Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct Speech :
We sometimes communicate by repeating the actual words of the speaker. This way of communicating is called direct speech.
To show direct speech in writing,
1. do not change the actual words spoken by the speaker.
2. separate the actual words spoken from the rest of the sentence by using a comma.
3. place the actual words of the speaker within double quotation marks(inverted commas).
4. begin the first word inside the quotation marks with a capital letter.
5. mention the speaker before or after the words set inside the quotation marks.
For example:
Mallika said, "I am getting late for school."
Anu said to her son, "Do you want some bread?"
"We will not wait for you," said Nalin.
"Aren't the days getting shorter?" said Ajay.
The words outside the quotation marks make up a reporting clause.
When we mention the speaker after closing the quotation marks, the verb comes before the subject.
For example:
The judge said, "All evidence proves you are guilty."
"All evidence proves you are guilty," said the judge.
A. Punctuate these quirky sentences.
1. The letter said to the stamp stick to me and we will go places.
= The letter said to the stamp, "Stick to me and we will go places."
2. The earth said to other planets you have no life.
= The earth said to other planets, "You have no life."
3. Zero said to eight I think your belt is too tight at the waist.
= Zero said to eight, "I think your belt is too tight at the waist."
4. Let us go for a dip said one crisp to another.
= "Let us go for a dip," said one crisp to another.
5. The hat said I want to head to rest on.
= The hat said, "I want to head to rest on."
6. Will you meet me at the corner said the wall to the door.
= "Will you meet me at the corner?," said the wall to the door.
7. The cricket players said we never sweat because we have huge fans.
= The cricket player said, "We never sweat because we have huge fans."
8. The window said to the door why are you squeaking I am the one with pane.
= The window said to the door, "Why are you squeaking? I am the one with pane."
Indirect Speech :
We often report what someone has with a few changes to their actual words. This way of communicating is called indirect speech.
The essential changes required for indirect speech:
We do not use any quotation marks in indirect speech.
For example:
The coach said, "Everybody should carry their sports kit." (direct speech)
The coach said that everyone should carry their sports kit. (indirect speech)
Changes to reporting verbs:
The reporting verb used to introduce indirect speech depends on the type of sentence -
statement, question or command - being reported. The most commonly used reporting verb is said. Some other reporting verbs used in indirect speech are: tell, cry, shout, ask, explain, advise, request, offer, order, remind, warn, promise and complain.
For example:
The driver said, "The bus will come on time from Monday."
= The driver said that the bus would come on time from Monday.
Amrita said to me, "Do not share my secret with anyone."
= Amrita told me not to share her secret with anyone.
"You should not sleep late at night," said the doctor.
= The doctor advised me not to sleep late at night.
"Should I carry the bag for you?", said the young boy to the old man.
= The young boy offered to carry the bag for the old man.
B. Rewrite these sentences in indirect speech using a suitable reporting verb from the brackets.
1. The receptionist said, "I will be on leave on Monday."(informed/requested)
= The receptionist informed that he would be on leave on Monday.
2. The child said, "I cannot walk any farther." (cried/explained)
= I child cried that it could not walk any farther.
3. The old woman said, "Nobody cares for the elderly." (warned/complained)
= The old woman complained that nobody cared for the elderly.
4. Raghav's aunt said, "One should avoid junk food and eat a balanced diet." (reminded/advised)
= Raghav's aunt advised that one should avoid junk food and eat a balanced diet.
5. "You should speak only the truth if you want to spare yourself the trouble," said the policemen to the man. (warned/told)
= The policemen warned the man to speak only the truth if he wanted to spare himself the trouble.
6. "My birthday party is on Sunday and you must come," said Nihal. (ordered/reminded)
= Nihal reminded about his birthday party on Sunday and invited us to come.
C. Report in indirect speech.
1. Mrs. Raman said, "The children have been playing all day."
= Mrs. Raman said that the children had been playing all day.
2. The police report says, "The boy who stole the bag is an orphan."
= The police report says that the boy who stole the bag is an orphan.
3. "I am speaking on behalf of all the residents," said Pratap.
