Direct and Indirect Speech

We have to often quote others' words. We can do so in two ways :

Amla said to Hashim, "I am going to buy a new car."

Amla told Hashim that he was going to buy a new car.

In the first sentence, the words of the speaker have been stated word-by-word. When we express somebody's statement in his actual words, it is called Direct Speech or Direct Narration. It is given within the quotation marks ("….").

In the second sentence, the words of the speaker have been moulded to suit reporting. When we do not use the actual words of the speaker, but express his statement in other words without changing the meaning, it is called Indirect Speech or Indirect Narration. In it, the quotation marks are not used.

Direct Speech

A sentence in Direct Speech has two parts :

Reporting Verb : It describes who tells to whom.

Reported Speech : It describes the statement that was made.

He said to you, "Let us go for a picnic today."

(Reporting Verb)          (Reported Speech)

Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech

1. The comma (,) and quotation marks ("…") in the Direct Speech are removed and replaced by the Conjunction that.

2. The words says to or said to are changed to tells or told respectively.

3. First Person words in the Reported Speech are changed according to the Subject of the Reporting Verb; for example :

Madhuri said to Pankaj, "I am giving you a treat on my birthday."

Madhuri told Pankaj that she was giving him a treat on her birthday. (I and my have been changed according to the Subject ([Madhuri].)

You said to me, "I can carry my bag myself."

You told me that you could carry your box yourself. (I, my and myself have been changed according to the Subject [you] of the Reporting Verb.)

4. Second Person words of the Reported Speech are changed according to the Object of the Reporting Verb; for example :

Krish said to me, "You are playing with your friends."

Krish told me that I was playing with my friends. (You and your have been changed according to the Object [me].)

You said to him, "You should tidy your room well."

You told him that he should tidy his room well. (You and your have been changed according to the Object [him].)

5. Third Person words of the Direct Speech are not changed.

6. The Verb of the Reported Speech is suitably moulded to suit the new Subject; for example :

You say to me, "You are my friend."

You tell me that I am your friend." (Are has changed to am according to the new subject.)

A.REPORTING VERB IN THE PRESENT OR FUTURE TENSE

When the Reporting Verb is in the Present or Future Tense, no change is made in the tense of the Reported Speech, only it will be suitably moulded to suit the new Subject :

Direct : I say to my father, "I need a new shirt."

Indirect : I tell my father that I need a new shirt.

Direct : He will say to me, "You can eat as much as you want."

Indirect : He will tell me that I can eat as much as I want.