Direct and Indirect Speech

Cartoon Strip

Launch Pad

In this chapter, we shall learn

• how to interchange direct and indirect speech

Taking Off

Note to Teacher

As direct and indirect speech has already been taught prepare flash cards with a sentence in direct speech on one side and the same sentence in indirect speech on the other side. Example : 1) Baiju said, ” I am going home.” 2) Baiju said that he was going out.

Divide the class into pairs and provide 2 flash cards to each group.

Student A will read out the sentence in direct speech to student B.

Student B will change the speech.

Student A will turn the card over and check whether the sentence is correct. If it is correct, Student B will score one point.

Each pair can exchange their cards with other pairs and score more points.

Tell them that we can state what has been said in two ways – direct speech and indirect speech.

We can state what people have said in two ways.

We can state the exact words that were spoken. This is known as direct speech Example :

• ” Happy birthday, Ronita !” said the children.
• ” Why do you wish to consult me?” asked the lawyer.
• ” Give me an explanation right now,” demanded her father.
• ” I will have to set out tomorrow,” said Marco Polo.

Or

We can state what was said in our own words. This is known as indirect speech or reported speech. Example:

• The children greeted Ronita on her birthday.
• The lawyer wanted to know why I wished to consult him.
• Her father demanded an explanation right then.
• Marco Polo said that he would have to set out the next day.

Direct Speech – Points to Note

• The exact words of the speaker are placed within double inverted commas. A comma is placed immediately before the quoted words.
• Depending on the kind of sentence the end mark is a full stop, a question mark or a mark of exclamation.
• The first word within quotation marks begins with a capital letter.

Assertive Sentences

Read the following sentences:

Ram said, ” I am reading this book.”

Ram said that he was reading that book.

Changes take place in the person ( ‘I’ changes to ‘he’), tense (‘am reading’ changes to ‘was reading’) and adverb (‘this’ changes to ‘that’) when the speech changes from direct to indirect.

‘said to’ changes to ‘told’. Example:

He said to his sister, ” You can buy the gift.”

He told his sister that she could buy the gift.

If a universal truth is stated in direct speech, the tense does not change in reported speech. Example:

She said, ” Honey is sweet.”

She said that honey is sweet.

If the reporting verb is in the present tense in indirect speech, the reported speech is also in the present tense. Example:

He says, ” The old house seems to be haunted.”

He says that the old house seems to be haunted.

If the verb in direct speech is in the simple past tense, the verb in reported speech also remains in the simple past tense. Example:

She said, ” I went home.”

She said that she went home.

If the verb in direct speech is in the past tense and the time of action is mentioned, the verb changes to past perfect tense in reported speech. Example:

She said, ” I went home at midnight.”

She said that she had gone home at midnight.

Changes in adverbs are as follows:

Info Orbit

• When an assertive sentence changes from direct to indirect there are changes in the person, tense and adverb.
• The comma after ‘said’ is replaced with ‘that’.
• ‘said to’ changes to ‘told’.
• If a universal truth is stated in reported speech the tense does not change
• If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense in reported speech does not change.
• If the past tense is used in the reported speech in direct speech, it will remain unchanged in indirect speech.
• If the past tense is used in reported speech in direct speech and the time of the action is mentioned, the simple past tense will change to past perfect tense

Practice Pulsars

I. Change from direct to indirect speech:

1. ” There is no need to leave tonight,” she said to her friend.
2. He said, ” The sun is shining brightly.”
3. She said to her father, ” I know you are angry with me.”
4. The scientist said, ” They will conduct experiments in this laboratory.”
5. The princess said to the minister, ” We have to reach a decision tomorrow.”
6. The teacher said to the class, ” All of you are aware that the earth moves round the sun.”
7. Every morning my father says, ” It is a new day and I am thankful to be alive.”
8. Mother said , ” Today may be a very hot day .”
9. He said to me, ” I am reminding you that time and tide wait for none.”
10. The coach said, ” At this time, next week, the result of the match will be declared.”

II. Change from indirect to direct

1. The captain told his men that they must not underestimate the enemy.
2. Taruna said that she had no idea how the accident had taken place the previous evening.
3. Usri told the children that all that glitters is not gold.
4. Ginny said that long, long ago there was a continent called Atlantis.
5. Raman said that the following day he would sit down with them and make a plan.
6. The milkman told the lady that the milk was watery as the cow had drunk a lot of water that morning.
7. She says that fifteen minutes of meditation every morning keeps her calm for the rest of the day.
8. Mrs Das told her neighbour that she had gone to Kolkata two years before.
9. Vinita said that those photographs were more precious than gold to her.
10. Old Mrs Vincent was of the opinion that a house was better than a flat.

Interrogative sentences

• When questions are changed to reported speech, the word order becomes the same as that of an assertive sentence. Example:

Karan said, ” When will the match begin?”

Karan asked when the match would begin.

