Reported Speech in English GrammarDirect speech, changing the tense (backshift), no change of tenses, question sentences, demands/requests, expressions with who/what/how + infinitive, typical changes of time and place. IntroductionIn English grammar, we use reported speech to say what another person has said. We can use their exact words with quotation marks , this is known as direct speech , or we can use indirect speech . In indirect speech , we change the tense and pronouns to show that some time has passed. Indirect speech is often introduced by a reporting verb or phrase such as ones below. Learn the rules for writing indirect speech in English with Lingolia’s simple explanation. In the exercises, you can test your grammar skills. Mandy is sitting in the café where James works. He tells her, “I work in this café almost every day. But yesterday I saw a famous TV presenter here for the first time. She was eating an ice-cream at the table where you are sitting now.” | | | A week later, Mandy is speaking to a friend on the phone, “I saw James at the café last week. He said that .” | When turning direct speech into indirect speech, we need to pay attention to the following points: - changing the pronouns Example: He said, “ I saw a famous TV presenter.” He said (that) he had seen a famous TV presenter.
- changing the information about time and place (see the table at the end of this page) Example: He said, “I saw a famous TV presenter here yesterday .” He said (that) he had seen a famous TV presenter there the day before .
- changing the tense (backshift) Example: He said, “She was eating an ice-cream at the table where you are sitting .” He said (that) she had been eating an ice-cream at the table where I was sitting .
If the introductory clause is in the simple past (e.g. He said ), the tense has to be set back by one degree (see the table). The term for this in English is backshift . direct speech | indirect speech | simple present | simple past | present progressive | past progressive | simple past | past perfect simple | present perfect simple | past perfect simple | past progressive | past perfect progressive | present perfect progressive | past perfect progressive | future (going to) | was / were going to | future (will) | conditional (would) | conditional (would) | The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to normally do not change. If the introductory clause is in the simple present , however (e.g. He says ), then the tense remains unchanged, because the introductory clause already indicates that the statement is being immediately repeated (and not at a later point in time). In some cases, however, we have to change the verb form. When turning questions into indirect speech, we have to pay attention to the following points: - As in a declarative sentence, we have to change the pronouns, the time and place information, and set the tense back ( backshift ).
- Instead of that , we use a question word. If there is no question word, we use whether / if instead. Example: She asked him, “ How often do you work?” → She asked him how often he worked. He asked me, “Do you know any famous people?” → He asked me if/whether I knew any famous people.
- We put the subject before the verb in question sentences. (The subject goes after the auxiliary verb in normal questions.) Example: I asked him, “ Have you met any famous people before?” → I asked him if/whether he had met any famous people before.
- We don’t use the auxiliary verb do for questions in indirect speech. Therefore, we sometimes have to conjugate the main verb (for third person singular or in the simple past ). Example: I asked him, “What do you want to tell me?” → I asked him what he wanted to tell me.
- We put the verb directly after who or what in subject questions. Example: I asked him, “ Who is sitting here?” → I asked him who was sitting there.
We don’t just use indirect questions to report what another person has asked. We also use them to ask questions in a very polite manner. When turning demands and requests into indirect speech, we only need to change the pronouns and the time and place information. We don’t have to pay attention to the tenses – we simply use an infinitive . If it is a negative demand, then in indirect speech we use not + infinitive . To express what someone should or can do in reported speech, we leave out the subject and the modal verb and instead we use the construction who/what/where/how + infinitive. direct speech | indirect speech | today | that day | now | then at that moment/time | yesterday | the day before | … days ago | … days before | last week | the week before | next year | the following year | tomorrow | the next day the following day | here | there | this | that | these | those | Say or Tell?The words say and tell are not interchangeable. say = say something tell = say something to someone How good is your English? Find out with Lingolia’s free grammar test Take the test! Maybe later - Grammar Lessons
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Reported Speech QuestionsQuestions with question words, yes/no questions (with helping verb). GrammarBank Video Exercises |
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| ![GrammarBank Video Exercises GrammarBank YouTube Video Exercises](https://www.grammarbank.com/images/gb-youtube-channel.png) Reported SpeechPerfect english grammar. ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/image-files/header-image-2.png) Reported Statements Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: - Direct speech: I like ice cream.
- Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.
We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'. (As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.) But , if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech: - Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.
| | | present simple | I like ice cream | She said (that) she liked ice cream. | present continuous | I am living in London | She said (that) she was living in London. | past simple | I bought a car | She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car. | past continuous | I was walking along the street | She said (that) she had been walking along the street. | present perfect | I haven't seen Julie | She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie. | past perfect* | I had taken English lessons before | She said (that) she had taken English lessons before. | will | I'll see you later | She said (that) she would see me later. | would* | I would help, but... | She said (that) she would help but... | can | I can speak perfect English | She said (that) she could speak perfect English. | could* | I could swim when I was four | She said (that) she could swim when she was four. | shall | I shall come later | She said (that) she would come later. | should* | I should call my mother | She said (that) she should call her mother | might* | I might be late | She said (that) she might be late | must | I must study at the weekend | She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she had to study at the weekend | * doesn't change. - Direct speech: The sky is blue.
- Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.
Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements. Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises. Reported Questions So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions? - Direct speech: Where do you live?
- Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.
- Direct speech: Where is Julie?
- Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.
| | Where is the Post Office, please? | She asked me where the Post Office was. | What are you doing? | She asked me what I was doing. | Who was that fantastic man? | She asked me who that fantastic man had been. | - Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?
- Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.
| | Do you love me? | He asked me if I loved him. | Have you ever been to Mexico? | She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico. | Are you living here?
| She asked me if I was living here. | Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions. Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions. Reported Requests There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example: - Direct speech: Close the window, please
- Or: Could you close the window please?
- Or: Would you mind closing the window please?
- Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.
| | Please help me. | She asked me to help her. | Please don't smoke. | She asked me not to smoke. | Could you bring my book tonight? | She asked me to bring her book that night. | Could you pass the milk, please? | She asked me to pass the milk. | Would you mind coming early tomorrow? | She asked me to come early the next day. | - Direct speech: Please don't be late.
- Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.
Reported Orders - Direct speech: Sit down!
- Reported speech: She told me to sit down.
| | Go to bed! | He told the child to go to bed. | Don't worry! | He told her not to worry. | Be on time! | He told me to be on time. | Don't smoke! | He told us not to smoke. | - Click here for an exercise to practise reported requests and orders.
now | then / at that time | today | yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June | yesterday | the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of December | last night | the night before, Thursday night | last week | the week before / the previous week | tomorrow | today / the next day / the following day / Friday | - Click here for an exercise about using 'say' and 'tell'.
- Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.
![change question into indirect speech Seonaid Beckwith](https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/./image-files/seonaid-beckwith.webp) Hello! I'm Seonaid! I'm here to help you understand grammar and speak correct, fluent English. ![change question into indirect speech method graphic](https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/image-files/xsidebar-method-summary-graphic.webp.pagespeed.ic.VCY01GGcl_.webp) Read more about our learning method Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)Exercises on reported speech. If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request. When transforming statements, check whether you have to change: - present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
- place and time expressions
- tenses (backshift)
Type | Example | | “I speak English.” | | He says that he speaks English. | | He said that he spoke English. | → more on statements in reported speech When transforming questions, check whether you have to change: Also note that you have to: - transform the question into an indirect question
- use the interrogative or if / whether
Type | Example | | | “Why don’t you speak English?” | | He asked me why I didn’t speak English. | | | “Do you speak English?” | | He asked me whether / if I spoke English. | → more on questions in reported speech Type | Example | | Carol, speak English. | | He told Carol to speak English. | → more on requests in reported speech Additional Information and ExeptionsApart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example: - main clauses connected with and / but
- tense of the introductory clause
- reported speech for difficult tenses
- exeptions for backshift
- requests with must , should , ought to and let’s
→ more on additional information and exeptions in reported speech Statements in Reported Speech- no backshift – change of pronouns
- no backshift – change of pronouns and places
- with backshift
- with backshift and change of place and time expressions
Questions in Reported SpeechRequests in reported speech. - Exercise 1 – requests (positive)
- Exercise 2 – requests (negative)
- Exercise 3 – requests (mixed)
Mixed Exercises on Reported Speech- Exercise on reported speech with and without backshift
Grammar in Texts- „ The Canterville Ghost “ (highlight direct speech and reported speech)
English EFLReported speech Reported questionsReported questions. When we report what people say, we usually change the tense of the verbs to reflect that we are reporting – not giving direct speech. This pattern is followed when we report questions and there are also other important changes between direct questions and reported questions. Reported questions are one form of reported speech. direct question | reported question | She said: "Are you cold?" | She asked me if I was cold. | He said: "Where's my pen?" | He asked where his pen was. | We usually introduce reported questions with the verb "ask": - He asked (me) if / whether ... (YES/NO questions)
- He asked (me) why / when / where / what / how ... (question-word questions)
As with reported statements, we may need to change pronouns and tense (backshift) as well as time and place in reported questions. But we also need to change the word order . After we report a question, it is no longer a question (and in writing there is no question mark). The word order is like that of a normal statement (subject-verb-object). Reported YES/NO questionsWe introduce reported YES/NO questions with ask + if : direct question | She said, | | reported question | She asked | . | Note that in the above example the reported question has no auxiliary "do". But there is pronoun change and backshift. Note that we sometimes use "whether" instead of "if". The meaning is the same. "Whether" is a little more formal and more usual in writing: - They asked us if we wanted lunch.
- They asked us whether we wanted lunch.
Reported question-word questionsWe introduce reported question-word questions with ask + question word : direct question | He said, | "Where | do you live?" | reported question | He asked me | where | I lived. | Remember that there are basically three types of question: - YES/NO questions: Do you want tea?
- Question Word questions: Where did you drink tea?
