Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 15 views

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a way of expressing what someone has said in our own words. It is used to report what someone has said, without using their exact words. In indirect speech, the speaker's words are changed to fit the context and the speaker's tone.

Changing Mother's Question into Indirect Speech

Let's take the example of Mother asking, "What was the matter?" We can change this question into indirect speech by using the correct verb form and changing the sentence structure.

Direct Speech

Mother asked, "What was the matter?"

Indirect Speech

Mother asked me what was the matter.

In the indirect speech, we have changed the sentence structure and used the correct verb form. We have also changed the sentence from a question to a statement.

Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Here are some rules to follow when changing direct speech to indirect speech:

Change the verb form: When changing direct speech to indirect speech, we need to change the verb form from the present tense to the past tense. For example, "I am going" becomes "I went".
Change the sentence structure: We need to change the sentence structure from a question to a statement or vice versa.
Use the correct pronouns: We need to use the correct pronouns in the indirect speech. For example, "he" becomes "him" or "her".
Change the adverbs: We need to change the adverbs in the indirect speech. For example, "yesterday" becomes "the day before".

Examples of Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Here are some examples of changing direct speech to indirect speech:

Direct Speech: "What is your name?" - Indirect Speech: "She asked me what my name was."
Direct Speech: "I am going to the store." - Indirect Speech: "He told me that he was going to the store."
Direct Speech: "Where are you from?" - Indirect Speech: "She asked me where I was from."

Tips for Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Here are some tips to help you change direct speech to indirect speech:

Read the sentence carefully: Before changing the sentence, read it carefully to understand the context and the speaker's tone.
Use the correct verb form: Make sure to use the correct verb form in the indirect speech.
Change the sentence structure: Change the sentence structure from a question to a statement or vice versa.
Use the correct pronouns: Use the correct pronouns in the indirect speech.

Conclusion

Changing direct speech to indirect speech is an important skill to master in English grammar. By following the rules and tips outlined above, you can change direct speech to indirect speech with ease. Remember to read the sentence carefully, use the correct verb form, change the sentence structure, and use the correct pronouns. With practice, you will become proficient in changing direct speech to indirect speech.

Common Errors to Avoid

Here are some common errors to avoid when changing direct speech to indirect speech:

Using the wrong verb form: Make sure to use the correct verb form in the indirect speech.
Not changing the sentence structure: Change the sentence structure from a question to a statement or vice versa.
Using the wrong pronouns: Use the correct pronouns in the indirect speech.
Not reading the sentence carefully: Read the sentence carefully to understand the context and the speaker's tone.

Practice Exercises

Here are some practice exercises to help you change direct speech to indirect speech:

Change the following direct speech to indirect speech: "What is your name?" - _____________________________________
Change the following direct speech to indirect speech: "I am going to the store." - _____________________________________
Change the following direct speech to indirect speech: "Where are you from?" - _____________________________________

Answer Key

Here are the answers to the practice exercises:

"She asked me what my name was."
"He told me that he was going to the store."
"She asked me where I was from."

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about indirect speech:

Q: What is indirect speech?

A: Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a way of expressing what someone has said in our own words. It is used to report what someone has said, without using their exact words.

Q: Why do we use indirect speech?

A: We use indirect speech to report what someone has said, without using their exact words. It is used to change the sentence structure and the verb form to fit the context and the speaker's tone.

Q: How do we change direct speech to indirect speech?

A: To change direct speech to indirect speech, we need to change the verb form from the present tense to the past tense, change the sentence structure, use the correct pronouns, and change the adverbs.

Q: What are the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech?

A: The rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech are:

Change the verb form from the present tense to the past tense.
Change the sentence structure.
Use the correct pronouns.
Change the adverbs.

Q: What are some common errors to avoid when changing direct speech to indirect speech?

A: Some common errors to avoid when changing direct speech to indirect speech are:

Using the wrong verb form.
Not changing the sentence structure.
Using the wrong pronouns.
Not reading the sentence carefully.

Q: How do we use indirect speech in a sentence?

A: To use indirect speech in a sentence, we need to change the direct speech to indirect speech by following the rules outlined above. For example:

Direct speech: "What is your name?"
Indirect speech: "She asked me what my name was."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with all types of sentences?

A: No, we cannot use indirect speech with all types of sentences. Indirect speech is used to report what someone has said, and it is not used with sentences that are not statements or questions.

Q: How do we use indirect speech with questions?

A: To use indirect speech with questions, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "Where are you from?"
Indirect speech: "She asked me where I was from."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with negative sentences?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with negative sentences. For example:

Direct speech: "I don't know."
Indirect speech: "He said that he didn't know."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with clauses?

A: To use indirect speech with clauses, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I think that I will go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that he thought that he would go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with conditional sentences?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with conditional sentences. For example:

Direct speech: "If I had money, I would buy a car."
Indirect speech: "He said that if he had money, he would buy a car."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with hypothetical sentences?

A: To use indirect speech with hypothetical sentences, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "If I were you, I would do that."
Indirect speech: "He said that if he were me, he would do that."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with passive voice?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with passive voice. For example:

Direct speech: "The book was written by John."
Indirect speech: "He said that the book had been written by John."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported speech?

A: To use indirect speech with reported speech, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I said that I would go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had said that I would go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported thought?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported thought. For example:

Direct speech: "I thought that I would go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had thought that I would go to the store."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported feeling?

A: To use indirect speech with reported feeling, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I felt that I was happy."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had felt that I was happy."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported opinion?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported opinion. For example:

Direct speech: "I think that the movie was good."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had thought that the movie was good."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported intention?

A: To use indirect speech with reported intention, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I intend to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had intended to go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported decision?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported decision. For example:

Direct speech: "I decided to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had decided to go to the store."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported plan?

A: To use indirect speech with reported plan, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I plan to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had planned to go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported promise?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported promise. For example:

Direct speech: "I promise to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had promised to go to the store."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported threat?

A: To use indirect speech with reported threat, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I threaten to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had threatened to go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported warning?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported warning. For example:

Direct speech: "I warn you to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had warned you to go to the store."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported advice?

A: To use indirect speech with reported advice, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I advise you to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had advised you to go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported suggestion?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported suggestion. For example:

Direct speech: "I suggest that you go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had suggested that you go to the store."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported command?

A: To use indirect speech with reported command, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I command you to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had commanded you to go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported request?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported request. For example:

Direct speech: "I request that you go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had requested that you go to the store."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported offer?

A: To use indirect speech with reported offer, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I offer you to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had offered you to go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported invitation?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported invitation. For example:

Direct speech: "I invite you to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had invited you to go to the store."

Q: How do we use indirect speech with reported permission?

A: To use indirect speech with reported permission, we need to change the sentence structure and the verb form. For example:

Direct speech: "I permit you to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had permitted you to go to the store."

Q: Can we use indirect speech with reported prohibition?

A: Yes, we can use indirect speech with reported prohibition. For example:

Direct speech: "I prohibit you to go to the store."
Indirect speech: "He said that I had prohibited you to go to the store."