• The reporting verb in reported speech is asked, inquired or inquired of, wanted to know etc. Example:

Savita said, ” Where is Peter?”

Savita asked where Peter was. or Savita inquired where Peter was.

Damien said to Rahul, ” Are you absolutely sure?”

Damien wanted to know if Rahul was absolutely sure. or Damien inquired of Rahul if he was absolutely sure.

Flash tip :1. ‘said’ changes to ‘asked’ or ‘inquired’. ‘said to’ changes to ‘asked’ or ‘inquired of’.

2. ‘enquired’/ ‘enquired of’ may be used instead of ‘inquired’/’inquired of’.

• If the question can be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’, if or whether follows the reporting verb. Example:

Rama said, ” Can I use that pen?”

Rama asked if she could use that pen.

• If the question cannot be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’, the reporting verb is followed by question words like when, what, which, where and how. Example:

Rama said, ” When did this happen?”

Rama asked when it happened.

• There are changes in the person, tense and adverbs just like in the assertive sentences.

Info Orbit

When questions are changed to reported speech, the word order becomes the same as that of an assertive sentence.

The reporting verb in reported speech is asked, inquired or inquired of, wanted to know etc.

If the question can be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’, if or whether follows the reporting verb.

If the question cannot be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’, the reporting verb is followed by question words like when, what, which, where and how.

Practice Pulsar

III. Change the speech

1. Damini said, ” Can you explain the sum now?”
2. Rajiv asked Poonam, ” What are these stacks of paper for?”
3. ” Have you enjoyed yourselves today?” said the instructor.
4. Minu inquired, ” Tom, why are you packing your bag?”
5. The children said, ” Will you take us to the zoo next week?”
6. He said, ” How much further do we have to travel?”
7. She asked whether they were ready to go for a walk that evening.
8. Shyam asked me why I was laughing so much.
9. Fanny wanted to know who lived in the old house on the hill.
10. The headman asked if anyone had worked for that company a year back.
11. The detective enquired of the witness if he had seen the man in the photograph.
12. Akhilesh wished to know how many of his classmates would go for a picnic.

Commands and Requests

Read the given sentences:

1.She said, ” Please tie your seat belt.”

She requested me to tie my seatbelt.

2. She said, ” Buy the necessities before the sun sets.”

She ordered him to buy the necessities before the sun set.

3. She said, ” Let us organise a party.”

She suggested that they should organise a party.

The reporting verb is requested, told, asked, suggested etc.

The main verb in direct speech changes to an infinitive in indirect speech. ‘tie’ in sentence 1 changes to ‘to tie’, and ‘buy’ in sentence 2 changes to ‘to buy’.

Even when the person who is being addressed is not mentioned in direct speech, we have to mention the person in indirect speech. Example :

He said, ” Please sit down.”

He requested her to sit down.

When the direct speech begins with ‘let’, the reporting verb changes to suggested and the main verb is preceded by ‘should’ in reported speech. In sentence 3 organise changes to should organise.

Info Orbit

The reporting verb is requested, told, asked, suggested etc.

The main verb in direct speech changes to an infinitive in indirect speech.

Even when the person who is being addressed is not mentioned in direct speech, we have to mention the person in indirect speech.

When the direct speech begins with ‘let’, the reporting verb changes to suggested and the main verb is preceded by ‘should’ in reported speech.

Practice Pulsar

IV. Change the speech:

1. ” Keep the vase on the table, Sima, ” she said.
2. ” Make sure that you have enough water,” the guide said.
3. ” Please do not make so much noise,” said the official to the visitors.
4. ” Let us clean the compound, ” said the monitor.
5. ” Switch off the fans and lights before you leave,” he said.
6. ” Kindly contribute generously,” said the child at the door.
7. She ordered the children to cross the road cautiously.
8. They requested us to wait for a few hours before lodging a complaint.
9. The man told us to take a right turn to reach the bakery.
10. We suggested to the old people that they should visit the orphanage once a week.
11. The officer ordered the men to take up their positions.
12. He requested her to take off her shoes outside the temple.

Exclamations and Exclamatory Sentences

Read the given sentences:

He said, ” Alas! I have lost everything.”

He exclaimed in sorrow that he had lost everything.

• The reporting verb ‘said’ in direct speech changes to ‘exclaimed’ in reported speech.
• The emotion that is expressed by the exclamation in direct speech is stated in reported speech. So ‘Alas!’ is replaced by ‘exclaimed in sorrow’.

She said, ” How hot the day is!”

She exclaimed that the day was very hot.

When an exclamatory sentence in direct speech begins with ‘How’ or ‘What’, it is usually replaced with ‘very’ in reported speech.

Info Orbit

The reporting verb ‘said’ in direct speech changes to ‘exclaimed’ in reported speech.

The emotion that is expressed by the exclamation in direct speech is stated in reported speech.