- Choice questions: Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Reported choice questions have the same structure as Reported YES/NO questions. Questions with the verb BE always have a different structure: Was the tea cold? Where is my tea? You can see all these differences in the examples below. Look at these example sentences: | direct question | reported question | YES/NO questions | I said: "Can I help you?" | I asked if I could help her. | She said to us: "Did you feel cold?" | She asked if we had felt cold. | He said: "Are your hands cold?" | He asked whether my hands were cold. | question-word questions | He said: "Where are you going?" | He asked me where I was going. | He said: "Why didn't you say something?" | He asked me why I hadn't said anything. | He said: "When will they come?" | He asked when they would come. | He said: "Who has seen Avatar?" | He asked me who had seen Avatar. | He said: "How much might it cost?" | He asked me how much it might cost. | She said to me: "Where is the station?" | She asked me where the station was. | choice questions | He asked, "Do you want tea or coffee?" | He asked whether I wanted tea or coffee. | He said, "Is the car new or second-hand?" | He asked whether the car was new or second-hand. | Course Curriculum- Direct and indirect speech 15 mins
- Tense changes in reported speech 20 mins
- Changing time and place in reported speech 20 mins
- Reported questions 20 mins
- Reporting verbs 20 mins
- Reporting orders and requests 15 mins
- Reporting hopes, intentions and promises 20 mins
![s2Member® (Security for WordPress®) s2Member®](https://www.s2member.com/s-badges/s-badge.php?v=1&site_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.english-efl.com) My English Grammar Ultimate English Grammar, Vocabulary, and Names Database Indirect SpeechIntroduction. Communicating effectively requires us to master a variety of grammatical rules. One such critical element is the appropriate use of ‘Indirect Speech’, also known as reported speech. Indirect speech allows us to convey what another person has said without quoting them directly. Table of Contents What is Indirect Speech?Indirect Speech is a way of expressing the words or utterances of a speaker in a reported manner. In contrast to direct speech, where the original speaker’s words are quoted verbatim, indirect speech is more about reporting the essence or meaning of what the speaker said rather than quoting them exactly. For example: Direct Speech: Lisa said, “I am going shopping.” Indirect Speech: Lisa said that she was going shopping. Changes in Verb TensesTense shifts. When you transform sentences from direct to indirect speech, the verb tenses typically shift back a step in time. This phenomenon is often referred to as ‘sequence of tenses’ or ‘backshift’. However, the backshift is not applied if the spoken words still apply at the time of reporting or the words express a universal truth. Here are the typical conversions: - Present Simple changes to Past Simple. E.g., “I like pizza” becomes “She said that she liked pizza.”
- Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous. E.g., “I am eating pizza” becomes “She said that she was eating pizza.”
- Will changes to would. E.g., “I will go” becomes “He said that he would go.”
- Past Simple changes to Past Perfect. E.g., “I ate lunch” becomes “She said that she had eaten lunch.”
Exceptions to Tense ShiftsThere are exceptions to these rules, such as when the direct speech element is a universal truth or a fact. Consider the below examples: - John said, “The sun rises in the east” becomes “John said that the sun rises in the east.”
- She said, “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius” becomes “She said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.”
Changes in Pronouns and Time ExpressionsPronoun changes. When changing from direct to indirect speech, it’s often necessary to modify the pronouns to match the speaker and listener’s point of view. For example: - “I love you,” he said. (Direct)
- He said he loved me. (Indirect)
Time Expression ChangesTime expressions often undergo necessary modifications when moving from direct to indirect speech. Here are some examples: - “Today” becomes “That day.”
- “Now” becomes “Then.”
- “Tomorrow” becomes “The next day” or “the following day.”
- “Next week” becomes “The following week.”
Indirect Commands and RequestsWe can also convey commands and requests indirectly. For indirect commands, we use “to” + base verb and for indirect requests we use “if” or “whether” + subject + could/would, followed by the base verb. - Direct: “Close the window!” – Indirect: He told me to close the window.
- Direct: “Can you lend me the book?” – Indirect: She asked if I could lend her the book.
Indirect QuestionsWhen posing indirect questions, we need to ensure that the word order follows the structure of a standard statement, rather than a direct question. Direct: “Where are you going?” – Indirect: He asked me where I was going. Mastering indirect speech is essential but can be challenging because of the need to adjust verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions. However, with practice, it becomes easier, and steadily, you find yourself communicating more effectively and efficiently, especially in formal and written contexts. Keep practicing, and soon converting direct speech to indirect speech will become second nature. Related Posts:![Indirect Speech or Reported Speech Indirect Speech or Reported Speech](https://myenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/plugins/contextual-related-posts/default.png) Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Transformation of Sentence: Direct & Indirect SpeechA direct speech can be transformed into an indirect speech and vice versa using a suitable reporting verb and a linker depending on the sentence. Let’s have an example first. Direct Speech | | | Tina | said | “Are you busy now?” |
Indirect Speech | | | | Tina | asked | whether | I was busy then. |
List of Reporting verbs and linkers (list 1) | | | | Said, told | That | 1. Yes-no question 2. Wh-question | Asked, wanted to know, enquired | If / whether | Asked, wanted to know, enquired | wh-word | 1. Without ‘Let’ 2. With ‘Let’ | Told, ordered, advised, requested, asked | to / not to | Suggested, proposed | that | | Wished, prayed | that | | Exclaimed in joy / sorrow / wonder / fear / disgust etc. | that |
Verbs of Reported speech (if the reporting verb is in past tense) (list 2) Direct speech → Indirect speech Am / is / are → was / were Was / were → had been Has / have → had Had → had had Shall / will → would Can → could May → might Must, should → must, should Verb1 → verb2 Verb2 → had + verb3 Change of time and place expressions in past tense (list 3) now → then ago → before today → that day yesterday → the previous day tomorrow → the next day last night → the previous night here → there this → that these → those Narration change of Assertive sentenceNarration change of interrogative sentence, narration change of imperative sentence, narration change of optative sentence, narration change of exclamatory sentence, narration change of vocatives, narration change of question tag. We serve cookies on this site to offer, protect and improve our services. KNOW MORE OK ![ezoic change question into indirect speech](https://go.ezodn.com/utilcave_com/ezoic.png) ![change question into indirect speech linguapress](https://linguapress.com/lplogo5.png) - Linguapress.com
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Reported or indirect questions in English reported questions and verb tenses in english , preliminary points:. - a) The main thing to remember is that in reported interrogatives, there is no inversion of subject and verb.
- b) Reported speech can be introduced by a lot of different verbs, but most commonly by expressions such as " He asked...... , I wonder..... " etc.
- When there is no question word (as in model M3 ), indirect questions are introduced by if or whether .
1. Reporting the present: simultaneous reporting.2. reporting the past: deferred reporting., 2.1. reporting the past from the present .. ![change question into indirect speech](https://linguapress.com/ads/desgram-free-kindle-250.jpg) 2.2. Reporting what was the future in the original question.- Today that day
- Tomorrow the next day, the following day
- Yesterday the day before, the previous day
- Now then, at that moment ,
- In five minutes' (etc) time five minutes (etc.) later
- Here there
More English study resources from Linguapress | Advanced level reading : a selection | | | with audio | | with audio | with audio | | | Advanced level short stories: | by Pamela Garza with audio | by Lindsay Townsend | And lots more: | Intermediate reading : | | with audio | Dialogue with audio | | | Sport: with audio | USA: | USA: | And more: | Selected grammar pages | | | with audio | | And some other pages | | | | | ![change question into indirect speech online shopping](https://linguapress.com/illustrations/shopping.jpg) ![change question into indirect speech ESL Grammar](https://eslgrammar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/eslgrammar.orgLOGO28.png) Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and ExamplesAre you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease. ![Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples 1 Direct and Indirect Speech](https://eslgrammar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Direct-and-Indirect-Speech.jpg) Direct and Indirect SpeechWhen someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example: Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza. Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken. To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example: Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park. It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example: Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was. In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing. Differences between Direct and Indirect SpeechWhen it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech: Change of PronounsIn direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example: - Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
- Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.
In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech. Change of TensesAnother major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example: - Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
- Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.
In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech. Change of Time and Place ReferencesWhen reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example: - Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
- Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.
In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech. Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker. Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect SpeechWhen you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules. Step 1: Remove the Quotation MarksThe first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker. Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a LinkerTo indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech. For example: - Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
- Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.
Step 3: Change the Tense of the VerbWhen you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. - Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.
Step 4: Change the PronounsYou also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb. - Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
- Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.
By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words. Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct SpeechConverting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech: - Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
- Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
- Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
- Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.
Here is an example to illustrate the process: Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home. Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said. By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech. Examples of Direct and Indirect SpeechDirect and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech: Direct Speech ExamplesDirect speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue. - “I am going to the store,” said Sarah.
- “It’s a beautiful day,” exclaimed John.
- “Please turn off the lights,” Mom told me.
- “I will meet you at the library,” said Tom.
- “We are going to the beach tomorrow,” announced Mary.
Indirect Speech ExamplesIndirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said. Here are some examples of indirect speech: - Sarah said that she was going to the store.
- John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
- Mom told me to turn off the lights.
- Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
- Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.
