Mastering Direct and Indirect Speech Rules: A Comprehensive Guide

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Narration / Direct and Indirect Speech Rules

There are two types of Narration

  1. Direct Speech
  2. Indirect Speech

Direct Speech

In this context, the exact words of the speaker are put in quotes “.”
Ex:-

  1. my mother said, “I am playing in the field.”

In the above sentence, the speaker i.e.

My mother is known as a Reporter,

said is known as Reporting verb and

“I am playing in the field.” is known as Reported Speech.

Indirect Speech

In indirect speech, the speaker’s exact words are transformed and said or written simply.

Ex:- My mother said that she was playing in the field.

Basic rules to convert a Direct Speech to Indirect Speech 

Four basic elements of sentences have to be changed while converting Direct speech to Indirect speech.

  1. We change the reporting verb according to the reported speech.
  2. We remove the inverted commas from the direct speech and replace them with appropriate conjunctions or interrogative pronouns.
  3. We change the pronoun of reported speech accordingly.
  4. We change the adverbs of the Direct Speech to indirect speech.

He said to me,” he will go to the cinema hall tomorrow.”
He told me that he would go to the cinema hall the following day.

In the above sentence

Reporting verb ‘said to’ is converted into told.
Inverted Commas are removed & replaced with the conjunction ‘that.’
Indirect speech’s pronoun ‘he’ is not changed accordingly to pronoun changing rule are given below.
Reported speech’s verb ‘will’  changed into ‘would.’

‘Tomorrow’ is changed into “the next day or following day.”

Rules of indirect speech pronoun change examples

NominativePossessiveObjectiveReflexive
IMyMeMyself
WeOurUsOurselves
YouYoursYouYourself
HeHisHimHimself
SheHerHerHerself
TheyTheirThemThemselves

Pronouns are changed accordingly to the given rule ‘SON.’

‘S’ stands for Subject‘O’ stands for Object‘N’ stands for No change.
I-                I/WeII-               YouIII-             He/she/it/they
  1. First-person is changed into the Subject of Reporting Verb
  2. The second person is changed into Object of Reporting Verb
  3. No change is required if it is a Third person.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule No 1.
The first person pronoun of Reported speech is converted into the Subject of Reporting verb.

Direct: He says, “I am studying in the twelfth standard.”
Indirect: He says that he is studying in the twelfth standard.

Direct: I say, “I am not a brilliant person.”
Indirect: I say that I am not a brilliant person.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule No. 2.
The second Person pronoun of the reported speech is converted according to the Object of the Reporting verb.

Direct: She says to me, “You came late.”
Indirect: She tells me that I came late.

Direct: She says to her, “You left your work today.”
Indirect: She tells her that she left her work that day.

Direct: I say to them, “You don’t do your duty properly.”
Indirect: I tell them that they don’t do their duty properly.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule No. 3.
The third-person pronoun of reported speech is not replaced.

Direct: He says, “He doesn’t read novels.”
Indirect: He says that he doesn’t read novels.

Direct: Everyone says, “They have made mistakes.”
Indirect: Everyone says that they have made mistakes.

How to change direct speech into indirect speech rules for changing verbs or tenses

Direct and Indirect SpeechRule No.1

If the reporting verb is expressed in Present or Future Tense, we don’t change in the verb or tense of Reported speech

Direct: The Principal says, “Katrina performs in the movies.”
Indirect: The principal says that Katrina performs in the movies.

Direct: The Captain is saying, “Katrina performs on the stage.”
Indirect: The Captain is saying that Katrina performs on the stage.

Direct: The Parents will say, “Katherine is dancing on the stage.”
Indirect: The teacher will say that Katherine is dancing on the stage.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule No.2

The Reported Speech will be converted into the corresponding Past tense if the reporting verb is stated in the Past Tense.

Direct: The teacher said, “I am not working properly.”
Indirect: The teacher said that he was not working properly.

Direct: She said to me, “I didn’t take anything for breakfast.”
Indirect: She told me that she hadn’t taken anything for breakfast.