Practice Pulsar

V. Change the speech

1. He said, ” Hurrah! I have won the lottery.”
2. She said, ” What a pretty little girl you are!”
3. The lady said, ” What a fool I have been!”
4. He said, ” Oh! This is the best car I have seen.”
5. He said, ” O God! Forgive me for what I have done.
6. The teacher congratulated him, saying that he had done very well.
7. Wendy exclaimed that the bed was very comfortable.
8. Madan exclaimed in joy that he was free at last.
9. The jackal exclaimed that the crow had a very sweet voice.
10. Ms Parekh exclaimed in grief that her brother was responsible for his own downfall.
11. Ellen exclaimed that the weather was very chilly.
12. Brendan exclaimed that it was a great pity that they had missed the show.

Word Zoomer

Reported Speech : Indirect speech is also known as reported speech. When direct speech changes to reported speech usually the first and second person change to the third person, the present tense changes to the past tense and the adverbs showing nearness in time and position are replaced by adverbs that show distance in time and position.

Direct Speech : The words that are actually said. These are placed within quotation marks.

Reporting verb : The verb that introduces direct speech or reported speech. For e.g. said, exclaimed, asked, whispered, requested and commanded.

Touch Down

When assertive sentences in direct speech are changed to indirect speech

• there are changes in the person, tense and adverb.
• the comma after ‘said’ is replaced with ‘that’.
• ‘said to’ changes to ‘told’.
• if a universal truth is stated in reported speech the tense does not change
• if the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense in reported speech does not change.
• if the past tense is used in the reported speech in direct speech, it will remain unchanged in indirect speech.
• if the past tense is used in reported speech in direct speech and the time of the action is mentioned, the simple past tense will change to past perfect tense

When interrogative sentences in direct speech are changed to indirect speech

• the word order becomes the same as that of an assertive sentence.
• the reporting verb in reported speech is asked, inquired or inquired of, wanted to know etc.
• if the question can be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’, if or whether follows the reporting verb.
• if the question cannot be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’, the reporting verb is followed by question words like when, what, which, where and how.

When requests and commands in direct speech are changed to indirect speech

• the reporting verb is requested, told, asked, suggested etc.
• the main verb in direct speech changes to an infinitive in indirect speech.
• even when the person who is being addressed is not mentioned in direct speech, we have to mention the person in indirect speech.
• when the direct speech begins with ‘let’, the reporting verb changes to suggested and the main verb is preceded by ‘should’ in reported speech.

When exclamations and exclamatory sentences are changed to indirect speech

• the reporting verb ‘said’ in direct speech changes to ‘exclaimed’ in reported speech.
• the emotion that is expressed by the exclamation in direct speech is stated in reported speech.

Flash tip : The shortest letters are said to have been exchanged between Victor Hugo and his publisher. When ‘Les Miserables’ was released Victor Hugo wanted to know if it was well-received or not, so he sent a letter to his publisher with only ‘?’ written on it. The publisher’s response also consisted of a single punctuation mark – !

Star Exercise

I. Each of the following sentences contains an error. Correct the sentences.

1. Rani said to Praveen that she would go over to his house that day.
2. Brinda said that it was almost ten o’ clock now.
3. She asked that if the baker’s boy had delivered the bread.
4. Sandeep said that the earth was round.
5. Mohan said, ” Sandeep you are absolutely right.”
6. Deepa said, ” How cute the puppies look.”
7. Anand said ” You can leave the room now.”
8. ” Do not look so sad”, said my friend.

II. Read the dialogue given below and fill in the blanks:

Akram asked Nibha (1) …………………………….. Nibha replied that her father (2)…………………………..

Akram then inquired if (3) …………………………. with him. Nibha said that she did, but (4)…………………… Akram exclaimed that (5) …………………………. because she would be seeing (6) …………………………… Nibha thanked him because (7) …………………..

Comet Exercise

Choose the correct alternative

Shalini and Malini were twins. One day, while taking a walk Shalini said, ” I don’t think (1. we have taken the right path / we had taking the right path/ we had taken the right path).”

Malini looked around and found nothing wrong. Why had Shalini made such a comment? She felt that her sister (2. has made a mistake /had made a mistake /is making a mistake.)

Shalini pointed to a tree. ” (3.What do you have to say about it? / What did she have to say about it?/ What did you have to say about it? ) “

Malini (4.asked/exclaimed/ told) that it was (5. a very huge tree/ very huge trees/ a huge tree).

Shalini sighed, ” You lack observation powers. We walk here every day. Have you seen it before?”

Malini answered, ” No, I have not. ( 6.I think we took a wrong turning / I am thinking we took a wrong turning/ I have thought we took a wrong turning) near the bazaar.”

Shalini (7.asked/ requested/ exclaimed) an old man (8. if he can help them / if he could help them / whether he could helps them).

The old man guided them back and (9. advised/ commanded/ requested) them to be careful in future.

Shalini and Malini assured him that (10. yes/ they would be more careful/ they will be more careful).