DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct Speech uses the exact words of the speaker. These words are written within quotation marks Direct Speech uses the exact words of the speaker. These words are written within quotation marks
(“). (“).
Example: “I am not feeling well today,” said John. Example: “I am not feeling well today,” said John.
Indirect Speech reports what the speaker has said. Indirect Speech reports what the speaker has said.
Example: John said that he was not feeling well that day. Example: John said that he was not feeling well that day.

Rule 1: If reporting verb in the direct speech is in the past tense, all the present tense in the Rule 1: If reporting verb in the direct speech is in the past tense, all the present tense in the
direct speech is changed in to the past tense in the direct. direct speech is changed in to the past tense in the direct.
Examples: He said, “I am doing my lessons now.” (direct) Examples: He said, “I am doing my lessons now.” (direct)
He said that he was doing his lessons then. (indirect) He said that he was doing his lessons then. (indirect)
Simple Present is changed into He said, “I work hard.” (direct) Simple Present is changed into He said, “I work hard.” (direct)
Simple Past He said that he worked hard. (indirect) Simple Past He said that he worked hard. (indirect)
Present Progressive is changed He said “I am working hard.” (direct) Present Progressive is changed He said “I am working hard.” (direct)
into He said that he was working hard. (indirect) into He said that he was working hard. (indirect)
Past Progressive Past Progressive
Present Perfect is changed into He said “I have worked hard.” (direct) Present Perfect is changed into He said “I have worked hard.” (direct)
Past Perfect He said that he had worked hard. (indirect) Past Perfect He said that he had worked hard. (indirect)
Rule 1.1: If reporting verb in direct speech is in past tense and direct speech is also in past tense then Rule 1.1: If reporting verb in direct speech is in past tense and direct speech is also in past tense then
past tense of direct speech is changed as follows: past tense of direct speech is changed as follows:
Simple Past is changed into He said, “I bought English dictionary.” (direct) Simple Past is changed into He said, “I bought English dictionary.” (direct)
Past Perfect He said that he had bought English dictionary. (indirect) Past Perfect He said that he had bought English dictionary. (indirect)
Past Continuous is changed into He said, “I was studying in my room.” (direct) Past Continuous is changed into He said, “I was studying in my room.” (direct)
Past Perfect Continuous He said that he had been studying in his room. (indirect) Past Perfect Continuous He said that he had been studying in his room. (indirect)
Past Perfect remains unchanged He said, “I had achieved my target.” (direct) Past Perfect remains unchanged He said, “I had achieved my target.” (direct)
He said that he had achieved his target. (indirect) He said that he had achieved his target. (indirect)
Rule 1.2: If reporting verb in direct speech is in past tense and direct speech is in future tense then Rule 1.2: If reporting verb in direct speech is in past tense and direct speech is in future tense then
‘will’ is changed into would. ‘will’ is changed into would.
Simple Future He said, “I will be happy.” (direct) Simple Future He said, “I will be happy.” (direct)
He said that he would be happy. (indirect) He said that he would be happy. (indirect)
Future Continuous He said, “I will be waiting for my appointment letter. Future Continuous He said, “I will be waiting for my appointment letter.
He said that he would be waiting for his appointment letter. He said that he would be waiting for his appointment letter.
Future Perfect He said, “I will have completed my graduation. Future Perfect He said, “I will have completed my graduation.
He said that he would have completed his graduation. He said that he would have completed his graduation.
Rule 2: If reporting verb in direct speech is in present tense then the tense of direct speech Rule 2: If reporting verb in direct speech is in present tense then the tense of direct speech
will not be changed in indirect speech. D – direct speech, ID – indirect speech will not be changed in indirect speech. D – direct speech, ID – indirect speech
TENSES PRESENT PAST FUTURE TENSES PRESENT PAST FUTURE
D - He says, “I am D - He says, “I was happy.” D – He says, “I will be D - He says, “I am D - He says, “I was happy.” D – He says, “I will be happy.”
SIMPLE happy.” ID - He says that he was happy.” SIMPLE happy.” ID - He says that he was ID – He says that he will be
ID - He says that he is happy. ID – He says that he will be ID - He says that he is happy. happy.
happy. happy. happy.
D - He says, “I am D – He says, “I was waiting D – He says, “I will be D - He says, “I am D – He says, “I was waiting D – He says, “I will be waiting
waiting for my for my appointment waiting for my appointment waiting for my for my appointment for my appointment letter.”
CONTINUOUS appointment letter.” letter.” letter.” CONTINUOUS appointment letter.” letter.” ID – He says that he will be
ID – He says that he is ID – He says that he was ID – He says that he will be ID – He says that he is ID – He says that he was waiting for his appointment
waiting for his waiting for his waiting for his appointment waiting for his waiting for his letter.
appointment letter.” appointment letter. letter. appointment letter.” appointment letter.
D – He says, “I have D – He says, “I had D – He says, “I will have
D – He says, “I have D – He says, “I had D – He says, “I will have PERFECT completed my completed my completed my graduation.”
PERFECT completed my completed my completed my graduation.” graduation.” graduation.” ID – He says that he will have
graduation.” graduation.” ID – He says that he will ID – He says that he ID – He says that he had completed his graduation.
ID – He says that he has ID – He says that he had have completed his has completed his completed his graduation.
completed his completed his graduation. graduation. graduation.
graduation.

I. Directions: Identify the tense of the verb and transform the direct speech to indirect speech. I. Directions: Identify the tense of the verb and transform the direct speech to indirect speech.
1. He said, “She always wears a coat.” 1. He said, “She always wears a coat.”
2. She said, “I am looking for my keys.” 2. She said, “I am looking for my keys.”
3. She told me, “She has written three letters for her friend.” 3. She told me, “She has written three letters for her friend.”
4. Dad said, “I mowed the garden.” 4. Dad said, “I mowed the garden.”
5. He told me, “I saw her arrive.” 5. He told me, “I saw her arrive.”

II. Directions: Rewrite the following statements in indirect speech. II. Directions: Rewrite the following statements in indirect speech.
1. She admitted, “I wasn’t telling the truth.” 1. She admitted, “I wasn’t telling the truth.”
2. He complained, “My guests haven’t arrived yet.” 2. He complained, “My guests haven’t arrived yet.”
3. They said, “We work for the town council.” 3. They said, “We work for the town council.”
4. Anna says, “The baby is sleeping.” 4. Anna says, “The baby is sleeping.”
5. Jessa told me, “We decided to leave earlier today.” 5. Jessa told me, “We decided to leave earlier today.”