If the reporting verb is given in the Past, we change the sentence into the following reported speech tense changes in English

  1. Simple present (do/does) is changed into Simple Past (did)
  2. Present Continuous (is/are/am) is changed into Past Continuous (was/were)
  3. Present Perfect (has/have) is changed into Past Perfect (had)
  4. Present Perfect Continuous (has bee/ have been) is changed into Past Perfect Continuous (had been)
  5. Simple Past (did) is changed into Past Perfect (had)
  6. Past Continuous (was/were) is changed into Past Perfect Continuous (had been)
  7. In Future Tense, “will/Shall” changes into would
  8. Can is changed into Could
  9. May is changed into Might

Some exceptions are given below of direct speech to indirect speech conversion exercises:

  1. If a Reporting speech has been given with universal Truth, general truth, or habitual actions, no change is required in the Tense.
  • Direct: My class teacher said, “Two & two makes four.”
    Indirect: My class teacher said that two and two make four. (General truth)
  • Direct: My sister said to me, “He writes with the left hand.”
    Indirect: My sister told me that He writes with the left hand. (Habitual fact)
  • Direct: The teacher said, “ Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.”
  • Indirect: The teacher said that water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.

  1. If the reporting speech has Past Historical facts, there is no change in the Tense.


Direct: Our teacher said, “Asoka left the war after the conquest of Kalinga.”
Indirect: Our teacher said that Asoka left the war after the conquest of Kalinga.

If the Reporting speech has two main verbs happening at the same time

Direct: She said, “My mother was cooking dinner when I was watching a movie.”
Indirect: She said that her mother was cooking dinner when she was watching a movie.

If an imaginary sentence is stated, we don’t change the reporting speech

Direct: she said, “If I were a billionaire, I would donate the money.”
Indirect: She said that she would donate the money if she were a billionaire.

No change in the reporting speech, if the Reporting speech has action III form, to +infinitive, would, could, should, must, might, ought to, &, etc. There is no change in the Tense.

Direct: She said to him, “You ought to love your country.”
Indirect: She told him that he ought to love his country.

Time & place are changed into the nearest words while making an indirect speech

Here There
Now Then
This That
These Those
Today That day
To-night That night
Yesterday The previous day
Last night The previous night
Last week The previous week
Tomorrow The next day
Next Week The following week
Ago Before
Thus so
Hence Thence
Hither Thither
Come Go

 

Some exceptions in changing time & places of direct vs indirect speech examples with rules

  1. We change ‘come’ into ‘go’ if there is some word given after come that shows nearness.
  2. If “this, here and now” are used in front of the speaker, we don’t change them while making Indirect Narration.

Rules of changing in Indirect Narration for different types of sentences

  1. Assertive Sentences

Rule 1

  • If an object is not given after the reporting verb, we don’t change ‘said.’
  • If there is an indirect object (him, her, them, you, us, me) after reporting verb,  we change “say into tell, says to- tells and said to- told.
  • According to the context of reporting speech, “said to” may be replaced with replied, informed, stated, added, remarked, asserted, assured, pleaded, reminded, reported or complained, etc.

Rule 2

  • Inverted commas are changed into ‘that’ conjunction in affirmative sentences.
  • Change the pronouns according to the Subject of reporting speech

Direct: He said to me, “I shall play the guitar now.”
Indirect: She told me that he would play then.

Direct: He said, “My sister’s birthday  comes off next month.”
Indirect: He said that his sister’s birthday would come off the following month.

Type No 2. Interrogative Sentences: indirect speech questions conversion rules

Rule 1

  • An interrogative sentence is used to ask questions. Therefore, the reporting verb “said/said to” is changed into “asked.”
  • “Said to” is also replaced with enquired or demanded

Rule 2

  • If the question starts with helping verbs-  is/are/am, was/were, has/have, do/does, will/would, etc.,  “inverted commas” are changed to “if or whether.”
  • If the reporting speech starts with “Wh family word,” like who, whose, what, whom, when, etc., wh-words are used as conjunctions. After that assertive sentence is to be made. It means verbs- is /are/am, was/were, etc., are used after the subjects.

Examples:

  • Direct: My teacher said to me, “Do you know how to play the Guitar?”
  • Indirect: My teacher asked me if I knew how to play the Guitar.
  • Direct: Preeti said to her sister, “Did you complete your assignment yesterday?”

Indirect: Preeti asked her sister whether her sister had completed her assignment the previous day.

  • Direct: The Managing Director said to them, “Have you not completed this project yet?”
  • Indirect: The Managing Director asked them if they hadn’t completed that project yet.
  • Direct: I said to the cops, “When will this criminal be caught red-handed?”
  • Indirect: I enquired of the cops when that criminal would be caught red-handed.
  • Direct: He said, “How did she know these facts?”
  • Indirect: He asked how she had known those facts.
  • Direct: He said to the Major, sir, “Can I sort out the emails?” He said, “Yes.”
  • Indirect: He asked the Major respectfully if he could sort out the emails. He answered in the positive.

