Direct and Indirect Speech

 

Direct and Indirect Speech

 

SSC CGL Main Examination contains questions (Casually 27) based on Direct and Indirect Speech. In these questions a sentence is given in Direct/Indirect speech. The aspirants are required to choose the alternative which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct speech.

 

Quick Clues

§  Look at the tense of the reporting verb and follow the rules.

§  Recognise the tense of the reported speech and change it accordingly.

§  Look for the correct use of conjunction (that, whether, if etc.

§  Keep in mind the situations when the tense of the reported speech should not change.

§  Remember to change the pronouns and the words expressing nearness.

 

Direct Speech Direct speech is a sentence that reports speech or thought in its original form, as phrased by the original speaker. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks.

Indirect Speech It expresses the content of statements, questions or other utterances, without quoting the exact words of the speaker.

 

Read the following Sentences

1. Rama said, "Harry is an idle boy."

2. Rama said that Harry was an idle boy.

 

These two sentences illustrate the two ways in which we may report the words of a speaker. In the first sentence, we give the exact words used by the speaker. This is called Direct Speech or Narration.

 

Note In the first sentence, said is called the Reporting Verb and Harry is an idle boy is called the Reported Speech.

 

In the second sentence, we do not give the exact words of the speaker but give only the substance of what he said. This is called Indirect Speech or Narration.

 

DIRECT SPEECH

1. The exact words of the speaker are put within inverted commas (" ").

2. The first word of the reported speech begins with a capital letter.

3. A comma is placed after the reporting verb to separate it from the second part of the sentence.

 

INDIRECT SPEECH

1. The reported words are not placed within inverted commas.

2. No comma is placed after said.

3. The reported speech is introduced by the conjunction that.

4. The tense of the verb in the reported speech is changed' from the Present to the Past.

 

Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, all present tenses of the direct speech are changed into the corresponding past tenses.

 

Examples

(I)        Simple present becomes simple past.

Direct He said, "I like this sweet."

Indirect He said (that), he liked that sweet.

 

(II)       Present continuous becomes past continuous.

Direct He said, "My elder brother is writing a letter."

Indirect He said (that), his elder brother was writing a letter

 

(III)      Present perfect becomes past perfect.

Direct Siddharth said, "I have passed the examination."

Indirect Siddharth said (that), he had passed the examination.

 

Note Shall of the future tense is changed into should. Will of the future tense is changed into would or should.

 

As a rule, the simple past in the direct becomes the past perfect in the indirect.

Direct He said, "It rained last night."

Indirect He said (that), It had rained the previous night.

 

·         If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses of the direct speech do not change, e.g., we may rewrite the examples, putting the reporting verb in the present tense, thus

1. says he is unwell.

2. Ajay has just said his master is writing letters.

3. He says he has passed the examination.

4. says the horse died in the night.

·         If the reported speech contains universal truth, proverb, mathematical fact, historical fact, habitual act the tense of the reported speech remains unchanged in the indirect speech.

·         The pronouns of the direct speech are changed, where necessary, so that their relations with the reporter and his hearer, rather than with the original speaker, are indicated.

Observe following examples

Direct My friend said to him, "I don't believe you."

Indirect My friend said she didn't believe him.

·         Words expressing nearness in time or place are generally changed into words expressing distance.

last night	becomes	the night before
yesterday	becomes	the day before
now	becomes	then
tomorrow	becomes	the next day
today	becomes	that day
here	becomes	there
thus	becomes	so
ago	becomes	before

 

Direct Harish said, "He is very excited to be here this evening."

Indirect Harish said that he was very excited to be there that evening.

·         In reporting questions the indirect speech is introduced by some such verbs as asked, enquired etc.

When the question is not introduced by an interrogative word, the reporting verb is followed whether or if.

 

Examples

Direct She said to me, “what are you writing?"

Indirect She asked me what I was writing.

Direct "Where do you live?” asked the boy

Indirect The boy enquired where I lived.

 

Commands and Requests

·         In reporting commands and requests, the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing command or request and the imperative mood is changed into the infinitive.

 

Examples

Direct Rohan said to Neeraj, “Go away.”

Indirect Rohan ordered Neeraj to go away

Direct The man said to him," Please wait here till I return."

Indirect The man requested him to wan there till he returned.

 

Exclamations and Wishes

In reporting exclamations and wishes the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing exclamation or wish.

 

Examples

Direct The farmer said," Alas! I am undone.”

Indirect The farmer exclaimed sadly that he was undone.

Direct The teacher said, "Bravo! You have done well."

Indirect The teacher applauded him, saying that he had done well.