*To view the video for this revision, click

SERI OMEGA PRIVATE & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Subject : ENGLISH Level : FORM 3 Revision No : 5

Direct Speech and Reported Speech

1. Direct speech is a speaker's exact words.

2. In reported or indirect speech, the meaning of the words spoken is given rather than the
exact words of the speaker.

Usage and Function

1. We can show direct speech in the following ways:

(a) After the speaker's name, as in a dialogue

 Johnson: I am joining the Navy.

 Boon Min: Nice to meet you.

(b) In quotation marks

 It was Rudyard Kipling who said, "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by
mankind."
 "Did you enjoy the trip?" asked Sheila.

(c) In a speech bubble

2. When we change direct speech into reported speech, the following rules should be complied:

1
(a) Tenses

In reported speech, the spoken words are being reported after they have been spoken, so the
tense being repeated usually goes back one stage in time - the present becomes the past, the
present perfect becomes the past perfect and the future becomes the future in the past.

Direct Speech Reported

He said, "I am tired." He said that he was tired.

He said, "I have eaten." He said that he had eaten.

He said, "I am reading." He said that he was reading.

He said, "I will help you." He said that he would help her.

He said, "I will be leaving today." He said that he would be leaving that
day.

He said, "I did it." He said that he had done it.

He said, "I broke the plate." He said that he had broken the plate.

He said, "I was reading." He said that he had been reading.

He said, "I had a shock." He said that he had had a shock.

However, there are four cases where the tense in direct speech remains unchanged in reported
speech.

(i) Universal truths (statements which are always true)

 Direct : He said, "The earth is round."

 Reported: He said that the earth is round.

(ii) Habitual or repeated actions

 Direct : He said,' "I drink milk every day."

 Reported: He said that he drinks milk every day.

(iii) In quotations

 Direct : "A thing of beauty is a joy forever," John Keats once said.

 Reported: John Keats once said that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

2
(iv) When the reporting verb is in the present, present perfect or future tense

 Direct : "I am very sorry."

 Reported: He says he is very sorry. (present tense)

 Reported: He has just told me he is very sorry. (present perfect tense)
 Reported: He will tell you he is very sorry. (future tense)

(b) Pronouns and Adjectives

Pronouns and adjectives in the first and second person are changed to the third person.

I, you he or she you him, her, me or them

we they mine his, hers

my his or her this that

our their these those

 Direct : "We have finished our work," they said.

 Reported: They said that they had finished their work.

 Direct : "I am waiting for you," he said.

 Reported: He said that he was waiting for me.

(c) Verbs and Adverbs

 here - there
 now - then, at the time, at once
 today - that day
 tomorrow - the next day, the following day
 yesterday - the day before, the previous day
 last week - the week before, the previous week
 ago - before, earlier
 come - go
 bring - take

 Direct : "I will come tomorrow," he said.

 Reported: He said that he would go the next day.

* Question marks are not used in reported speech

3
3. Here are the various ways for reporting statements, questions, commands, requests and
exclamations.

(a) Direct and Indirect Statements

1. We use verbs like say, tell, suggest and explain to introduce indirect statements.
( The past tense said is mostly used. )

2. We usually use that after said in indirect statements. However, ' that is often omitted
especially in conversation

Direct Statement Indirect Statement

 He said, "I am hungry." He said that he was hungry.

 He said he was hungry.
(conversation)

 Words like must and need are usually changed in indirect statements.

Direct Statement Indirect Statement

He said, "I must go / need to go now." He said that he had to go at once.

He said,' "I must go / need to go again He said that he would have to go again
next month." next month.

He said, "I mustn't go there." He said he wasn't to go there.

He said, "I need not go." He said that he did not have to go.

 However, when must is used as a rule or regulation, it does not change.

Direct Statement Indirect Statement

He said, "You must always use black ink He pointed out that we must always
on legal documents." use black ink on legal documents.

 Had better can be reported unchanged but advised can also be used instead.

Direct Statement Indirect Statement

He said "You had better tell Jim." He said I had better tell Jim.
or
He advised me to tell Jim.

4
(b) Direct and Indirect Questions

1. We use verbs like ask, enquire and want to know to introduce indirect questions.

2. When the direct question begins with where, when, how, why, what or who, these words
are repeated in the indirect question.

Direct Question Indirect Question

He asked her, "Where are you going?" He asked her where she was going.

He asked her, "Why must you go?" He wanted to know why she had to go.

He asked me, "What is the matter?" He asked me what the matter was.

3. When the direct question begins with other words such as does, has and was, use whether
or if in the indirect question.

Direct Question Indirect Question

He asked her, "Have you eaten?" He asked whether she had eaten.