 

Direct and Indirect Speech Rule 4

Direct and Indirect Speech Rules for Imperative Sentences:

  1. Reporting verb “said to” is changed into the following verbs – commanded/ordered/requested/advised/begged/suggested/proposed/forbade/prohibited/ prevented + object, etc.
  2. To, not to + verb I form is placed with inverted commas.
  3. Respectfully is replaced with Sir/Madam
  4. ‘Said to’ is converted into requested when “please or kindly” is expressed in an imperative sentence.
  5. The negative sentence will be changed into “forbade or not to verb.”

Direct and Indirect Speech Rules and Examples:

  1. My father said to me, “Bring a glass of water here.”

My father ordered me to bring a glass of water there.

  1. My brother said to me, “Please help me with my assignment.”

My brother requested me to help him with his assignment.

  1. He said to me, “Don’t dance here.”

He ordered me not to dance there.

Or he forbade me to dance there.

  1. The Police officer said to the constables, “Run until I come.”

The Police officer commanded the constables until he came.

Use of let- how to change “Direct and Indirect Speech Rules”

  1. Request:
  2. He said to the parents, “Let me talk to you about it.”

He requested the parents to let him talk about it.

Or

He requested the parents that he might be allowed to tell them about it.

  1. Order:
  2. The Manager said to the new recruiters, “Let him tell.”

The Manager ordered the new recruiters to let him tell.

Or

The Manager ordered the new recruiters that he might be allowed to tell.

Use of Let us:

‘Let us’ is used to denote a proposal or suggestion.

He said, “Let us settle the matter.

He proposed that we should settle the matter.

     Look at some sentences related to Direct and Indirect Speech Rules for exclamatory sentences:

  1. Angel said, “What a pleasant waterfall on this wall!”

Angel exclaimed with joy that it was a pleasant waterfall on this wall.

  1. He said, “What a charming little girl she is!”

He exclaimed with surprise that she was a very charming girl.

  1. He said, Oh! She has lost his temper.

He exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her temper.

  1. My mother said, My God! “Finally, you have been appointed to a government position.”

My mother exclaimed with surprise that, finally, I had been appointed to a government position. Job.

  1. My friend said, “Happy Diwali!”

My friend wished me a happy Diwali.

  1. I said to them, Good morning! “

I bade them good morning.

  1. He said, ‘If he were my brother!

He wished that if he were his brother!

  1. Rajeev Bhure said, “Hello! What were they doing here?”

Rajeev Bhure greeted me and asked what they were doing there.

  1. He said, “Goodbye.”

He bade me goodbye.

  1. Students said, “Thank you.”

Students thanked me.

  1. I said, “What a marvellous shot!”

I exclaimed with surprise that it was a marvellous shot.

  1. Kareena Jakhmola said, “Hello, sir. Good evening!”

Kareena Jakhmola greeted sir and wished (bade) him good evening.

  1. The headmaster said, “What a dance you did!

The headmaster applauded that I had danced very well.

  1. Lata said, “Ugh! he was eating beef.”

Lata exclaimed with disgust that he had been eating beef.

Have a look at Direct and Indirect Speech Rules for Optative Sentences

  1. He said, “May God save us!”

He prayed that God might save us.

  1. I said to the shopkeeper, “May you forget your memory!”

I cursed the shopkeeper that he would forget his memory.

  1. My friends said to me, “May you join the Indian Army soon!”

My friends wished me that I might join the Indian Army soon.

  1. She said, “May King win the war!”

She wished that King might win the war.

  1. He said, “May you live long!”

I prayed that I might live long.

narration/reporting speech grammar exercises

  1. She said, “Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.”
  2. I said, “The sun rises in the east.”
  3. He said, “One must do one’s duty.”
  4. She said, “You should help your friend.”
  5. He said, “You were not intelligent in the class.”
  6. He said, “Time and tide wait for none.”
  7. He said, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”
  8. He said, “I would rather die than beg.”
  9. My aunt said, “I would like to have orange juice.”
  10. She said, “I had better stay here for a while.”
  11. He said, “Do you know his address?”
  12. She said, “Why does he not play with us?”
  13. They said, “Let’s play hockey.”
  14. He said, “Let’s crash the party.”
  15. She said, “Don’t make a noise in the room.”
  16. He said, “Wow! He got selected in the Army.”
  17. She said, “Hurrah! You got the highest marks!”
  18. He said, “I have a cold.”
  19. She said, “May God help in your way!”
  20. They said,” Long live our nation!”
  21. He said, “May you live long!”
  22. She said, “I shall have completed my assignment by Sunday.”
  23. He said, “I shall be playing tomorrow.”
  24. He said, “Good evening, I have just brought funnel cake for you.”
  25. She said, “This girl is very beautiful.”
  26. He said, “Hello! Are you going to market?”
  27. She said, “Well done, boy! You got the reward.”
  28. He said, “Would that! I were an M.P.”
  29. She said, “Nonsense! You threw the food into the garbage.”
  30. He said, “May you fail in your mission soon!”