In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about. Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is direct and indirect speech? Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words. How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech? To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech). What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech? The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not. What are some examples of direct and indirect speech? Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza . What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech? The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” What is a summary of direct and indirect speech? Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb. You might also like: - List of Adjectives
- Predicate Adjective
- Superlative Adjectives
Related Posts:![Metaphor: Definition, Origin and Different Types in English Grammar Metaphor Painting Pictures with Words](https://eslgrammar.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Metaphor-Painting-Pictures-with-Words.jpg) This website is AMNAZING ![change question into indirect speech okyes boomer](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/770755d93494c12646d76f087373ef42?s=64&d=mm&r=g) MY NAAMEE IS KISHU AND I WANTED TO TELL THERE ARE NO EXERCISES AVAILLABLEE BY YOUR WEBSITE PLEASE ADD THEM SSOON FOR OUR STUDENTS CONVIENCE IM A EIGHT GRADER LOVED YOUR EXPLABATIO ![change question into indirect speech blessings](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c09d76c190643467c9fe2177a6909b8?s=64&d=mm&r=g) sure cries l miss my friend ![change question into indirect speech RISHIRAJ SINGH](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/549689718100399698b8ba8232425337?s=64&d=mm&r=g) he saiad,” we are all sinners”. convert into indirect speech ![change question into indirect speech English Tutor](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b4a29f1134095849a286495b550838fc?s=64&d=mm&r=g) He said that they were all sinners. ![change question into indirect speech Approach English Grammar CBSE ICSE ISE WBBSE](https://www.approachenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-1.png) 19 Direct and Indirect Speech Rules Examples (Updated 2025)![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://www.approachenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/19-direct-and-indirect-speech-rules-examples-updated-2.jpg) Have you ever struggled with the rules of direct and indirect speech? You’re not alone. These forms of speech can be challenging, but mastering them is crucial for clear and effective communication, especially for school students, ESL learners, and those preparing for competitive exams. Understanding direct and indirect speech conversion rules is crucial for clear and accurate communication and the conversion between direct and indirect speech will significantly enhance your language skills. This informative article will explore these Direct and Indirect Speech Rules for Conversion with detailed examples. Understanding Direct SpeechDirect speech is a form of reporting that presents someone’s exact words without any alterations. It is commonly enclosed in quotation marks, allowing readers to see the speaker’s statements precisely as they were uttered. 1. Key Elements of Direct Speecha . Quotation Marks Quotation marks are your best friends here. They compress the exact words spoken by a person. b. Punctuation Placement Punctuation is crucial. Commas , periods , question marks , and exclamation points all have their specific places within the quotation marks. c. Speaker Tags Speaker tags like “he said” or “she exclaimed” are often used to indicate who is speaking. These can be placed before , after , or even in the middle of the quoted speech. 2. E xamples of Direct Speecha. Basic Examples Consider this simple example: - Ritu said, “I am going to the store.”
Here, the exact words of Ritu are presented within quotation marks. b. Complex Examples Now, let’s add more complexity: - “I can’t believe it,” she whispered, “but I saw a unicorn in the garden.”
Notice how the sentence is split into two parts, but both are still within quotation marks. For a better understanding of Direct Narration![change question into indirect speech Understanding Direct Narration for Direct and Indirect Speech Rules.](https://www.approachenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/direct-speech-rules.jpeg) “I shall not go to school,” are the exact words of Riya, enclosed in quotation marks/inverted commas (“….”). This format, which uses commas and quotation marks/inverted commas, is called direct speech . In this sentence, ‘Riya’ is the subject or speaker, ‘says’ is the reporting verb, and ‘I shall not go to school’ is the reported speech. Understanding Indirect SpeechIndirect speech , on the other hand, involves paraphrasing someone’s words and reporting them indirectly, without using quotation marks. It requires a few changes in structure, such as tense and pronoun shifts. Let’s convert the previous example of direct speech into indirect speech: 1. Key Elements of Indirect Speecha. Removing Quotation Marks Unlike direct speech, indirect speech doesn’t require quotation marks. You’re paraphrasing what was said. b. Changing Pronouns Pronouns often need to be changed to fit the new context. For instance, “I” becomes “he” or “she.” c. Adjusting Tenses Tenses usually shift back when converting to indirect speech. Present tense often turns into past tense. d. Modifying Time Expressions Time expressions like “today” or “tomorrow” also change to maintain the timeline consistency. 2. Examples of Indirect SpeechBasic Examples Here’s a simple conversion: - Direct: John said, “I am going to the store.”
- Indirect: John said that he was going to the store.
Complex Examples For a more complex sentence: - Direct: “I can’t believe it,” she whispered, “but I saw a unicorn in the garden.”
- Indirect: She whispered that she couldn’t believe it but that she had seen a unicorn in the garden.
For a clear concept of Indirect Narration![change question into indirect speech Indirect narration of Direct and Indirect Speech Rules.](https://www.approachenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/indirect-speech-rules-2.jpg) Similarly, we can report the above sentence without quoting Riya’s exact words while keeping the meaning the same. This format is called indirect speech. In this format, no commas or quotation marks/inverted commas are used; only a full stop (.) is used at the end of the sentence. Difference between direct and indirect speech rulesThe following comparison highlights the key differences between direct and indirect speech rules, including punctuation, tense changes, and adjustments to pronouns and time references. | | | | Quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker. | Reporting the essence of what the speaker said without quoting exactly. | | Uses quotation marks (“…”). | Does not use quotation marks. | | Follows the reporting verb with a comma. | Integrates the reporting verb without a comma. | | Tense remains as originally spoken. | Tense often shifts back (present to past, future to conditional, etc.). | | Pronouns remain as originally spoken. | Pronouns change to match the perspective of the reporting speaker. | | Time and place references remain as originally spoken. | Time and place references may change (e.g., “today” becomes “that day”). | | She said, “I am going to the store.” | She said that she was going to the store. | | John asked, “Can you help me?” | John asked if I could help him. | | “We will finish the project tomorrow,” they promised. | They promised that they would finish the project the next day. | | “I have never seen such a beautiful place,” he exclaimed. | He exclaimed that he had never seen such a beautiful place. |
People also ask Direct and Indirect Speech Rules: Essential for LearnersDiscover the essential rules of direct and indirect speech with a variety of examples to improve your language skills. Effortlessly understand the intricacies of converting statements, questions, and commands from one form to another. Understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication, for learners. Here, we have outlined the essential rules you need to know. A. Reporting Verbs Rules B. Tenses Rules C. Pronouns Rules D. Punctuation Marks Rules E. Modals and Conditional Rules F. Modifying Words Rules A. Direct and Indirect Speech Rules for Reporting VerbsDifferent reporting verbs are used to introduce indirect speech. The choice of reporting verb can convey the speaker’s attitude towards the reported speech. Changes in reporting verbs according to tense are one of the most important rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech. Remember: If the reporting verbs are in the present or future tense, the tense of the verb in the reported speech is not changed . Remember: If the reporting verbs are in the past tense , the tense of the verb in the reported speech will be in the corresponding past tense. Here are some commonly used reporting verbs: Rule 1: Reporting verbs rules for ‘ Say ‘ and ‘ Tell ‘.“Say” and “tell” are two frequently used reporting verbs. “Say” is generally followed by the reported speech, while “tell” is followed by the indirect object (the person being addressed). Direct: He says , “I am your friend.” Indirect: He says that he is your friend. Direct: He said to me, “I’m going to the store.” Indirect: She told me that he was going to the store. Reporting verbs ‘Say’ and ‘Tell’ Chart | | say | say | say to me | tell me | says to them | tells them | said | said | said to him | told him | shall/will say | shall/will say | shall/will say to her | shall/will tell her |
Rule 2: ‘ Ask ‘ and ‘ Inquire’ are used as reporting verbs.When reporting questions , “ ask “ and “ inquire “ are commonly employed reporting verbs. Direct: He said to me, “Where are you going?” Indirect: He asked where I was going. Direct: She said , “When will the concert start?” Indirect: She inquired, “When will the concert start?” Direct: Sarah said , “What time does the movie start?” Indirect: Sarah asked what time the movie started. Direct: “Could you please provide more details?” she said to me. Indirect: She inquired politely if I could provide more details. Direct: The customer said , “Do you have this item in stock?” Indirect: The customer i nquired if that item had in stock. Rule 3: Reporting Verb rules for “ Request “, “ Advise “, “ Order “, and “ Beg “.To report imperative sentences, “Request”, “Advise”, “Order”, and “beg” are often used. Direct: “Please close the door,” she said . Indirect: She requested that the door be closed. Direct: “You should study regularly,” he said. Indirect: He advised that regular studying should be done. Direct: “Stand up straight,” the sergeant said . Indirect: The sergeant ordered that they stand up straight. Direct: He said to me, “Go home at once” Indirect: He ordered me to go home at once. Direct: She said , “Do not run in the sun” Indirect: She advised not to run in the sun.” Direct: “Please forgive me,” she said. Indirect: She begged for forgiveness. B. Tenses Rules for Direct and Indirect SpeechThe second most important rule is the changes of Tenses for converting direct speech to indirect speech. When transforming direct speech into indirect speech, there are specific rules to follow regarding tense changes: Rule 4: If the reporting verb is in the present tense ,If the Reporting Verb is in the Present Tense , there is no change in the tense in the Reported Verb when Direct Speech is converted into Indirect Narration. Direct: Arnab says , “The room is dark.” Indirect: Arnab says that the room is dark. Direct: Arnab says , “The room was dark.” Indirect: Arnab says that the room was dark. Direct: Arnab says , “I shall finish the work.” Indirect: Arnab says that he will finish the work. Direct: Mary says , “I am