four models: Listening, Speaking, Reading and writing.
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Direct and Indirect speech are ways of narrating the speech of someone to some other person following certain rules. This article covers its types, rules, examples and some exercises on the same.
Table of Contents
Direct and Indirect Speech: In English Grammar, direct and Indirect speech are used in instances when we wish to repeat or convey a speech or statement of some other person. Both direct and indirect speech describes what a third person said or conveyed in the past. Indirect speech is more commonly employed unless it’s a direct quotation, which is consistently enclosed in double quotation marks. Whereas indirect speech is used when you want to convey someone’s statement using your own precise words. It’s worth highlighting that indirect speech is consistently expressed using verbs like “said,” “told,” or “asked.”
There are two types of reported speech in English grammar, they are Direct and Indirect speech. Both speech conveys the speech or statement which was told by some other person. To explain any event, action or scenario we generally convey the sentences quoted by someone in the form of direct and indirect speech. In order to clearly differentiate and make people understand easily, we have detailed the two types of reported speech with examples and exercises below.
Direct speech is the mode of expression that directly presents the words spoken or quoted by a third person. Generally, direct speech is written inside quotation marks (“”). The quotation is used to differentiate the speech of the third person that has happened in the past. Thus direct speech conveys statements or conversations of someone in the past tense but quoted inside the quotation marks in the present or future tense.
Indirect Speech is used when we convey what someone said in our own words without repeating the actual text of that person. Instead of using quotation marks, the conjunction word, ‘that’ is used. Thus speaker’s words and sentences are reframed into our own words in Indirect speech. Some examples of indirect speech are:
There are certain rules and regulations followed while converting a simple direct speech into indirect speech. Certain factors such as Verbs, Tenses, Modals, time, place, and pronouns are also considered while changing. The following are the rules applied when you convert direct speech to indirect speech in English grammar.
Rule-1 : Direct To Indirect Speech Conversion – Reporting Verb
The reporting verb is an important factor to note when changing a direct to an indirect sentence. When the reporting verb is past tense, then the verb inside the quotation is also changed to past when changing a sentence from direct to indirect speech. Examples:
An exception is for cases like a universal truth, the tenses remain the same.
If the reporting verb is in present/future tense, then the tense remains the same as in direct speech.
Rule 2: Direct Speech to Indirect Speech Conversion – Tenses
If the sentences inside quotes in direct speech are present tense, it is changed to past tense when changed to indirect speech. The rule in the following table is applied while changing tenses from direct speech to reported speech.
Present Simple Tense do /does V1 | Past Simple Tense did + V1 V2 |
Present Progressive Tense is/am/are + V4 | Past Progressive Tense was /were + V4 |
Present Perfect Tense has /have + V3 | Past Perfect Tense had + V3 |
Present Perfect Progressive has been /have been + V4 | Past Perfect Progressive had been + V4 |
Past Simple Tense did + V1 V2 | Past Perfect Tense had + V3 |
Past Perfect Tense had/have + V3 | Past Perfect Tense had + V3 |
Past Perfect Progressive had been/have been + V4 | Past Perfect Progressive had been + V4 |
Future Simple Tense will + V1 | would + V1 |
Future Progressive Tense will be + V4 | would be + V4 |
Future Perfect Tense will have + V3 | would have + V3 |
Future Perfect Progressive will have been + V4 | would have been + V4 |
Examples of change in Tenses
Ram said, “I do my work.” | Ram said that he did his work. |
They said, “We are going now.” | They said that they were going then. |
Sara said, ” I have done my work.” | Sara said that she had done her work. |
Rohit said, “I have been doing my work.” | Rohit said that he had been doing his work. |
Ram said, “I did my work” | Ram said that he had done his work. |
They said,”We have done our work” | They said that they had done their work. |
They said, “We have been doing our work.” | They said that they had been doing their work. |
Ram Said, ” I had been doing my work.” | Ram said that he had been doing his work. |
Sara said, “I will do my work.” | Sara said that she would do her work. |
They said, “We will be going out.” | They said that they would be going out. |
They said, “We will have done this work.” | They said that they would have done that work. |
Ram said, “I will have been doing this work” | Ram said that he would have been doing that work. |
Rule 4: Direct to Indirect speech Conversion Interrogative sentences
If a sentence starts with a question word like what, when, and why in direct speech, the question word itself acts as the joining class.
Rule 5: Direct to Indirect Speech Conversion Change in Modals
Modal verbs are those verbs that are preceded by another verb, which is the main verb. Can, May, and Must are some examples of Modals. Modals that won’t change are Could, would, should, ought to, might. While changing direct to indirect speech, the Modals change as below:
Rule 6: Direct to Indirect speech conversion – pronoun
The first person in Direct speech changes as per the subject of the speech
The second person of Direct speech changes as per the object of the indirect speech.
If the third person is mentioned in the Direct speech, it does not change in reported speech.
Rule 7: Direct to indirect speech conversion – Request, Command, Wish and Exclamation.
The imperative words in direct speech change into Infinitives in indirect speech.
Exclamation
Rule 8: Direct to indirect speech conversion – punctuations
In Direct speech, the words spoken must start with(“) and ends with(.) inside the double inverted commas. All symbols such as question marks, full stops or exclamatory marks should be placed inside the quotes.
Rule 9: Direct to indirect speech conversion – Change of time
While converting direct speech to Indirect speech, there are certain words to be noted that cannot be used as such in indirect speech. These words get modified into new words which are enlisted below:
The following rules should be followed while converting an indirect speech to direct speech:
The following are some exercises that students can practice while preparing for their revision tests or board exams.
Q.1. Find out the correct indirect speech for the given sentence.
She said,’ I have cooked this meal.’
Answer (2) She said that she had cooked that meal.
Q.2. Choose the correct sentence.
Sanjay said, ‘What a beautiful painting it is’.
Answer (4) Sanjay exclaimed with wonder that the painting was very beautiful.
Q.3. The correct indirect speech for She asked, “What is the cost of these books?”
Answer (1) She enquired what was the cost of those books.
Q.4. The man said, ‘Oh God! I missed the train today.’
Answer (4) The man exclaimed with sorrow that he missed the train that day.
Q.5. Rahul said, “Can you call me back later?”
Answer (5) Rahul asked me if I could call him back later.
Q.6. Mom said to me, “May God Bless you”.
Answer (6) Mom wished that God might bless me.
Learning direct and indirect speech is crucial for several reasons:
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Q1. what are direct and indirect speech in english.
