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English Grammar Direct and Indirect Sentences: Identify,
Rules, Tips with Examples
2021/05/31
Direct and Indirect Speech is used in any instances during written and verbal communication we need to repeat a
statement or action of someone. It is used to describe what someone said in a direct or indirect approach. The two
approaches are used depending upon the type of conversation (formal or informal). Informal communication
Direct Speech is not used unless it is a quote. Indirect Speech is preferred. The study of Direct and Indirect
SC CGL, RRB, IBPS, PO, UPSC, NDA, CDS, and other Government
Speech is important if you are preparing for $
or Bank Exams, Direct and Indirect Speech is comparatively easier and with practice, students ean score good
marks,
What is Direct Speech?
Direct speech repeats or quotes the expressed or the words spoken. When we use direct speech, we place the
words spoken between the quotation marks (“ First-person”). Direct speech is directly conveyed either in speech
or in writing.
Examples of Direct Speech
He said, “I will work hard to succeed.” The Commander said, “We will defeat all the enemies.”
For details on the Para Jumbles, refer to the linked article.
What is Indirect Speech?
Indirect speech or Reported speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we normally change the tense of the
words spoken into, We use reporting verbs like ‘tell’, ‘say’, ‘ask’ and we can use the word ‘that’ to introduce the
reported in place of (“") Direet and Indirect speech also introduces the concept of ‘Reported speech’ and
‘Reported Verb’.
Examples of Indirect Speech
He said that he will work hard to sueceed. The Commander said that they will defeat all the enemies.
Reported Speech and Reported Verb
Both direct and indirect speech has two parts which are complete sentences in themselves. They are:Reported speech is more of ‘Mood/ Tone’ of a speaker. The reported speech can be Assertive/Declarative,
Imperative, Interrogative, and Exelamatory.
Reported verb is the tense in which the sentence is spoken. It can be ‘Past’, ‘present’, ‘Future’.
Get some practice on Fillers too.
Memory Tip:
Example: He said to me, “I will go there tomorrow.” In the above example,
Reporting verb — Who said to whom.
‘He said to me’: it is reporting verb
Reported speech ~The exact words spoken, put within inverted commas “
Iwill go there tomorrow.
itis reported speech
Do check out Noun here.
How to Convert Between English Grammar Direct and Indirect Speech?
‘The conversion of English Grammar Direct Speech to Indirect Speech and vice versa are predetermined. Here's an
easy way to remember them.
Rule #1
Present Simple Tense do /does Vi 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 + V3 Past Perfect Tense had + V3,
Past Perfect Progressive had been + V4 Past Perfect Progressive had been + V4
Future Simple Tense will + V1 would + V1
Future Progressive Tense will be + V4 would be + V4SS
an
Future Perfect Progressive will have been + V4
would have been + V4
Rule #2: If the reporting verb is given in present or future tense, then there shall be no change in the tense of
reported speech.
Subject First person (I, we) Changes according to the subject of the reported verb
Object ‘Second person (you) Changes according to the object of the reported verb
No Change Third person (he, she, it, they) No change
Example:
He said,” Iwill go"
AL
2
3
Also, check out Reading Comprehension.
Rule #3
Example:
“1° will change according to the subject of the reported verb that is “he”
So in place of “I*, “he” will be used for Indirect speech.
He had said to me, “We play.”
He had said to me that they played.
He had said to me, “We are playing
He had said to me that they were playing.
He had said to me, “We have played.”
He had said to me that they had played.
He had said to me, “We have been playing.
He had said to me that they had been playing.
He had said to me, “We played.”
He had said to me that they had played.
He had said to me, “We were playing,”
He had said to me that they had been playing.
He had said to me, “We had played.”
He had said to me that they had played.
He had said to me, “We had been playing.”
He had said to me that they had been playing.Rule #4: Changing Certain Words
Here There Last week ‘The previous week
This, That Tonight ‘That night
‘These Those The nextday ‘The following day
Now Then say say
Thus so Says Says
Hence Thence Sayto Tell
Ago Before Saysto Tells
Today That day said said
Tomorrow The nextday Said to Told
Yesterday The previous day will say will say
Last night ‘The previous night will say to will tell
Want to know about Phrasal Verbs? Learn here.
Use of Direct and Indirect Speech in Different Types of Sentences
Here are tips on how to use Direct and Indirect Speech in different sentence form.
Interrogative Sentences
‘Those sentences, which ask questions, are called interrogative sentences. Every interrogative sentence ends at a
sign of interrogation.
Example:
1, Doyoulive here?
2, Have you ever watched the Terminator III movie?
3, Sitraining?
To convert interrogative sentences into Indireet Speech, follow the following rules along with the above-
mentioned rules:
Reporting Verb said to is changed into asked.
If reporting speech is having reporting verb at it its start, then if is used in place of that.
If the reporting speech is having interrogative words like who, when, how, why, when then neither if is used
nor any other word is added.
To get details on Common Rules for Spellings, eandidates can visit the linked article.Full Stop is placed at the end of the sentence instead of the mark of interrogation.
Example:
I said to her, “When do you do your homework?” Tasked her when she did her homework.
‘We said to him, “Are you ill?” ‘We asked him if he was ill.
Station?” Station.
She says, “Who is he?” She asked who he was.
Rashid says to me, “Why are you late?” Rashid said to me why I was late.
Exclamatory Sentence
‘Those sentences, which express our feelings and emotions, are called exclamatory sentences. Mark of exclamation
is used at the end of an exclamatory sentence.