going to the party.” Indirect: Mary says that she is going to the party. Direct: He tells us, “I will finish the project by tomorrow.” Indirect: He tells us that he will finish the project by tomorrow. Rule 5: If the reporting verb is in the future tense ,If the Reporting Verb is in the Future Tense , there is no change in the tense in the Reported Verb when Direct Speech is converted into Indirect Narration. Direct: Sarah will say , “I am going to the store.” Indirect: Sarah will say that she is going to the store. Direct: John will say, “I have completed the assignment.” Indirect: John will say that he has completed the assignment. Direct: Arnab will say, “The room is dark.” Indirect: Arnab will say that the room is dark. Direct: Arnab will say , “The room was dark.” Indirect: Arnab will say that the room was dark. Direct: Arnab will say, “I shall finish the work.” Indirect: Arnab will say that he will finish the work. Rule 6: If the reporting verb is in the past tense ,If the Reporting verb of the Direct Narration is in the Past Tense , the Present Tense of the Verb in the Reported Speech of Direct Narration is changed into the corresponding Past Tense in Indirect Narration . | | | Past He , | Present Indefinite ” I you” | Past Indefinite He said that he me. | Past The teacher , | Universal Truth or Regular Habits ” The sun in the east.” | Remains Unchanged The teacher said that the sun in the east. | Past She , | Present Continuous ” I a song.” | Past Continuous She said that she . | Past Mother , | Present Perfect ” I cooking.” | Past Perfect Mother said that she cooking. | Past Maria , | Past Indefinite “You the work.” | Past Perfect Maria said that I the work. | Past Soumen , | Past Continuous ” I football.” | Soumen said that he football. | Past Ravvi , | Past Perfect ” You me.” | Remains Unchanged Ravi said that I him. | Past They said, | Shall/Will “We help him.” | Should/Would They said that they help him. | Past Doctor , | Can / May ” You do it.” | Could / Might The doctor said that I do it. |
Direct: Rohan said , “She works hard.” Indirect: Rohan said that she worked hard. Direct: Rohan said, “She is singing a song.” Indirect: Rohan said that she was singing a song. Direct: The guest said shouting, “We have arrived .” Indirect: The guest shouted that they had arrived. Direct: My sister said , “It has been raining hard for 3 days”. Indirect: My sister said that it had been raining hard for 3 days. Direct: Father said, “I visited the Taj yesterday.” Indirect: Father said that he had visited the Taj the previous day. Direct: The boys said, “They were traveling in the park.” Indirect: The boys said that they had been traveling in the park. Direct: The reporters commented , “The Kohinoor had been lost long ago”. Indirect: The reporters commented that the Kohinoor had been lost long ago. Direct: Jyotsna said, “ She had been doing the work for 3 hours”. Indirect: Jyotsna said that she had been doing the work for 3 hours. Rule: 7 If the reported speech implies Universal Truth or Habitual Fact or Scientific Truth ,The Tense of the Verb remains unchanged in Indirect Narration in cases of General Statements of Facts , Universal Truths , Commonplace Occurrences , and Habitual or Repeated Actions . No real change occurs in these cases. Only there will be present Tense alone. Direct: The boy said to his mother, “ The sun rises in the East”. Indirect: The boy told his mother that the sun rises in the East. [ Universal Truth ] Direct: The monk answered , “ Man is mortal”. Indirect: The monk answered that man is mortal. [ Universal Truth ] Direct: The teacher told the students, “ Perseverance always leads to success.” Indirect: The teacher told the students that perseverance always leads to success. 3. Direct and Indirect Speech R ules for PronounsThere are certain rules to follow regarding the changes of pronouns from direct speech to indirect speech: Rule 8: Personal Pronouns (I, We, You, He, She, They) RulesFirst person. (a) If the subject of the reported speech of direct form is in the first person, the subject of the reported speech will be replaced by the subject of the reporting verb in indirect form, but the number must be the same. [ singular > singular and plural > plural ] Direct: She says, “ I am ill today.” Indirect: She says that she is ill that day. ![change question into indirect speech](https://www.approachenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/direct-indirect-speech-rules-change-of-1st-person.jpeg) Second Person(b) If the subject of the reported speech in the Direct Form is in the second person, the subject of the reported speech will be replaced by the object of the reporting verb in the indirect form, but the number must be the same. [ singular > singular and plural > plural ] Direct: He says to me , ” You can do this work.” Indirect: He tells me that I can do that work. ![change question into indirect speech](https://www.approachenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/direct-indirect-speech-rules-change-of-2nd-person.jpeg) Third Person(c) If the subject of the reported speech of Direct Form is in the third person, there will be no change in the person of the Indirect Form. Direct: I said, “ He will not wait for his friend.” Indirect: I said that he would not wait for his friend. ![change question into indirect speech](https://www.approachenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/direct-indirect-speech-rules-change-of-3rd-person.jpeg) Pronouns Chart : direct and indirect speech rules | | I (1st person, singular) | me (1st person, singular) | We (1st person, plural) | us (1st person, plural) | You (2nd person, singular / plural) | You (2nd person, | He (3rd person, singular) | him (3rd person, singular) | She (3rd person, singular) | her (3rd person, singular) | They (3rd person, plural) | them (3rd person, plural) |
Rule 9: Demonstrative Pronouns ( This, That ) RulesIn the case of demonstrative pronouns, replace them with appropriate pronouns in indirect speech. Direct: “ This is my book,” she said. Indirect: She said that this was her book. ![](//writinghelp.site/777/templates/cheerup2/res/banner1.gif) 4. Direct and Indirect Speech ( Punctuation and Quotation Marks ) RulesUnderstanding how to punctuate and use quotation marks correctly is crucial when dealing with direct and indirect speech. Here are some guidelines: Rule 10: Comma with Reporting Verb RulesWhen introducing indirect speech with a reporting verb, use a comma to separate the reporting verb from the reported speech. Example: She said, “I’ll be there on time.” Rule 11: Question Mark to Full Stop RulesIf the direct speech is a question, change the question mark to a full stop when converting to indirect speech. Direct: He asked, “Are you coming to the party?” Indirect: He asked if I was coming to the party. Rule 12: Exclamation Mark to Full Stop RulesIn cases where the direct speech has an exclamation mark, replace it with a full stop in indirect speech. Direct: She exclaimed, “What a beautiful day!” Indirect: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful day. E. Direct to Indirect Speech Conversion Rules : Modals and Conditional SentencesIndirect speech involving modals and conditional sentences requires careful attention to maintain accuracy: Rule 13: Rules of Modals in Indirect SpeechWhen dealing with modals like can, could, will, would, may, might, shall, should, must, etc., use the appropriate past form in indirect speech. Direct: She said, “You should respect your elders. Indirect: She said that I should respect my elders. Direct: She said, “I can speak French fluently. Indirect: She said that she could speak French fluently. Direct: May I borrow your pen?” she asked. Indirect: She asked if she might borrow my pen. Direct: He said, “You must complete the assignment by tomorrow. Indirect: He said that I must complete the assignment by the next day. Rule 14: Conditional Sentences in Indirect Speech RulesIn indirect speech, conditional sentences undergo specific changes, especially when they involve “will” or “would.” Direct: He said, “I will help you.” Indirect: He said that he would help me. Direct: He said, “I will help you with your project Indirect: He said that he would help me with my project. F. Direct and Indirect Speech Rules: ( Modifying Words – Time, Place, Manner )Adding modifying words or phrases can alter the meaning of the reported speech: Rule 15: Reporting with Adverbs of TimeWhen using adverbs of time in indirect speech, adjust them to match the new timeframe. Direct: “I will come tomorrow,” she said. Indirect: She said that she would come the next day. Rule 16: Reporting with Adverbs of PlaceSimilar to adverbs of time, adverbs of place need modification in indirect speech. Direct: ” I live here,” he said. Indirect: He said that he lived there. Rule 17: Reporting with Adverbs of MannerWe can also use Adverbs of manner in indirect speech, requiring appropriate adjustments. Direct: “He ran quickly,” she said. Indirect: She said that he ran quickly. Time, Place, Manner, Distance, Direction Chart: Direct and Indirect Speech RulesIn Indirect Narration, words denoting Time, Place, Manner, Distance, and Direction used in the quoted speech are correspondingly changed to conform to the point of view of the Reporter. Thus, the sense of nearness is changed into that of Distance, and so on. | | now | then /at that time | ago | before | henceforth | thenceforth | long ago | long before | henceforward | thenceforward | today | That day /the same day | tonight | that night /the same night | tomorrow | the next day /the following day | yesterday | the previous day /the day before | yesterday night | the previous night /the night before | last night | the previous night /the night before | last evening | the previous evening /the evening before | last week | the previous week /the week before | last fortnight | the previous fortnight /the fortnight before | last month | the previous month /the month before | last year | the previous year /the year before | last occasion | the previous occasion | next day | the following day /the day after | next week | the following week /the week after | next fortnight | the following fortnight /the fortnight after | next month | the following month /the month after | next year | the following year /the year after | on the next occasion | on the following occasion |
Place Chart | | here | there | at this place | at that place |
Manner Chart | | thus | so /in that way | in this way | in that way | in this manner | in that manner | hereby | thereby |
Distance ChartDirection Chart | | hither | thither | hence | thence | From here | From there |
