CHANGING DIRECT

TO INDIRECT
SPEECH
For Statements:

1.The introductory word

“that” is used.
Example:
Benny said, “It was rainy yesterday.”

Benny said that it was rainy the day

before.
“He works in a bank,” she says.

She says ___ he works in a bank.

2. When the verb in the introductory part is in the
present tense, then the verb in the quoted part
remains the same. (no change in tense)

She says, “ The air is clear.”

She says that the air is clear.

A young lady exclaims, “The queens are
lovely.”

A young lady exclaims that the queens ____

lovely.
She says, “ She sang a song.”

She says that she ____ a song.

•Lani says, “I will visit my
grandparents tomorrow.”

•Lani says that she __________ her

grandparents the next day.
3. When the verb in the introductory part is in the past tense,
then the verbs within the inverted commas will undergo
corresponding changes in the indirect speech statements.

a. simple present ---- simple past.

She said, “ The place is near.”

She said that the place was near.

“ We choose you to represent the
class,” they said.

They said that they _____ me to

represent the class.
b. simple past- past perfect

Eva said, “ I went to New York last week.”

Eva said that she had gone to New York the

week before.
•Lani said, “I will visit my
grandparents tomorrow.”

•Lani said that she __________ her

grandparents the next day.
Yohann said, “Sheila arrived
yesterday.”

Yohann said that sheila _________

the day before.
4. When the quoted part expresses a fact or the general
truth, the same present form is used in the Indirect
speech.

He said, “Camino Real curves around

the Katayaghan hills.”

He said that Camino Real curves

around the Katayaghan hills.
I said, “God is great.”

I said that God ___ great.

The teacher qouted, “ Eating balanced diet
is good for the body.”

The teacher qouted that eating balanced diet

____ good for the body.
 I CAN DO IT!
Change direct speech to
indirect by writing the
appropriate tense of the verb.
1. The math teacher said, “ Ten plus
ten is always twenty.”

The math teacher said that ten

plus ten ____ always twenty.
2. The priest said, “God is great.”

The priest said that God __ great.

3. Maria said, “The place is so
quiet.”

Maria said that the place ___ so

quiet.
4. “I will stay at home tomorrow,”
Bill said.

Bill said that he ______ at home the

next day.
 5. He says, “I admire the
human race.”
He says that he ____ the
human race.
Aside from the changes in the verb
tense, word order and introductory
word used, changes in pronouns,
adjectives and adverbs also take place
when changing direct speech to
indirect speech.
For adverbial expressions of Time
 today --- that day
 Yesterday --- the day before
 last night --- the night before
 last week --- the week before
 tonight --- that night
 now --- then
 tomorrow --- the next day
Place
here --- there

Pronouns
I – I/he/she our – their
me – him/her ours – theirs
my – his/ her you – I/ me/ they/them
we – they
us – them
THIS / THESE
This used in time expressions usually becomes that.

She said, “She’s coming this week”.

She said that she was coming that week.

This and that used as adjectives usually change to the.

He said, “I bought this pearl for my mother”.
He said that he had bought the pearl for his mother.

This, these used as pronouns can become it, they/them.

He said, “I found these beside the king’s bed”.
He said that he had found them beside the king’s bed.
 1. Tomas says, “I am glad to
be here today.”
 2. “My schedule is quite
hectic,” the girl said.
 3. My wife said, “I need to
go to the store.”
4. “We are so proud of you,”
mother says.
5. The teacher said, “Taal Volcano is
the smallest volcano in the
Philippines.”