Nareshkumar J. Parmar [Subject: English] International Journal
of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences
Vol. 2, Issue: 4, April-May 2014
ISSN:(P) 2347-5404 ISSN:(O)2320 771X
44 Online & Print International, Refereed (Reviewed) & Indexed Monthly Journal www.raijmr.com
RET Academy for International Journals of Multidisciplinary Research (RAIJMR)
An Introduction to Direct & Indirect Speech
NARESHKUMAR J. PARMAR
Assistant Teacher (English)
Shardakunj, Motipura, Himmatnagar
Gujarat (India)
Abstract:
The article named DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH is about techniques of teaching direct-indirect
speech to the students of all the levels. It includes step by step method of teaching it very easily to the
learners. All the necessary changes and rules are discussed very minutely. The present article gives
an idea how to teach this topic effectively. All the main rules like change of reporting verb, use of
proper conjunction, change in pronoun, change in different forms of verbs and change in words
showing nearness into distance words are discussed and explained with examples in lucid language.
In English language direct-indirect speech is one of the important topics of grammar. It is also called
reported speech.
Keywords: Direct-Indirect speech, Grammar, Teaching method
1. Introduction
Teaching direct and indirect speech is best done by reading and writing dialogue. By first reading
dialogue and working through examples, teachers can illustrate the difference between direct and
indirect speech. Direct speech occurs when the person speaking is quoted. Indirect speech occurs
when another person paraphrases what the speaker said. By speaking and writing dialogue
themselves, students reinforce the principles of direct and indirect speech through practical
application.
2. Use of Indirect speech
Indirect speech is used to report the speech of another or someone else.
There are two ways of reporting speech.
1. Direct speech
2. Indirect speech
2.1 Direct speech
What the person actually says is known as direct speech. In other words when we say exactly what
someone has said is called direct speech. In short we quote speaker’s actual words. So it is also called
quoted speech.
For example
Darshil said “I am a very clever boy.”
2.2 Indirect speech
When we report someone else’s speech without quotation or exact words, it is called indirect speech.
Here we report what speaker says without quoting his exact words.
For example
Darshil said that he was a very clever boy.
In short reported speech gives the remarks of the speaker as reported by someone else.
There are four kinds of direct speech:
(a) Statement (b) Question
(c) Command (d) Exclamation
Nareshkumar J. Parmar [Subject: English] International Journal
of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences
Vol. 2, Issue: 4, April-May 2014
ISSN:(P) 2347-5404 ISSN:(O)2320 771X
45 Online & Print International, Refereed (Reviewed) & Indexed Monthly Journal www.raijmr.com
RET Academy for International Journals of Multidisciplinary Research (RAIJMR)
3. Pattern of reporting statements
Person + reporting verb + statement (Direct)
Person + reporting verb + conjunction + statement (Indirect)
Shreeya said, “I read Othello yesterday.” (Direct)
Shreeya said that she had read Othello the previous day. (Indirect)
The following sentence pattern is less commonly used in indirect speech
1. Statement + person +reporting verb
Example: “I read Othello yesterday.” Shreeya said
2. Statement +reporting verb + person
Example: “I read Othello yesterday.” said Shreeya
4. Rules of changing direct into indirect speech
General rules:
1. Firstly comma (,) and the quotation marks (“…”) are removed.
2. Reporting verb is changed.
3. Conjunction is used according to different kinds of sentence i.e. assertive ,interrogative etc.
4. Pronoun is changed according to speaker and hearer.
5. Verb is changed according to the rule of the sequence of tenses( Tenses are changed)
6. Words expressing nearness are changed into words expressing distance.
(1) Removal of comma and the quotation marks:
Example: Direct: Hiral said, “I am very busy now.”
Indirect: Hiral said, “I am very busy now.”
(2) Change in reporting verb
Reporting verb is changed according to kinds of sentence
Reporting
verb
Assertive
Interrogative
Imperative
Exclamatory
& wishes
Said/said to/:
Direct
Indirect
asked,
inquired,
Demanded etc
(Note: asked is
generally used
here.)
requested,
ordered,
warned,
commanded,
implored,
suggested,
forbade,
threatened etc
Exclaimed,
Prayed, blessed,
Wished,
Bade,
applauded,
confessed,
said
said
Said to
told
say
say
says
says
Say to
tell
Says to
tells
Note: We usually use said without an object. Here said remains the same. If said is used with an
object, we use different forms of verbs according to types of sentence as it is shown the above
column. We can also use reporting verb like accused, admitted, advised, alleged, agreed, apologized,
begged, boasted, ordered, promised, replied, suggested, invited ,replied, announced, claimed,
interrupted, mentioned, explained etc in place of said/said to/: as per need of statement.
(3) Use of conjunction
Generally conjunction is used after reporting verb or hearer.
Interrogative
Imperative
Exclamatory
If/whether
No conjunction with ‘wh’
interrogative words as
‘wh’ words function as
conjunctions
to ( use in positive
sentence)
not to( use in
negative sentence)
that
(4) Change in pronoun
Pronoun is changed according to gender of speaker and hearer. The pronouns of the direct
speech are changed into the third person in the indirect speech.