Ans. Direct speech is a speech that describes what a third person has conveyed or quoted in a direct manner. Generally, direct speech is written inside quotation marks ("").Indirect Speech is used when we convey what someone said in our own words without repeating the actual text of that person.
Ans. The conjunctions are used in Indirect speech. The speaker's words and sentences are reframed into our own words in Indirect speech using conjuctions as connecting words.
Ans. Modal verbs are those verbs that are preceded by another verb, which is the main verb. Can, May, and Must are some examples of Modals. While converting direct to indirect speech Can becomes could, May becomes Might, Will becomes Would. Modals that won’t change are Could, would, should, ought to, might.
Ans: Some examples of direct speech have been discussed here: 1. John said, "I will go to the store." 2. Mary asked, "Are you coming to the party?" 3. "It's a beautiful day," remarked Sarah. 4. He shouted, "Watch out for the car!"
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Translations of direct speech.
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Word of the Day
long weekend
Saturday and Sunday with at least one extra day added, either Friday or Monday.
It’s not really my thing (How to say you don’t like something)
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Direct and Indirect Speech
Every day, people relay messages from one person to another. Whether it is to prove a point, describe an event, or disclose an opinion, we use the freedom of speech to share information. There are generally two ways of reporting a spoken idea: direct and indirect speech. This article shall explain and compare these two types of speech. Some examples are also provided to give you a more in-depth understanding.
Both direct and indirect speech are methods to narrate the words spoken by a specific person. The difference between them lies in how they are constructed and in the purpose of using them.
In a direct speech , the actual words of the speaker are quoted explicitly. It is often used to relay something being said in the present tense. It can also be used to recall the exact words of the speaker when retelling a previous conversation. You can recognize a direct speech instantly because it has a text enclosed in a set of quotation marks. That text or idea is known as the reported speech .
As you can see, direct speech can be presented in different tenses: past, present, or future. It depends on when the actual words were spoken and when the reporter is retelling them. Also, reporting verbs (say, ask, answer, etc.) are not necessarily placed before the quoted text. You can also place them after it.
This type of speech is often used in writing novels or telling a story. This is because it gives the text a more actual and realistic effect.
Indirect speech is usually used to relay what was being said by the speaker without directly quoting the original words. In this case, the tense of the sentence is typically changed. Reporting verbs, such as say, tell, ask, and others, are used as an introduction. The words of the original speaker will not be enclosed inside the quotation marks. Instead, the word “that” is used to connect the reporting verb to the reported text.
The above sentences are actually converted from the previous examples of direct speech. Aside from eliminating the quotation marks, correct pronouns are also used. Additionally, the reporting verbs are now all found before the reported speech. The reporting verb is then followed with “that.”
Now, let us specify the rules in converting direct speech to indirect speech. Here are the steps on how to do so:
The quotation marks are the primary indication of a direct speech. Therefore, it is crucial to take them out if you are forming an indirect one.
You have to retain the tense of the reporting verb to allow consistency of reports. Instead of placing a comma to separate the reporting clause from the reported one, the word “that” is added. However, if the reported speech is a yes-no question, you use “if” instead of “that.” If the question starts with who, what, when, where, etc., no additional words are needed. Instead, you have to rearrange the sentence into a declarative form.
If the reporting verb is in the past tense, you should change the tense of the verb inside the reported speech into its past tense. This is not necessary if the reporting verb is in the present or future tense.
Of course, you have to consider the correlation between the report and the idea on the quoted text. Sometimes, a change in tense is not needed even if the reporting verb is in the past tense.
For the first example, the quoted text is still about to happen. So, you don’t need to change the tense of the sentence inside the quotation. For the second example, watching TV series is implied as a habitual action. Therefore, you still have to retain the present tense of the verb.
You should also change the pronoun based on who the speaker, doer, and receiver of the action is.
Appropriate changing of pronouns is done to avoid misunderstanding the whole text. If pronouns are not changed, it might confuse the reader or the listener as to who is saying or doing the action.
The change in pronouns gives rise to changes in the plurality of the verb used. That being said, you have to consider and follow correct subject-verb agreement at all times.
Present Simple Tense into Past Simple Tense
For example:
Present Continuous Tense into Past Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Tense into Past Perfect Tense
Past Simple Tense into Past Perfect Tense
Past Continuous Tense into Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Tense ( The tense remains unchanged )
Future Simple Tense (e.g. will ) into “ would “
Future Progressive Tense (e.g. will be ) into “ would be “
Future Perfect Tense (e.g. will have ) into “ would have “
Future Perfect Tense (e.g. will have been ) into “ would have been “
Can into Could
Could ( The verb remains unchanged)
Have to into Had to
Must into Must/Had to
May into Might
Might (The verb remains unchanged)
Should (The verb remains unchanged)
Direct Speech:- Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer. Direct speech is usually placed inside quotation marks and accompanied by a reporting verb, signal phrase, or quotative frame.
Indirect Speech:- Transferring the sentence that someone else says is called indirect speech. It is also called reported speech.
Learn more about Words Coach: Vocabulary Application.
Active Voice and Passive Voice
Direct: What are you doing? Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.
Direct: Today is nice, said George. Indirect: George said that day was nice.
Direct: Listen to me! Indirect: Mother told me to listen to him.
Direct: She said, “I went to the shopping center.” Indirect: She said that she had gone to the shopping center.
Direct: Why are you going to school? Indirect: Mary asked Alex why he was going to school.
Direct: I often have a big meat. Indirect: My son says that he often has a big hamburger.
Direct: He said, “I will wash my teeth”. Indirect: He said he would wash his teeth.
Direct: He said, “I live in the city center.” Indirect: He said he lived in the city center.
Direct: The butcher told us, “We are closing at 7 o’clock.” Indirect: The butcher told us that we were closing at 7 o’clock.
Direct: He asked her, “How often do you work?” Indirect: He asked her how often she worked.
Direct: I don’t understand you. Indirect: Teacher said that he didn’t understand me.
Direct: He works in a bank. Indirect: She said that he worked in a bank.
Direct: He said “I had lived in Paris.” Indirect: He said that she had lived in Paris.
Direct: Must I do the city? Indirect: My sister asked if she had to do the city.
Direct: He said, “I can swim.” Indirect: He said he could swim.
Direct: I’m angry with you. Indirect: My mother said she was angry with me.
Direct: My father is helping me study. Indirect: He said his father was helping his study.
Direct: I didn’t go to the party. Indirect: Alex said that he hadn’t gone to the party.
Direct: Dance with me! Indirect: Maria told me to dance with her.
Direct: I can help you tomorrow. Indirect: She said that she could help me tomorrow.