= Pratap said the he was speaking on behalf of all the residents.
4. The Prime Minister says, "India is a powerful democracy and will remain so."
= The Prime Minister says that India is a powerful democracy and will remain so.
5. "Dr Suri has addressed a large gathering of students on teenage issues," the teacher said.
= The teacher said that Dr Suri had addressed a large gathering of student on teenage issues.
6. Grandpa said, "The weather may turn stormy according to the newspaper reports."
= Grandpa said that the weather may turn stormy according to the newspaper reports.
D. Write these sentences in indirect speech.
1. The examiner said, "I will collect your answer sheets in 15 minutes."
= The examiner said that he would collect our answer sheets in 15 minutes.
2. "These are our forms that you asked us to fill up," said Heera to the receptionist.
= Heera told the receptionist that those were their forms that they asked them to fill up.
3. He said to me, "I will borrow your shirt and his shoes."
= He told me that he would borrow my shirt and his shoes.
4. The old man said to his grandchildren, "Come to me, and I will share some interesting pictures of my childhood."
= The old man told his grandchildren to come to me and she would share some interesting pictures of her childhood.
5. The little girl said to her brother, "This is mine and that is yours."
= The little girl told her brother that that was hers and that was his.
6. "We have checked in our luggage," said Rama.
= Rama said that they had checked in their luggage.
E. Write in indirect speech.
1. The class said to me, "Please give us a test tomorrow."
= The class requested me to give them a test the next day.
2. Rahul said, "I will be travelling next week."
= Rahul said that he would be travelling the following week.
3. "We should leave now," said Mom.
= Mom said that they should leave then.
4. The flautist said, "I played at a concert last night."
= The flautist said that he had played at a concert the previous night.
5. "We will watch a movie tonight," said Milan.
= Milan said that they would watch a movie that night.
6. The reporter said, "There are not many people here."
= The reporter said that there were not many people there.
F. Report these questions by using indirect speech.
1. Sheena said, "Do you want to come for a drive?"
= Sheena asked if I wanted to come for a drive.
2. Uncle Raj said to Papa, "Where have you built your new house?"
= Uncle Raj asked Papa where he had built their new house.
3. The baker said, "How many muffins do you want?"
= The baker asked how many muffins I wanted.
4. I said, "Is this the right time to visit someone?"
= I asked if this was the right time to visit someone.
5. The florist said, "Are you looking for some ferns too?"
= The florist asked If I was looking for some ferns too.
6. The guard said to the man, "Why are you loitering around here?"
= The guard asked the man why he was loitering around there.
G. Read the newspaper reports and write how you will report the news to your friend. Some may still be true. Begin with: The newspaper reported …..
1. Captain Varun Das injured his shoulder in Pune.
= The newspaper reported that Captain Varun Das had injured his shoulders in Pune.
2. Modern lifestyle and stress may cause cancer.
= The newspaper reported that modern lifestyle and stress might cause cancer.
3. An earth-sized telescope will study the black hole at the heart of the Milky Way.
= The newspaper reported that an earth-sized telescope would study the black hole at the heart of the Milky Way.
4. Observations will require crystal clear skies.
= The newspaper reported that observations would require crystal clear skies.
5. Locals oppose the plan to build a road through the sanctuary.
= The newspaper reported that locals opposed the plan to build a road through the sanctuary.
6. Government promises skill-based training in schools in backward areas.
= The newspaper reported that government promised skill-based training in schools in backward areas.
7. Residents have pledged to clean their neighbourhood.
= The newspaper reported that residents had pledged to clean their neighbourhood.
8. The Airport Authority is carrying out its rigid security checks that it announced in May last year.
= The newspaper reported that the Airport Authority was crying out its rigid security checks that it had announced in May the previous year.
9. The Medical Research Association has declared that its new drug to treat malaria is a success.
= The newspaper reported that the Medical Research Association had declared that its new drug to treat malaria is a success.
10. A clay bullock cart has been excavated at the Mohenjo-daro site in Pakistan.
= The newspaper reported that a clay bullock cart had been excavated at the Mohenjo-daro site in Pakistan.