Monday, March 21, 2011

English Reported Speech: Direct and Indirect

English Reported Speech: Direct And Indirect
At time we put the statement of a speaker without any changes. This is called
Direct Speech. But, at times we put the statement of a speaker with some
changes. This is called Indirect Speech. In Direct Speech we keep the statement
within inverted (!"#, $ut inverted commas are not used in Indirect Speech.
Example:
Direct: %agina said, I will read the $ook."
Indirect: %agina said that she would read the $ook.
%otice the change in language and structure of the sentence in Indirect
Speech. %ow, the &uestion arises'how these changes are made. There are certain
rules for making these changes. (or your conveniences, I will divide these rules
into )eneral and Special rules.
But $efore understanding these rules, you need to know certain terms
related to Direct and Indirect speech.
Reporting Verbs And Verb Of The Reported Speech
*ou have noticed a$ove that there is a sentence outside the inverted
commas. The ver$ of that sentenced is called reported speech and the ver$ of that
sentence is called verb of the reported speech. +,ample-
Seema said to me, "I will help you."
(.eporting /er$s# (.eporting Speech#
Kinds Of Sentences
There are five kinds of sentences- (I# Assertive, (II# Imperative, (III#
Interrogative, (I/# 0perative and (/# +,clamatory.
*ou need to keep at the $ack of your mind these kinds of sentences,
$ecause you have to change the sentence, which is within inverted commas, from
direct to indirect according to rules. I will discuss it later on.
GEERA! R"!ES:
Divide these rules into three categories-
1. 2hange of personal pronoun.
3. 2hange of tense.
4. 5iscellaneous changes.
#hange of $ersonal $rono%n
2hange of 6ersonal 6ronoun in Different 2ases-
$erso
n
ominate
case
Ob&ecti'e
case
$ossessi'e
case
Singular 6lura Singular 6lur Singula 6lural
l al r
(irst I 7e 5e 8s 5y,
mine
0ur9
ours
Secon
d
Thou: *ou:
:
Thee: *ou
::
They:
thine:
your::
Third ;e9she
9it
They ;im9he
r9 it
The
m
;is9he
r9 its
Their9
theirs
: These terms are now seldom used.
:: These terms are used while speaking to one person or more than one person.
6ersons (first9second9third# of pronoun in the inverted commas are
changed according to certain rules while changing Direct Speech into Indirect
Speech.
*ou remem$er the word SO(
S%b&ect Ob&ect o #hange

S 0 %
1 3 4


(irst 6erson Second 6erson Third 6erson
R%le )(
(irst person (I, my, me, we, our, us# used in the reported speech should $e
changed according to the su$<ect of the reporting ver$. +,ample-
1. Direct: Seema says,"I will read the $ook."
Indirect: Seema says that she will read the $ook.
Explanation- first person (I# of the reported speech is changed according to the su$<ect
(Seema# of the reporting ver$.
= Su$<ect is in the third person, singular num$er and nominative
case, hence she".
3. Direct: *ou say, "I am in the right."
Indirect- *ou say that you are in the right.
R%le *(
Second person (you, your, etc.# used in the reported speech should $e
changed according to the o$<ect of the reporting ver$. +,ample-
1. Direct: %a>ia told me, you should read your $ook."
Indirect: %a>ia told me that I should read my $ook.
Explanation: Second person (you, your# used in the reported speech is changed according
to the o$<ect (me# of the reporting ver$.
= 5e" is in o$<ective case.
= *ou" is in nominate case.
= %ominative case of me" is I", hence I".
= *our" is in possessive case. 6ossessive case of me" is my", hence my".
Direct: Swapna says to Seema, you have done your duty".
Indirect: Swapna tells Seema that she has done her duty.
R%le +:
Third person used in the reported speech is not changed at all. +,ample-
1. Direct: Alia says, he will read his $ook".
Indirect- Alia says that he will read $ook.
Explanation: 4
rd
person (he, she# is not changed. ;ence you find that they have $een not
changed while changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.
3. Direct- (atima says, she does not like old films."
Indirect: (atima says that she does not like old films.
4. Direct: Ashraf says. They have cheated us."
Indirect- Ashraf says that they have cheated them.
#,AGE O- TESE
It is very important to know how to change the tense of the reported
speech. ?et us know the rules.
R%le ).
If the reporting ver$ is in preset or future tense, you need not change tense
of the ver$ of the reported speech. +,ample-
1. Direct: Swaira says, she reads a $ook."
Indirect: Swaira says that she reads a $ook.