Direct: Michael asked Tom, “Are you married?” Indirect: Michael asked Tom whether she was married.
Direct: Please wash your hands! Indirect: My father told me to wash my hands.
Direct: Don’t smoke! Indirect: The teacher told us not to smoke.
Direct: I write poems. Indirect: He says that he writes poems.
Direct: She said: “I would buy new house if I were rich”. Indirect: She said that she would buy new house if she had been rich”.
Direct: May I go out? Indirect: She wanted to know if she might go out.
Direct: She is American, she said. Indirect: She said she was American.
Direct: My son, do the exercise.“ Indirect: She told her son to do the exercise.
Direct: I don’t know what to do. Indirect: Samuel added that he didn’t know what to do.
Direct: I am reading a book, he explained. Indirect: He explained that he was reading a book.
Direct: My father said, “I am cooking dinner.” Indirect: My father said he was cooking dinner.
Direct: I said, “He is driving a car” Indirect: I said that he was driving a car.
Direct: I am a doctor he said. Indirect: He said he was a doctor.
Direct: My sister said, “I had already eaten.” Indirect: My sister said she had already eaten.
Direct: I could swim when I was four. Indirect: He said he could swim when he was four.
Direct: George is said, “I write a letter”. Indirect: George is said that she wrote a letter.
Direct: I should call my mother. Indirect: He said he should call her mother.
Direct: I like ice cream. Indirect: He said that he liked ice cream.
Direct: Michael said, “I may go there.’ Indirect: Michael says that she may go there.
Direct: I’II see you later. Indirect: He said he would see me later.
Direct: My boyfriend asked, “Do you like horror films?” Indirect: Do you like horror films? my boyfriend asked.
Direct: I might be late. Indirect: He said he might be late.
Direct: We can´t go the zoo next week. Indirect: They said they couldn’t go to the zoo next week.
Direct: I never get up late, my mother said. Indirect: My mother said that she never got up late.
Direct: He said, “I was teaching earlier.” Indirect: He said he had been teaching earlier.
Direct: Mary said, “I have been writing this essay.” Indirect: Mary said that he had been writing that essay.
Direct: I could swim when I was five. Indirect: My girl friend said (that) she could swim when she was five.
Direct: She said, “I might come early.” Indirect: She said she might come early.
Direct: Michael was ill. Indirect: Michael’s father said (that) Michael had been ill.
Direct: I am leaving home now.” Indirect: He said that he left home then.
Direct: Are you living here? Indirect: He asked me if I was living here.
Direct: I’m going to come. Indirect: She said that she was going to come.
Direct: We can communicate smoothly. Indirect: They said that they could communicate smothly.
Direct: My mother isn’t very well. Indirect: She said that her mother wasn’t very well.
Direct: I need help with my work. Indirect: George said “I need help with my homework.”
Direct: I was walking along the Street. Indirect: He said he had been walking along the Street.
Direct: I haven’t seen George recently. Indirect: She said that she hadn’t seen George recently.
Direct: I would help, but… Indirect: He said he would help but…
Direct: I’m waiting for Michael, she said. Indirect: She said (that) she was waiting for Michael”.
Direct: My parents are very well. Indirect: Alex said that his parents were very well.
Direct: I bought a car. Indirect: He said he bought a car.
Direct: They said, “They have taken exercise.” Indirect: They said that they had taken exercise.
Direct: I am living in Paris. Indirect: He said that he was living in Paris.
Direct: Please don’t be late. Indirect: He asked their not to be late.
Direct: She said; “The exam is difficult. Indirect: She said the test was difficult.
Direct: I can speak perfect Spanish. Indirect: He said he could speak perfect Spanish.
Direct: I haven’t seen Mary. Indirect: He said he hadn’t seen Mary.
Direct: What is your name? she asked me. Indirect: She asked me what my name was.
Direct: I was sleeping when Mary called. Indirect: He said that he had been sleeping when Mary called.
Direct: Please help me! Indirect: He asked me to help his.
Direct: I’m living in Texas now. Indirect: Her father said that he was living in London now.
Direct: “I’ve found a new job,” my mother said. Indirect: My mother said that she had found a new job.
Direct: Go to bed! mother said to the children. Indirect: Mother told the children to go to bed.
Direct: Mark arrived on Sunday, he said. Indirect: He said that Mark had arrived on Sunday.
Direct: I will study”, Mary said. Indirect: I will study”, said Mary.
Direct: The Minister said, “There will be no growth this year.” Indirect: The Minister said that there will be no growth this year.
Direct: I have been to France, she told me. Indirect: She told me that she had been to France.
Direct: She says, “I am ill.” Indirect: She says that she is ill.
Direct: Michael said, “I have finished my lunch.” Indirect: She said that she had finished his lunch.
Direct: I’m sitting on the chair. Indirect: Arya said that she was sitting on the chair.
Direct: My brother said, “I met Alex yesterday.’ Indirect: My brother said that he had met Alex yesterday.
Direct: The dentist said, “Your father doesn’t need an operation.” Indirect: Dentist said that my father doesn’t need an operation.
Direct: He said, “Man is mortal.” Indirect: He said that man is mortal.
Direct: He said, “I like coffee.” Indirect: He said (that) he likes coffee.
Direct: Sansa said “I am very busy now”. Indirect: Sansa said that she was very busy then.
Direct: Everything is going fine. Indirect: The news says that everything is going fine.
Direct: I had taken Spanish lessons before. Indirect: He said he had taken Spanish lessons before.
Direct: Come at 11! Indirect: Alex told me to come at 11.
Direct: He said, “I am a football player.” Indirect: He said that he was a football player.
Direct: My father was born in 1962. Indirect: My father told us that he was born in 1962.
Direct: It is too late. Indirect: I said it was too late.
Direct: Did you do your homework? Indirect: He asked me if I did (had done) my homework.
Direct: I often enjoy myself. Indirect: Mary will say that that she often enjoys herself.
Direct: He said, “he is listening to the music” Indirect: He said that he was listening to the music.
Direct: She said, “I’ve missed my train.” Indirect: She said that she’d missed her train.
Direct: Please help me carry this! Indirect: My mother asked me to help her carry that.
Direct: Michael said, “I will buy a new car.” Indirect: Michael said that she will buy a new car.
Direct: Mercedes is a good car. Indirect: Tom said Mercedes was a good car.
Direct: I’m sorry for the accident. Indirect: Georger told Samuel (that) he was sorry for the accident.
Direct: Mark said, “Bill needs a pencil.” Indirect: Mark said that Bill needed a pencil.
