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Uses of Direct to Indirect Speech
 
 
USES OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

Uses of Direct and Indirect Speech in English

Uses of Direct and Indirect Speech

"Pronouns of the Direct speech are changed if necessary to indicate the relation of the reporter and his listener and the thing or person spoken about."

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a way of reporting what someone has said without using their exact words. It is used to convey the meaning of what someone has said without directly quoting them.

When to Use Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech is used in a variety of situations, including:

  • • When you want to summarize what someone has said.
  • • When you want to report what someone has said without directly quoting them.
  • • When you want to avoid using the exact words of someone who has said something.
Usage of Pronouns in Direct and Indirect Speech:
If the reporter is first preson:

If the reporter is first preson then first person pronoun remains same in the reported speech.

Example:
  • • I said,"I am not fine." (Direct)
  • • I said that I was not fine. (Indirect)
If the reporter is second person:

If the reporter is second person then first person pronoun in reported speech changes to second person.

Example:
  • • You said,"I am not fine." (Direct)
  • • You said that you were not fine. (Indirect)
If the reporter is third person:

If the reporter is third person then first person pronoun in the reported speech changes to third person.

Example:
  • • He said,"I am not fine." (Direct)
  • • He said that he was not fine. (Indirect)
If the listener is first preson:

If the listener is first preson then second person pronoun in the reported speech changes to first person.

Example:
  • • He said to me,"I don’t like you." (Direct)
  • • He told me that he didn’t like me. (Indirect)
If the listener is second preson:

If the listener is second preson then second person pronoun in the reported speech remains same.

Example:
  • • He said to you,"I don’t like you." (Direct)
  • • He told you that he didn’t like you. (Indirect)
If the listener is third preson:

If the listener is third preson then second person pronoun in the reported speech changes to third person.

Example:
  • • I said to him, "I don’t like you." (Direct)
  • • I told him that I didn’t like him. (Indirect)
Usage of Verbs in Direct and Indirect Speech:
Common Reported Verbs:

Reported verbs are verbs that are used to introduce reported speech. Some common reported verbs include:

"Common reported verbs are :

said told asked questioned
exclaimed declared announced admitted
confessed denied warned suggested
offered promised requested inquired
assured remarked stated informed
Examples:
  • • “I am going to office,” said Peter. (Direct)
  • • Peter said that he was going to office. (Indirect)
  • • 'Wait here,' he said. (Direct)
  • • He told us to wait there. (Indirect)
  • • She said, "Please close the door". (Direct)
  • • She asked me to close the door. (Indirect)
  • • The boy asked, “Where do you live?”. (Direct)
  • • The boy questioned where I lived. (Indirect)
  • • Tina said, ‘What a beautiful rainbow it is’. (Direct)
  • • Tina exclaimed with wonder that the scenery was very beautiful. (Indirect)
  • • “I am attending the conference next week,” she declared. (Direct)
  • • She declared that she was attending the conference the following week. (Indirect)
  • • The manager announced, “The meeting is postponed.” (Direct)
  • • The manager announced that the meeting was postponed. (Indirect)
  • • He said, 'I broke the window.' (Direct)
  • • He admitted breaking the window. (Indirect)
  • • “I don’t like horror movies,” she confessed. (Direct)
  • • She confessed that she didn’t like horror movies. (Indirect)
  • • 'It wasn't me who finished the coffee,' she said. (Direct)
  • • She denied finishing the coffee. (Indirect)
  • • The police officer said, 'Don't go in there!'. (Direct)
  • • The police officer warned us not to go in there. (Indirect)
  • • He said, 'Let's take a break.' (Direct)
  • • He suggested taking a break. (Indirect)
  • • Maya said, "I will do the shopping for you". (Direct)
  • • Maya offered to do the shopping for us. (Indirect)
  • • Raj said, "I will buy you birthday cake". (Direct)
  • • Raj promised to buy me birthday cake. (Indirect)
  • • “Please pass me the glass,” he requested. (Direct)
  • • He requested me to pass her the glass. (Indirect)
  • • “Have you seen my keys?” he inquired. (Direct)
  • • He inquired if I had seen his keys. (Indirect)
  • • “I will be ready in ten minutes,” she assured. (Direct)
  • • She assured that she would be ready in ten minutes. (Indirect)
  • • “She plays the guitar beautifully,” he remarked. (Direct)
  • • He remarked that she played the guitar beautifully. (Indirect)
  • • “I have lived here for five years,” he stated. (Direct)
  • • He stated that he had lived there for five years. (Indirect)
  • • “The movie starts at 9 PM,” she informed us. (Direct)
  • • She informed us that the movie started at 9 PM. (Indirect)

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