Direct and Indirect Speech

Indirect Speech (Revision)

Indirect speech can also be called reported speech. This is used when a person
explains what someone else said, but does not use the exact words spoken. NO
quotation marks are used. It is written in past tense, and pronouns are changed to
help the sentence make sense.

EG: “I need to find my keys,” said Mrs Botes.

Becomes: Mrs Botes said that she needed to find her keys.

“Get out of my room!” shouted Eric.

Becomes: Eric shouted at me to get out of his room.
OR: Eric shouted that I must get out of his room.

Direct Speech (Learn for exam!!!)

Direct speech shows the exact words spoken by someone. Quotation marks or
inverted commas are used to show the actual words spoken.

Eg: Quotation marks Verb showing how the words

Or inverted commas were said in a lower case letter

“Did you hear that noise?” asked Mandy.

The first word spoken in The exact words spoken go inside the
Quotation marks has a quotation marks.
Capital letter

Sometimes the unspoken words (Words of GOD) come before the spoken words.

Eg: Sentence starts with Spoken words start with a Punctuation is inside
A capital letter capital letter quotation marks.

Mandy asked, “Did you hear that noise?”

Unspoken words are The exact words spoken go inside the

Separated from spoken quotation marks
Words by a comma
Direct and Indirect Speech

From Direct to Indirect

Change the following sentences into indirect speech. Use the example to help you, and remember
to use PAST tense, and NO inverted commas.

e.g: Dad said, “You will miss the bus.”

Dad said that I would miss the bus.

1. Oyisa screamed, “Stop following me!”

2. The cheerleader said, “We have to practice our routine.”
3. “I’ve lost my keys,” said Mrs Botes.
4. “Has anyone found a bunch of keys?” asked Miss Coad.
5. “You can stay over at my house,” suggested Lamiah.
6. “You must try harder, or you will never pass Grade 7,” advised Anesu’s dad.
7. “Have you seen my black and white soccer boots?” asked Fumi.
8. “You must not play with electricity, Riash,” warned Tiana.
9. Herman said, “I used to be the fastest runner in primary school.”
10. Miss Adamson said, “I am sure that you are hiding the rats!”

From Indirect to Direct

Change these sentences into direct speech. Remember to use inverted commas!

e.g. Shannon said that she was tired.

“I am tired,” said Shannon.

1. Kamo and Reece said that they were very sorry for not doing homework.
2. Siphe said that her presentation was ready.
3. The driver remarked that it would be a long ride.
4. Thato said that he would not be able to play.
5. Jade asked if I was going to Northgate.
6. Roxy said that the paper was hers.
7. Mrs Botes said that she would be right back.
8. Dredin explained that he was going home to study.
9. Marcus asked Mr Machaka if he would return his soccer ball.
10. I asked Mr Temple where he would be going in December.
1. Re-write the above comic in DIRECT SPEECH, by using the correct
punctuation and filling in the unspoken words. Do not change the spoken
words.
 Direct and Indirect Speech
Class Assessment Memo

From Direct to Indirect

1. Oyisa screamed, “Stop following me!”

Oyisa screamed that I must stop following him.
2. The cheerleader said, “We have to practice our routine.”
The cheerleader said that they had to practice their routine.
3. “I’ve lost my keys,” said Mrs Botes.
Mrs Botes said that she had lost her keys.
4. “Has anyone found a bunch of keys?” asked Miss Coad.
Miss Coad asked if anyone had found a bunch of keys.
5. “You can stay over at my house,” suggested Lamiah.
Lamiah suggested that we could stay over at her house.
6. “You must try harder, or you will never pass Grade 7,” advised Anesu’s dad.
Anesu’s dad advised him that he must try harder, or he would never pass Grade 7.
7. “Have you seen my black and white soccer boots?” asked Fumi.
Fumi asked me if I had seen his black and white soccer boots.
8. “You must not play with electricity, Riash,” warned Tiana.
Tiana warned Riash that he must not play with electricity.
9. Herman said, “I used to be the fastest runner in primary school.”
Herman said that he used to be the fastest runner in Primary School.
10. Miss Adamson said, “I am sure that you are hiding the rats!”
Miss Adamson said that she was sure that I was hiding the rats.
From Indirect to Direct

1. Kamo and Reece said that they were very sorry for not doing homework.
“We are very sorry for not doing our homework,” said Kamo and Reece.
2. Siphe said that her presentation was ready.
“My presentation is ready,” said Siphe.
3. The driver remarked that it would be a long ride.
“It will be a long ride,” remarked the driver.
4. Thato said that he would not be able to play.
“I will not be able to play,” said Thato.
5. Jade asked if I was going to Northgate.
“Are you going to Northgate?” asked Jade.
6. Roxy said that the paper was hers.
“The paper is mine,” said Roxy.
7. Mrs Botes said that she would be right back.
“I’ll be right back,” said Mrs Botes.
8. Dredin explained that he was going home to study.
“I am going home to study,” explained Dredin.
9. Marcus asked Mr Machaka if he would return his soccer ball.
“Please return my soccer ball, Mr Machaka?” asked Marcus.
“Mr, Machaka, please can you return my soccer ball?” asked Marcus.
“Please can I have my soccer ball?” Marcus asked Mr Machaka.
10. I asked Mr Temple where he would be going in December.
“Where are you going in December, Mr Temple?” I asked.
1. “You have a question, Calvin?” asked the teacher.
“More of a statement, really,” Calvin replied.
“I just want to point out that education is our most important investment in the
future,” Calvin continued. “And it’s scandalous how little our educators are
paid.”
“Okay, hands up,” said the educator. “Who else didn’t do the homework for
today?”
“Actually, I’d like to see more teachers on the streets,” grumped Calvin.