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English Basics
In English grammar, sentences are the key part that helps us convey our thoughts and ideas. Without sentences, it would be impossible for us to interact, state, or speak out our thoughts. But sentences can be of different types. Different sentences convey different information in their own unique ways.
Today, we will learn about one such unique sentence structure that works on its own functionality, the direct speech . In general, direct speech can be defined as a sentence where the exact words used by some speaker or writer are used to convey the message. Here, we make a sentence that uses the same words from the original speech that some person, at some point, spoke.
However, there are certain rules that we need to follow while using a direct speech sentence. If you are not aware of them, refer to the explanations below and enlighten yourself with every rule to avoid confusion.
By definition, direct speech is a sentence in which the exact words used or spoken by a speaker is presented. This is a sentence structure in which the words of a person are reproduced in speech marks. This is especially used to make the readers feel engaged or quote something very important.
In simple words, direct speech is the sentence where we see quotation marks or inverted commas containing a certain set of words in the grammatical tense of when it was originally spoken. That means the message that someone at some point has written or spoken is conveyed exactly in the same manner in the present.
This form of sentence structure is used for various different purposes. However, the most common use of direct speech is storytelling or quoting a thought. It makes dialogue presentation easy and helps understand characters more interestingly and engagingly.
If you are still confused, look at the examples below to understand easily:
In the above examples, we can notice that different sets of words are stated inside quotation marks. And those words are evidently not being spoken in a current state. So, direct speech is a sentence where the exact words spoken at some point are written in a new sentence. This is to convey the exact message that the original speaker had conveyed.
Now that we know what direct speech is, it is important to learn how to form and use one correctly. Direct speech is the presentation of the exact words of some person. It may seem easy in that sense. But there are some rules, especially punctuating rules, that we need to be aware of.
Some of the main rules regarding direct speech are;
• In a direct speech sentence, the speech of a particular person should always be between speech marks. That means the speech is opened and closed by speech marks, quotation marks, or inverted commas. For example: “I hate math classes,” said Vicky.
• The next important rule is that each character’s new speech will start on a new line. Also, each line of speech will begin with a capital letter.
• A line of speech usually ends with a comma, question mark, or exclamation mark. Further, if a sentence needs to be broken up for added information, we can use commas or question marks to finish the first part of the speech.
• A reporting clause mostly comes at the end of the sentence. Reporting clause means the phrase that indicates we are referring to the words that someone said or thought. They are the part that goes like: He said, Sarah asked, they screamed , etc. It is usually placed at the end of a sentence. But in some cases, it can also come in the beginning.
• Each reporting clause is ended with a full stop. But that is the case usually when it is mentioned at the end of a sentence. If a reporting clause is used at the beginning of a sentence, we will generally end it with a comma.
These are the general rules that we need to learn in order to form direct speech sentences. Missing any of these points can cause grammatical errors.
There is another form of speech in grammar, the indirect speech. Indirect speech and direct speech are both different types of sentences that convey a message in different ways.
As we learned, direct speech is a sentence where the exact same words spoken by someone are presented. On the other hand, indirect speech is where we rephrase the words of the speaker in a sentence. In indirect speech, only the necessary or important points of someone’s message or speech are reported.
Here, unlike direct speech, we do not write the full speech of the speaker. Instead, we report the necessary content by rephrasing them in our own words.
For example;
Direct speech: “I am bored of school activities,” John screamed. Here, the exact words used by John are conveyed. There is no change or replacement of words.
Indirect speech: Sam said that he wanted to go to the movies.
Here, the words used might not match exactly with the words used by Sam in the original context. However, the main objective is to convey the same message. And in indirect speech, we do that without quoting the person’s speech.
So, this is the basic difference between direct speech and indirect speech. Both the speech types work equally well in different situations. However, when it concerns characters and dialogues, one cannot avoid direct speech to make the sentences more interactive and engaging.
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Direct speech is a crucial aspect of the English language that every speaker of the language must understand. In this reference, we will explore everything you need to know about direct speech, including its definition, examples, punctuation rules, and common mistakes.
Direct speech is a type of speech that involves the exact words spoken by a person or character. It is also known as quoted speech or speech marks. Direct speech is used to convey a message or conversation directly from the speaker to the listener.
For example, " I am going to the market, " said John. In this sentence, the exact words spoken by John are quoted, and the sentence is enclosed by speech marks.
Direct speech is different from indirect speech in that it directly quotes the exact words of the speaker.
Indirect speech involves paraphrasing or reporting the speaker's words. For example, " John said that he was going to the market. " In this sentence, the speaker's words are not quoted directly, but rather reported indirectly.
Direct speech can be identified in a sentence by the use of speech marks or quotation marks.
For example, " I am going to the market, " said John. In this sentence, the words spoken by John are enclosed by speech marks.
Other examples of direct speech include " I love you, " said Mary, and " Can you help me? " asked Mark.
Direct speech follows specific punctuation rules that must be observed to convey the correct meaning of the sentence.
The first word of the direct speech sentence is capitalized, and the sentence is enclosed by speech marks. If the direct speech sentence ends with a full stop, exclamation mark, or question mark, the punctuation mark is placed inside the speech marks.
For example, " What is your name? " asked Tom. If the direct speech is followed by a reporting clause, the reporting clause is separated from the direct speech by a comma. For example, " I am going to the market, " said John.
Direct speech can be used in different tenses to convey different meanings.
The tense used in direct speech depends on the tense of the original words spoken.
Direct speech and reported speech are similar in that they both convey a message or conversation. However, the main difference between them is that direct speech directly quotes the speaker's exact words, while reported speech paraphrases or reports the speaker's words.
Let's take a look at what to avoid:
Direct speech helps us to directly quote the words spoken by a speaker. Use the correct punctuation rules for direct speech, and make sure that the first word of the direct speech sentence is capitalized. Soon, you'll effortlessly use it in your own English speech without even thinking.
Check out more references below if you want to learn more!
More helpful articles:
Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is a way of communicating what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. For example, if your friend said, “ I am going to the store ,” in reported speech, you might convey this as, “ My friend said he was going to the store. ” Reported speech is common in both spoken and written language, especially in storytelling, news reporting, and everyday conversations.
Reported speech can be quite challenging for English language learners because in order to change direct speech into reported speech, one must change the perspective and tense of what was said by the original speaker or writer. In this guide, we will explain in detail how to change direct speech into indirect speech and provide lots of examples of reported speech to help you understand. Here are the key aspects of converting direct speech into reported speech.
