DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
Changes in Imperative Sentences:
• We change the verb of the subordinate clause (actual
spoken words) to its ‘to infinitive’ form
• Verb ‘said’ becomes suggested, ordered, asked,
commanded, requested, begged, warned ,shouted etc.
depending on the context
• negative commands are changed in the same way with
‘not’
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
• The policeman said to the drivers, “Stop!” Direct Speech
• The policeman shouted at the drivers to stop.
Indirect Speech
‘to stop’ – “to infinitive” form of the main verb ‘stop’
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
• He said to the visitors, “Keep quiet, please.”
Direct Speech
• He requested the visitors to keep quiet.
Indirect Speech
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
• The manager said to him, “Don’t postpone your work.”
Direct Speech
‘Don’t’ = ‘do not’ – negative
• The manager warned him not to postpone his work.
Indirect
Speech
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
• The mother said, “Don’t cry, baby… Don’t cry.”
Direct Speech
• The mother told the baby repeatedly not to cry.
Indirect Speech
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
• When the verb “let” in the subordinate clause (actual
spoken words) of the direct speech sentence expresses a
suggestion, we use the verb word ‘suggested’ in the
introductory clause of the indirect speech sentence, and
the word ‘let’ is not mentioned in the indirect speech
sentence, instead we use the helping verb ‘should’ with
the main verb!
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
She said to her friends, “Let’s go for a picnic.” -- Direct
‘Let’ – suggestion
She suggested to her friends that they should go for a picnic.
Indirect
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
Exclamatory Sentences
Sentence which expresses state of joy or sorrow or wonder is
called exclamatory sentence.
For example:
• Hurrah! We won the match.
• Alas! I failed the test.
• Wow! What a nice shirt it is.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
To change such sentences, the words “exclaimed with joy” or
“exclaimed with sorrow” or “exclaimed with wonder” is
added in the reporting verb depending upon the nature of
exclamatory sentence in indirect speech.
Direct speech Indirect Speech
He said, “Hurrah! I won a He exclaimed with joy that he
prize”. had won a prize.
She said, “Alas! I failed in She exclaimed with sorrow
exam”. that she failed in the exam.
John said, “Wow! What a nice John exclaimed with wonder
shirt it is”. that it was a nice shirt.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
Practice Exercise:
• The designer said to her, “Will you have the dress ready
by tomorrow evening?”
• Reshma said to Priya, ‘Why are you sketching on the
wall?’
• ‘Be calm and listen to my speech’, She said.
• ‘You shall go to see the royal palace in the moonlit night’,
the guide said.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
Practice Exercise:
• Anshu said to Arpita, “I do not even remember her
address.”
• The servant said to the master, “I have brought things
from the market.”
• The teacher said to John, “Are you preparing for some
competitive examination?”
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
1.Priyanka: I watched an interesting movie yesterday.
(a) Priyanka said that she watched an interesting movie
yesterday.
(b) Priyanka said that she had watched an interesting movie
the previous day.
(c) Priyanka said that she has watched an interesting movie
the previous day.
(d) Priyanka said that she was watching an interesting movie
yesterday.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
2. Kavya: I have prepared for my test.
(a) Kavya said that she has prepared for my test.
(b) Kavya said that she had prepared for her test.
(c) Kavya said that she has prepared for her test.
(d) Kavya said that she has had prepared for her test.
3. Mother said to me: Where are you going?
(a) Mother told me where I was going.
(b) Mother asked where was I going.
(c) Mother asked me where I was going.
(d) Mother said to me that where I was going.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
4. The teacher said to the students: Study well for your exam.
(a) The teacher told the students study well for their exam.
(b) The teacher told the students that they study well for the
their exam.
(c) The teacher advised the students to study well for your
exam.
(d) The teacher advised the students to study well for their
exam.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
5. Manav: “I have lost my watch.”
(a)Manav said that he has lost my watch.
(b) Manav said that he had lost his watch.
(c) Manav said that what he lost his watch.
(d) Manav asked that he had lost his watch.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
6.The teacher said to the boy, ‘Congratulations! Wish you all the
best!’
(a) The teacher congratulated the boy and told him wish you all
the best.
(b) The teacher said congratulations and all the best to the boy.
(c) The teacher congratulated the boy and wished him all the
best.
(d) The teacher said congratulations to the boy and wished him
all the best.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
Mother: Why are you looking so worried?
Daughter: My exams are approaching.
Mother: When will they start?
Daughter: Next month, Mother.
Mother asked her daughter (a) …………………… The daughter
replied that (b) …………………… Mother further asked
(c) …………………… The daughter told her mother that they
would start in the following month.
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
Sonali: Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you want as a
gift?
Neetu: That is a lovely thought but I don’t want anything.
Sonali asked Neetu since the next day was her birthday,
(a) …………………… Neetu replied that (b) …………………… but
(c) ………………….. .
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
Manu: Where are you going to?
Annu: I am going to the market. Do you want anything?
Manu asked Annu (a) …………………… Annu replied
(b) …………………… Annu replied (b) …………………… and she
further asked (c) ……………………
DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH
Electrician: When did your electricity go?
Rohan: It is not working since evening.
Electrician: Sorry sir, in this case, I will have to check the fuse
now.
The electrician asked Rohan (a) …………………… .Rohan replied
that (b) …………………… The electrician apologetically said that
in that case (c) ……………………
