Grammer- Speech

Indirect - Direct Speech

Direct Speech:

Direct speech repeats or quotes,  the exact words spoken.  When we use direct speech in writing the words spoken or quoted are written in double inverted commas (".....") and comma is used to separate sentence from reporting verb. There is no change in words.

E.g.: The inspector said, " I am glad to be with you today. "

Here 'said' is a reporting verb. 

Indirect speech:

Reported or indirect speech is usually used to talk about the past. When the meaning of the speech is conveyed in the reporter's words is called Indirect speech.

E.g.:  The inspector said that he was glad to be with us that day.

Reported verb:

Reporting verb is a word used before comma ( , ) in direct speech.

E.g.:  said,  asked,  demanded.

The inspector said," I am glad to be with you today."

Rules for changing tense while changing speech:

1. If reporting verb is in present or future tense than in reported speech tense in unchanged.

E.g.: He will say, " Good music makes a good film."

He will say that good music makes a good film

2. If reporting verb is in past tense than in reported speech tense changes into corresponding past tense.

E.g.: Reema gives you some school news on the phone. She says, "The new principal has taken over." 

"The sports meet is going to be held in December." 

"Suzzie might be leaving the school." "Bobby was declared the best artist at the competition."

"Rosy wants to join the hostel."

Reema rang me in the evening. 

She told me that the new principal had taken over. 

The sports meet was going to be held in December. 

Suzzie might be leaving the school. 

Bobby had been declared the best artist at the competition. 

Rosy wanted to join the hostel.

Is/ am/ are	Was/ were
Was/  were	Had been
Had been	No change
Has/ have	Had
Had	No change
Do	Did
Did	Had done
Had done	No change
Will/ shall	Would/ should
May/can	Might/ could
Would/ should/ could/ might	No change
Must	Had to

Important things to be noted:

1. If the reported speech expresses universal truth or habitual fact its tense remains unchanged in reported speech.

E.g.: My father said, "Too many cooks spoil the broth."

My father said that too many cook spoil the broth.

2. If the reported speech describes a state or affairs which still exists,  the tense remains unchanged in reported speech.

E.g.: He said, "Uma wants to become rich by winning a lottery."

He said that Uma wants to become rich by winning lottery.

3. If the reported speech contains a time clause,  tense remains unchanged or the main verb of such a sentence either remains unchanged or becomes past tense.

E.g.: a.) She said, "When Anu was living in Mumbai,  she often saw Som." 

She said that when Anu was living in Mumbai,  She often saw Som.

b.) He said, "Gopi slipped when he was trying to board a bus."

He said that Gopi had slipped when he was trying to board a bus.

Rules for changing personal pronoun, time and place:

I / we / you	He/ she/ they
Me/ your	Her/ their
This/ that	These/ those
Here	There
Now	Then
Ago	Before
Today/ tonight	That day/ that night
Yesterday	Day before/ previous day
Tomorrow	Next day/ following day
The day before yesterday	The day before previous day
The day after tomorrow	The day after following day
Last day/ last week/ last year	Previous day/ previous week/ previous year
Next year/ next week	Following year/ following week

Reporting verb in different forms of sentence:

In Assertive sentences (Statements)-

While changing into reported speech, reporting verb said can be changed to told. Other words can also be used depending upon the sentence like add, complain, answer, explain, argue, assure, object, reply, remind, remark, promise, deny, admit.

In Interrogative sentences (Questioning)-

While changing into reported speech, reporting verb said can be changed to ask, enquire, demand, wonder, want to know.

No conjunction 'that' is used while reporting 'wh'- questions. Yes or No questions take 'If' or 'weather' as a conjunction.

E.g.: I said to Neetu, "Where have you been all these days?"

I asked Neetu where she had been all these days.

In Imperative sentences (Commands/ Requests/ Advice)

While changing into reported speech, reporting verb said can be changed to ask, bed, command, warn, tell, urge, encourage, forbid, invite, remind.

E.g.: " Do not play such loud music, for it may disturb the patient.  "Kirti said to Shikha.

Kirti requested Shikha not to play such loud music, for it might disturb patient.

In Exclamatory sentence:

While changing into reported speech, reporting verb said can be changed to exclaimed, wished, cried, blessed. The words showing exclamations oh!, alas!, my god! are changed or omitted but the feeling behind them is conveyed by using words like with sorrow, exclaim with joy etc. Exclamatory sentence is changed to statement in reported speech. Exclamation sign is also omitted in reported speech.

E.g.: " O God, I lost my i-card!" said Rajat

Rajat exclaimed that he has lost his i-card.

While in conversational form-

Sarita- Where is Indu?

Puneet- Gone for dance class.

Sarita- Does she go for her lessons everyday?

Puneet- No, only twice a week.

Sarita asked Puneet where Indu was. Puneet informed her that Indu had gone for her dance class. Sarita wanted to know weather she went for her lessons everyday. Puneet told her that she goes only twice a week.