Direct/Indirect Speech • Changing narration
Direct and Indirect Speech: Full-Length Notes
Topic: Changing Narration (Reported Speech)
1. What is Direct and Indirect Speech?
Direct Speech:
The exact words spoken by a person are quoted.
Quotation marks (“ ”) are used.
Example:
She said, “I am going to the market.”
Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):
The meaning of what someone said is conveyed without quoting the exact words.
No quotation marks.
Example:
She said that she was going to the market.
2. Why Change Narration?
To report what someone else has said.
To summarize or convey information without quoting verbatim.
Common in writing, journalism, and storytelling.
3. Rules for Changing Direct to Indirect Speech
A. Remove Quotation Marks
No direct quotes in indirect speech.
B. Change the Pronouns
Pronouns are changed according to the context (speaker, listener, subject/object).
C. Change the Tense of the Verb
If the reporting verb (said, told, asked, etc.) is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech usually shifts back one step in time.
Present Simple → Past Simple
(“I go” → she said she went)Present Continuous → Past Continuous
(“I am going” → she said she was going)Present Perfect → Past Perfect
(“I have gone” → she said she had gone)Past Simple → Past Perfect
(“I went” → she said she had gone)Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
(“I was going” → she said she had been going)
Exceptions:
If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the reported speech does not change.
Universal truths, habitual actions, or facts do not change tense.
D. Change Time and Place Words
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| yesterday | the previous day / the day before |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
| ago | before |
| just | then |
E. Change the Reporting Verb (if needed)
“Said” often becomes “told” when there is an object.
She said to me → She told me
4. Changing Questions, Commands, and Requests
A. Questions
Change the reporting verb to “asked,” “inquired,” “wanted to know,” etc.
Change the sentence structure from question to statement (no question mark).
Use “if” or “whether” for yes/no questions.
Example:
Direct: He said, “Are you coming?”
Indirect: He asked if I was coming.
Example:
Direct: She said, “Where do you live?”
Indirect: She asked where I lived.
B. Commands and Requests
Use verbs like “requested,” “ordered,” “advised,” “begged,” “urged,” etc.
Use “to + verb” (infinitive) for commands and requests.
Example:
Direct: The teacher said, “Open your books.”
Indirect: The teacher told the students to open their books.
Example:
Direct: She said, “Please help me.”
Indirect: She requested me to help her.
C. Negative Commands
Use “not to + verb.”
Example:
Direct: He said, “Don’t touch the wire.”
Indirect: He warned me not to touch the wire.
5. Changing Exclamations and Wishes
Use reporting verbs like “exclaimed,” “wished,” “prayed,” etc.
Change the exclamation to a statement.
Example:
Direct: She said, “What a beautiful day!”
Indirect: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
Example:
Direct: He said, “May you succeed!”
Indirect: He wished that I might succeed.
6. Summary Table: Tense Changes
| Direct Speech Tense | Indirect Speech Tense |
|---|---|
| Simple Present | Simple Past |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Simple Past | Past Perfect |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Past Perfect | Past Perfect (no change) |
| Will/shall | Would/should |
| Can | Could |
| May | Might |
7. Examples
Statement:
Direct: He said, “I am reading a book.”
Indirect: He said that he was reading a book.
Yes/No Question:
Direct: She said, “Did you finish your homework?”
Indirect: She asked if I had finished my homework.
WH-Question:
Direct: He said, “Where are you going?”
Indirect: He asked where I was going.
Command:
Direct: The officer said, “Stand up.”
Indirect: The officer ordered him to stand up.
Request:
Direct: She said, “Please give me some water.”
Indirect: She requested me to give her some water.
Exclamation:
Direct: He said, “Alas! I have lost my wallet.”
Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost his wallet.
8. Tips and Common Errors
Do not use quotation marks in indirect speech.
Always check pronoun, tense, and word changes.
In reporting questions, change the question form to a statement.
Do not use “that” after reporting verbs for questions.
For universal truths, do not change the tense.
9. Practice Strategies
Practice with all sentence types: statements, questions, commands, requests, exclamations.
Make a chart of tense changes and time/place word changes.
Write your own examples and convert them.
Summary:
Changing narration from direct to indirect speech involves changes in pronouns, verb tense, time/place words, and sentence structure. Master the rules and practice regularly to gain confidence in reporting speech accurately.
A. Change Direct Speech to Indirect Speech (1–25)
He said, “I am reading a book.”
She said, “I love chocolate cake.”
They said, “We are going to watch a movie.”
He said, “My brother is a pilot.”
She said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
The teacher said, “You need to complete your assignments on time.”
He said, “I saw her at the mall yesterday.”
She said, “I have finished my work.”
The doctor said, “You will feel better soon.”
Rajesh said, “I bought a car yesterday.”
Rahul told me, “When are you leaving?”
The stranger asked Aladdin, “Where do you live?”
The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
“Call the first convict,” said the jury.
“Call the ambulance,” said the man.
Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
The boy said, “Let me come in.”
Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”
B. Change Indirect Speech to Direct Speech (26–35)
She said that she was going to the market.
He asked me if I was coming.
The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
The teacher asked Shelly why she was laughing.
My mother told me that I was wrong.
The doctor said that I would feel better soon.
She said that she had finished her work.
The teacher told the students to open their books.
He exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost his wallet.
She requested me to help her.
C. Mixed Narration Change (36–45)
He said, “I have been working here for five years.”
She said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
He said, “I was at the doctor’s all morning.”
The teacher said, “Who can answer this question?”
She said, “Where are you going?”
He said to me, “Do you know the answer?”
The manager said, “Don’t be late.”
She said, “Let us go for a walk.”
The mother said, “Please help me with the dishes.”
The boy said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
D. Fill in the Blanks (Choose the correct indirect or direct form) (46–50)
Direct: He said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: He said that he ___ tired.Direct: She said, “I have finished my homework.”
Indirect: She said that she ___ finished her homework.Indirect: He asked me where I lived.
Direct: He said, “Where ___ ___?”Indirect: She requested me to open the window.
Direct: She said, “Please ___ the window.”Indirect: The teacher advised us to work hard.
Direct: The teacher said, “___ ___ hard.”
Instructions:
For questions 1–25, convert the direct speech to indirect speech.
For questions 26–35, convert the indirect speech to direct speech.
For questions 36–45, follow the directions for narration change as indicated.
For questions 46–50, fill in the blanks with the correct words.
If you need answers or explanations for any question, just ask!235678
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