Direct and Indirect Speech Advanced RulesIt is necessary to know about the Direct Indirect Speech Advanced Rules to change the mode of narration from direct to indirect speech of different sentences. All five sentences of Direct Indirect Speech Conversion Rules are shown with proper examples below. A. Assertive Sentence Conversion RulesTo convert Assertive sentences into indirect speech the following rules are applied. (a) No comma and Inverted comma in Indirect Speech, only full stop at the end. (b) Reporting Verbs changed from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech ; ‘say – say’, ‘says – says’, ‘said – said’, ‘said to – told’, ‘say to – tell’, ‘says to – tells’. (c) Connective ‘that’ added before Reported Speech in indirect Narration. Direct: He said to me, “I am ill.” Indirect: He told me that he was ill. Direct: Mary said, “I am happy with my results.” Indirect: Mary said that she was happy with her results. Direct: Tom said, “I will attend the meeting tomorrow.” Indirect: Tom said that he would attend the meeting the next day. Direct: Alice said, “I have finished my homework.” Indirect: Alice said that she had finished her homework. Direct: David said, “We are planning a trip to the mountains.” Indirect: David said that they were planning a trip to the mountains. B. Interrogative sentences Conversion rulesForming indirect speech with questions necessitates some adjustments: a. Reporting Yes/No Questions rulesWhen reporting yes/no questions, use “if” or “whether” and invert the subject and auxiliary verb in indirect speech. Direct: John asked, “Are you coming to the party?” Indirect: John asked if I was coming to the party. Direct: Sarah asked, “Do you like chocolate?” Indirect: Sarah asked if I liked chocolate. Direct: Mike asked, “Have you finished your project?” Indirect: Mike asked if I had finished my project. Direct: Emma asked, “Will you help me with my homework?” Indirect: Emma asked if I would help her with her homework. Direct: “Will you be there?” he asked. Indirect: He asked if I would be there. b. Reporting Wh-Questions rulesFor reporting wh-questions, maintain the question word and adjust the word order in indirect speech. (a) ‘Tell’ and ‘say’ in Direct Narration are changed to ‘ask’, ‘enquire of’, ‘question’, ‘want to know’ etc. in Indirect Narration. (b) In place of introductory ‘that’. ‘if’ or ‘whether’ should be used. (c) In Indirect Narration a full stop (.) must be put in place of a question mark(?) at the end of the sentence. (d) In Direct Narration the Reported Speech begins with W-word or how, in Indirect Narration the same Wh-word or how is retained. Direct: Lisa asked, “Where are you going?” Indirect: Lisa asked where I was going. Direct: Mark asked, “What time does the movie start?” Indirect: Mark asked what time the movie started. Direct: Jennifer asked, “Why did you leave early?” Indirect: Jennifer asked why I had left early. Direct: Tom asked, “How do you solve this problem?” Indirect: Tom asked how I solved that problem. Direct: “Where are you going?” she asked. Indirect: She asked where I was going. Direct: The teacher said to me, “Why are you late?” Indirect: The teacher asked me why I was late. C. Imperative Sentences Conversion rulesThe indirect speech also involves reporting imperatives, which are commands, requests, or advice: Reporting CommandsWhen reporting commands, use the reporting verb “tell” and change the imperative verb to the corresponding infinitive. Direct: The teacher said, “Open your books.” Indirect: The teacher told the students to open their books. Reporting RequestsFor reporting requests, employ the reporting verb “ask” and convert the imperative verb to the corresponding infinitive. Direct: She said, “Please help me with this.” Indirect: She asked for help with that. (a) Reporting verbs of Direct Speech changed into order or command, advise, or request according to sense in Indirect Speech. (b) ‘To’ is placed before Reported speech in Indirect Narration; for the negative imperative sentence ‘not to’ is used. (c) ‘not to’ can also be replaced by ‘forbid’, or ‘prohibit’. (d) ‘Let’ implies ‘suggestion’ or ‘proposal’; Reporting verb will be ‘suggest’ or ‘propose’ in Indirect Speech. ‘that’ is used before Reported speech in Indirect Narration (e) ‘Let’ without ‘suggestion’ or ‘proposal’; Reporting verb will be ‘tell’, or ‘wish’ according to sense in Indirect Speech. ‘that’ is used before Reported speech in Indirect Narration. Direct: Mother said to me, “Don’t run in the sun.” Indirect: Mother advised me not to run in the sun. Direct: She said to me, “Let us go for a picnic.” Indirect: She suggested that we should go for a picnic. D. Optative Sentence Conversion rulesThe following rules are used to change an optative sentence from direct speech to indirect speech (a) Reporting verbs changed to ‘ wish ’, ‘ pray’ , and ‘ bless ’ in Indirect Speech. (b) Linker, ‘ that ’ is placed before Reported speech in Indirect Narration. Direct: The monk said to me, “ May God bless you.” Indirect: The monk wished that God might bless me. E. Exclamatory Sentences Conversion rules(a) The reporting verb is changed into exclaim (in joy), exclaim (in grief), cried out (in sorrow), pray, wish, etc. (b) Examinations are turned into statements. (c) Interjections (Alas, Oh, Hurrah) are omitted. (d) ‘What’, and ‘How’ used in exclamation should be replaced by great, great, very, very much, and big. Direct: The boys said, “Hurrah! we have won the match.” Indirect: The boy exclaimed in joy that they had won the match. Solved Exercises Direct and Indirect SpeechChange the following sentences into indirect speech. Q: Ratan said to Anita, “I don’t like your brother”. Ans: Ratan told Anita that she did not like her brother. Q: The hermit said to the boys, “God is present everywhere.” Ans: The hermit told the boys that God is present everywhere. Q: :He said to you, “You shouldn’t play in my garden.” Ans: He told you that you should not play in his garden. Q: The class teacher said to the students. “The inspector will visit our school today.” Ans: The class teacher told the students that the inspector would visit their school that day. Q: He said to me, “I don’t believe you.” Ans: He told me that he didn’t believe me. Q: She said to her son, “I’ve often told you not to play with fire.” Ans: She told her son that she had often told him not to play with fire. Q: Sitesh said to Lina, “I want you to go to Patna with me.” Ans: Sitesh told Lina that he wanted her to go to Patna with him. Q: “We can’t be quite happy in life,” he said. Ans: He said that they couldn’t be quite happy in life. Q: He said, “The Muslims bury their dead.” He said that the Muslims bury their dead. Q: “You’ve overcooked the steak again, Mary”, he said. Ans: He told Mary that she had overcooked the steak again. Q: Ramen said to Bina, “I’m going to your house this, week.” Ans: Ramen told Bina that he was going to her house that week. Q: He said, “We will discuss this tomorrow.” Ans: He said that they would discuss that the next day Turn the following sentences into direct speech.Q: He said to me, “You are wicked; so I shall not mix with you.” Ans: He told me that I was wicked; so he would not mix with me. Q: He said to you, “I was much struck by your eloquence.” Ans: He told you that he had been much struck by your eloquence. Q: We remarked, “God is gracious.” Ans: We remarked that God is gracious. Q: I said to my mother, “I shall always obey you.” Ans: I told my mother that I should always obey her. Q: He said to Gopal, “You were a mere boy when I saw you last.” Ans: He told Gopal that he was a mere boy when he had seen him last. Q: I said to him, “The sky is blue.” Ans: I told him that the sky is blue. Q: He said to me, “You will feel the consequences.” Ans: He told me that I should feel the consequences. Q: She said to you, “I am not angry with you.” Ans: She told you that she was not angry with you. Q: I said to them, “You have done wrong.” Ans: I told them that they had done wrong. Q: He said, “I visit the temple every day.” Ans: He said that he visited the temple every day. Direct and Indirect Speech Sample MCQ Questions AnswersFill in the blanks with proper direct and indirect speech rules. - d) had been
- Answer: a) was
- c) will like
- d) had liked
- Answer: a) liked
- a) will visit
- b) would visit
- d) had visited
- Answer: b) would visit
- Answer: c) was
- c) will have
- Answer: b) had
- Answer: b) could
- a) revolves
- c) revolved
- d) is revolving
- Answer: a) revolves
- b) had been
- Answer: b) had been
- Answer: b) would
FAQs : Direct and Indirect Speech RulesQ : what is the key difference between direct and indirect speech. Ans: The main difference lies in the quoting style. Direct speech involves repeating someone’s exact words, while indirect speech reports what was said without quoting verbatim. FAQ 2: Is it always necessary to backshift the tense in indirect speech?Ans: While backshifting is common, some exceptions exist, especially in cases where the statement’s truth remains constant. FAQ 3: How do I handle multiple speakers in indirect speech?Ans: When reporting multiple speakers, use appropriate reporting verbs and introduce each person’s dialogue in a logical sequence. FAQ 4: Can I mix direct and indirect speech in the same sentence?Ans: Combining direct and indirect speech in a sentence is possible, but it requires precision to avoid confusion. FAQ 5: What are some reporting verbs commonly used in indirect speech?Ans: Reporting verbs like “said,” “told,” “asked,” “claimed,” and “explained” are frequently employed. FAQ 6: How can I ensure my writing maintains a natural flow when switching between direct and indirect speech?Ans: Focus on maintaining consistency in style and verb tense to ensure a smooth transition between direct and indirect speech. FAQ 7: How do I identify direct and indirect speech in a sentence?Ans: Direct speech is usually enclosed within quotation marks and directly quotes someone’s words. Indirect speech, on the other hand, reports those words without quotation marks, often using reporting verbs like “said,” “told,” “asked,” etc. FAQ 8: Can reporting verbs change the meaning of indirect speech?Ans: Yes, the choice of reporting verbs can convey the speaker’s attitude or emotions towards the reported speech. Different reporting verbs can modify the meaning slightly. FAQ 9: What are the common reporting verbs for indirect speech?Ans: Common reporting verbs for indirect speech include “say,” “tell,” “ask,” “inquire,” “explain,” “describe,” and more. FAQ 10: How do I change tenses in indirect speech?Ans: The tense in indirect speech is generally shifted back one step. For example, present simple becomes past simple, present continuous becomes past continuous, and so on. FAQ 11: Is it essential to use quotation marks in indirect speech?Ans: No, quotation marks are not used in indirect speech as they report the speech without directly quoting it. FAQ 12: Can you give an example of indirect speech in narratives?Ans: Certainly! In the story, he said, “I love you,” to which she replied that she loved him too. FAQ 14: Can we omit the reporting verb in indirect speech?Ans: It is possible to omit the reporting verb in some cases, especially in informal contexts, but including it adds clarity and structure to the reported speech. FAQ 15: Do all tenses change in indirect speech?Ans: Most tenses change in indirect speech, but the changes depend on the context and the tense of the original statement. FAQ 16: Can you provide more examples of direct and indirect speech transformations?Ans: Certainly! Here are a few more examples: Direct: “I am reading a book,” she said. Indirect: She said that she was reading a book. Direct: “We have completed the project,” they exclaimed. Indirect: They exclaimed that they had completed the project. FAQ 17: How can I practice using direct and indirect speech effectively?Ans: Practice by converting direct speech to indirect speech and vice versa using various reporting verbs, tenses, and pronouns. Additionally, read books or articles and identify the reported speech used by the authors. Related Posts:![Subject Verb Agreement Exercises Class 10 Guidance (Updated) Subject Verb Agreement Class 10 Worksheet Answers Notes Rules](https://www.approachenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/subject-verb-agreement-class-10-worksheet-answers-notes-rules.webp) ![change question into indirect speech Top English Grammar](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cropped-Top-English-Grammar.png) Your way to the top of Grammar... Indirect Speech: Formula and Rules![change question into indirect speech TopEnglishGrammar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c915a84503172eed4679aa708cbb0c2e?s=50&d=mm&r=g) We are talking about a very important and interesting topic. We are talking about direct and indirect speech in English and what is the correct formula of the usage. Remember to read How to learn English with audiobooks for FREE This topic can seem complicated at the beginning, but necessary to learn. Having this topic solved, you improve your English to a new level, so let’s start to deal with it. What are Direct and Indirect speech?In English, there are two ways how we can tell what another person said. Two ways you can say what someone else has said before. - Direct Speech
