Direct Speech: When we use exact words of the

speaker, that form of speech is known as direct

speech.
For example: She said “I have come here
today to speak with him.”

Indirect Speech: When Direct speech is reported to a

third person, it is known as indirect speech.

For example: She said that she had come

 General Rules:
 Omit all inverted commas. End all sentences with full stops.

e.g.: Direct: “Is this table reserved ?”we asked the waiter.
Indirect: We asked the waiter whether the table was reserved.

 Use verbs in the past or past perfect tenses, unless the reported phrase
expresses a universal truth or a habitual activity.

e.g.: Direct: “You have arranged a very good party Robin”. Sita said.
Indirect: Sita stated that Robin had arranged a good party.

 Use pronouns in the third person such as he,him,she,her,it,it’s,they,them

theirs etc.

e.g.: Direct: “Where is mother?” Ramu asked Shamu.

Indirect: He asked him where their mother was.
Make the following changes:
 Today-that day
 This- that
e.g.: Direct: “Today is Rekha’s birthday “ he
e.g.: Direct: The Boss said “this is the file I said.
wanted” Indirect: He said that day was Rekha’s
Indirect: The boss said that he wanted that birthday.
file.
 Yesterday- the day before
 These-those
e.g.: Direct: “The old man died yesterday”. Said
e.g.: Direct: Mary asked “are these apples ripe” Neha.
Indirect: Mary inquired whether those Indirect: Neha reported that the old man
apples were ripe. died the day before.

 Here-there  Tomorrow- the next day

e.g.: Direct: The officer ordered “stand here”. e.g.: Direct: Hema asked “Are we going for the
Indirect: The officer asked them to stand movie tomorrow?”
there. Indirect: Hema inquired if we are going for
a movie the next day.
 Put ‘that’ before the statement.
 Use the verbs “said” or “told”.
For Example:
Hari said, “I don’t know”.
Hari said that he didn’t know.

Abdul said “Arun ,lay the table”

Abdul told Arun to lay the table.
 Special rules for changing
interrogative/exclamatory
statements.
1. Omit the question /exclamation mark.

2. Use verbs such as ‘asked’, ‘requested’, ‘wanted to know’ for

interrogative
&
‘Exclaimed’, ‘marveled’, ‘with delight’ for exclamatory
statements.

For example:

“ What are you hiding?” asked Ram.

Ram asked him what he was hiding.

“How nice my handkerchief look!” said rekha.

Rekha exclaimed that her handkerchief
looked very nice.