Pronouns are usually changed to match the perspective of the person reporting the speech. For example, “I” in direct speech may become “he” or “she” in reported speech, depending on the context. Here are some example sentences:
Reported speech: tense shifts.
When converting direct speech into reported speech, the verb tense is often shifted back one step in time. This is known as the “backshift” of tenses. It’s essential to adjust the tense to reflect the time elapsed between the original speech and the reporting. Here are some examples to illustrate how different tenses in direct speech are transformed in reported speech:
Reported speech: question format.
When converting questions from direct speech into reported speech, the format changes significantly. Unlike statements, questions require rephrasing into a statement format and often involve the use of introductory verbs like ‘asked’ or ‘inquired’. Here are some examples to demonstrate how questions in direct speech are converted into statements in reported speech:
Reported speech quiz.
There are two ways to report what someone says or thinks:
Direct speech shows a person's exact words. Quotation marks ("....") are a sign that the words are the exact words that a person used.
Hai asked, "Where are you going?"
Manny replied, "I'm going home."
Reported speech puts the speaker's words or ideas into a sentence without quotation marks. Noun clauses are usually used. In reported speech, the reader does not assume that the words are the speaker's exact words; often, they are a paraphrase of the speaker's words.
Hai asked Manny where he was going.
Manny said he was going home.
Note: Use of the word "that" is optional in reported speech. Both of the following sentences are correct:
When you report what someone said in the past, you usually shift back a verb tense from the tense the speaker used. These are some examples of verb shifts:
"I am hungry." | She stated that she was hungry. |
"I saw them leave." | Aidan said that he had seen them leave. |
"Where have they gone?" | Felicite wondered where they had gone. |
"Will you help me?" | I asked Silvio if they would help me. |
"I can't remember your name." | Soungyoung said she couldn't remember my name. |
"The exam will be next week." | Dr. Park said the exam will be next week.* |
*If the reported information is still true, you may use the same tense.
Word order: The word order in a reported question is the same as in a statement. The subject comes before the verb.
Punctuation: If the sentence is a statement, end it with a period even if it contains a reported question.
To change a yes/no question to a noun clause in reported speech, introduce the noun clause "if" or "whether." "Whether or not" may also be used.
"Did you turn off the coffee pot?" | I asked Evelyn if she had turned off the coffee pot. |
"Is supper ready?" | Dakhon wanted to know whether supper was ready. |
"Will you be at the party?" | Hildene asked me whether or not I would be at the party. |
"Should I tell her the news?" | Emra wondered whether she should tell Hai the news. Emra wanted to know if she should tell Hai the news. Emra asked whether or not she should tell Hai the news. |
To change an information question to a noun clause in reported speech, begin the noun clause with the question word and remember to use sentence word order.
"Where do they live?" | Abdul wanted to know where they live. |
"What time is it?" | Do you know what time it is? |
"Why did you say that?" | Pedro asked me why I had said that. |
"Where will you stay?" | Have you decided where you will stay? |
The person who is reporting what someone said is usually different from the person who made the original statement. As a result, pronouns in reported speech often change.
"I am hungry." | Hongzia said she was hungry. |
"Where will you be?" | Anastasia wanted to know where I would be. |
"Have you seen my glasses?" | Aiden asked me if I had seen their glasses. |
Changes in the situation between direct and reported speech can result in changes to words indicating place and time.
"I don't like this book." | Seon said he didn't like that book. |
"I'll see you tomorrow" (spoken on Thursday) | Michiko said she would see me yesterday. (reported on Saturday) |
The subjunctive, or base, form of the verb (no tense, without "to") is used in reported speech when the main verb is "recommend" or "suggest."
"You should arrive early." | Alex recommended that we arrive early. |
"Don't wait to apply." | Hai recommended that I not wait to apply. |
"Shema should call me." | I will suggest that Shema call you. |
Infinitives (to + the simple form of the verb) may sometimes be used instead of noun clauses, especially in commands and in requests for action or permission.
Commands can be reported two ways:
"Call me when you get home." | Mom said we should call her when we get home. Mom said to call her when we get home. |
"Plan ahead." | My father told me that I should plan ahead. My father told me to plan ahead. |
Requests for action or permission can be reported two ways:
Action: "Will you carry the box for me?" | She asked if I would carry the box for her. She asked me to carry the box for her. |
Permission: "Can I make an appointment?" | Durand asked if he could make an appointment. Durand asked to make an appointment. |
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Direct and indirect speech are ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, while indirect speech paraphrases or summarises them. Knowing how to use both helps you accurately convey conversations and dialogue in writing. This guide covers the basics of direct and indirect speech, provides examples, and explains the rules for converting between them.
Aspect | Interesting Facts |
Direct Speech | 1. Historical Use: Direct speech has been used in literature for centuries to bring characters to and make dialogues vivid. 2. Literary Techniques: Authors often use direct speech to reveal character traits and emotions through their exact words. 3. Quotes: Famous quotes are often preserved in direct speech to maintain their original impact and meaning. |
Indirect Speech | 1. Flexibility: Indirect speech allows for more flexibility in integrating quotes into narratives or discussions without disrupting the flow. 2. Reporting : Indirect speech can vary in how it reports statements, allowing for summarisation and interpretation. 3. Cultural Differences: Different languages and cultures have varying rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech, reflecting diverse approaches to . |
The distinction between Direct and Indirect Speech may be confusing for some students. Often when we need to explain an incident or action, it involves quoting what someone said. A social situation, as well as a work email or presentation, are examples of such instances. There are two forms of Speech used to explain what other people say: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech (or reported Speech).
The same words spoken are quoted in Indirect Speech. If we use Direct Speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We may be reporting something that is being said (for example, a phone conversation) or asking someone about a previous conversation later.
Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."
Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"
Supriya said, "I don't know!"
When we use reported or Indirect Speech to speak about the past, we generally change the tense of the words we say. We use reporting verbs like 'say,' 'tell,' and 'ask,' and we can introduce the reported words with the word 'that.' There are no inverted commas in this sentence.
Mahima said that she had seen him.
Nirmal said he was looking forward to playing in the match on Saturday.
Children often mix up Direct and Indirect Speech. We need a way to say the difference between what someone claimed to have said and what they said when we're writing. What did she say if you asked her? You may respond in one of two ways:
“I don’t like pizza,” Siddi said. (Direct Speech)
Siddi says she doesn’t like pizza. (Indirect Speech)
Note how Speech marks (“...”) are used in Direct Speech to indicate precisely what was said. Speech labels are located at the beginning and end of the actual words spoken. The words 'Siddi said' are not in Speech marks because they were not spoken aloud; rather, they are a way for the writer to express who was speaking to the reader.
