Direct VS Indiret speech
Definition of Direct Speech:
When a person gives a written or spoken account of the speech, by repeating the exact words of the speaker, then this
is known as Direct Speech. It uses inverted commas to highlight the original statement of the speaker, which is
supported by a signal phrase or say dialogue guide.
Example:
The teacher said to him , “If you don’t complete your homework, I will make a call to your parents.”
-Sometimes, reporting verb appears in the mid of the sentence:
Is that so, she asked, You don’t want to come with us?
-Adverbs can be used with the reporting verb, to discribe the manner in which something is spoken.
“I will always be there to help you”, he said sympathetically.
Note: An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often describing how, when, where, or
to what extent. ( Quickly,Slowly,Very, always,Often…..etc)
Definition of Indirect Speech
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves a person reporting on someone else's words or actions
without using actual words. It focuses on the content rather than the words used.
Examples:
-She asked if it was true that he didn’t want to come with them.
-He said sympathetically that he would always be there to help her.
-The teacher told him that if he didn’t complete his homework, she would make a call to his parents.
Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech:
The difference between direct and indirect speech are discussed as under:
-Direct Speech refers to the literal repetition of the words spoken by someone, using a quotative frame. On the other
hand, indirect speech is one that reports something said or written by another person, without making the use of exact
words.
-Direct Speech is also called a Quoted Speech, as it uses the exact words of the speaker. As against, the indirect
speech is termed as reported speech, as it narrates what is said by the speaker.
-Direct Speech is from the speaker’s standpoint, whereas indirect speech is from the listener’s standpoint.
-Direct speech is when we use the exact rendition (version) of the words of the speaker. Conversely, in an indirect
speech own words are used to report the speaker’s statement.
-The inverted comma ( “....” ) is used in direct speech, but not in indirect speech.
How to remember the difference:
EASY !! The basic tip to recognize the difference between direct and indirect speech is that in case of direct speech
we use inverted commas which are not used in case of indirect speech. Further, we use the word ‘that’ in general, in
indirect speech.
Exception: When the direct speech consists of a universal fact or truth, then the tense of the sentence remains the
same.
Rules for changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech:
There are certain rules which need to be followed while changing from direct to indirect speech or vice versa:
Rule 1: Backshift changes
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
A-Simple Present Tense: 1-Simple Past Tense:
-He said, "I feel great." -He said that he felt great.
B-Present Perfect Tense: 2-Past Perfect Tense:
-The teacher said, "I have written -The teacher said that she had written the
the example on the board." example on the board.
C-Present Continuous Tense: 3-Past Continuous Tense:
-Sarah said, "I am going to the -Sarah said that he was going to the gym.
gym."
D-Present Perfect Continuous 4-Past Perfect Continuous Tense:
Tense:
-She said, "I have been living here -She said that she had been living there for five
for five years." years.
E-Simple Past Tense: 5-Past Perfect Tense:
-My mother said to me, "You -My mom said to me that you had watched Reels
watched Reels all night." all night.
Rule 2: For change in adverbs, pronouns, demonstratives and auxiliary verbs
In indirect speech, certain transformations occur in modal verbs, pronouns, demonstratives, and time expressions.
Modal verbs shift as follows: must = had to, will = would, can = could, shall = should, and may = might.
Similarly, auxiliary verbs transform: do/does = did, and did = had done.
Demonstratives, pronouns, and adverbs also undergo modifications: now = then, here = there, thus = so, ago =
before, this = that, these = those, and hence = thence. Time expressions are also adjusted: today = that day, tonight = that
night, yesterday = the day before, tomorrow = the next day, last week = the previous week, and next week = the
following week.
Rule 3: Interrogative Sentences
There are two types of questions: objective questions, which can be answered in yes or no, and subjective questions,
which can be answered in detail. In the reporting speech, use 'if' or 'whether' instead of 'that' when the answer can be
given in yes or no.
For example: Direct: Meriem said to me, What is the time by your watch?
Indirect: Meriem asked me what was the time by my watch.
Rule 4: When the direct speech contains orders, request, advise, suggestions command etc. then the reporting verb is
changed to tell, request, command, instruct, order, advise, suggestion etc.
Example:
Direct: “Don’t make noise”, said the librarian.
Indirect: The librarian told me to stop making noise.
Rule 5: When something is said repeatedly by a person, or it is said by many people we use says/say instead of said
in the direct speech. Says when it is said by only one person and say when it is said by many people.
- Further, in indirect speech, it is replaced by tell/tells accordingly.
Example:
Direct: My father says to me, “You are very naughty.”
Indirect: My father tells me that I am very naughty.
Rule 6: When there is an exclamatory sentence in the direct speech, first of all, the exclamatory sentence is changed
into an assertive sentence. The inverted commas, interjections like oh, hurray, bravo etc. and the exclamatory mark is
removed. The reporting verb, i.e. said is changed into exclaimed, and we use the conjunction that to add the clause.
Example:
Direct: “Oh wow! it’s beautiful” she said.
Indirect: She exclaimed that it was very beautiful.
