DIRECT SPEECH TO

INDIRECT SPEECH
Grade 12th English
 REVIEW

VS
If the speech tag is in the Present Tense,
there is no change in the tense for
reported speech.
Antony says, “I eat a mango”. (D.S.)

Antony says, that he eats a

mango”. (I.S.)
 MAIN VERB
Present Tense becomes past tense.

John said, “I write a letter”. (D.S)

John said that he wrote a letter. (I.S)
1.Michael said, “I read several books.”
2. “We carry the baskets”, said our
classmates.
3.Mr. Sison said, “Today is a blessing!”
 MAIN VERB
Past Tense becomes past perfect or remains
unchanged.

Angel said, “I brought a pen

yesterday”. (D.S)

Angel said that she had brought a pen the

day before. (I.S)
1.Michael said, “I covered several jars.”
2. “We carried the tools”, said our
classmates.
3.Mr. Sison said, “The promotion was a
blessing!”
 MAIN VERB
Present progressive becomes past
progressive.

John said, “I am going to church”. (D.S)

John said that he was going to church. (I.S
1.Bernard said, “I am cleaning several
jars.”
2. “We are carving the stones”, said the
sculptors.
3. The guest said, “The food is coming”
 MAIN VERB
Present Perfect becomes past perfect.

Nelson said, “I have done my home

work”. (D.S)
Nelson said that he had done his home
work. (I.S)
1.Bernard said, “I have lifted several
planks.”
2. “We have painted the bars”, said the
workers.
3. The chef said, “The food has arrived.”
When we report questions, the
indirect speech is introduced by
verbs such as asked, inquired etc.

He said to me, ‘What are you doing

there?’
He asked me what I was
doing there.
1.Thaddeus said, “Where is the
baggage area?”
2.“Why are you absent?” the teacher
said.
3.“What are you doing?” Trey said.
To report an Yes/No question, we
use if or whether.

He said to me, ‘Are you interested?’

He asked me if I was interested.

He said to them, ‘Will you listen to such a

man?’
He asked them whether they would
listen to such a man.
1.Jerry asked Sheena, “Will you wait for
me?”
2.Mark asked me, “Can I bring a
camera or a music player?”
3.The doctor asked my mother, “Is she
taking her medicines?”
When we report commands and requests, the
indirect speech is introduced by verbs expressing
a command or request. Examples are: ordered,
requested, commanded, shouted etc.

The master said to the servant, ‘Go away.’

The master ordered the servant to go away.

He said to them, ‘Please wait here till I return.’

He requested them to wait there till he returned.
1. Ryza ordered the boy, “Be quiet!”
2. Shane shouted, “Do not stand.”
3.She said to the man, “Please bring this
key to him.”
4.The old lady said to the child, “Kindly
help me cross the street.”
Practice 1
1. He said, “I have got a toothache”.
2. Manu said, “I am very busy now”.
3. “Hurry up,” she said to us.
4. “Give me a cup of water,” he told her.
5. She said, “I am going to college.”
6. She said to me, “Thank you”
7. Reena said, “Gary must go tomorrow”.
8. Pierre says, “My father is an Engineer.”
9. He said, “I have passed the physical test.”
10. She said to me, “You are my only friend.”
11. ‘I love you,’ he told me.
12. ‘Where are you going?’ James asked Mary.
1.He said, "I like this song."
→ He said
2."Where is your sister?" she asked me.
→ She asked me
3."I don't speak Italian," she said.
→ She said
4."Say hello to Jim," they said.
→ They asked me
5."The film began at seven o'clock," he
said.
→ He said
6. "Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.
→ She told the boys
7."Where have you spent your money?" she
asked him.
→ She asked him
8."I never make mistakes," he said.
→ He said
9."Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.
→ He wanted to know
10."Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the
audience.
→ The stuntman advised the audience
1.John said, "I love this town."
John said
2."Do you like soccer ?" He asked me.
He asked me
3."I can't drive a lorry," he said.
He said
4."Be nice to your brother," he said.
He asked me
5."Don't be nasty," he said.
He urged me
6. "Don't waste your money" she said.
She told the boys
7."What have you decided to do?" she asked him.
She asked him
8."I always wake up early," he said.
He said
9."You should revise your lessons," he said.
He advised the students
10."Where have you been?" he asked me.
He wanted to know