The past tense is often used in reported Speech . This is because the words have already been spoken, and the writer is simply reporting on what has already been saying. It's critical to think about what was said and convert it to the past tense.
Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let’s discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail.
Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense.
Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location and time.
Step 3: For both the object and the subject, use the correct pronoun.
Step 4: Make sure the sentence has the correct structure and word order.
Now we'll go through each of these measures in greater depth.
Case 1: Nirmal said, ‘I go to the gym every day.
Case 2: Nirmal says, ‘I go to the gym every day.’
The verb ‘say' is used in both of the instances above to express the action of speaking. In addition, the reporting verb say is used in the past tense in the first case – said. In case 2, however, the reporting verb is in the present tense.
As a consequence, all verbs must be in the relevant past tense here. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, this is often followed. Thus, Nirmal said, ‘I go to the class every day will change to Nirmal said that he went to the gym every day.
The second rule is that the tense is not changed whether the reporting verb is in the future or present tense. So, Nirmal says, ‘I go to the class every day will be changed to Nirmal says that he goes to the class every day.
The time or place specified in the sentence should be changed to match the current time or position.
On 21st, May 2015 : ‘I will come tomorrow,’ Sriram said.
On 21st, May 2015 , Sriram said that he would come the next day.
Case 1: Saurav will say to his friends, “I have started learning psychology” will change to Saurav will tell his friends that he has started learning psychology .
In this case, the speaker and the reporter are the same people. As a consequence, the pronoun should be the first person pronoun.
Case 2: Ma’am said to me, “I hope you will bring the geometry to my next class” will change to Ma’am hoped that I would bring the geometry to her next class.
The speaker is ma'am, and the reporter is the student. As a consequence, the ma'am pronoun should be in the third person. The reporter's pronoun should also be in the first person.
Remember that we do not change the tense of the reporting verb within the quotation marks when it is in the present or future tense.
Here are some exercises on Direct and Indirect Speech along with their answers:
Direct: She said, "I am going to the market."
Direct: He asked, "Do you want some coffee?"
Direct: "I have finished my assignment," John said.
Direct: The teacher said, "Please submit your homework by tomorrow."
Direct: "Where did you go last weekend?" she asked.
Indirect: She said that she was going to the market.
Indirect: He asked if I wanted some coffee.
Indirect: John said that he had finished his assignment.
Indirect: The teacher requested that we submit our homework by the next day.
Indirect: She asked where I had gone the previous weekend.
Indirect: He said that he would join us for dinner.
Indirect: She asked if I could help her with the project.
Indirect: They mentioned that they had seen the movie already.
Indirect: The doctor advised that I should take some rest.
Indirect: She inquired where the nearest station was.
Direct : He said, "I will join you for dinner."
Direct : She asked, "Can you help me with the project?"
Direct : They mentioned, "We have seen the movie already."
Direct : The doctor advised, "You should take some rest."
Direct : She inquired, "Where is the nearest station?"
These exercises and answers should help you practice converting between Direct and Indirect Speech effectively.
Here are some narration change exercises from Direct to Indirect Speech and vice versa. Each exercise includes sentences to be converted between the two forms.
Direct: She said, "I am studying for my exams."
Direct: He said, "I will call you tomorrow."
Direct: "Where have you been?" she asked him.
Direct: They said, "We have finished our homework."
Direct: The teacher asked, "Have you completed your project?"
Indirect : She said that she was studying for her exams.
Indirect : He said that he would call me the next day.
Indirect : She asked him where he had been.
Indirect : They said that they had finished their homework.
Indirect : The teacher asked if I had completed my project.
Indirect: She said that she was going to the library .
Indirect: He mentioned that he would be late for the meeting.
Indirect: She asked him where he had been.
Indirect: They said that they had already completed their homework.
Indirect: The teacher inquired if the students had finished their project.
Direct : She said, "I am going to the library."
Direct: He said, "I will be late for the meeting."
Direct : She asked, "Where have you been?"
Direct : They said, "We have already completed our homework."
Direct : The teacher asked, "Have you finished your project?"
Direct: She said, "I cannot attend the meeting today."
Direct: "Will you be available for a call later?" he asked.
Direct: "I need to finish my report by this evening," Alice said.
Direct: The coach said, "Run five laps around the field."
Direct: "Did you see the new movie?" he asked her.
Direct: Jessica said, "I am excited about the concert next month ."
Direct: "Please remember to lock the door when you leave," he said.
Direct: The manager said, "Submit your expense reports by Friday."
Direct: "What time does the train arrive?" she asked.
Direct: "I will help you with your project," he promised.
Indirect : She said that she could not attend the meeting that day.
Indirect : He asked if I would be available for a call later.
Indirect : Alice said that she needed to finish her report by that evening.
Indirect : The coach instructed us to run five laps around the field.
Indirect : He asked her if she had seen the new movie.
Indirect : Jessica said that she was excited about the concert the following month.
Indirect : He requested that I remember to lock the door when I left.
Indirect : The manager said to submit our expense reports by Friday.
Indirect : She asked what time the train arrived.
Indirect : He promised that he would help me with my project.
Indirect: She mentioned that she was planning a surprise party.
Indirect: He asked whether I had completed the assignment.
Indirect: They said they would visit us during the summer.
Indirect: The professor explained that the test would cover three chapters.
Indirect: She said that she had been studying all night.
Indirect: The waiter asked if we were ready to order.
Indirect: He said that he was feeling much better.
Indirect: They inquired if I wanted to join them for lunch.
Indirect: The child said that he had lost his toy.
Indirect: She suggested that we should meet for coffee next week.
Direct : She said, "I am planning a surprise party."
Direct : He asked, "Have you completed the assignment?"
Direct : They said, "We will visit you during the summer."
Direct : The professor explained, "The test will cover three chapters."
Direct : She said, "I have been studying all night."
Direct : The waiter asked, "Are you ready to order?"
Direct : He said, "I am feeling much better."
Direct : They asked, "Do you want to join us for lunch?"
Direct : The child said, "I have lost my toy."
Direct : She suggested, "We should meet for coffee next week."
These exercises offer further practice in converting between Direct and Indirect Speech.
Direct: "I will finish the project by Friday," he said.
Direct: She asked, "Have you completed your preparations?"
Direct: "You should see a doctor," he advised.
Direct: "Why are you late?" she inquired.
Direct: "We are going to the beach tomorrow," they said.
