Reported speech
or
direct & indirect
speech
Good morning
Definition:
Reported speech or indirect speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or
someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has
said.
Rules:
The first thing you have to keep in mind is that you need not use any quotation marks as you are not
using the exact words of the speaker.
You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech: Subject said that
(report whatever the speaker said)
You can use verbs like said, asked, requested, ordered, complained, exclaimed, screamed, told, etc. If
you are just reporting a declarative sentence, you can use verbs like told, said, etc. followed by ‘that’
and end the sentence with a full stop.
When you are reporting interrogative sentences, you can use the verbs – enquired, inquired, asked,
etc. and remove the question mark.
In case you are reporting imperative sentences, you can use verbs like requested, commanded,
pleaded, ordered, etc.
If you are reporting exclamatory sentences, you can use the verb exclaimed and remove the
exclamation mark.
Changes!
Changes!
Changes!
Speech
Here are some tips you can follow to become
a pro in using reported speech.
Select a play, a drama or a short story with
dialogues and try transforming the
sentences in direct speech into reported
speech.
Write about an incident or speak about a
day in your life using reported speech.
Develop a story by following prompts or on
your own using reported speech.
Examples of Reported
Speech
Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech
can be written. Check them out.
Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role
in Funny Girl.
Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
The judges announced that the Warblers were the winners of the
annual acapella competition.
Binsha assured that she would reach Bangalore by 8 p.m.
Transform the following sentences into reported speech by
making the necessary changes.
1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”
2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”
3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the
skit.”
4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”
5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”
Los Angeles.”
6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the
invitations?”
7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”
8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the
homework before tomorrow.”
9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”
10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.”
Direct
Speech
Direct
Speech
When we want to describe
what someone said, one
option is to use direct
speech. We use direct
speech when we simply
repeat what someone says,
putting the phrase between
speech marks:
Paul came in and said, “I’m
really hungry.”
Direct Speech
Change as directed
Read the following sentences and change them into reported
speech:
1. Mimi said, “I have been writing this letter.”
2. I said, “Sam’s driving the car.”
3. My uncle said, “I am cooking lunch.”
4. My brother said, “I had already eaten.”
5. The old lady said to the girl, “Where do you come from?”
6. Jon said, “I like to play rugby.”
7. My mother said, “I get up early every morning.”
8. The maths teacher said, “Three divided by three is one.”
9. Mohit said, “Switzerland is a very beautiful country.”
10. Ruben said, “It is very cold outside.”
Workbook:
Workbook:
Workbook:
Direct Speech
Change as directed
Read the following sentences and change them into reported
speech:
1. The teacher said, “The French Revolution took place in
1789.”
2. Uma said, “I saw a Royal Bengal Tiger in the zoo.”
3. Luke said, “I can do this homework.”
4. Aswini said to her mother, “I have passed the test”.
5. Daphne said to Antony, “I will go to London tomorrow.”
6. The boy said, “My father is sleeping.”
7. The traffic police said to us, “Where are you going?”
8. The man shouted, “Let me go.”
9. Shivina said, “Alas! I am lost.”
10. “I know her contact number,” said Helena
Changes!