- Indirect (Reported) Speech
Note : Indirect speech in different textbooks can be called differently: Indirect Speech or Reported Speech . But these two names mean the same. Indirect Speech = Reported Speech ![change question into indirect speech The infographic shows that there is no difference between the terms indirect speech and reported speech.](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/indirect-speech-reported-speech-1024x589.jpg) Direct speech in English is a type of speech when we retell someone’s speech as it was. We don’t change anything. John says: I’m a good boy. To tell what John said, we will say: We say: John said, “I’m a good boy.” Indirect speech differs from direct speech in that we DO NOT tell exactly what another person said. We are NOT repeating what someone else said. Indirect speech is when we tell the MEANING of what someone else said. We say: John said he was a good boy. Pay attention to what this sentence looks like. Earlier, when John said this, the sentence looked like this: I am a good boy. But after WE retell John’s words, in the indirect speech, this sentence looks like this: John said he was a good boy. The Quotes and the comma that stood after the name John, separating the speaker from his direct speech, disappeared from this sentence. In indirect speech, we do not use the separating comma and quotation marks. Because now it is WE are retelling the meaning of what the other person (John) said. ![change question into indirect speech The rule that we don't use the comma and quotation marks in indirect speech](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/comma-and-quotation-marks-in-indirect-speech-1024x642.jpg) In direct speech, the speaker most often speaks in the first person. That is, the speaker speaks from his person. John will not talk about himself: John is a good boy . John will say it on his behalf: I am a good boy. But when we retell the words of John (indirect speech), we cannot speak on his behalf. We cannot say “I am a good boy” because those are not our words. This is John a good boy. Therefore, in indirect speech, we change “I” to the third person. He says: I hate you but I need your help. I retell: He said that he hated me but he needed my help. To translate direct speech into indirect speech, we use certain rules that you should know. Let’s take a look at these rules and formulas in order. Quotation marks and commaIn direct speech, we use a comma to separate the speaker from what he is saying. Direct speech (what the speaker says) is in quotation marks. When we translate direct speech into indirect speech, we remove quotes and commas. Jessica says , “I’m from the future.” We retell Jessica’s words: She said that she was from the future. Personal and possessive pronounsWhen translating direct speech into indirect speech, we change personal and possessive pronouns to third-person pronouns. Direct Speech : He says, “ I couldn’t stay” Indirect Speech : He said that he couldn’t stay. Direct Speech : Tom says, “ I am deeply disturbed” Indirect Speech : Tom said that he was deeply disturbed. Note: If in direct speech the speaker tells his own words, then we do not change personal and possessive pronouns. Direct Speech: I said, “ I will do that” Indirect Speech: I said that I would do that. Adverbs in direct speechWhen we translate adverbs from direct speech to indirect, adverbs change their form. You can see how adverbs look in direct speech and how adverbs look in indirect speech in this table: ![change question into indirect speech The table shows how adverbs look in direct speech and how adverbs look in indirect speech.](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/how-adverbs-look-in-direct-speech-and-indirect-speech.jpg) But we don’t always change adverbs this way. We change adverbs only if, when translating from direct speech into indirect speech adverbs cannot express the same meaning as in direct speech. Take a look at an example: Mom says, “ Tomorrow we will go to Uncle John’s.” Mom said that the next day we would go to Uncle John’s. In these examples, we have replaced the adverb tomorrow with the next day . Because we retell Mom’s words on another day. We cannot say tomorrow anymore. Now look at another example: Mom says, “We went to visit Uncle John yesterday .” Now imagine that we are retelling this the next day. We have to say: Mom said that we went to visit Uncle John the day before yesterday . If we said “ yesterday “, it would change the meaning of what we want to tell. If in direct speech in the main sentence the predicate is in Past Simple, then in indirect speech we use the agreement rules. We put the conjunction “ that ” in front of indirect speech. Note: We may not use the conjunction that after verbs such as: He said he found it on the island. He thought he was better than me. He knew he could call you anytime. ![change question into indirect speech The rule says we don't use that after some verbs like to think, to know, to say](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/using-that-after-verbs-1024x600.jpg) Prepositional objectIf in direct speech after the verb to say there is a prepositional object, then in order to translate such a sentence into indirect speech, we change the verb to say to tell . In this case, tell is used without the preposition to . Incorrect : to tell Correct : tell This means: She said to me … changes to She told me that … Note : Remember that in this case we also change the adverbs of place and time and demonstrative pronouns, if they are in direct speech. Modal verbsFor modals, we use several important rules. We change modal verbs as well as main verbs when moving from direct to indirect speech. But we do not change all modal verbs. We leave some verbs in their original form. Let’s talk about modals in more detail. Modal verb mustIf in direct speech the verb must means an obligation or command, then in the subordinate clause in indirect speech must does NOT change and looks like must . The teacher says, “You must behave well in class.” The teacher said that we must behave well in class. If in direct speech the verb must expresses the need, then in the subordinate clause in indirect speech we change the verb must to had to . Mom says, “You must visit the doctor.” Mom said that I had to visit the doctor. The past form of Modal verbs in indirect speechCan and could.. We change the modal verb can in direct speech to could in indirect speech. Could is the past form of the modal verb can . She says, “I can swim.” She said that she could swim. May and might.We change the modal verb may in direct speech to might in indirect speech. Might is the past form of the modal verb may . John says, “I may propose to Maria.” John said that he might propose to Maria. Must and had to.We change the modal verb must in direct speech to had to in indirect speech (if the verb must expresses the need). Had to is the past analog of the modal verb must . ![change question into indirect speech Two examples of using direct and indirect speech.](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/examples-of-using-direct-and-indirect-speech-1024x604.jpg) Modal verbs that do not change in indirect speechThe following verbs move from direct to indirect speech in their original form. They don’t change in any way. - must (if the verb must means an obligation or command)
He says, “I could do this.” He said he could do that. Let’s take a closer look at these verbs: The modal verb would in direct speech remains in the form would in indirect speech too. Mom says, “I would bake a cake.” Mom said she would bake a cake. If we use the modal verb could in direct speech, then we do not change this verb in any way in indirect speech. Because could is a past form already (It’s the past form of the modal verb can ). John says, “I could learn to swim” John said he could learn to swim. The modal verb might does not change its form when we translate this verb from direct to indirect speech. Because the modal might is the past form of the modal may . He says, “I might ask the same question again”. He said that he might ask the same question again. We do not change should when switching to indirect speech. Because should is considered the past form of the modal verb shall . He says, “We should see Mr. Gannon” He said that we should see Mr. Gannon. We do not change the modal verb OUGHT TO when translating this verb into indirect speech. She says, “You ought to be angry with John” She said that I ought to be angry with John Exceptions to the rulesLet’s talk about the important exceptions to the rules of this lesson. - We can exclude the word that out of affirmative sentences in indirect speech. Because in indirect speech in affirmative sentences, the meaning of the sentence does not change, regardless of whether we use that or not.
He said ( that ) he thought you seemed depressed. He said ( that ) there was no need. He said ( that ) he had many friends. - If in direct speech we are talking about a specific event that happened at exactly the specified time and did not happen anymore, then we translate the sentence into indirect speech without the agreement.
He says, “Gagarin went to space in 1961.” He said that Gagarin went to space in 1961. The event that we are talking about in this example happened at exactly the specified time and did not happen anymore. ![change question into indirect speech Rule and Two examples of using direct and indirect speech.](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/rules-and-examples-of-using-direct-and-indirect-speech-2-1024x533.jpg) - If in direct speech we use verbs such as:
then when translating into indirect speech, we do not change the form of these verbs. These verbs remain in their form. She says, “We might find some treasure” She said that we might find some treasure. He says, “I should do it”. He said that he should do it. - If indirect speech begins with the verb say or tell which is used in the form:
- Present Simple
- Present Perfect
- Future Simple
then we translate such a sentence into indirect speech without changing the tense to the past: She says, “I cook deliciously.” She says that she cooks deliciously. He says, “I have a new smartphone.” He says that he has a new smartphone. She will say, “I didn’t know it.” He will say (that) he didn’t know it. - If in direct speech we are talking about a well-known fact or law of nature, then we do not transfer to the past such a fact or the law of nature when translating from direct speech to indirect.
He says, “After winter comes spring.” He said that after winter comes spring. She says, “Lions don’t hunt camels.” She said that lions don’t hunt camels. - If in direct speech we use tenses:
- Past Continuous
- Past Perfect
- Past Perfect Continuous
then when translating into indirect speech, we do not change the sentence, we do not translate the sentence into the past. He says, “I had fixed my car.” He said he had fixed his car. He says, “I was skiing .” He said he was skiing . He says, “I had been all alone for a very long time”. He said that he had been all alone for a very long time. Interrogative (question) sentences in indirect speechLook at the following rules and nuances to know how to correctly translate interrogative (question) sentences from direct speech to indirect speech: - When we translate a general question into indirect speech, we put one of the conjunctions between the main sentence and the question:
He asks, “Do you play dominoes?” He asked if I played dominoes. He asked whether I played dominoes. ![change question into indirect speech The use of conjunctions if and whether](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/conjunctions-if-and-whether-1024x490.jpg) - If we translate an interrogative sentence from direct speech to indirect speech, then we change the interrogative word order to direct word order.