He asked her, "Do you like fishing?" He wanted to know if she liked fishing.

 Question marks are not used in indirect questions.

 Questions beginning with Shall I / we ...? are of two kinds:

(a) Future Time

 Direct : "Shall we like our new teacher?" they asked.
Indirect: They wondered if they would like their new teacher.

(b) Request or Suggestion

 Direct : "Shall I open the door?" he asked.
Indirect: He asked if he should open the door.

5
(c) Direct and Indirect Commands or Requests

1. Introductory verbs such as tell, order, command and request are usually used in indirect
commands and requests.

2. Use an infinitive ( for example, to eat, to stand and to drink ) in the reported speech. Use not
to for negative indirect commands and requests.

3. A command, both direct and indirect, may be expressed by is to, are to, was to and were to.

Direct Command or Request Indirect Command or Request

"Stand up!" shouted the Captain. The Captain ordered them to stand up.

She said, "Please help me." She requested me to help her.

"Don't lock the door," he said. He told her not to lock the door.

He said, "You are to do it now." He said that they were to do it at once.

 The word please must be omitted in indirect requests.

 Exclamation marks must not be used in indirect commands.

(d) Direct and Indirect Exclamations

There are many ways to report direct speech containing expressions such as Hello! , Oh dear!
and Help! . Here are some examples of the different methods used to express pleasure, shock,
sadness, surprise or relief in indirect exclamations.

Direct Exclamation Indirect Exclamation

"Hello! How are you?" she said. She greeted him and asked him how he
was.
She shouted, "Help! Help!" She shouted for help.
"Oh, no! Whatever shall I do!" he said. He exclaimed in dismay that he did not
know what to do.
"Alas! All my money is gone," he said. He said sadly that all his money was
gone.
She cried out, "Ouch! I have been stung She cried out in pain that she had been
by a bee." stung by a bee.

 The exclamatory words and the exclamation marks must be left out in indirect
exclamations.

6
Rewrite the following sentences in the reported speech using suitable pronouns where
necessary.

1. You are a good student," the teacher told John.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. "I love music," said Siti.

________________________________________________________________________

3. "Do you know the way?" James asked Joanne.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4. "I have never seen a cheetah," said Ramzi.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

5. "We have washed the car," the boys said.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

6. "Tell me the truth," the father ordered his son.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

7. "Please forgive me," Simon begged.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

8. "Hurray! We won," they shouted.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

9. "My sister is washing her hair," said William.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

10. "You must write to him tomorrow," said Kang Jun.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

7
Change the following into the direct speech.

1. He asked where the post office was.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. She said that he would be there the following week.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3. Kim said that she was very angry with her cousin.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4. The policeman ordered the robber to put down his gun.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

5. They said that they would continue that project the following month.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

6. Ramli requested the teacher to explain it again.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

7. Mr Smith said that he had enjoyed his trip to China.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

8. Jamal asked Faridah if she could lend him her book.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

9. He told her not to drop it.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

10. She said that she had visited her grandfather the week before.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

8
Rewrite the following sentences in the reported speech, paying particular attention to tenses,
pronouns and possessive adjectives. Use the words given in brackets to begin the sentences.

1. "I shall have this pear and these oranges." (He said)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. "Put it back on the table." (He told her)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3. "Does your brother speak Spanish?" (Nalini asked her)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4. "Go at once!" (The king commanded)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

5. "Good morning. Can I help you?" (She greeted him)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

6. "I will help you when the time comes." (He promised)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

7. "Have you been to Europe?" (She asked)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

9
8. "Wow! What an enormous building!" (He exclaimed)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

9. "How will you know?" (She asked)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

10. "Don't be silly! Do what you are told." (He told her)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

11. "Is your name Ian?" "Yes." (The woman asked ... he replied)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

12. "Stay here and do not move." (She ordered them)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

13. "Shall I ever be famous?" (He wondered)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

14. "What do you do in the evenings?" (My colleague asked)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

15. "They were talking in class." (The prefect said)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

10
 MODEL ANSWER
SERI OMEGA PRIVATE & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Subject : ENGLISH Level : FORM 3 Revision No : 5

Direct Speech and Reported Speech

1. Direct speech is a speaker's exact words.

2. In reported or indirect speech, the meaning of the words spoken is given rather than the
exact words of the speaker.

Usage and Function

1. We can show direct speech in the following ways:

(a) After the speaker's name, as in a dialogue

 Johnson: I am joining the Navy.

 Boon Min: Nice to meet you.

(b) In quotation marks

 It was Rudyard Kipling who said, "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by
mankind."
 "Did you enjoy the trip?" asked Sheila.