Explanation: as reporting ver$ (says# is in the present tense, tense of the reported speech
has not $een changed.
3. Direct: Swaira has said." She read a $ook."
Indirect: Swaira has said that she read a $ook.
4. Direct: Swaira will say, she wrote the $ook."
Indirect: Swaira will say that she wrote the $ook.
Explanation- reporting ver$ (will# is in future tense, hence tense of the reported speech
has not $een changed.
R%le *(
If the reporting ver$ is in past tense and the ver$ of the reported speech is
present or future tense, ver$ of the present or future tense in the reported speech
is changed into corresponding past tense.
1. 6resent Indefinite (go#'6ast Indefinite (went#.
3. 6resent Imperfect (is, am, are#'6ast Imperfect (was, were#.
4. 6resent 6erfect (has, have#' 6ast 6erfect 2ontinues (had $een#.
@. 6resent 6erfect continues (has9have $een#' 6ast 6erfect 2ontinues (had $een#.
A. 2an, will, may' could would should might.
Example:
1. Direct: Arshid said. I will play."
Indirect- Arshad said that he would play.
Explanation: reporting ver$ (said# is in past tense, hence "will" in the reported speech has
$een changed into would.
3. Direct- Arshad said, I am playing."
Indirect- Arshad said that he was playing.
Direct: Arshad said, I have played.
Indirect: Arshad said that he had played.
4. Direct: Arshad, I may play."
Indirect: Arshad said that he might play.
@. Direct: Arshid said,BI may play.B
Indirect- Arshid said that he might play.
R%le +:
This rule is the most important one and students generally commit
mistakes due to not understanding this rule clearly. ?et me try to make it simple
to help you in making your conception clear.
If $oth reporting verb and reported speech are in 6ast Tense, change
should $e made as follows-
1. If the reporting ver$ is in past tense and reported speech is in past indefinite, it
(reposted speech# should $e changed into past perfect. +,ample-
Direct: %aveed said, BI committed a mistake.B
Indirect: %aveed said that he had committed a mistake.
3. If the reporting ver$ is in past tense and reported speech is not past imperfect, it
should $e changed into past perfect continuous. +,ample-
Direct: %aveed said," I was committing a mistake.B
Indirect: %aveed said that he had $een committing a mistake.
4. If the reporting ver$ is in past tense and reported speech is in past perfect or
past perfect continuous, no change is to $e made in the tense of the reported
speech. +,amples-
Direct: %aveed said, I had committed a mistake.B
Indirect: %aveed that he had committed a mistake.
Exception:
1. If a universal truth or ha$itual fact or a prover$ is stated in the reported
speech, it (reported speech# shall not $e changed even if the reporting ver$ is in
past tense. +,ample-
(a# Direct: An old man said, Cthe earth revolves round the sun.B (8niversal truth#
Indirect: An old man said that the earth revolves round the sun.
($# Direct: .ahim said to me, CI write with my left hand.B
(;a$itual fact#
Indirect: .ahim told me that he writes his left hand.
(c# Direct: (ather said, CA $ad carpented &uarrels with his tools.B (6rover$#
Indirect: (ather said that the sun rises in the east.
(d. Direct: The teacher said,B The sun rises in the east.B
(8niversal truth#
Indirect: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
(e# Direct: (ather said, CTruth triumphs at the end.B
(6rover$#
Indirect: (ather said that truth triumphs at the end.
4. If to (infinitive#, would, could, should, must, might, ought to" are used in
the reported speech, they are not changed. +,ample-
Direct: ;e said, Students must o$ey their teachers.B
Indirect: ;e said that students must o$ey their teachers.
/IS#E!!AEO"S #,AGES
This D That Thus D So
These D Those 2ome D )o
%ow D Then *esterday D 6revious day
;ere D There Tomorrow D %e,t day
Today D That day %e,t week D (ollowing week
Tonight D That night ?ast week D 6revious week
This week D That week
S$E#IA! R"!ES
%ow, I will discuss special rules. Different rules are applica$le for different
sentences for changing them from direct to indirect speech. I will take up each
sentence one $y one.
ASSERTIVE SETE#E
1. If there is an o$<ect after reporting ver$, change say to" int tell", says to"
into tell", said to" into told". If there is no o$<ect after the reporting ver$, do not
change the ver$.
.emem$er to" is not used after tell(s# or told.
3. .emove comma and inverted commas, and use that" in place of the
opening &uote.
4. If o$<ect of the reporting ver$ is found in reported speech instead of
reporting ver$ itself, make it o$<ect of the reporting ver$. +,ample-
Direct: .ahim said, (ather, I am pleased with youB.
