Indirect Speech
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is when you tell someone what another person
said without quoting them directly. The structure often changes depending on the original
statement.
• Why: Indirect speech is used to report what someone else has said without quoting them
exactly. It allows you to convey the essence of the message without repeating the exact
words, which can be more concise and natural in conversation.
• When: Use indirect speech when summarizing or retelling something you heard or read,
especially when the exact wording is less important than the general meaning.
Key Changes in Indirect Speech:
1. Pronouns: Change according to the context (e.g., "I" becomes "he" or "she").
2. Tense: Often shifts back one tense.
◦ Present simple → Past simple
◦ Present continuous → Past continuous
◦ Present perfect → Past perfect
◦ Will → Would
3. Time expressions: Change to re ect the time shift.
◦ "Today" → "That day"
◦ "Tomorrow" → "The next day"
◦ "Yesterday" → "The day before"
• Direct Speech: He said, "I am going to the store."
• Indirect Speech: He said (that) he was going to the store.
Examples:
Direct Speech: "I’m studying for my exams," Mark said.
• Reported Speech: Mark said (that) he was studying for his exams.
• Explanation: The present continuous "I’m studying" becomes past continuous "he was
studying." The pronoun "I" changes to "he" to match the subject (Mark).
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Direct Speech: "We visited the museum yesterday," they told us.
• Reported Speech: They told us (that) they had visited the museum the day before.
• Explanation: The past simple "visited" becomes past perfect "had visited." The time
expression "yesterday" changes to "the day before" to re ect the shift in time.
Indirect Questions
Indirect questions are used when you want to ask something in a more polite or less direct way.
The structure changes slightly from direct questions.
• Why: Indirect questions are often more polite and less direct, making them suitable for formal
situations or when you want to ask something in a less confrontational or softer way.
• When: Use indirect questions in situations where politeness is important, such as in
professional settings, when speaking to strangers, or when making requests.
Key Changes in Indirect Questions:
1. Word Order: The subject comes before the verb.
2. No Auxiliary Verb: Drop the auxiliary verb (do/does/did) in the indirect question.
3. Use of "if" or "whether": When the question is a yes/no question.
• Direct Question: "Where does she live?"
• Indirect Question: "Do you know where she lives?"
Examples:
Direct Question: "What time is it?"
• Indirect Question: "Could you tell me what time it is?"
• Explanation: Notice that the word order changes from "is it" (direct question) to "it is"
(indirect question). There’s also no need for a question mark in the indirect form.
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Direct Question: "Did she nish the report?"
• Indirect Question: "Do you know if she nished the report?"
• Explanation: For yes/no questions, use "if" or "whether." The auxiliary verb "did" is
dropped, and the verb " nish" remains in the past tense.
Practice with Indirect Speech and Indirect Questions
1. Convert the following sentences to indirect speech:
John said, "I can't nd my keys.”
She asked, "Did you nish your homework?"
The teacher said, "You have to submit your project by Friday."
"The project will be completed by next week," the manager said.
"I have never seen such a beautiful sunset," he said.
"We are planning a surprise party for her," they told me.
"You must nish this assignment by tonight," the teacher instructed.
"The movie was fantastic," she exclaimed.
"I can help you with your homework," John offered.
2. Convert the following direct questions into indirect questions:
"Where is the nearest hospital?" (Can you tell me...)
"Is he coming to the party?" (Do you know...)
"What time does the movie start?" (Could you tell me…)
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"What is the capital of Brazil?" (Do you know...)
"Why did she leave so early?" (Could you tell me...)
"How many people attended the meeting?" (Can you nd out...)
"Will the event take place tomorrow?" (Do you have any idea...)
"Who is responsible for this mistake?" (Can you tell me...)
"Does she speak French?" (Do you know...)
"When does the next train arrive?" (Could you tell me...)
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