English Grammar and Composition chapter 16: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech

Unit Sixteen

Direct Speech and Indirect Speech

Lesson 1: Statements

A. Read the following passage:

Maria said to her mother, "I am unwell. I am feeling feverish. But I have done all my homework." Maria's mother said, "I have already prepared the breakfast. You will take rest after your breakfast." Maria said, "Mothers are always caring."

In the passage above, the exact words of the speakers are put within quotation marks. Such words make a direct speech. When a direct speech changes into an indirect speech, it undergoes some changes.

Now notice the changes:

Maria told her mother that she was unwell. She also said that she was feeling feverish. But she had done her homework. Maria's mother said that she had already prepared the breakfast. She then said that Maria would take rest after having her breakfast. Then Maria said that mothers are always caring.

This is an example of indirect speech.

In a direct speech we say exactly what was said by the speaker. But in an indirect speech someone reports in a different way what was said by the speaker.

Read the following examples to see how a direct speech changes into an indirect speech:

He said, "I teach in a school" (Direct speech) He said that he taught in a school. (Indirect speech)

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They said, "We are going to the cinema." (Direct speech) They said that they were going to the cinema. (Indirect speech)

Note: If the reporting verb (here 'said') is in past tense, the tense of the direct speech will change in the indirect speech.

See the changes in the following examples:

He said, ''I want the book. ''

He said that he wanted the book.

The simple present changes into simple past.

She said, 'I am coming.'

She said that she was coming.

The present continuous changes into the past continuous.

He said, "I have completed the task."

He said that he had completed task.

The present perfect changes into the past perfect.

But if the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tenses in the direct speech do not change.

He says, "I am leaving."

He says that he is leaving.

We use inverted commas to mark off the exact words of the speaker. In the indirect speech, we do not use inverted commas. In changing the above direct speeches into indirect, certain other changes have been made. Such as:

i) We have used "that" after the reporting verbs.

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ii) Change in time: Time is changed according to certain rules like now to then, today to that day, tomorrow to next day and yesterday to previous day.

Here is a table of some conversions of time.

B. Now rewrite the following in indirect speech:

1. Maria said to her mother, 'I have got 10 out of 10 in mathematics class test. I am very happy. My teacher became very happy. I'll do my homework regularly. Then I'll get good marks in every subject.' Mom said to Maria, 'Practice makes a man perfect'.

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2. Give examples of the mentioned tenses and complete the table. One is done for you:

C. Change the following sentences into indirect speeches:

a. I say, "I want to sleep."

b. He says, "I like mangoes".

c. You said, "I will meet my teacher."

d. They said, "We are starting now."

e. Mother said to me, "I was waiting for you for a long time."

f. Maria says, "My father is an Engineer."

g. He said, "I have passed the math test."

h. She said to me, "You are my only friend."

i. He said, "I have got a bad headache.

j. Meena said, "I am very busy now."

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Lesson 2: Questions

A. Read the following passage:

Mother said to Maria, "Are you hungry?" She also said, "Did you finish your tiffin at school?" Maria said, "Yes". Then mother asked again, "Do you want to take sandwich tomorrow?" Then Maria said to her mother, "What are you doing now?" She also asked "Why are you looking so tired?"

Now look at the changes of these questions into indirect speeches:

Mother asked Maria if she was hungry.

She also asked her whether she had finished her tiffin at school.

Mother asked again if Maria wanted to take sandwich the next day.

Maria asked her mother what she was doing then.

Maria asked her again why she was looking so tired.

Note: To report a Yes/No question, we use if or whether but in case of 'wh' questions the question word is retained in the indirect speech.

Notes:

i) If the direct speech is a question, the reporting verb in the indirect speech is changed into "asked".

ii) In an indirect speech the question turns into a statement and the verb goes after the subject like she was, she had, she wanted. So use no question mark.

B. Change the following sentence into indirect speech:

Robi said to Maria, "Why are you crying? What makes you so upset? Is there anything wrong with your classmates? Have you got punishment in school?" Maria said, "Why are you so anxious?"

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C. Change the following sentences into indirect:

a. Maria said to her mother, "Do you always get up early?"

b. The teacher said to Maria, "Who were you waiting for?"

c. I said to you, "What do you want?"

d. The policeman said to him, "Are you in a hurry to cross the road?"

e. Jaya said to the watchman, "Did you find the key anywhere?"

f. Kamal said to the driver, "Can you take me to the lawyer now?"

g. You said to me, "Why are you wasting your time?"

h. She said to you, "When will you start from New York?"

i. I said to my brother, "Where were you this morning?"

j. He said to me, "Do you like music?"

Lesson 3: Imperatives

A. In our daily life we find ourselves in various types of situations. In different situations, our expressions vary. In school, Maria's teachers command her to perform her work. Sometimes it is a direct command. Sometimes it is a request. In direct commands and requests, we use the 'base' form of the verb. When we change them into indirect forms, we use words like 'tell' (for commands), ask, request or beg (for requests).

Look at the following sentences:

Maria's teacher said, "Maria, open the window."

The teacher told Maria to open the window.

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The teacher said, "Maria, bring a marker please." (Direct request)

The teacher requested Maria to bring a marker. (Indirect request)

There are other situations when we have to use some other words. Now we will see some more words for indirect expressions.

It was very cold and Maria's mother became worried for Maria and told her to wear warm clothes. Mother said to Maria, "Do not go out without warm clothes." Maria said to her mother, "Let us go inside the car." Then mother said, "Let me bring the warm clothes first". Mother brought the clothes and they started for their aunt's house as it was a fine holiday.

Look at the changes now:

Maria's mother forbade Maria to go outside without warm clothes. Maria proposed that they should go inside the car. Mother then proposed that she should bring the warm clothes first.

Sometimes we use 'advice' or 'urge'. If Maria's teacher says, "Obey your parents", then we change it in this way:

Maria's teacher advised her to obey her parents.

Again the teacher said to the class, "Keep quiet."

The teacher urged his students to keep quiet.

B. Read the speech and write a rule to change it:

The teacher said, "Be regular in the classes."

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2) Use the correct form of the verbs in the box to fill each gap in the following sentences. Use each verb once:

C. Change the following sentences into indirect:

a. Father said to me, "Get on your feet."

b. The teacher said to me, "Open your notebook."

c. Ruma said to her brother, "Stop making a noise."

d. The officer said to us, "Do not park here."

e. Meena said to her mother, "Please wait for me."

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