DIRECT & INDIRECT SPEECH- REPORTED SPEECH

There are two parts in direct speech: Reporting Verb and Reporting speech. The part
before the inverted comma is called Reporting verb and the part inside the inverted
commas (“___”) is called Reported speech.

Eg: Maya said, “I dance well.”

R.V.-Reported verb (said)

Reported speech (I dance well)

Changing of Reported verbs and kinds of sentences

S.No. Kinds of sentences R.V. Connectives

1. Assertive Say, says, tell, said, That
A sentence that states a told, stated,
fact. Such sentences are informed, replied
simple statements.
2. Interrogative Ask, asks, asked, If/whether
i. Yes/No wanted to know Wh word or
ii. Wh question Wh phrase
3. Imperative Tell, order, To, not to
May convey a command, command,
request, advice, advise, request,
suggestion or instruction suggest, warn,
to someone. plead, beg,
instruct, forbid

4. Optative Wished, blessed, That

May convey a feeling cursed, prayed
expressing a wish or
desire.
5. Exclamatory Exclaimed That
Eg:Hurrah, Good, Fantastic,
Splendid, Bravo, Oh, Ha,
Ugh, Alas, Well done,
Thank goodness

Change in tenses: Things to remember

The reporting verb is in the Verbs change in the indirect

past tense (said, told) speech as follows
Am/is/are Was/were
Was/were Had been
Had been (No change)
Has/have Had
Had (No change)
Do Did
Did Had done
Had done (No change)
Will Would
Shall Should
Can Could
May Might
Must Had to
Would/should/might/could/ought to (No change)
When we refer to universal truths or
The tense does not change
habitual action
 S.No. Direct Speech Reported speech
1. Simple present tense Simple past tense
2. Present continuous tense Past continuous tense
3. Present perfect tense Past perfect tense
4. Present perfect continuous tense Past perfect continuous tense
5. Simple past tense Past perfect tense
6. Past continuous tense Past perfect continuous tense
7. Past perfect tense Does not change
8. Past perfect continuous tense Does not change

Changes in words referring to time, place or position

S.No. Direct Speech Reported speech

1. Here There
2. This That
3. These Those
4. Tomorrow The day after/the following day
5. Today That day
6. Yesterday The day before/the previous day
7. Tonight That night
8. Ago Before
9. Two days ago Two days before
10. Last week The previous week
11. Last month The previous month
12. Now Then

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