We remove the auxiliary verb that was used in the interrogative sentence. We put the subject before the predicate as it should be for the direct word order. He asks, “Where are you going?” He asked where I was going. - If in an indirect sentence we ask a question using the verb say and if there is no indirect object in the main sentence, then we change the verb say to one of these words:
- want to know
She asks, “Where you are?” She wanted to know where you were. - When translating an interrogative sentence from direct speech into indirect speech, we change all pronouns, verbs, adverbs of place, adverbs of time.
She asks, “What do these letters mean?” She asked what those letters mean. Special questions in indirect speechSpecial questions (or Wh-questions) are questions that begin with an additional, question word. In indirect speech, such a question should also begin with a question word. This question word also serves as conjunction. This word attaches the question part to the main sentence. In the question part, we use direct word order. At the same time, we comply with all the rules for the Sequence of tenses. My dad asks, “What do you plan to do with yourself?” My dad asked what I planned to do with myself. Imperative sentences in indirect speechWhen translating imperative sentences from direct to indirect speech, we must take into account several nuances: - Orders in indirect speech look like this:
He said, “ Go now!” He said to go then. She says, “ Carry my bag” She asked to carry her bag. We use the verb to say when we translate an ordinary sentence into indirect speech. But in imperative sentences, we change the verb to say to a verb that expresses an order or request: She says , “Carry my bag” She asked to carry her bag. ![change question into indirect speech The infographic shows how we use imperative sentences in indirect speech](https://topenglishgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/imperative-sentences-in-indirect-speech-1024x630.jpg) - In direct speech in the imperative mood, we often use:
let’s (let us) let’s encourage the speaker and the person to do something together. In indirect speech, we change let’s to to suggest . For example: She says, “ let’s do that!” She suggested to do that. - In indirect speech, we put a noun after the verb that expresses an order or request. The noun is the one to whom this request or order is addressed. Then we use the infinitive.
She says, “Replace him, John “ She asked John to replace him. - We can strengthen the request or order in indirect speech if we add verbs such as:
- to recommend
- to urge etc.
She says , “Read this book” She ordered ( advised, recommend ) me to read that book. - In order to make a negative imperative sentence in direct speech, we need:
not + infinitive He says, “Don’t cry.” He said to me not to cry. - In direct speech, we often do not name the person to whom the order or request is addressed. But when translating an imperative sentence from direct speech to indirect speech, we must indicate the one to whom the order or request is addressed.
For this, we use a noun or a pronoun. She says, “Speak to him!” She asked me to speak to you. Present and future tense in indirect speechMost often, we translate the future and the present into the past. He says, “I have two brothers” He says that he had two brothers She says, “I do this every time” She says that he did that every day. He says, “I write books” He says that he wrote books. She says, “I am reading” She said that she was reading. He says, “I can swim” He said that he could swim. He says, “I will help you” He said that he would help me. Past tense in indirect speechWhen we translate a sentence written in the past into indirect speech, we can leave it unchanged or we can change the past to the Past Perfect. He says, “I saw this movie” He said that he saw that movie. He said that he had seen that movie. What if in direct speech the main verb is already in Past Perfect? In this case, the verb in Past Perfect remains unchanged. The verb in Past Perfect in direct speech remains in Past Perfect in indirect speech too. He says, “I had bought I new house” He said that he had bought a new house. I live in Ukraine. Now, this website is the only source of money I have. If you would like to thank me for the articles I wrote, you can click Buy me a coffee . Thank you! ❤❤❤ Recommended reading: Complex Sentence in English. 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Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers. ![change question into indirect speech Leverage Edu](https://leverageedu.com/explore/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/wings_logo.png) Direct And Indirect Speech Questions: Comprehensive Guide with Examples![change question into indirect speech dulingo](https://leverageedu.com/explore/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/exdulingo.png) ![change question into indirect speech Direct-And-Indirect-Speech-Questions](https://leverageedu.com/explore/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Direct-And-Indirect-Speech-Questions-800x500.jpg) Direct and indirect speech questions , commonly known as reported speech questions, are pivotal in facilitating effective communication . Mastery of direct and indirect speech concepts is crucial, particularly when forming questions, to ensure clarity and precision in communication. In this blog, you will learn more about rules for forming question sentences using direct and indirect speech followed by illustrative examples. Let’s dive in to learn! This Blog Includes:Understanding direct and indirect speech questions, rules for changing questions sentences into indirect speech, examples of change from direct to indirect speech, exercises of direct and indirect speech question sentences , reported speech exercise. Must Read: Reported Speech Let’s understand direct and indirect speech questions in detail below: Direct Speech Questions In direct speech, the actual words spoken by the speaker are enclosed in quotation marks. Whenever you form questions using direct speech, it is important to make note of actual words spoken and punctuation. For example : Example 1 She asked, “ Where are you going”? Example 2 He asked ,” Did you finish your homework”? Indirect Speech Questions In Indirect speech, the questions are not quoted in quotation marks as they are not the actual words of the speaker whereas the speaker tries to quote the meaning of someone’s else words. Transformation of sentences from direct speech to indirect speech involves several changes such as a change in the verb form, the removal of quotation marks, alteration in pronouns and a change in word order. For example: Example 1 She asked where I was going. Example 2 He asked if I had finished my homework. Also Read: Tenses Rules: Charts, Examples, Types [PDF Available] One must follow these rules while changing direct speech question sentences to indirect speech: Rule 1: Reporting Verb is changed to ask, inquire, or wonder according to the sentence. Rule 2 : The question mark is removed thus changing the interrogative form of the sentence to an affirmative sentence. This is done by placing the subject before the verb and if a sentence starts with a helping verb such as do or did they are removed in indirect speech. Rule 3 : If the sentence begins with the who words such as where, how etc. then we will not use any conjunction in the indirect speech for conversion. Rule 4 : If the sentence begins with the helping verbs such as do, did, have, etc. then conjunctions “if “ or “whether” are used to transform it into indirect speech. Must Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples Read the following examples thoroughly to know the changes made while converting direct to indirect speech: | | He said to him,” Do you live in Chandigarh?” | He asked him if he lived in Chandigarh. | She said to her mother “Are you going to school tomorrow?” | She asked her mother if she was going to school the next day. | The professor said to me “ Did you come late today?” | The professor asked me if I came late the same day. | My mother said to me,” What do you want?” | My mother asked me what I wanted. | The teacher said to Ram,” Where are you going?” | The teacher asked Ram where he was going. | She said to my sister,” Will you take tea?” | She asked my sister if she would take tea. |
Let’s check your understanding with a few practical sentences: - The girl said to the boy “Is the mango sweet?”
- The teacher said to Rahul, “Are you ill?”
- I said to her, “Do you know the man?”
- I said to her,” May I take your pen?”
- Nita said to Mohan “Will you help me?”
- I said to Manisha “Did you see our cow?”
- The professor said to his students, “Can you answer this question?”
- I said to Rohan, “Do you know my brother?”
- Father said to my brother, “Do you have any problem?”
- I said to her, “Have you had your tea?”
Match your answers with the solved sentences and analyze the understanding of the concept. 1. The girl asked the boy if the mango was sweet. 2. The teacher asked Rahul if he was ill. 3. I asked her if she knew the man. 4. I asked her if I might take her pen. 5. Nita asked Mohan if he would help her. 6. I asked Manisha if she had seen our cow. 7. The professor asked his students if they could answer that question. 8. I asked Rohan if he knew my brother. 9. Father asked my brother if he had any problems. 10. I asked her if she had had her tea. Must Read: Figures of Speech Instruction: Convert the following sentences from direct speech to indirect speech. - “I’m going to the library,” she said.
- “Please don’t forget to lock the door,” he reminded me.
- “I wish I had studied harder,” she sighed.
- “I’ll be here tomorrow,” she promised.
- “Give me the book,” he ordered.
Reported speech often known as indirect speech means conveying someone else’s words or thoughts without quoting them directly. In reported speech, interrogative sentences are changed by changing the question word order, omitting the question mark, and using appropriate conjunctions. Direct questions are something which we ask every day regularly. While Indirect questions are framed with a particular phrase. To advance your grammar knowledge and read more informative blogs, check out our Learn English page and don’t forget to follow Leverage Edu . ![change question into indirect speech ' src=](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7c175acb674b21215a0eb6a1be445435?s=120&d=mm&r=g) Amanpreet Kaur📚✨ From Classroom Chats Entered Into The Wordy World ….. Yes , If you all Remember that teacher who kept you on your toes with pop quizzes and endless homework? YEP! THAT WAS Me ! 🌟 But with the blessings of almighty and the key motivation of my husband who came across the spark of writing in me has insisted me to pave my way away from chalk dust to creative burst!💫 Being in this new world of writing I can compose pun-tastic content, poetry full of emotions and humorous articles that can even make Shakespeare envious of me 📝🎭.Yippee! from teaching young minds to educating worldwide readers it's an epic career switch. From teaching grammar lessons to grammatically flawless copy, I'm todays' wordsmith on a mission! Let me spin literary magic all around and conquer my exact destination of proving myself as The Best Writer in The World.🚀🏆 My promise is to provide you with valuable insights, solutions to your questions, and a momentary escape from the routine. I believe in the power of words to create connections, provoke thought, and foster growth. Woods are lovely dark and deep But I have promises to keep and Miles to go before I sleep ……..🌳✨🌌 Leave a Reply Cancel reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Contact no. * ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://publicassets.leverageedu.com/blog/img/aeroplane.png) Leaving already? 8 Universities with higher ROI than IITs and IIMsGrab this one-time opportunity to download this ebook Connect With Us45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today.. ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://publicassets.leverageedu.com/blog/img/edit.png) Resend OTP in ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://publicassets.leverageedu.com/blog/img/right_arrow.png) Need help with?Study abroad. UK, Canada, US & More IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More Scholarship, Loans & Forex Country PreferenceNew Zealand Which English test are you planning to take?Which academic test are you planning to take. Not Sure yet When are you planning to take the exam?Already booked my exam slot Within 2 Months Want to learn about the test Which Degree do you wish to pursue?When do you want to start studying abroad. January 2024 September 2024 What is your budget to study abroad?![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://publicassets.leverageedu.com/blog/img/bg-popup.png) How would you describe this article ? Please rate this article We would like to hear more. Have something on your mind? ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://leverageedu.com/img/otp_img.png) Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://leverageedu.com/img/Uniconnect-logo-white.png) India's Biggest Virtual University Fair ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://leverageedu.com/img/Calender_white.png) Essex Direct Admission DayWhy attend . ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://leverageedu.com/img/essexasset1.png) Don't Miss Out - English Grammar
- Grammar Exercises
- Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises
Direct and Indirect Speech ExercisesDirect and indirect speech is one topic in English grammar that confuses most language learners. It need not necessarily be so; if you understand how it works, you can easily use it in your writing. Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with AnswersWhen converting direct speech to indirect speech or vice-versa, you will have to take care to convert the verb , pronoun and the adverb appropriately. Go through the following exercises and try them out. Answers are given below each exercise; refer to them to see if your answers are right. ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://cdn1.byjus.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/direct-indirect-speech-in-under-15-mins.jpg) Exercise 1: Change into indirect speechRead the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech. - Rahul told to me, “When are you leaving?”
