GRAMMAR

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH (NARRATION)

When we report the exact words of the speaker and write them within inverted commas, it is
said to be in direct speech.

Example: Rohana said,” Rounak has won the match.” (Direct Speech)
In indirect speech, we do not report the exact words of the speaker but convey the substance or
meaning of a person’s speech.
Example: Rohana said that Rounak had won the match. (Indirect Speech)
NOTE: We do not use the inverted commas in the indirect speech. The word ‘that’ can be considered
as a replacement of the inverted commas.
REPORTING VERB
Soham said, “I am eating an orange.”
Reporting Verb

THE TWO ELEMENTAL RULES

1. When the reporting verb is in the Simple Present or Simple Future, the verb in the
reported speech does not change in tense.

Example: Alex says, “I am dancing.”

Explanation: As we can observe that the reporting verb is in the simple present tense, we
will not change the tense of the verb in the reported speech. Hence the answer will be:

Alex says that he is dancing.

2. When the reporting verb is in the Past Tense, the verb in reported speech is changed into
the corresponding past tense.

Example: Alex said, “I am dancing.”

Explanation: As we can observe that the reporting verb is in the past tense, we will change
the tense of the verb in the reported speech. Hence the answer will be:

Alex said that he was dancing.

Observe and note the ‘verb change’ in the indirect speech when the ‘reporting verb’ is in the past:

is/am/are was/were
was/were had been
had been no change
has/have had
Had no change
Do did
Did changes into had done
will/shall would
Must had to
would/should/could/might/ ought to no change
Now note the changes in the tenses in the reported speech.
 DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH
PRESENT TENSE
SIMPLE PRESENT changes into SIMPLE PAST
They said, “We love our country.” They said that they loved their country.

He said, “He does not like computer.” He said that he did not like computer.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS changes into PAST CONTINUOUS

He said, “He is listening to the music.” He said that he was listening to the music.

She said, “I am washing my clothes.” She said that she was washing her clothes.

PRESENT PERFECT changes into PAST PERFECT

She said, “He has finished his work.” She said that he had finished his work.

He said, “I have started a job.” He said that he had started a job.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS changes into PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
He said that he had been studying since 3
He said, “I have been studying since 3
O’clock.
O’clock.”
She said that it had been raining for three
She said, “It has been raining for three days.”
days.

PAST TENSE
SIMPLE PAST changes into PAST PERFECT
John said, “They went to cinema.” John said that they had gone to cinema.

She said, “I didn’t buy a car” She said that she had not bought a car.

PAST CONTINUOUS changes into PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

He said to me, “I was waiting for you.” He told me that he had been waiting for me.

I said, “It was raining” I said that it had been raining.

PAST PERFECT remains as PAST PERFECT (no change in tense)
She said, “She had visited a doctor.”
She said that she had visited a doctor.
He said, “I had started a business”
He said that he had started a business.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS remains as PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS (no change in

tense)

WILL, SHALL, CAN, MAY, MUST

 He said, “I will study the book.” He said that he would study the book.

Rohan said,” I can do this.” Rohan said that he could do that.

Sohana said,” I may do this.” Sohana said that he might do that.

Mihir said, “He must submit the notebook Mihir said that he had to submit the notebook
soon.” soon.

WOULD, COULD, SHOULD, MIGHT {THE PAST MODALS DO NOT CHANGE.}

He said, “He would study the book.” He said that he would study the book.

She said,” She would buy a computer.” She said that she would buy a computer.

Rohan, “He could do that.” Rohan said that he could do that.

Sohana, “He might do that.” Sohana said that she might do that.

UNIVERSAL TRUTHS/HABITUAL ACTIONS : NO CHANGE

The teacher said that hot air rises up.
The teacher said,” Hot air rises up.”

The boy said,” I get up early every day.” The boy said that he gets up early every day.

