DIRECT SPEECH

When two persons talk to each other using I, you & we pronouns their conversation / dialogue is called DIRECT SPEECH.

INDIRECT SPEECH (REPORTED SPEECH)

When a third person quotes/refers to that conversation / dialogue by using He, She, It and They, it is called INDIRECT SPEECH. (REPORTED SPEECH).

If we want to refer to this conversation in exact words used by them, we put them between inverted commas (“_________”) and such conversation / dialogue is called DIRECT SPEECH – it may be oral or written.

When we change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech / Reported Speech, we make certain changes as indicted below:

	We use the conjunction “THAT” before the Indirect Speech (Conversations / Dialogue / Statement)
	No inverted commas,question marks or exclamation marks are used in the indirect speech.
	The pronoun is changed in person.
	The tense is changed.
	Direct Speech   Indirect Speech • Simple Precent = Simple Past • Present continuous = Past continuous • Present Prefect = Past perfect • Simple Future = Simple Past • Future Continuous = Past continuous • Future Prefect = Past perfect • Simple Past = Past perfect   Note1: If the statement is a universal truth, then the tense will not change.   Note2: If the reporting verb is in present tense or future tense then the tense will not change.
	Words expressing nearness in time or place (Adverb of place & time) are generally changed into words expressing distance. e.g.
	Direct Speech   Indirect Speech • Now = Then • Here = There • Ago = Before • Thus = So • Today / To night = That day / That night • Tomorrow = The next day • Yesterday = The day before / the previous day • Last night = The night before / the previous night • Come = Go • This & These = That & Those while it points out while reporting

If the verb in the Direct Speech is in Present Tense, then verbs in Indirect Speech/ Reported Speech are changed as follows: