Direct and indirect speech.
The power of expression is known as speech.
1. Direct Speech:-The actual words of speaker are called direct speech.
For example:- he says I play cricket.
2. Indirect speech. When we change the actual words of speaker in to our words is called indirect speech.
For Example:-He says that he plays Cricket.
Reporting Speech:-
The words of speaker which are always placed out side of commas
f.ex:- He said “I am going out side”.
Reported Speech:- The words of speaker which are always placed inside inverted commas.
For example:- He said ,”I am going outside”,
While changing direct speech into indirect speech the following (4) changes take place.
1. Pronound changes 2. Tense changes.
3. Words changes 4. Punctuation / commas changes.
1. Pronoun Changes:-Three points to remember in direct and indirect speech pronoun are changed according to 1st , 2nd and 3rdperson.
(1) First person pronoun of reported speech changed into subject of reporting speech.
For example: - he says,”I plays hockey”,
He says that HE plays hockey.
She says,”we go to school”,
She says that they go to school.
(2) Second person pronoun are changed according to object of reporting speech.
For example:- He says to me “you write a letter”
He says to me that i write a letter.
(3) Third person will not change
First person: - I, me, my, mine, myself, our, ours, we, our self, us
Second person;- you, your, yours.
Third person:- he, his, him, she, her, hers, herself, they, them, their, theirs.
2. Tense change:-It reporting speech is in present or future tense then there will be no change in reported speech except pronouns
For example:- she says ,”I read a book:,
He will says ,” I have played”,
If reporting speech is in to these then reported speech will change in following situations.
Present all tenses changes in to past tense past indefinite changed in to past prefect.
Future tense will be change in to would/ should.
| Direct | Indirect |
| Do | Did |
| Is, am, are | Was, were |
| Has, have | Had |
| Shall, will | Should, would |
| Can | Could |
| May | Might |
| Did | Had |
| Was, Were | Had been |
| It | That |
| This, These | That, those |
| Here | There |
| Now | Then |
| Ago | Before |
| Today | That day |
| Tomorrow | Next day |
| Yester day | Previous day |
| Next | The following |
Note:-There will be no change in indirect speeches which are universal truth or natural law or daily routine.
4. Punctuation Changes (commas):-
Commas will removed in indirect speech.
The inverted commas are replaced by conjunction Like(that, to, if, whether)
In Interrogative sentences e sue If whether. And in imperative we use (to)
I. simple sentence:-He says ,” I am working at home”,
He says that he was working at home.
ii. Negative sentences:-He says ,”I am not playing now”,
He says that he was not playing then.
iii. Portative Sentences:- We use some more words in portative like wish, prayed, desire,
for example:- Mother said “may you live long”
Mother prayed that I might live long.
iv. Exclamatory sentences:-we also express some more words like joy, exclaimed with joy,
For example:-He says “alas we remained in exam”
He exclaimed with sorrow we remained in exam.
v. Imperative sentences:- we use (order, advise)
For example:- He says “open the door”
He order to open the door.
vi. Interrogative Sentences:-
He says “will you play”
He asked if I would play.