CHANGES IN WORDS REFERRING TO TIME, PLACE OR POSITION

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

Here There
This That
These Those
Tomorrow The next day
Today That day
Yesterday changes into The previous day
Tonight That night
Ago Before
Now Then
Last week/month The previous week/ month

CHANGES IN THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS

When converting a sentence from direct speech to indirect speech, the most obvious area of
confusion and mistake is the change of personal pronouns.
So, let’s try to diminish that area known for troubling students!
The change of personal pronouns follows the rule of ‘SON: 123’.
Now let us break down the above stated rule:
S: SUBJECT O: OBJECT N: NO CHANGE
1: FIRST PERSON 2: SECOND PERSON 3: THIRD PERSON
Highlights of the above rule:
1. First person pronouns (I, we) in the direct speech change as per the SUBJECT of the reporting
verb.
Example: He said, “I am tired.”

He said that he was tired. (Note that ‘I’ changes to ‘he’ according to the
person of the subject (he) of the reporting verb.
2. Second person pronoun (you) in the direct speech changes as per the OBJECT of the
reporting verb.

Example: He said to her, “You are an outstanding person.”

He told her that she was an outstanding person. (Note that ‘you’
changes to ‘she’ according to the person of the object (her) of the
reporting verb.)
3. Third person pronouns (He, she etc.) in the direct speech do not change.

Example: He said, “He likes to eat pizza.”

He said that he liked to eat pizza. (No change in Personal Pronoun takes place
as it is third person.)

NOTE: SAID TO (SAYS TO) CHANGES TO TOLD (TELLS) in the indirect speech.
CONVERSION OF IMPERATIVE SENTENCES INTO INDIRECT SPEECH
Steps to be followed while converting an imperative sentence into indirect speech:
1. Use the reporting verb as per the meaning being conveyed in the sentence. For example if the
sentence is a command, use ‘commanded/ordered’, if the sentence is a request, use
‘requested/pleaded’, if the sentence is a suggestion/advice, use suggested/advised and so
on.

2. The conjunction ‘that’ is not used.

3. The verb of the reported speech is changed into ‘to + V1’ format.

Example: DIRECT : They said to her, “Go there.”

INDIRECT : They ordered her to go there.
DIRECT : He said,” Please take me.”
INDIRECT : He requested to take him also.
 CONVERSION OF INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES INTO INDIRECT SPEECH
Steps to be followed while converting an interrogative sentence into indirect speech:
1. Use the reporting verbs like ‘asked’, ‘enquired’ and ‘demanded’.
2. Interrogative sentences with ‘wh words’ (who, what, whose etc.) do not use any conjunction
after the reporting verb.
Example: DIRECT : He said, “Where are you going?”
INDIRECT : He asked where he was going.
3. Interrogative sentences with ‘auxiliaries and modals’ (is, are, can, were, do etc.) use
conjunctions if or whether after the reporting verb.
Example: DIRECT : He said, “Are you fine?”
INDIRECT : He asked if he was fine.

Now attempt to change the following into indirect speech:

A. Change the following into indirect speech:
1. He said,” I am very sleepy.”
2. Rohit said,” I am going to Mexico.”
3. Rohan said,” The man has come from London.”
4. He said to Meera, “You have not completed the project yet.”
5. Alice said to Rubia, “I have been playing Free Fire since morning.”

B. Change the following into indirect speech:

1. He said,” I completed the project.”
2. They said,” We had won.”
3. She said,” I gave the projects.”
4. Maya said,” He ate the lunch on time.”
5. They said,” The students had visited the museum.”

C. Change the following into indirect speech:

1. Maxim said, “Rohan will dance well.”
2. Ronan said to Thanos, “You may not win from me.”
3. He said, “You must follow the timeline.”
4. Alana said, “I might reach late.”
5. He said, “I should never talk loudly.”

D. Change the following into indirect speech:

1. The teacher said, “Go to the lab fast.”
2. Iron Man said to Pepper Pots, “Will you marry me?”
3. He said, “Please switch off the fan.”
4. Wanda said, “Why are you late?”
5. He said, “Did you buy the tickets for the show?”
6. The boy said to him,” Why did you push them?”
7. The parent said, “When can I meet the Principal?”
8. She said to him,” Will you play today?”