Direct and Indirect Speech

 What is Direct or Indirect Speech:

In a Conversation, Direct or Indirect speech plays a very significant role. When we hear something and want to convey it to another person. We use Direct and Indirect Speech. Some people need clarification about these two terms or think about how we can use them in the right place but we will make it easy for you. Let's explore the article below:

Direct Speech:

When we repeat someone's speech as it is, while putting phrases it is called direct speech. 

Example:

• Peter said '' I'm not feeling well''.
• Sarah says '' She is good at dancing''.
• Harry said '' I'm coming tonight''.

Direct speech is mostly used in newspapers or bulletins like 

• The PM said '' We will make universities in every city''. 

As you can see in the examples we have used says or said because it is a commonly used verb in the speech but except for it, we can also use ask, reply. 

• When Mr. Zang asked me if I had worked in other firms before.
• I replied no sir, I have just passed my graduation.

Indirect Speech: 

In Indirect Speech, we don't quote someone's conversation as it is or use phrases. In Indirect speech, we don't use exactly the same sentences.

For Example:

1. '' I have bought a new house''.

• She said she had bought a new house.

     2. ''He said, He is Going out''.

• He said he was going out.

     3. She said '' She is not feeling well''.

• She said she didn't feel well. 

Another thing to identify whether the sentence is Direct or Indirect is that the direct sentence uses present continuous verbs while the Indirect uses Past ones. It is also applied to other words like may, must, shall, and could. 

Examples:

1. She said '' she must go''.

• She said she should go.

     2. He said ''Shall we start''.

• He asked if we should start''. 

     3.  She said '' I can Cook''.

• She said she could swim.

There are some rules which we need to follow while writing or identifying Direct or Indirect speech.

Converting Direct To Indirect Speech: Reporting Verb

 
All present tenses in indirect speech are converted to the matching past tense when the reporting verb in direct speech is in the past tense.

 
Example of direct-to-indirect discourse

Direct: "I am happy," she declared.

Indirect: She expressed her happiness.

When speaking indirectly, the tenses remain unchanged even if the terms used in the quotations ('') refer to a customary behavior or an absolute reality.

 
Example of direct-to-indirect discourse

Direct: "We cannot survive without air," he declared.

Indirect: He claimed that air is necessary for human survival.

Whether the reporting verb is in the present tense or the future tense has no bearing on the tenses of direct speaking.

 
Example of direct-to-indirect discourse

Direct: She will or does say, "I''.

Converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech: Present Tense, Past and Future Tense

Present

Past Perfect Replaces Present Perfect.

Examples of direct-to-indirect discourse

"I've been to London," he informed me.

Indirect: he mentioned visiting London to me.



Past Continuous Transitions into Present Continuous

Example of direct-to-indirect discourse

 "I'm playing the piano," she said.

Indirect: She gave an explained piano playing.



Past Perfect Replaces Present Perfect

Example of direct-to-indirect discourse

 "he finished his work," she uttered.

Indirect: She mentioned that his work was done.



Simple Past Becomes Simple Present

Example of direct-to-indirect discourse

"I'm sick," she declared.

Indirect: She mentioned feeling ill.


Past and Future

Simple Past Changes to Past Perfect Direct to indirect speech

 Example:

  She said, “Irvin arrived on Sunday.” 

Indirect: She said that Irvin had arrived on Sunday. 

Past Continuous Changes to Past Perfect Continuous 

Direct to indirect speech example 

 “We were playing basketball”, they told me.

 Indirect: They told me that they had been playing basketball.

 Future Changes to Present Conditional

Direct to indirect speech example

 She said, “I will be in Scotland tomorrow.” 

Indirect: She said that she would be in Scotland the next day. 

Future Continuous Changes to Conditional Continuous

Direct to indirect speech example:

 He said, “I’ll be disposing of the old computer next Tuesday.” 

Indirect: He said that he would be disposing of the old computer the following

 There are major rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech. 

Those that convey closeness in space or time are substituted for those that convey distance in indirect speech in direct speeches.

 For example:

 Now becomes then.

Here becomes there.

Before, Ago becomes

Consequently, it becomes such.

That day is now today.

The day after tomorrow arrives.

This turns into that.

The day before becomes yesterday.

These turn into those.

One becomes thither.

Come turns become go.

Thus, it becomes thence.

The week after next becomes the week after that.

Transforming Indirect Speech into Direct Speech:

It is important to pay attention to the following guidelines when transforming an indirect speech into a direct speech:

Use reporting verbs in the appropriate tense, such as "say," or "said to."

 
The first letter should be capitalized, and there should be a comma before it.

 
Depending on the tone of the statement, insert a question mark, quote marks, an exclamation point, and a full stop.

 
When required, omit conjunctions such as "that," "to," "if," and "whether."

 
In direct speech, shift the reporting verb from past tense to present tense when it appears in indirect speech.

If needed, switch the past perfect tense to the present perfect tense or the past tense.

For Example:

Indirect: She inquired as to whether she would be attending the prom.

Direct: "Are you coming to the prom night?" she asked her.

Indirect: The girl expressed her satisfaction with her outcome.

Straight: The young lady uttered. "I'm pleased with my outcome."