Direct & Indirect

Speech
What is Direct &
Indirect Speech ?
Direct Speech is the message of the speaker is
conveyed or reported in his own actual words
without any change.

Indirect Speech is the message of the speaker

is conveyed or reported in our own words
Example of Direct Speech

“i am very
busy now”
Example of Indirect Speech

Ridha said that

she was very
busy then.
How the process to
change Direct
Speech to Indirect
Speech ?
Process to conversation
1.Conjunction “That” is added before
the indirect speech
2.The pronoun “i” is changed to “She”
(The pronoun is changed in person)
3.The verb “am” is changed to “was”
(Present Tense is changed to Past)
4.The adverb “Now” is changed to
“then”
Beside that,
what has
changed ?
 The changes of the tense :
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Simple Present Tense Simple Past Tense

Present Continous Tense Past Continous Tense

Simple Past Tense Past Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Tense Past Perfect Tense

Past Continous Tense Past Perfect Continous Tense

Present Perfect Continous Past Perfect Continous Tense

Tense
 The changes of the Modal :
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Can Could
Will Would
Shall Should
May Might
Must Must ( For permanent
Commans or Prohibition,
deduction )
Must Had To (for obligatons where
times for fulfillment have
been fixed , or plan made)
Must Would Have To (For the
obligation in the Future
Ought To / Should Ought To/Should
(Unchanged)
 Adverb of Time also changed :
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Today That Day
Yesterday The day before
Last Week The week before
Last... The... Before
Two week ago Two weeks before
Tomorrow The following day
Next week The following week
This (Used in time expression) That
This / These (as pronoun) It they them
Here There
How the type of
Direct & Indirect
Speech ?
 1. Commands / Imperative
Indirect commands use the reporting verb : tell, ask,
advise, invite, warn etc.
• Reporting clause
– He told me TO ifinitive
– He asked me Not TO ...
Example :
1. He said, “Get your coat, Tom”
He told Tom TO get his coat (Indirect Command)
2. “Don’t swim out too far, Boys.” said the guard.
The guard asked the boys Not TO swim out too far
(Indirect Command)
 2. Statement
Indirect statement are normally introduced by the reporting
verbs : say and tell
Note :
• When the reporting verbs is in the Present Tense (He says,
he tells me...) the verbs in the direct speech have no
change of tense.
• But indirect statement are usually introduced by a verb in
the past (He said, he told me) the verbs in direct speech
have to be change into past tense.
• Reporting clauses
Reporting clauses Reported clauses
that
He said .... Past tense
He told me....
 3. Question of Yes/No question

When we turn direct question into reported speech the

following changes are necessary :
• Tenses
• Pronouns These changes are the same
as those in indirect
• Adverbs of time statement.
• Word Order

Direct Question QW – Aux – S – Verb

Indirect Question QW – S – Aux Verb

1. Q.W (Question Words : What, why, who, where, when and
how) are used as the link words
– The link words IF/Whether is used for YES/NO Question
– The reporting verb Ask, Worder, want to know, inquire are used
indirect questions

Reporting Clauses Reported Clause

He asked me... Q.W / WH
S – Aux verbs - O
He Wondered
He wanted to know

2. YES / NO QUESTION :

Reporting Clauses Reported Clause

He asked me... IF / Whether
S – Aux verbs - O
He Wondered
He wanted to know
Example :
1. “Where does she live?” said the Police
The Police asked (me) WHERE she lived
2. “Did you see the accident yourself
yesterday ?” asked the man
The man asked (me) IF/Whether I had
seen the accident my self the day before.
THANK YOU 