NARRATIONS

Direct and indirect speech are ways of reporting what someone else has said.

Direct Speech

In direct speech, the exact words spoken by someone are quoted, and they are usually enclosed in
quotation marks. It often includes the speaker's name or a reporting verb like "said," "asked," or
"replied."

Structure:

• Subject + reporting verb + , + "spoken words"

Examples:

• She said, "I am going to the market."

• He asked, "Do you like ice cream?"

Indirect Speech

In indirect speech, the spoken words are reported without using the exact words of the speaker, and
quotation marks are not used. Changes are often made to pronouns, tense, and time expressions to fit
the new sentence structure.

Structure:

• Subject + reporting verb + that (optional) + reported speech

Changes Made in Indirect Speech:

1. Pronouns: Change according to the subject or object of the reporting verb.

2. Tense: The tense of the verb in the direct speech usually changes to the past tense if the
reporting verb is in the past tense.

3. Time Expressions: Adjust according to the context (e.g., "today" becomes "that day,"
"tomorrow" becomes "the next day").

4. Modals: Changes like "will" to "would," "can" to "could," etc.

Examples:

• She said, "I am going to the market." → She said that she was going to the market.

• He asked, "Do you like ice cream?" → He asked if I liked ice cream.

Rules for Converting Direct to Indirect Speech:

1. Present Simple to Past Simple:

o Direct: "I eat an apple," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she ate an apple.

 2. Present Continuous to Past Continuous:

o Direct: "I am eating an apple," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she was eating an apple.

3. Present Perfect to Past Perfect:

o Direct: "I have eaten an apple," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she had eaten an apple.

4. Past Simple to Past Perfect:

o Direct: "I ate an apple," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she had eaten an apple.

5. Will to Would:

o Direct: "I will eat an apple," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she would eat an apple.

6. Can to Could:

o Direct: "I can eat an apple," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she could eat an apple.

Special Cases:

• Imperative Sentences:

o Direct: He said, "Close the door."

o Indirect: He told me to close the door.

• Interrogative Sentences:

o Direct: He asked, "Where are you going?"

o Indirect: He asked where I was going.

1. Tense Changes in Indirect Speech

The tense in indirect speech typically shifts one step back in time (backshifting). However, if the reporting
verb is in the present or future tense, no change is made to the tense in the reported speech.

Examples of Tense Changes:

• Present Simple to Past Simple:

o Direct: "I go to school every day," he said.

o Indirect: He said that he went to school every day.

 • Present Continuous to Past Continuous:

o Direct: "I am going to the park," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she was going to the park.

• Present Perfect to Past Perfect:

o Direct: "I have finished my homework," he said.

o Indirect: He said that he had finished his homework.

• Past Simple to Past Perfect:

o Direct: "I saw a movie yesterday," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she had seen a movie the day before.

• Future Simple (Will) to Future in the Past (Would):

o Direct: "I will call you tomorrow," he said.

o Indirect: He said that he would call me the next day.

2. Modals in Indirect Speech

Modals also change in indirect speech. However, some modals remain unchanged, depending on the
context.

• Will to Would:

o Direct: "I will help you," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she would help me.

• Can to Could:

o Direct: "I can swim," he said.

o Indirect: He said that he could swim.

• May to Might:

o Direct: "I may come," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she might come.

• Must to Had to:

o Direct: "I must go now," he said.

o Indirect: He said that he had to go then.

• Could, Would, Should, Might, and Ought to remain unchanged:

o Direct: "I should study more," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she should study more.

3. Time and Place Changes

Time and place expressions usually change in indirect speech to fit the perspective of the speaker.

• Now to Then:

o Direct: "I am happy now," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she was happy then.

• Today to That Day:

o Direct: "I will do it today," he said.

o Indirect: He said that he would do it that day.

• Tomorrow to The Next Day:

o Direct: "I will visit you tomorrow," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she would visit me the next day.

• Yesterday to The Day Before:

o Direct: "I saw him yesterday," he said.

o Indirect: He said that he had seen him the day before.

• Here to There:

o Direct: "I will meet you here," she said.

o Indirect: She said that she would meet me there.

4. Pronoun Changes

Pronouns change according to the subject or object in the reporting speech.