 

 

 

Narration / Reporting Speech MCQ Test (30 Questions)

1. She said, “Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.”

She said that water froze at zero degrees Celsius.
She said that water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.
She said that water had frozen at zero degrees Celsius.

2. I said, “The sun rises in the east.”

I said that the sun rose in the east.
I said that the sun rises in the east.
I told that the sun rise in the east.

3. He said, “One must do one’s duty.”

He said that one must do one’s duty.
He said that one had to do one’s duty.
He told one must do duty.

4. She said, “You should help your friend.”

She said that I should help my friend.
She advised me that I should help my friend.
She told I should help friend.

5. He said, “You were not intelligent in the class.”

He said that I was not intelligent in the class.
He said that I had not been intelligent in the class.
He told that I not intelligent.

6. He said, “Time and tide wait for none.”

He said that time and tide waited for none.
He said that time and tide wait for none.
He told time and tide wait none.

7. He said, “I would rather die than beg.”

He said that he would rather die than beg.
He said that I would rather die than beg.
He told he rather die than beg.

8. My aunt said, “I would like to have orange juice.”

My aunt said that she would like to have orange juice.
My aunt said that I would like orange juice.
My aunt told she like orange juice.

9. He said, “Do you know his address?”

He asked me that I knew his address.
He asked me if I knew his address.
He asked me do I know his address.

10. She said, “Why does he not play with us?”

She asked why he does not play with them.
She asked why he did not play with them.
She asked that why he did not play.

11. They said, “Let’s play hockey.”

They suggested that they should play hockey.
They said that they play hockey.
They ordered to play hockey.

12. She said, “Don’t make a noise.”

She ordered me not to make a noise.
She said not to make noise.
She requested me don’t make noise.

13. He said, “Hurrah! You got the highest marks!”

He exclaimed with joy that I had got the highest marks.
He said I got highest marks.
He told that I have got highest marks.

14. He said, “I have a cold.”

He said that he had a cold.
He said that he has a cold.
He told he had cold.

15. She said, “May God help you!”

She said that God may help me.
She prayed that God might help me.
She told God help me.

16. They said, “Long live our nation!”

They exclaimed that their nation might live long.
They said their nation live long.
They told long live nation.

17. He said, “May you live long!”

He prayed that I might live long.
He said I may live long.
He told me live long.

18. She said, “I shall have completed my work by Sunday.”

She said she would have completed her work by Sunday.
She said she shall complete work.
She told she completed work.

19. He said, “I shall be playing tomorrow.”

He said he would be playing the next day.
He said he shall playing tomorrow.
He told he would play tomorrow.

20. She said, “This girl is very beautiful.”

She said that that girl was very beautiful.
She said this girl was beautiful.
She told that girl is beautiful.

21. He said, “Well done, boy!”

He applauded the boy.
He said well done boy.
He told boy well done.

22. He said, “Would that I were an M.P.”

He wished that he had been an M.P.
He said he was M.P.
He told he were M.P.

23. She said, “Nonsense! You threw the food.”

She exclaimed with anger that I had thrown the food.
She said I threw food.
She told nonsense I throw food.

24. He said, “May you fail!”

He cursed me that I might fail.
He said you fail.
He told I fail.

25. She said, “I had better stay here.”

She said she had better stay there.
She said she stay here.
She told she had stayed here.

26. He said, “Hello! Are you going to market?”

He greeted me and asked if I was going to the market.
He said hello are you going.
He told me going market.

27. She said, “I am tired.”

She said that she was tired.
She said she is tired.
She told she tired.

28. He said, “I can solve this problem.”

He said that he could solve that problem.
He said he can solve problem.
He told he solved problem.

29. She said, “We have finished our work.”

She said that they had finished their work.
She said they finish work.
She told they finished work.

30. He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”

He said that he would call me the next day.
He said he will call tomorrow.
He told he would call tomorrow.

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