(A) Pronouns of the first person are changed according to speaker:
Nareshkumar J. Parmar [Subject: English] International Journal
of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences
Vol. 2, Issue: 4, April-May 2014
ISSN:(P) 2347-5404 ISSN:(O)2320 771X
46 Online & Print International, Refereed (Reviewed) & Indexed Monthly Journal www.raijmr.com
RET Academy for International Journals of Multidisciplinary Research (RAIJMR)
First person singular (I)
Speaker
Nominative(I)
Possessive
adjective(my)
Accusative(me)
Possessive
pronoun(mine)
Male
he
his
him
his
Female
she
her
her
hers
(B) Pronouns of the second persons are changed according to hearer.
Second person singular (You)
Hearer
Nominative(You)
Possessive
adjective(Your)
Accusative(You)
Possessive
pronoun(yours)
Male
he
his
him
his
Female
she
her
her
hers
(C) There is no change in the pronouns of the third person
Ex .He said ,”He may marry Radha.”(Direct)
He said that he might marry Radha. (Indirect)
(D) When “me” and “us” are used as hearer , pronouns of the second person are changed
as under:
Hearer
Nominative(You)
Possessive
adjective (Your)
Accusative(You)
Possessive
pronoun(yours)
me
I
my
me
mine
us
we
our
us
ours
(E) There is no change in quoted speech, if pronouns are used in place of speaker or hearer.
Example I said, “I am playing.”(Direct)
I said that I was playing.(Indirect)
(5) Change in tense:
When report speech, the tense is usually changed because the person who speak originally
spoke in the past.
(A) No change in tense:
a. When reporting or main verb is in present or future tense , there is no change in
tense.
Example My father says, “I am reading news- paper.”(Direct)
My father says that he is reading news- paper. (Indirect)
b. When the quoted speech presents universal truth or habitual fact or saying , there is
no change in tense
Example My grandfather said, “The earth is round”
My grandfather said that the earth is round
(A) Change in tense: When you report something someone has said you go back a tense,
then verb is changed according to the rule of the sequence of tenses.
Direct
Indirect
1. Simple Present
A. root verb e.g. play
B. helping verb-do/does (in negative) e.g.
does not play
C. do/does (in interrogative) e.g. Does he
play?
1. Simple Past
A. Past form of verb is used in place of root verb e.g.
played
B. helping verb-did is used in place of do/does e.g. did not
play
C. do/does are removed and past form of root verb is used
e.g. He played.
2. Present Progressive
*am/is/are+ ’ing’ form of verb e.g.is
playing
2. Past Progressive
*was/were+ ‘ing’ form e.g. was playing
3. Present perfect
*have/has+ past participle e.g. has played
3.Past Perfect
*had+ p.p. e.g. had played
Nareshkumar J. Parmar [Subject: English] International Journal
of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences
Vol. 2, Issue: 4, April-May 2014
ISSN:(P) 2347-5404 ISSN:(O)2320 771X
47 Online & Print International, Refereed (Reviewed) & Indexed Monthly Journal www.raijmr.com
RET Academy for International Journals of Multidisciplinary Research (RAIJMR)
4. Simple Past
*past of verb e.g. played
*was/were e.g. was clever
*did + root verb e.g. Did you play?
4. Past Perfect
* Use had+ past participle in place of past form e.g. had
played
* Use had been in place of was/were e.g. had been clever
* Use had+ p.p. in place of did+ root verb e.g. He had
played
5. Past Perfect
5. Past Perfect(remains the same)
6. Past Continuous
*was/were+ ’ing’ form e.g. was playing
6. Past Perfect Continuous
* Use had been in place of was/were e.g. had been playing
7. Past Perfect Continuous
7. Past Perfect Continuous(remains the same
8. Modal auxiliaries: shall/will/can/may
8. Shall/will=would , can=could, may=might
9. would/should/might/ought to
9. would/should/might/ought to
10. must
10. had to or remains as must
Note: Do not change the form of principal verb used with modal auxiliaries in indirect speech.
Example will play - would play
(6) Nearness words becomes distance words
Direct
Indirect
this
that
these
those
here
there
now
then
thus
so
hence
thence
ago
before
come
go
bring
take
today
that day
yesterday
the previous day/the day before
tomorrow
the next day/the following day
next
the following
last
the previous
a month ago
a month before
Note: Change in kinds of sentences is must while direct speech is turned into indirect speech
Direct
Indirect
1.Assertive
Remains the same(No change)
2. Interrogative (Helping verb+ subject+ main
verb?) e.g. Raju said to him, “Am I your
servant?”
Turn into assertive: (subject +verb +object) e.g. Raju
asked him if he was his servant.
3.Exclamatory
*sentence pattern: What/how+
adjective/adverb +subject+ verb!
e.g. Nupur said ,”What a beautiful picture it is!
Turn into assertive:
*Sentence pattern: Subject+ verb +very/really/indeed+
adjective/adverb +noun
*Use article before very /really/indeed when
exclamatory sentence begins with what
4.Imperative
Remains the same(No change)
Reference
1. English for Engineers 1998 Delhi, CBS Publishers and Distributors. Pg. 82-87
2. High School English Grammar and composition 1994.New Delhi, S. Chand & company Ltd , p.
228-229
3. http://free-esl.com/channels/gg/article.asp?f Index=59
4. http://www.learnEnglish.de/grammar/reportedspeech.htm#Time
5. http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/definations/reportedspeech.htm