Direct: "Can you help me with this task?" he asked.
Direct: "I haven't seen that film yet," she said.
Direct: "Please close the window," he requested.
Direct: "Where will you be next week?" she asked.
Direct: "I am taking a break," he said.
Indirect : He said that he would finish the project by Friday.
Indirect : She asked if I had completed my preparations.
Indirect : He advised that I should see a doctor.
Indirect : She inquired why I was late.
Indirect : They said that they were going to the beach the next day.
Indirect : He asked if I could help him with that task.
Indirect : She said that she had not seen that film yet.
Indirect : He requested that I close the window.
Indirect : She asked where I would be the following week.
Indirect : He said that he was taking a break.
Direct Speech quotes exactly what someone said, using quotation marks around their words. Tenses and punctuation stay the same as in the original speech.
Indirect Speech reports what someone said without quoting their exact words. It doesn’t use quotation marks and often changes pronouns and tenses to fit the context.
Changing Direct to Indirect : Replace the quotation marks with reporting verbs like "said" or "asked," adjust tenses, and modify pronouns.
Changing Indirect to Direct : Use quotation marks and restore the exact wording and punctuation. Adjust pronouns and tenses to reflect the original speech.
When to Use : Use Direct Speech to quote exactly or show dialogue. Use Indirect Speech to summarize or integrate what was said into your text.
Practice : Regularly converting between Direct and Indirect Speech helps you get better at reporting speech accurately.
1. What are Direct and Indirect Speech exercises?
Direct and Indirect Speech exercises involve converting sentences from one form to another. These exercises help practice how to report speech accurately by changing the format while preserving the meaning.
2. Why are Direct and Indirect Speech exercises important?
These exercises are important for mastering how to quote someone's words exactly or report what was said without quoting directly. They help in improving clarity and accuracy in communication.
3. How do you convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech?
To convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech, replace quotation marks with reporting verbs, adjust tenses and pronouns, and remove the quotation marks.
4. How do you convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech?
To convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech, restore the exact wording within quotation marks, adjust pronouns and tenses to match the original context, and include appropriate punctuation.
5. Can you provide an example of a Direct to Indirect Speech exercise?
Direct to Indirect Speech example.
Convert: "I am going to the market," she said.
Answer: She said that she was going to the market.
6. Can you provide an example of an Indirect to Direct Speech exercise?
Indirect to Direct Speech example.
Convert: She said that she was going to the market.
Answer: "I am going to the market," she said.
7. What is a narration change exercise?
A narration change exercise involves converting sentences between Direct and Indirect Speech to practice reporting and quoting speech accurately.
8. How can I practice narration exercises effectively?
To practice effectively, regularly complete exercises, check your answers against correct conversions, and understand the rules for changing between Direct and Indirect Speech.
9. What are some common mistakes in narration exercises?
Common mistakes include incorrect tense shifts, wrong pronoun changes, and improper use of punctuation. Make sure to follow the rules for each form to avoid these errors.
10. How do narration exercises improve language skills?
Narration exercises enhance language skills by helping you understand how to report and quote speech accurately, improving both writing and comprehension abilities.
Indirect speech or reported speech reports something that was said, but does not use the actual words that the speaker uttered.
Lynn asked whether Pippa had been to the new shopping mall.
Pippa replied that she hadn’t, but she had heard that there were some really cool shops there.
Reported speech always has two clauses. The words that are spoken are put in a reported clause. There is also a main clause that contains a reporting verb. The main clause with the reporting verb usually comes before the reported clause.
Katie told me that Alison is going to resign.
Peter asked whether Mandy was feeling better.
The reporting verb in the main clause tells us how the sentence was spoken, e.g. comment, remark, say, tell . If the reported clause is a statement, the main clause is linked to the reported clause by that .
Mary said that her favourite actor was Ben Whishaw.
John replied that he preferred Scarlett Johansson.
If the reported clause asks a question, the main verb will be a question verb e.g. ask, inquire, wonder, query . The link between the main clause and the reported clause will be if or whether .
Amy asked Jo if she had seen the movie.
Will enquired whether the documents were ready.
The linking word that can be left out after most reporting verbs, but the links if or whether CANNOT be left out.
Jamie told Dad (that) he had passed his driving test.
Lucy said Alan had been accepted at drama school.
Miriam asked if she could borrow Leonie’s bike.
Evelyn wondered whether the concert would be sold out.
Speech in a reported clause is not separated from the reporting verb by a comma, is not enclosed in inverted commas, and does not begin with a capital letter unless it is a proper noun. Reported questions are not followed by question marks.
Reported clauses can also be used to express what is in someone’s mind as well as what is actually spoken.
Evelyn wondered whether the concert would be sold out.
Charlotte thought that she had better go and see her family.
For further information on English Grammar, visit: https://grammar.collinsdictionary.com/easy-learning
Come back for other blogs on using English in everyday situations: https://blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-learners/learning-english/
All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company, HarperCollins.
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From left, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press
By Jonathan Corum
Speakers at the Democratic National Convention used more than 109,000 words over four days in Chicago this week. Their choice of words and phrases contrasts the themes and ideas of last month’s Republican National Convention .
Excluding common and routine words, the most frequently spoken words at the Democratic convention were:
A similar number of words were spoken at the Republican convention in Milwaukee last month, with speakers using more than 110,000 words over four days. The most common were:
Former President Donald J. Trump’s acceptance speech was longer and used more than three times as many words as Vice President Kamala Harris’s acceptance speech .
Circles show the number of times these keynote speakers used the following words.