• Direct: "I will give you my book," she said.

• Indirect: She said that she would give me her book.

5. Questions in Indirect Speech

Questions are transformed into statement form in indirect speech, and the question mark is removed.
The word order changes to that of a statement.

• Yes/No Questions:

o Direct: "Are you coming?" he asked.

o Indirect: He asked if I was coming.

• Wh-Questions:

o Direct: "Where are you going?" she asked.

o Indirect: She asked where I was going.

6. Imperatives in Indirect Speech

Commands, requests, advice, and suggestions are usually reported using verbs like told, asked, advised,
or suggested followed by to-infinitive.

• Commands:

o Direct: "Close the door," he said.

o Indirect: He told me to close the door.

• Requests:

o Direct: "Please help me," she said.

o Indirect: She asked me to help her.

• Advice:

o Direct: "You should see a doctor," he said.

o Indirect: He advised me to see a doctor.

7. Exceptions in Tense Changes

• Universal Truths: No tense change is made when reporting universal truths or facts.

o Direct: "The sun rises in the east," she said.

o Indirect: She said that the sun rises in the east.

• Past Perfect: If the original statement is in the past perfect, no change is made.

o Direct: "I had finished the work," he said.

o Indirect: He said that he had finished the work.

Summary
1. Changes in Tenses

Direct Speech Indirect Speech Example

Simple Present Simple Past She said, “I work hard.” → She said that she worked hard.

Present Continuous Past Continuous He said, “I am eating.” → He said that he was eating.

She said, “I have finished the work.” → She said that she
Present Perfect Past Perfect
had finished the work.

He said, “I saw the movie.” → He said that he had seen the

Simple Past Past Perfect
movie.

Past Perfect She said, “I was studying.” → She said that she had been
Past Continuous
Continuous studying.

He said, “I will come tomorrow.” → He said that he would

Future (will) Would
come the next day.

Future Continuous She said, “I will be waiting.” → She said that she would be
Would be
(will be) waiting.

2. Changes in Pronouns

Direct Speech
Indirect Speech Pronoun Example
Pronoun

Changes to match the subject of He said, “I am happy.” → He said that he was

First Person (I, we)
reporting verb happy.

Changes to match the object of She said, “You are kind.” → She said that I was
Second Person (you)
reporting verb kind (if reporting to me).

Third Person (he, He said, “She is busy.” → He said that she was
Stays the same
she, they) busy.
3. Changes in Time and Place

Direct Speech Indirect Speech Example

She said, “I am happy now.” → She said that she was happy
Now Then
then.

He said, “I will come today.” → He said that he would come

Today That day
that day.

She said, “I will go tomorrow.” → She said that she would go

Tomorrow The next day
the next day.

The previous day / The He said, “I went yesterday.” → He said that he had gone the
Yesterday
day before previous day.

Here There She said, “I live here.” → She said that she lived there.

This That He said, “This is my bag.” → He said that that was his bag.

4. Reporting Imperative Sentences

Direct Speech Indirect Speech Example

He said, “Close the door.” → He told me to close the

Commands Told + object + to
door.

Requests Asked + object + to She said, “Please help me.” → She asked me to help her.

Negative Told + object + not +

He said, “Don’t shout.” → He told me not to shout.
Commands to-

5. Reporting Questions

Direct Speech (Question

Indirect Speech Example
Type)

She said, “Do you like coffee?” → She asked if I liked

Yes/No Questions Asked if/whether
coffee.

Asked + question He said, “Where are you going?” → He asked where I

Wh-Questions
word was going.
6. Modal Verbs

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Example
Modal Modal

Can Could He said, “I can swim.” → He said that he could swim.

She said, “I will help you.” → She said that she would help
Will Would
me.

May Might He said, “It may rain.” → He said that it might rain.

She said, “What shall we do?” → She asked what they

Shall Should
should do.

7. Reporting Exclamations and Interjections

Direct Speech
Indirect Speech Example
(Exclamation)

Exclamations with joy, Use verbs like exclaimed, She said, “What a beautiful view!” → She
sorrow, etc. said with joy, etc. exclaimed that it was a beautiful view.

Omit interjection; express He said, “Alas! I failed.” → He said with regret

Interjections (Oh, Alas)
emotion that he had failed.