- “Where do you live?” the stranger asked Aladdin.
- The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
- Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
- “Call the first convict,” said the jury.
- “Call the ambulance,” said the man.
- Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
- My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
- Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
- The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
- Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
- Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
- Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
- The boy said, “Let me come in.”
- Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”
Answers –- Rahul asked me when I was leaving.
- The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
- The teacher asked Shelly why he was laughing.
- Dhronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
- The jury ordered to call the first convict.
- The man urged to call the ambulance.
- Bruce said to me he would do the work.
- My mother told me that I was wrong.
- Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
- The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
- Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
- Ruchi said that she might go there.
- Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
- The boy asked to let him come in.
- Granny prayed that God might bless me.
Convert the following into Direct SpeechRead the following passage and convert it into direct speech. One of them told Issac that the latter had forgotten one thing that belonged to a mill. Issac enquired what that was. The friend asked where the miller was. Issac replied that (absence of the miller) was true – and he must look for one. “But Issac,” said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs to a mill.” “What is that?” asked Issac. “Why, where is the miller?” said his friend. “That is true – I must look for one,” said Issac. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is direct narration. When the actual words/sentences as spoken by the speaker are quoted in a speech, it’s called direct speech/narration. What is indirect speech?When the quoted speech is reported in the form of a narrative without changing the meaning of the actual quotation/words by the speaker, it’s called indirect speech/narration. Leave a Comment Cancel replyYour Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked * Request OTP on Voice Call Post My Comment ![change question into indirect speech change question into indirect speech](https://cdn1.byjus.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Vector-2219-2.png) Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFsRegister with byju's & watch live videos. Home Toggle navigation FR Toggle Search Search the site Search About us About us Head office Regional offices History Archives Background materials Photos and videos Accessibility Contact us Corporate governance Board of Directors Governing Council and Senior Management Governance documents Educational resources The Economy, Plain and Simple Explainers Financial education resources Careers Take a central role at the Bank of Canada with our current opportunities and scholarships. Speech by Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of CanadaOTTAWA – On Monday, June 24, 2024, Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada, will speak before the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. Workers, jobs, growth and inflation—Today and tomorrow 12:45 (Central Time), 13:45 (Eastern Time) RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg North Building, First Floor 375 York Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba At 12:00 (ET), journalists are invited to review copies of the speech, under embargo, at the Bank’s head office in Ottawa. Please use the Bank of Canada Museum entrance, located at 30 Bank Street (corner of Bank and Wellington), and bring photo ID. For security reasons, journalists wishing to attend must confirm their presence by contacting Media Relations before noon (ET) on Friday, June 21, 2024. Those who have not registered will not be admitted to the lock-up. The embargo will be lifted at 13:30 (ET). The Governor’s text will be available on the Bank’s website at 12:30 (CT), 13:30 (ET). At approximately 14:00 (CT), 15:00 (ET), the Governor will hold a press conference in Room Pan Am (Second Floor). Accredited journalists who wish to participate remotely must contact Media Relations for connection information before noon (ET) on Friday, June 21, 2024. There will be an audience Q&A period. Audio and video webcasts of the speech and press conference will be available. Those wishing to attend are asked to contact Kayla Buehler . For more information, please contact Media Relations . Related InformationSpeech: winnipeg chamber of commerce. ![change question into indirect speech](https://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/tiff-macklem-500x375.jpg) Media Availability: Winnipeg Chamber of CommerceWe use cookies to help us keep improving this website. ![](//writinghelp.site/777/templates/cheerup2/res/banner1.gif) |
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Modals also change when transforming direct speech into indirect speech. Here are some common changes: 'Can' changes to 'could'. 'May' changes to 'might'. 'Will' changes to 'would'. 'Shall' changes to 'should'. Examples: Direct: She said, "I can play the piano." Indirect: She said that she could play the piano.
Reported speech: indirect speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Direct: "I will help you," she promised. Reported: She promised that she would help me. Direct: "You should study harder," he advised. Reported: He advised that I should study harder. Direct: "I didn't take your book," he denied. Reported: He denied taking my book. Direct: "Let's go to the cinema," she suggested.
Change the question into a Statement. Change SAID / SAID TO into ASKED (enquired). Change Conjunction word THAT into IF or WHETHER. Change of Personal Pronoun, tense and Special words. Remove commas, quotation marks and question marks. Formula for those starting with an auxiliary verb : Subject + asked + object + if / whether + changed Person ...
Question Sentences. When turning questions into indirect speech, we have to pay attention to the following points:. As in a declarative sentence, we have to change the pronouns, the time and place information, and set the tense back (backshift).; Instead of that, we use a question word.If there is no question word, we use whether/if instead. Example: She asked him, "How often do you work?"
Indirect questions are a way of being polite. They are very, very common in English, especially when you're talking to someone you don't know. 'Yes / No' Questions. To make an indirect 'yes / no' question, we use 'if' and the word order of a normal positive sentence. This is the same as for reported 'yes / no' questions.
Reported Speech Imperatives Exercise -. Reported Mixed Exercise. Reported Questions Grammar: a. We use introductory verbs like ask, wonder, want to know, inquire... b. We change the interrogative word-order to statement word-order. c. All the other changes in indirect speech still apply.
Watch my reported speech video: Here's how it works: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell' .) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.
→ more on statements in reported speech. Questions. When transforming questions, check whether you have to change: pronouns; present tense verbs (3rd person singular) place and time expressions; tenses (backshift) Also note that you have to: transform the question into an indirect question; use the interrogative or if / whether
When you are changing a question from direct speech into indirect speech, you follow the same kinds of rules as for statements. The only differences are that you need to use a different word to introduce the reported speech, and the word order of the question becomes like that of a statement. You end the sentence with a full stop, not a ...
When you are changing a question from direct speech into indirect speech, you follow the same kinds of rules as for statements. To report a question, we use verbs such as inquire, wonder, want to know, ask… Reported Commands and Requests in English. Reported Orders, Commands, and Requests are formed using the to-infinitive and not to-infinitive.
When we report what people say, we usually change the tense of the verbs to reflect that we are reporting - not giving direct speech. This pattern is followed when we report questions and there are also other important changes between direct questions and reported questions. Reported questions are one form of reported speech. She said: "Are ...
Indirect Speech is a way of expressing the words or utterances of a speaker in a reported manner. In contrast to direct speech, where the original speaker's words are quoted verbatim, indirect speech is more about reporting the essence or meaning of what the speaker said rather than quoting them exactly. For example:
Time and place expressions change if the reporting verb is in past tense. (Refer to list 3 below) The question mark (?) has changed to a full stop(.). Another important thing, the format of question (v + s + o) has changed to the format of a statement (s + v + o). In indirect speech the pattern always comes to subject + verb + object.
Reported or indirect questions in English Reported questions and verb tenses in English While expressing reported statements in English is relatively easy to master, putting direct questions into reported speech can often cause problems for the learner. The simplest way to master the rules or structures is to start with a few varied direct questions, and use them as models.
Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech. Change of Pronouns. Change of Tenses. Change of Time and Place References. Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech. Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks. Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker. Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb. Step 4: Change the Pronouns.
2. Examples of Indirect Speech. Basic Examples. Here's a simple conversion: Direct: John said, "I am going to the store.". Indirect: John said that he was going to the store. Complex Examples. For a more complex sentence: Direct: "I can't believe it," she whispered, "but I saw a unicorn in the garden.".
When translating direct speech into indirect speech, we change personal and possessive pronouns to third-person pronouns. Direct Speech: He says, ... In indirect speech, such a question should also begin with a question word. This question word also serves as conjunction. This word attaches the question part to the main sentence.
What is indirect speech or reported speech? When we tell people what another person said or thought, we often use reported speech or indirect speech. To do that, we need to change verb tenses (present, past, etc.) and pronouns (I, you, my, your, etc.) if the time and speaker are different.For example, present tenses become past, I becomes he or she, and my becomes his or her, etc.
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message. Q2.
One must follow these rules while changing direct speech question sentences to indirect speech: Rule 1: Reporting Verb is changed to ask, inquire, or wonder according to the sentence. Rule 2: The question mark is removed thus changing the interrogative form of the sentence to an affirmative sentence. This is done by placing the subject before ...
Convert the following into Direct Speech. Read the following passage and convert it into direct speech. One of them told Issac that the latter had forgotten one thing that belonged to a mill. Issac enquired what that was. The friend asked where the miller was. Issac replied that (absence of the miller) was true - and he must look for one ...
The Bank projects that inflation will stay around 3% into the second quarter of 2024, ease below 2.5% in the second half of the year and return to target in 2025. ... At 12:00 (ET), journalists are invited to review copies of the speech, under embargo, at the Bank's head office in Ottawa. ... Workers, jobs, growth and inflation—Today and ...