Direct speech and reported speech
One of the most confused topic of grammar. I used to make mistakes in this particular topic. But the rules are quite clear and easy. Let’s see the rules in detail.
What is direct seech?
Direct speech presents the exact words of the user.
For example: “We are performing today,” said Sam.
These words are said by Sam.
What is reported speech?
The reported speech presents the words of a speaker as told by someone else.
For example: Sam said that they were performing that day.
DO NOT use quotation marks in the reported speech.
How to change pronouns while changing from direct speech to reported speech and vice versa?
TENSES and PRONOUNS are changed when we change from direct speech to indirect speech.
‘I’ changes to he/she
me changes to him/her
my changes to his/her.
'you', 'your'
‘you/your’ in direct speech changes to he/she/they; his/her/their.
we, our, us
‘we’ in direct speech changes to ‘they’.
‘us’ in direct speech changes to ‘them’.
‘our’ in direct speech changes to ‘their’.
'yesterday, today, tomorrow'
‘yesterday’ in direct speech changes to ‘the day before’.
‘today’ in direct speech changes to ‘that day’.
‘tomorrow’ in direct speech changes to ‘the next day’.
'this, these, here'
‘this’ in direct speech changes to ‘that’.
‘these’ in direct speech changes to ‘those’.
‘here’ in direct speech changes to ‘there’.
Change 'said' to 'told'
Usually we will mention in the reported speech as Sam said, … or Paul said, …. But when there is said in the direct speech, we have to change it to ‘told’ in the reported speech.
For example:
“I love you,” he said. – Direct speech.
He told that he loved me. – Reported speech.
How tenses change form direct to reported speech and vice versa?
Simple present to simple past
When the direct is in simple present tense, change it to simple past tense in the reported speech.
Present continuous to past continuous
When the direct is in present continuous tense, change it to past continuous tense in the reported speech.
Present perfect to past perfect
When the direct is in present perfect tense, change it to past perfect tense in the reported speech.
Simple past to past perfect
When the direct is in simple past tense, change it to past perfect tense in the reported speech.
Let's practice
Change the following from direct speech to reported speech.
He said that he hated pizza.
She said that she was leaving that day.
She said that she had done talking.
She said that she had eaten lunch.
She said that she had already eaten lunch.
She said that she was going to call.
She said that she would call.
She said that she had been calling a lot.
She said that she was calling then.
She said that she had eaten the previous night.
She said that she could dance.
She said that she would teach me.
She said that she might come the next day.
She said that she had to change.
She asked if we should eat.