DIRECT AND INDIRECT

SPEECH
Created by :
Bhagya Jayasooriya
INTRODUCTION TO DIRECT SPEECH

 If we repeat the words of a person exactly in his

own words to someone.

 Ex : Jane said, "I am very happy about

your success".
INTRODUCTION TO INDIRECT SPEECH
 If we express the essence of main points of a
person in words with few modifications.

 Ex :

Jane said that she was very happy

about my success".
 Main points to remember…

1. Direct speech should be placed between the

inverted commas and begins with a capital letter.

Ex :
Pavani said, “I want to study
medicine”.
2. No inverted commas and commas are used in
indirect speech.

Ex :

Pavani said that she wanted

to study medicine.
3. The tense of the reporting verb is not changed.

Ex:-
She said, “ I write a letter”
d.

4. A conjunction is used after the reporting verb in

indirect speech.

Ex :
He told me that he would marry me

5.Tense, Pronoun , Words indicating nearness of time and

prepositions are changed in indirect speech.
 Change of tenses

Direct speech Indirect speech

Simple present Simple past

Present continuous Past continuous
Present perfect Past perfect
Simple past Past perfect
Will/shall Would/should
May Might
Can could
Must Had to infinitive
Examples

Simple present Simple past

1. Raj said,” My father likes red cars”. (Direct speech)

o Raj said that his father liked red cars.. (Indirect speech)

present continuous past continuous

2. Raj said,” I am making a kite” (Direct)

Raj said that he was making a kite. (Indirect)
Present perfect Past perfect

1 She said , “I have lost my bag”

 She said that she had lost her bag.

 Simple past Past perfect

1 Janith said ,”I was an hour late”
 Janith said that he had been an hour late.
Pointer words change
Change of pronouns
TO BE CONTINUED WITH EXERCISES...