Notes - Direct and Indirect Speech - FAA English

Direct and Indirect Speech

The art of reporting the words of a speaker is called Narration.

1. Ways of Reporting

A. Direct Speech

We may quote the actual words of the speaker.

Rama said, "I am very busy now."

B. Indirect Speech (Reported Speech)

We may report what the speaker said without quoting his exact words.

Rama said that he was very busy then.

2. Rules for Changing Direct to Indirect

A. Change of Tenses

If the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense, the tense of the verb in the Reported Speech is changed to the corresponding Past Tense.

Direct Speech (Present)	Indirect Speech (Past)
Simple Present "I am happy."	Simple Past He said that he was happy.
Present Continuous "I am playing."	Past Continuous He said that he was playing.
Present Perfect "I have finished."	Past Perfect He said that he had finished.
Simple Past "I did it."	Past Perfect He said that he had done it.

Exception: If the Reported Speech expresses a Universal Truth or
Habitual Fact, the tense remains unchanged.

He said, "The sun rises in the east." -> He said that the sun rises in the east.

B. Change of Pronouns

First Person (I, we): Changes according to the Subject of the Reporting Verb.
Second Person (You): Changes according to the Object of the Reporting Verb.
Third Person (He, she, it): No change.

Acronym: SON (123)

(First Person) -> S (Subject)

(Second Person) -> O (Object)

(Third Person) -> N (No Change)

C. Change of Words Denoting Time/Place

Now -> Then	Here -> There
This -> That	These -> Those
Ago -> Before	Today -> That day
Tomorrow -> The next day	Yesterday -> The previous day
Tonight -> That night	Last night -> The previous night

3. Types of Sentences

A. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

Reporting verb 'said' changes to asked, enquired, etc.
Use if or whether for Yes/No questions.
For 'Wh-' questions (What, Where, Why), no consumption is used (the 'Wh-' word acts as connective).
The question form changes to Statement form (Verb comes after Subject).

Direct: He said to me, "Are you coming?"
Indirect: He asked me if I was coming.

B. Imperative Sentences (Commands/Requests)

Reporting verb changes to ordered, requested, advised, forbade, etc.
The verb in Reported Speech is changed to Infinitive (to + V1).

Direct: Rama said to Arjun, "Go away."
Indirect: Rama ordered Arjun to go away.

C. Exclamatory Sentences

Reporting verb changes to exclaimed with joy, sorrow, surprise, etc.
That is used as conjunction.
Exclamatory mark (!) is removed.

Direct: He said, "Alas! I am undone."
Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he was undone.

Practice - Direct and Indirect Speech - FAA English

Practice Exercise

Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech.

1. He said, "I am busy."

Indirect: He said that he was busy.

2. She said to me, "You are late."

Indirect: She told me that I was late.

3. Ram said, "I have passed the exam."

Indirect: Ram said that he had passed the exam.

4. He said to her, "Do you know me?"

Indirect: He asked her if she knew him.

5. The teacher said to the boys, "Do not make a noise."

Indirect: The teacher forbade the boys to make a noise. (OR ordered the boys not to make a noise).

6. He said, "What a beautiful flower!"

Indirect: He exclaimed with joy that it was a very beautiful flower.

7. She said, "May God bless you!"

Indirect: She prayed that God might bless me.

8. He said, "The earth is round."

Indirect: He said that the earth is round. (Universal Truth).

9. I said to him, "Where are you going?"

Indirect: I asked him where he was going.

10. He said to me, "Please help me."

Indirect: He requested me to help him.

11. Mohan said, "I shall go there tomorrow."

Indirect: Mohan said that he would go there the next day.

12. He said to his father, "Please forgive me."

Indirect: He requested his father to forgive him.

13. The boy said, "Let me play."

Indirect: The boy wished that he should be allowed to play.
(OR The boy requested to let him play).

14. She said, "My father came yesterday."

Indirect: She said that her father had come the previous day.

15. The stranger said to me, "Can you tell me the way to the hotel?"

Indirect: The stranger asked me if I could tell him the way to the hotel.

Formulas - Direct and Indirect Speech - FAA English

Cheat Sheet - Narration

Tense Change Rules (When Reporting Verb is Past)

Present Simple (V1) -> Past Simple (V2)
Present Continuous (is/am/are) -> Past Continuous (was/were)
Present Perfect (has/have) -> Past Perfect (had)
Past Simple (V2) -> Past Perfect (had + V3)
Past Continuous (was/were) -> Past Perfect Continuous (had been)
Will / Shall -> Would / Should
Can / May -> Could / Might
Must -> Had to

Note: No change if Reporting Verb is Present/Future or for Universal Truths.

Pronoun Change Formula: SON 123

1st Person (I, We) changes to Subject of Reporting Verb.
2nd Person (You) changes to Object of Reporting Verb.
3rd Person (He, She, It, They) -> No Change (N).

Time & Place Words

Now -> Then
Here -> There
This -> That
These -> Those
Ago -> Before
Today -> That Day
Tomorrow -> The next day / The following day
Yesterday -> The previous day / The day before
Tonight -> That night
Last night -> The previous night

Reporting Verbs Conversion

Statement: Said to -> Told | Said -> Said (that)
Question: Said to -> Asked / Enquired (if/whether/Wh-word)
Order: Said to -> Ordered / Commanded (to)
Request: Said to -> Requested (to)
Advice: Said to -> Advised (to)
Exclamation: Said -> Exclaimed with joy/sorrow (that)

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