Joseph R. Biden Jr. | Tim Walz | Kamala Harris | Donald J. Trump | JD Vance | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | – | 2 | Democracy | 2 | – |
6 | 8 | 11 | Freedom | 3 | – |
7 | 1 | 3 | Economy, economic | 13 | 4 |
2 | 1 | 5 | Business | 2 | 6 |
15 | 4 | 2 | Job(s) | 22 | 8 |
8 | 2 | 5 | Tax(es) | 21 | 1 |
4 | – | 7 | Law | 1 | 4 |
7 | 3 | 2 | God | 9 | 5 |
13 | 5 | 9 | Love | 22 | 14 |
1 | – | – | Inflation | 14 | 1 |
2 | 8 | 1 | Neighbor, neighborhood | – | – |
7 | 7 | 8 | Family | 8 | 10 |
2 | – | 5 | Father | 4 | 1 |
2 | – | 13 | Mother | 4 | 1 |
1 | 1 | 4 | Abortion | – | – |
4 | 1 | 2 | Medicare | 4 | – |
2 | 2 | 2 | Social Security | 4 | 1 |
23 | 4 | 15 | Trump | 8 | 16 |
2 | 1 | 3 | Biden | 2 | 12 |
10 | 9 | 2 | Kamala | – | 2 |
3 | 10 | 3 | Harris | – | 2 |
5 | – | 7 | Border | 21 | 2 |
2 | – | 2 | Immigrant, immigration | 5 | 1 |
– | – | – | Invasion | 13 | 1 |
– | – | – | Illegal aliens | 4 | 1 |
6 | 1 | 2 | War | 17 | 3 |
1 | – | 2 | Ukraine | 4 | – |
2 | – | 3 | Russia | 9 | – |
2 | – | 2 | Putin | – | – |
1 | – | 1 | China, Chinese | 14 | 5 |
– | – | 4 | Israel | 4 | – |
3 | – | 3 | Gaza | – | – |
– | – | 1 | Hamas | – | – |
– | – | 2 | Terrorist | 1 | – |
– | – | 2 | Iran | 8 | – |
– | – | – | Afghanistan | 4 | 1 |
Photographs by Mandel Ngan/AFP (Biden); Will Oliver/EPA, via Shutterstock (Walz); J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press (Harris) and Kenny Holston/The New York Times
Many words were spoken frequently at both conventions, including “ America ,” “ country ,” “ people ” and “ vote .” But the frequency of other words was less balanced.
Speakers at the Democratic convention leaned into words about liberty and patriotism , mentioning “ freedom ” 227 times compared with 67 times at the Republican convention. Words like “ woman ,” “ joy ” and “ weird ” were also used more often by Democratic speakers.
Woman, women
Assassin(ation)
Republican speakers mentioned “ inflation ” seven times as often as Democrats, and both “ God ” and the price of “ groceries ” three times as often. Republicans used the word “ assassination ” or “ assassin ” 18 times, but the word was heard only once at the Democratic convention, and it was not a reference to the sniper attack on Mr. Trump in July.
Some words and phrases that appear in transcripts of the Democratic convention but not at all in Republican transcripts include “ abortion ,” “ Project 2025 ” and “ convicted felon .”
Project 2025
Not going back
Convicted felon
Build the wall
Radical left
Indoctrination
School choice
Illegal aliens
In contrast, some words from the Republican convention that were not heard this week in Chicago include “ indoctrination ,” “ illegal aliens ” and “ invasion .”
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In this useful lesson, we'll explore direct and indirect speech through 50 simple examples. These…
Synonyms for direct speech include direct discourse, quoted speech, reported speech, verbatim quotation, direct quotation and oratio directa. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.
Find 2 different ways to say DIRECT SPEECH, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.
50 other terms for direct speech - words and phrases with similar meaning.
What Is Direct Speech? Direct speech is a way of reporting a spoken text that quotes the exact words of the speaker. It is also called a quoted speech as it literally contains quotation marks that enclose the actual words said. It is typically accompanied by a reporting clause or signal phrase.
Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer. Learn more with these examples and observations.
Reported speech: direct speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
In direct speech, the exact words spoken by a person are quoted within quotation marks. In indirect speech, the words of the speaker are reported without using their exact words and without using quotation marks. Instead, the reported speech is often introduced by verbs such as "said," "told," "asked," etc. Indirect speech allows us ...
Direct speech refers to the exact wording of someone's comments or speech as it was spoken. In written text, direct speech usually appears in quotation marks or inverted commas to denote that the words were spoken or written by another person. The actual text of direct speech punctuated with a speech tag, which identifies the speaker and might ...
Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is a way in which you can report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone about something that is to happen at a later point of time.
This articles describes all the rules and various examples of direct and indirect speech. This chapter is important as it is a basic concept of grammar.
Learn about direct and indirect speech complete rules. Easy explanations and illustrations to be helpful for people learning English as a second language.
Direct and Indirect speech are ways of narrating the speech of someone to some other person following certain rules. This article covers its types, rules, examples and some exercises on the same.
DIRECT SPEECH meaning: 1. When you use direct speech, you repeat what someone has said using exactly the words they used…. Learn more.
DIRECT SPEECH definition: 1. When you use direct speech, you repeat what someone has said using exactly the words they used…. Learn more.
Direct and Indirect Speech Every day, people relay messages from one person to another. Whether it is to prove a point, describe an event, or disclose an opinion, we use the freedom of speech to share information. There are generally two ways of reporting a spoken idea: direct and indirect speech. This article shall explain and compare these two types of speech. Some examples are also provided ...
Direct Speech:- Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer. Direct speech is usually placed inside quotation marks and accompanied by a reporting verb, signal phrase, or quotative frame.
In simple words, direct speech is the sentence where we see quotation marks or inverted commas containing a certain set of words in the grammatical tense of when it was originally spoken.
Direct speech is when someone's words are written down exactly as they were said. Direct speech is punctuated using inverted commas.
Direct speech is a crucial aspect of the English language that every speaker of the language must understand. In this reference, we will explore everything you need to know about direct speech, including its definition, examples, punctuation rules, and common mistakes.
Reported speech can be quite challenging for English language learners because in order to change direct speech into reported speech, one must change the perspective and tense of what was said by the original speaker or writer. In this guide, we will explain in detail how to change direct speech into indirect speech and provide lots of examples of reported speech to help you understand. Here ...
Direct Speech Direct speech shows a person's exact words. Quotation marks ("....") are a sign that the words are the exact words that a person used. Reported Speech Reported speech puts the speaker's words or ideas into a sentence without quotation marks. Noun clauses are usually used. In reported speech, the reader does not assume that the words are the speaker's exact words; often, they are ...
Aspect. Interesting Facts. Direct Speech. 1. Historical Use: Direct speech has been used in literature for centuries to bring characters to life and make dialogues vivid.. 2. Literary Techniques: Authors often use direct speech to reveal character traits and emotions through their exact words.. 3. Quotes: Famous quotes are often preserved in direct speech to maintain their original impact and ...
Indirect speech or reported speech reports something that was said, but does not use the actual words that the speaker uttered. Lynn asked whether Pippa had been to the new shopping mall. Pippa replied that she hadn't, but she had heard that there were some really cool shops there. Reported speech always has two clauses.
Speakers at the Democratic National Convention used more than 109,000 words over four days ... Former President Donald J. Trump's acceptance speech was longer and used more than three times as ...
The former president's speech in Claremont, N.H., echoed his message of vengeance and grievance, as he called himself a "very proud election denier" and decried his legal entanglements, once ...