Indirect: .ahim told father that he was pleased with him.
@. Change pronouns and tense of the ver$ of reported speech according to the
rules discussed previously.
Sol'ed examples:
1. Direct: .ahim said, CI hae done my workB.
Indirect: .ahim said that he had done his work.
3. Direct: .ahim said to me, CI cannot help you in your work.B
Indirect: .ahim told me that he could not help me in my work.
4. Direct: The thief said, I am innocent.B
Indirect: The thief said that he was innocent.
@. Direct: .ahim said to me, I shall help you in your work.B
Indirect: .ahim told me that he would help me in my work.
A. Direct: 5y father said, I am going to ?ahore.B
Indirect: 5y father said that he was going to ?ahore.
E. Direct: 5y father says, CI will go to ?ahore.B
Indirect: 5y father says that he will go to ?ahore.
ITERROGATIVE SETE#E
1. 2hange the reporting ver$ say(s# to" or said to" into asks" or asked".
3. If the reported speech $egins with helping ver$ (is, am, are, was, were, do, does,
did, has, have, had, will, would, can, could, shall, should, may, might, must#,
remove the inverted commas and use if" or whether" to <oin the reporting ver$
and reported speech.
4. If the reported speech $egins with w'family words, i.e. who, whose, whom,
when, where, which, what, why, how", remove the inverted commas $ut do not
use the con<unction if" or whether".
@. ;elping ver$ should $e put after the su$<ect of the reported speech.
A. .emove the &uestion mark and put full stop in its place.
Sol'ed examples:
1. Direct: 5ohsin said to .ahim, C7ill you help meF
Indirect- 5ohsin asked .ahim if he would help him.
3( Direct- .ahim said to (ara>, C7ho teaches you +nglishFB
Indirect: .ahim asked (ara> who taught him +nglishF
4. Direct: Saira said to Alia, CIs coffee ready for meFB
Indirect: Saira asked Alia if coffee was ready for her.
@. Direct: .ahim said to A$dul, C;ave you finished your workFB
Indirect: .ahim asked A$dul if he had finished his work.
I/$ERATIVE SETE#E
1. 2hange reporting ver$ into order, advise, re&uest, warn, for$id, prohi$it"
according to the meaning of the reported speech.
3. .emove the inverted commas and use to" to <oin the reporting ver$ and reported
speech.
4. In case of negative imperative replace do" with not to" and said to" with
for$ade", leaving not".
Sol'ed examples:
)( Direct: (ai>a said to (ar>ana, Do not speak a lie."
Indirect: (ai>a advised (ar>ana not to speak a lie.
3. Direct: (ather said o me, Do not go to the cinema.B
Indirect: (ather for$ade me to go to the cinema.
4. Direct: .ani said to her friend, ?at me go home early."
Indirect: .ani re&uested her friend to let her go home early.
@. Direct: The teacher told us, Don"t cry".
Indirect: The teacher for$ade us to cry.
0r
The teacher ordered us not to cry.
O$TATIVE SETE#E:
1. 2hange the reporting ver$ into curse9$less9pray9wish" according of the reported
speech.
3. In the reported speech, keep the su$<ects $efore its ver$.
4. Sign of e,clamation should $e changed into full stop.
Sol'ed examples
1. Direct: The $eggar said to me, C5ay you live longGB.
Indirect: The $eggar prayed that I might live long.
3. Direct: ;e told me, C5ay you dieGB
Indirect: ;e cursed that I might die.
E0#!A/ATOR1 SETE#E:
1. .eporting ver$ should $e changed in the following manner-
Said D e,claimed with sorrow (AhG Alas#
D e,claimed with Hoy (AhaG ;aG ;urrahG# D e,claimed
with regret (Sorry#
D e,claimed with surprise (0hG 7hatG ;owG# D
e,claimed with contempt (6oohG# D applauded
(BravoG#
4. Inverted commas should $e replaced $y that.
@. Sign of e,clamation should $e changed into full stop.
A. 7hat" and ;ow" used in the reported speech should $e replaced with very or
great.
Sol'ed examples:
1. Direct: Havaid said ," what a fine place it isG"
Indirect: Havaid e,claimed with <oy that it was a fine place.
3. Direct: Sha$$ir said, ;urrahG 7e have won the match."
Indirect: Sha$$ir e,claimed with <oy that they had won the match.
4. Direct: Asif said, AlasG 7e have lost the match.B
Indirect: Asif e,claimed with sorrow that they had lost the match.