Example:
Hurray! We have won the match,
Alas! He failed the test.
How beautiful that dog is!
What a marvellous personality you are!
a
2
3
4
‘To change exclamatory sentences into Indirect Speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned
rules:
Incase, there is an interjection ie., alas, aha, hurray, aha ete in the reported speech, then they are omitted
along with the sign of exclamation.
Reporting verb ice, said is always replaced with exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed
joyfully, exclaimed sorrowfully or exclaimed with great wonder or sorrow.
In case, there is what or how at the beginning of the reported speech, then they are replaced with very or
very great.
Learn about Types 0
In an indirect sentence, the exclamatory sentence becomes an assertive sentence,Example:
He said, “Hurray! I have won the match.” He exclaimed with great joy that he had won the match.
She said, “Alas! My brother failed the test.” She exclaimed with great sorrow that her brother had
failed the test.
They said, “What a beautiful house this is!” They exclaimed that that house was very beautiful.
I said, “How lucky I am!” Isaid that I was very lucky.
You said to him, “What a beautiful drama you | You said to him in great wonder that he was writing a
are writing! beautiful drama.
Optative Sentence
‘Those sentences, which express hope, prayer, or wish, are called optative sentences. Usually, there is a mark of,
exclamation at the end of an optative sentence.
Example:
1, May you succeed in the test!
May you get well soon!
Would that I were rich!
To change optative sentences into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned
rules:
In ease, the reported speech starts with the word may, then the reporting verb said is replaced with the
word prayed.
In ease, the reported speech starts with the word would, then the reporting verb said is replaced with the
word wished.
. May is changed to might.
Mark of exclamation is omitted.
For details on the Cloze Test, refer to the linked article.
In Indirect Speech, the optative sentences become assertive sentences.
Example:
He said to me, “May you live long!” | He prayed that I might live long.
My mother said to me, “May you succeed in the test!” | My mother prayed that I might sueceed in the test.She said, “Would that I were rich!” She wished she were rich.
I said to him, “Would that you were here on Sunday!” | I wished he had been here on Sunday.
You said, “I pray you find your camera!” You prayed that I might find my lost eamera.
Practice Problems
Q. In the following question, a sentence is given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives choose the
one which best expresses the sentence in Indirect/Direct Speech.
Akram said,” Ihave to carry this bag,”
Ans. The given statement is in Direct Speechand in the simple present tense. On conversion into Indirect Speech,
the given sentence will become: Akram said that he had to carry that bag. When converting the statement into
Indirect Speech:
the words of the speaker are not written in quotes.
usually, the word ‘that is used to convey the words of the speaker.
the original tense of the statement is changed accordingly.
For details on the Types and Rules of Tenses, refer to the linked article
Q In the following question, a sentence is given in Direet/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives choose the
one which best expresses the sentence in Indirect/Direet Speech.
‘The teacher said, “Lucy is an intelligent girl.”
Ans. The given statement is in Direct Speech and the simple present tense. On conversion into Indirect Speech,
the given sentence will become: The teacher said that Lucy has been an intelligent girl. When converting the
statement into Indirect Speech:
the words of the speaker are not written in quotes.
usually, the word ‘that is used to convey the words of the speaker.
the original tense of the statement is changed accordingly.
To get detailed knowledge and examples on Prefixes and Suffixes, candidates can visit the linked article.
Q. Choose the most appropriate option to change the narration (direct/indirect) of the given sentence.
Rashmi says, “My startup is doing very well.”
Ans.
The given direct form of the sentence is an assertive sentence.While changing it into its indirect form, ‘says/said’ remains unchanged. ‘comma’ and ‘inverted commas’ are
removed and is joined by the conjunction ‘that’
The possessive adjective ‘my’ will be changed to ‘her’.
Therefore, the correct structure i
. “Rashmi says that her startup is doing very well.’
Q. Choose the most appropriate option to change the narration (direct/indirect) of the given sentence.
Amar urged Amit to stop taking tranquillizers without consulting the doctor.
Ans. In the given sentence, the verb ‘urged’ shows that itis expressing a request.
So while converting a sentence into its indirect form, we use ‘please’, and the remaining sentence remains
unchanged.
Therefore, the correct answer is “Amit, please stop taking tranquillizers without consulting the doctor,”
said Amar.”
Hope this solves all your doubts regarding Direct and Indirect Speech. Do strengthen your concept by practising it
through the free mock test on Testbook App for free! Download it now.
For details on the Synonyms & Antonyms, refer to the linked article.
English Grammar Direct and Indirect Speech FAQs
Q.1 What is direct and indirect speech with examples?
Ans.1 Direct Speech is a directly said statement. : He said, “I want a pen.” Indirect Speech is a narration of a
directly said statement: He asked for a pen.
Q.2 How do you change direct speech to indirect speech?
Ans.2 Remove the inverted commas, change the first-person statement inside the inverted commas to the
second-person statement. Do not change the tense.
Q.3 Examples of Direct Speech.
Ans.3 He asked, “What's that?”, “How dare you.” Sam raged.
Q.4 Examples of Indirect Speech.
Ans.4 The old man pleaded for water, He angrily asked where she was going.
Q.5 Where do we use Direct Speech?
Ans.5 Direct Speech is used in narration, story writing, creative writing, quotes and informal communication
Sometimes itis also used in formal writing.testbook
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