(c) In a speech bubble

2. When we change direct speech into reported speech, the following rules should be complied:

11
(a) Tenses

In reported speech, the spoken words are being reported after they have been spoken, so the
tense being repeated usually goes back one stage in time - the present becomes the past, the
present perfect becomes the past perfect and the future becomes the future in the past.

Direct Speech Reported

He said, "I am tired." He said that he was tired.

He said, "I have eaten." He said that he had eaten.

He said, "I am reading." He said that he was reading.

He said, "I will help you." He said that he would help her.

He said, "I will be leaving today." He said that he would be leaving that
day.

He said, "I did it." He said that he had done it.

He said, "I broke the plate." He said that he had broken the plate.

He said, "I was reading." He said that he had been reading.

He said, "I had a shock." He said that he had had a shock.

However, there are four cases where the tense in direct speech remains unchanged in reported
speech.

(i) Universal truths (statements which are always true)

 Direct : He said, "The earth is round."

 Reported: He said that the earth is round.

(ii) Habitual or repeated actions

 Direct : He said,' "I drink milk every day."

 Reported: He said that he drinks milk every day.

(iii) In quotations

 Direct : "A thing of beauty is a joy forever," John Keats once said.

 Reported: John Keats once said that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

12
(iv) When the reporting verb is in the present, present perfect or future tense

 Direct : "I am very sorry."

 Reported: He says he is very sorry. (present tense)

 Reported: He has just told me he is very sorry. (present perfect tense)
 Reported: He will tell you he is very sorry. (future tense)

(b) Pronouns and Adjectives

Pronouns and adjectives in the first and second person are changed to the third person.

I, you he or she you him, her, me or them

we they mine his, hers

my his or her this that

our their these those

 Direct : "We have finished our work," they said.

 Reported: They said that they had finished their work.

 Direct : "I am waiting for you," he said.

 Reported: He said that he was waiting for me.

(c) Verbs and Adverbs

 here - there
 now - then, at the time, at once
 today - that day
 tomorrow - the next day, the following day
 yesterday - the day before, the previous day
 last week - the week before, the previous week
 ago - before, earlier
 come - go
 bring - take

 Direct : "I will come tomorrow," he said.

 Reported: He said that he would go the next day.

* Question marks are not used in reported speech

13
3. Here are the various ways for reporting statements, questions, commands, requests and
exclamations.

(a) Direct and Indirect Statements

1. We use verbs like say, tell, suggest and explain to introduce indirect statements.
( The past tense said is mostly used. )

2. We usually use that after said in indirect statements. However, ' that is often omitted
especially in conversation

Direct Statement Indirect Statement

 He said, "I am hungry." He said that he was hungry.

 He said he was hungry.
(conversation)

 Words like must and need are usually changed in indirect statements.

Direct Statement Indirect Statement

He said, "I must go / need to go now." He said that he had to go at once.

He said,' "I must go / need to go again He said that he would have to go again
next month." next month.

He said, "I mustn't go there." He said he wasn't to go there.

He said, "I need not go." He said that he did not have to go.

 However, when must is used as a rule or regulation, it does not change.

Direct Statement Indirect Statement

He said, "You must always use black ink He pointed out that we must always
on legal documents." use black ink on legal documents.

 Had better can be reported unchanged but advised can also be used instead.

Direct Statement Indirect Statement

He said "You had better tell Jim." He said I had better tell Jim.
or
He advised me to tell Jim.

14
(b) Direct and Indirect Questions

1. We use verbs like ask, enquire and want to know to introduce indirect questions.

2. When the direct question begins with where, when, how, why, what or who, these words
are repeated in the indirect question.

Direct Question Indirect Question

He asked her, "Where are you going?" He asked her where she was going.

He asked her, "Why must you go?" He wanted to know why she had to go.

He asked me, "What is the matter?" He asked me what the matter was.

3. When the direct question begins with other words such as does, has and was, use whether
or if in the indirect question.

Direct Question Indirect Question

He asked her, "Have you eaten?" He asked whether she had eaten.

He asked her, "Do you like fishing?" He wanted to know if she liked fishing.

 Question marks are not used in indirect questions.

 Questions beginning with Shall I / we ...? are of two kinds:

(a) Future Time

 Direct : "Shall we like our new teacher?" they asked.
Indirect: They wondered if they would like their new teacher.

(b) Request or Suggestion

 Direct : "Shall I open the door?" he asked.
Indirect: He asked if he should open the door.

15
(c) Direct and Indirect Commands or Requests

1. Introductory verbs such as tell, order, command and request are usually used in indirect
commands and requests.

2. Use an infinitive ( for example, to eat, to stand and to drink ) in the reported speech. Use not
to for negative indirect commands and requests.

