REPORTED SPEECH
Whatever we speak is called our speech. We can use our speech to report the
ideas that are our own. We also speak to report the speech of any other person to
still another person. This job of reporting can be done in two ways- directly or
indirectly.
E.g. 1. The teacher says, “Preethi is never late.”
2. The teacher said, “Preethi is sick.”
Here each sentence has two distinct parts:
a) The part outside the quotation mark has a subject and a verb. This verb is called
the Reporting verb,
b) The part within the quotation mark is called ‘Reported speech’. It has the actual
words of the person whose speech is reported.
c) Here you must have noticed that, the speech has been reported exactly as it is
heard. So it is called Direct Speech.
When the speech of a person is not reported exactly as it was told and only the
substance has been reported, it is called Indirect Speech.
1. The teacher says, “Preethi is never late.”
2. The teacher said, “Preethi is sick.”
E.g.
1. The teacher says that Preethi is never late.
2. The teacher said that Preethi was sick.
Note the following facts while changing into Indirect Speech:
The Reporting verb is not followed by a comma but by a conjunction-‘that’
Tenses are changed
Pronouns are changed
Certain words are changed
What is Reported Speech?
We may report the words of a speaker in two ways:
I. We may quote his/her actual words. This is called DIRECT SPEECH.
For example: He said, “Shyam wrote a story.”
II. We may report what he/she said without quoting his exact words. This is called
INDIRECT SPEECH.
For example: He said that Shyam had written a story.
RULES FOR CHANGING DIRECT SPEECH INTO INDIRECT SPEECH
1. If the Reporting Verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the
Reported Speech does not change at all.
Direct speech:
1. He says: “Tea is ready.”
2. The teacher will say, “Tomorrow is a holiday.”
3. Babu says, “I am flying a kite.
Indirect speech:
1. He says that tea is ready.
2. The teacher will say that tomorrow is a holiday.
3. Babu says that he is flying a kite.
2. When the reporting verb is in Past tense, all Present tenses of the direct
speech are changed into the corresponding Past tenses,
a. A simple present becomes a simple past.
Eg. Direct: He said, “I am unwell.”
Indirect: He said that he was unwell.
b. A present continuous becomes a past continuous.
Eg. Direct: He said, “My master is writing letters.”
Indirect: He said that his master was writing letters.
A present perfect becomes a past perfect.
Eg. Direct: He said, “I have passed the examination.”
Indirect: He said that he had passed the examination.
d. Present Perfect Continuous changes into Past Perfect Continuous.
Direct: Mother said, “It has been raining since dawn.
Indirect: Mother said that it had been raining since dawn.
3. But remember that the present tense of the Reported speech does not change
if it expresses-
i) A universal truth ii) a habitual fact
E.g. Direct: Rani said, ‘‘Most people have a walk daily.”
Indirect: Rani said that most people have a walk daily.
Direct: The teacher said, “The Moon revolves round the Earth.”
Indirect: The teacher said that the Moon revolves round the Earth.
4.If the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense, the Past Tense of the Reported
Speech change as mentioned below:
a) Simple Past will become Past Perfect
E.g. Direct: The teacher said, “Bruce hid in the cave.”
Indirect: The teacher said that Bruce had hidden in the cave.”
b) A past continuous becomes a past perfect continuous.
Eg. Direct: He said, “They were playing.
Indirect: He said that they had been playing.
c) Past Perfect and Past Perfect continuous do not change.
E.g. Direct: Kamala said, “Leela had gone home.”
Indirect: Kamala said that Leela had gone home.
E.g. Direct: Kate said, “It had been raining for an hour.”
Indirect: Kate said that it had been raining for an hour.
5. If the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense, the Future Tense change their shall
and will into would or should.
a) Eg. Direct: He said, “I will live in Delhi.”
Indirect: He said that he would live in Delhi.
b) Direct: I said, “I shall be taking a test.”
c) Indirect: I said that I would be taking a test.
May is changed into might and can is changed into could.
6. Change in Personal Pronouns
a) The pronouns of the First Person are changed after the person of the subject
of the reporting verb
Eg. Direct: He said to me, “I don’t believe you.”
Indirect: He told me that he didn’t believe me.
b) The pronouns of the Second Person are changed after the person of the
object of the reporting verb.
He said to me, “You are late.”
He told me that I was late.
c) The pronouns of the Third Person remain unchanged.
I said, “He is tall and slim.”
I said that he was tall and slim.
7.Words expressing nearness in time or place are generally changed into
words expressing distance.
6. Ago - before
7. Come- go
8. Here - there
9. Hither - thither
10. Hence - thence
11. Hereby - thereby
12. Last night, week, month, or year e.t.c –the previous night or the night before
week, month,year
13. next day, week, month or year - the following day, week, month or year
14. This – that
15. Now-then
16. These - those
17. Today – that day
18. Tomorrow – the next day or the following day
19. Yesterday – the previous day or the day before
20. Tonight –that night
8. In reporting questions, the indirect speech is introduced by verbs such as
asked, enquired, demanded etc.
Eg. Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?”
Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.
Direct: The policemen said to me, “Where are you going?”
Indirect: The policeman enquired where I was going.
Whether or if is used after an Introductory verb when the direct question has yes
or no for an answer.
The Interrogative form is changed into a Declarative form.
9.In reporting commands and requests, the Indirect Speech is introduced by
some verb expressing command or request.
Eg. Direct: Rama said to Arjun, “Go away.”
Indirect: Rama ordered Arjun to go away.
Direct: He said, “Be quiet and listen to my word.”
Indirect: He urged them to be quiet and listen to his word.
NOTE: The word ‘to’ is added after the reporting verb.
10. In reporting exclamations and wishes the Indirect Speech is introduced by
some verb expressing exclamation or wish.
Eg. Direct: He said,” Alas! I’m undone.”
Indirect: He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
Direct: He said,” Bravo! You have done well.”
Indirect: He applauded him, saying that he had done well.
