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Whenever something is repeated exactly as it was said, it is referred to as direct speech, and it is typically accompanied in-between a pair of inverted commas. The indirect speech will still end up sharing the very same information – rather than directly having to repeat someone’s remarks or utterance, it will report or define what was said.
What Is Direct & Indirect Speech
Direct Speech
Direct speech is also recognized as quoted speech. It is composed of terms, words and phrases captured straight from the original. These words are referenced or authored accurately as they were spoken.
There is no inference or interpretation of indirect speech; the words are directly taken from one origin and repeated to another. In other words, we start taking the presenter’s actual words and repeat them precisely as to how he or she stated them.
Here are a few direct speech examples for your understanding:
Amy said, ”I don’t like your behavior.”
Amy said, ”Please stop hitting on the table.”
Jackson said, ”It’s not my fault that you hate strawberries.”
The direct speech can be seen in quotations in these illustrations, indicating that it was captured straight from the original with no changes.
Indirect Speech
Indirect speech is also known as reported speech. It occurs when someone reports terms, words, and phrases in their own utterances. Rather than being quoted, the actual words are altered or construed.
We use words that relate to something that already happened when discussing indirect speech. To do so, we use the past tense and summarise, modify, or synthesize and draw conclusions to what has already been said.
The following are a few examples of indirect speech:
Amy said it was windy.
He said she had been on Twitter since the start of Jan’2021.
She said he had been teaching vocational courses for a year now.
Rules Relating To Change Of Direct To Indirect Speech
Modals, reporting verbs, place, time, tense, pronouns, and other factors influence the changes between direct and indirect speech.
Rule 1: If you find words of say/says or will say in the direct speech, Don’t Really Start changing the tense that is found inside the quotes.
Examples:
Direct Speech – She says,” I was hungry then”
Indirect Speech – She says he was hungry then.
Rule No. 2: If the words within the quotes in the direct speech discuss a very well truth or continual action, then Rule One is followed, the words within the quotes are not altered in any way.
Example:
Direct Speech – Camie said,” The sun sets in the west”
Indirect Speech – Camie said the sun sets in the west.
Rule 3: If there is a “said” in the direct speech, the tense of the words from within quotes is altered to the past tense.
Example
Direct Speech – She said,” I killed a lizard”
Indirect Speech – She said she had killed a lizard.
Words indicating closeness are replaced with words indicating distance. For example:
Here changes to there
This changes to that
Yesterday changes to the previous day
These changes to those
The next week changes to the following week
Today changes to that day
Words indicating changes in verbs from Direct to Indirect speech are as follows:
Is or change to was
Are changes to were
Is (dancing) changes to was (dancing)
Are (dancing) changes to were (dancing)
Has or have danced changes to had danced
Was or were dancing changes to had been dancing
Can change to could
will changes to would
shall change to should
may change to might
Did changes to had done
Some Of The Model Questions Are As Follows:
1. A sentence is given in Direct or Indirect Speech. Choose one of the four alternatives that best expresses the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech. He said to her, “Are you coming to the temple?”
(a) He asked her whether she was coming to the temple.
(b) He told her if she was coming to the temple.
(c) He asked her if she was coming to the temple.
(d) He asked her if she would be coming to the temple.
Solution: The alternative which best brings out the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is “He asked her if she was coming to the temple.”
Here option (c) is the right answer.
2. He said, “I clean my bed once a day.”
(a) He said that he cleaned his bed once a day.
(b) He said that he cleans his bed once a day.
(c) He said that he used to clean his bed once a day.
(d) He said that he is used to cleaning his bed once a day.
Solution: The alternative which best brings out the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is “He said that he cleans his bed once a day.”
Here option (b) is the right answer.
3. The tutor said, “Be silent, girls.”
(a) The tutor said that the girls should be silent.
(b) The tutor called the girls and ordered them to be silent.
(c) The tutor urged the girls to be silent.
(d) The tutor commanded the girls that they be silent.
Solution: The alternative which best brings out the same sentence in Indirect or Direct Speech is “The tutor urged the girls to be silent.” Hence option (c) is the right answer.
Conclusion
As discussed above, there are two types of speech in English. They are: direct and indirect speeches. If one’s words are retained as they are, it is called direct speech and if they are reported, it is called indirect speech. When converting direct speech to indirect speech, the tense of the reported speech is altered. Remember that if the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech is altered to make it indirect. One must be thorough ith the rules of conversion of speech so that no unwanted mistake in committed while speaking or writing.