3. A command, both direct and indirect, may be expressed by is to, are to, was to and were to.

Direct Command or Request Indirect Command or Request

"Stand up!" shouted the Captain. The Captain ordered them to stand up.

She said, "Please help me." She requested me to help her.

"Don't lock the door," he said. He told her not to lock the door.

He said, "You are to do it now." He said that they were to do it at once.

 The word please must be omitted in indirect requests.

 Exclamation marks must not be used in indirect commands.

(d) Direct and Indirect Exclamations

There are many ways to report direct speech containing expressions such as Hello! , Oh dear!
and Help! . Here are some examples of the different methods used to express pleasure, shock,
sadness, surprise or relief in indirect exclamations.

Direct Exclamation Indirect Exclamation

"Hello! How are you?" she said. She greeted him and asked him how he
was.
She shouted, "Help! Help!" She shouted for help.
"Oh, no! Whatever shall I do!" he said. He exclaimed in dismay that he did not
know what to do.
"Alas! All my money is gone," he said. He said sadly that all his money was
gone.
She cried out, "Ouch! I have been stung She cried out in pain that she had been
by a bee." stung by a bee.

 The exclamatory words and the exclamation marks must be left out in indirect
exclamations.

16
Rewrite the following sentences in the reported speech using suitable pronouns where
necessary.

1. You are a good student," the teacher told John.

The teacher told John that he was a good student.

2. "I love music," said Siti.

Siti said that she loved music.

3. "Do you know the way?" James asked Joanne.

James asked Joanne whether she knew the way.

4. "I have never seen a cheetah," said Ramzi.

Ramzi said that he had never seen a cheetah.

5. "We have washed the car," the boys said.

The boys said that they had washed the car.

6. "Tell me the truth," the father ordered his son.

The father ordered his son to tell him the truth.

7. "Please forgive me," Simon begged.

Simon begged her to forgive him.

8. "Hurray! We won," they shouted.

They shouted joyfully that they had won.

9. "My sister is washing her hair," said William.

William said that his sister was washing her hair.

10. "You must write to him tomorrow," said Kang Jun.

Kang Jun said that she had to write to him the following day.

17
Change the following into the direct speech.

1. He asked where the post office was.

“ Where is the post office ? ” he asked.

2. She said that he would be there the following week.

“ He will be here next week , ” she said.

3. Kim said that she was very angry with her cousin.
Kim said, “ I am very angry with my cousin . ”

4. The policeman ordered the robber to put down his gun.

The policeman said to the robber, “ Put down your gun. ”

5. They said that they would continue that project the following month.
They said, “ We will continue this project next month . ”

6. Ramli requested the teacher to explain it again.

Ramli said to the teacher, “ Please explain it again . ”

7. Mr Smith said that he had enjoyed his trip to China.

Mr Smith said, “ I enjoyed my trip to China . ”

8. Jamal asked Faridah if she could lend him her book.

“ Can you lend me your book ? ” Jamal asked Faridah.

9. He told her not to drop it.

He said, “ Do not drop it. ”

10. She said that she had visited her grandfather the week before.
“ I visited my grandfather last week, ” she said.

18
Rewrite the following sentences in the reported speech, paying particular attention to tenses,
pronouns and possessive adjectives. Use the words given in brackets to begin the sentences.

1. "I shall have this pear and these oranges." (He said)

He said that he would have that pear and those oranges.

2. "Put it back on the table." (He told her)

He told her to put it back on the table.

3. "Does your brother speak Spanish?" (Nalini asked her)

Nalini asked her whether her brother spoke Spanish.

4. "Go at once!" (The king commanded)

The king commanded them to go at once.

5. "Good morning. Can I help you?" (She greeted him)

She greeted him and asked whether she could help him.

6. "I will help you when the time comes." (He promised)

He promised that he would help her when the time came.

7. "Have you been to Europe?" (She asked)

She asked him whether he had ever been to Europe.

8. "Wow! What an enormous building!" (He exclaimed)

He exclaimed in surprise at the enormous size of the building.

19
9. "How will you know?" (She asked)

She asked him how he would know.

10. "Don't be silly! Do what you are told." (He told her)

He told her not to be silly and to do what she was told.

11. "Is your name Ian?" "Yes." (The woman asked ... he replied)

The woman asked if his name was Ian and he replied that it was.

12. "Stay here and do not move." (She ordered them)

She ordered them to stay there and not to move.

13. "Shall I ever be famous?" (He wondered)

He wondered whether he would ever be famous.

14. "What do you do in the evenings?" (My colleague asked)

My colleague asked me what I did in the evenings.

15. "They were talking in class." (The prefect said)

The prefect said that they had been talking in class.

20