Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

What is Direct and Indirect Speech?

The distinction between Direct and Indirect Speech may be confusing for some students. Often when we need to explain an incident or action, it involves quoting what someone said. A social situation, as well as a work email or presentation, are examples of such instances. There are two forms of Speech used to explain what other people say: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech (or reported Speech).

Direct Speech

The same words spoken are quoted in Indirect Speech. If we use Direct Speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We may be reporting something that is being said (for example, a phone conversation) or asking someone about a previous conversation later.

Example

• Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."

• Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"

• Supriya said, "I don't know!"

Indirect Speech

When we use reported or Indirect Speech to speak about the past, we generally change the tense of the words we say. We use reporting verbs like 'say,' 'tell,' and 'ask,' and we can introduce the reported words with the word 'that.' There are no inverted commas in this sentence.

For Example,

• Mahima said that she had seen him.

• Nirmal said he was looking forward to playing in the match on Saturday.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Children often mix up Direct and Indirect Speech. We need a way to say the difference between what someone claimed to have said and what they said when we're writing. What did she say if you asked her? You may respond in one of two ways:

“I don’t like pizza,” Siddi said. (Direct Speech)

Siddi says she doesn’t like pizza. (Indirect Speech)

Note how Speech marks (“...”) are used in Direct Speech to indicate precisely what was said. Speech labels are located at the beginning and end of the actual words spoken. The words 'Siddi said' are not in Speech marks because they were not spoken aloud; rather, they are a way for the writer to express who was speaking to the reader.

The past tense is often used in reported Speech. This is because the words have already been spoken, and the writer is simply reporting on what has already been saying. It's critical to think about what was said and convert it to the past tense.

Direct and Indirect Narration Rules

Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let’s discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail.

• Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense.

• Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location and time.

• Step 3: For both the object and the subject, use the correct pronoun.

• Step 4: Make sure the sentence has the correct structure and word order.

Now we'll go through each of these measures in greater depth.

Step 1: Choosing the Verb's Tense and Conversion

• Case 1: Nirmal said, ‘I go to the gym every day.

• Case 2: Nirmal says, ‘I go to the gym every day.’

The verb ‘say' is used in both of the instances above to express the action of speaking. In addition, the reporting verb say is used in the past tense in the first case – said. In case 2, however, the reporting verb is in the present tense.

As a consequence, all verbs must be in the relevant past tense here. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, this is often followed. Thus, Nirmal said, ‘I go to the class every day will change to Nirmal said that he went to the gym every day.

The second rule is that the tense is not changed whether the reporting verb is in the future or present tense. So, Nirmal says, ‘I go to the class every day will be changed to Nirmal says that he goes to the class every day.

Step 2: Changes are Made to the Word That Communicates Place, Time, and Connection.

The time or place specified in the sentence should be changed to match the current time or position.

• On 21st, May 2015: ‘I will come tomorrow,’ Sriram said.

• On 21st, May 2015, Sriram said that he would come the next day.

Step 3: The Subject and Object Pronouns are Chosen Separately.

• Case 1: Saurav will say to his friends, “I have started learning psychology” will change to Saurav will tell his friends that he has started learning psychology.

In this case, the speaker and the reporter are the same people. As a consequence, the pronoun should be the first person pronoun.

• Case 2: Ma’am said to me, “I hope you will bring the geometry to my next class” will change to Ma’am hoped that I would bring the geometry to her next class.

The speaker is ma'am, and the reporter is the student. As a consequence, the ma'am pronoun should be in the third person. The reporter's pronoun should also be in the first person.

Remember that we do not change the tense of the reporting verb within the quotation marks when it is in the present or future tense.

Direct Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

Here are some exercises on Direct and Indirect Speech along with their answers:

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

1. Direct: She said, "I am going to the market."

2. Direct: He asked, "Do you want some coffee?"

3. Direct: "I have finished my assignment," John said.

4. Direct: The teacher said, "Please submit your homework by tomorrow."

5. Direct: "Where did you go last weekend?" she asked.

Answers:

1. Indirect: She said that she was going to the market.

2. Indirect: He asked if I wanted some coffee.

3. Indirect: John said that he had finished his assignment.

4. Indirect: The teacher requested that we submit our homework by the next day.

5. Indirect: She asked where I had gone the previous weekend.

Exercise 2: Convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

1. Indirect: He said that he would join us for dinner.

2. Indirect: She asked if I could help her with the project.

3. Indirect: They mentioned that they had seen the movie already.

4. Indirect: The doctor advised that I should take some rest.

5. Indirect: She inquired where the nearest station was.

Answers:

1. Direct: He said, "I will join you for dinner."

2. Direct: She asked, "Can you help me with the project?"

3. Direct: They mentioned, "We have seen the movie already."

4. Direct: The doctor advised, "You should take some rest."

5. Direct: She inquired, "Where is the nearest station?"

These exercises and answers should help you practice converting between Direct and Indirect Speech effectively.

Narration Exercise with Answers

Here are some narration change exercises from Direct to Indirect Speech and vice versa. Each exercise includes sentences to be converted between the two forms.

Exercise 1: Direct to Indirect Speech

1. Direct: She said, "I am studying for my exams."

2. Direct: He said, "I will call you tomorrow."

3. Direct: "Where have you been?" she asked him.

4. Direct: They said, "We have finished our homework."

5. Direct: The teacher asked, "Have you completed your project?"

Answers:

Exercise 1: Direct to Indirect Speech

1. Indirect: She said that she was studying for her exams.

2. Indirect: He said that he would call me the next day.

3. Indirect: She asked him where he had been.

4. Indirect: They said that they had finished their homework.

5. Indirect: The teacher asked if I had completed my project.

Exercise 2: Indirect to Direct Speech

1. Indirect: She said that she was going to the library.

2. Indirect: He mentioned that he would be late for the meeting.

3. Indirect: She asked him where he had been.

4. Indirect: They said that they had already completed their homework.

5. Indirect: The teacher inquired if the students had finished their project.

Answers

Exercise 2: Indirect to Direct Speech

1. Direct: She said, "I am going to the library."

2. Direct: He said, "I will be late for the meeting."

3. Direct: She asked, "Where have you been?"

4. Direct: They said, "We have already completed our homework."

5. Direct: The teacher asked, "Have you finished your project?"

Some More Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises:

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

1. Direct: She said, "I cannot attend the meeting today."

2. Direct: "Will you be available for a call later?" he asked.

3. Direct: "I need to finish my report by this evening," Alice said.

4. Direct: The coach said, "Run five laps around the field."

5. Direct: "Did you see the new movie?" he asked her.

6. Direct: Jessica said, "I am excited about the concert next month."

7. Direct: "Please remember to lock the door when you leave," he said.

8. Direct: The manager said, "Submit your expense reports by Friday."

9. Direct: "What time does the train arrive?" she asked.

10. Direct: "I will help you with your project," he promised.

Answers:

1. Indirect: She said that she could not attend the meeting that day.

2. Indirect: He asked if I would be available for a call later.

3. Indirect: Alice said that she needed to finish her report by that evening.

4. Indirect: The coach instructed us to run five laps around the field.

5. Indirect: He asked her if she had seen the new movie.

6. Indirect: Jessica said that she was excited about the concert the following month.

7. Indirect: He requested that I remember to lock the door when I left.

8. Indirect: The manager said to submit our expense reports by Friday.

9. Indirect: She asked what time the train arrived.

10. Indirect: He promised that he would help me with my project.

Exercise 2: Convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

1. Indirect: She mentioned that she was planning a surprise party.

2. Indirect: He asked whether I had completed the assignment.

3. Indirect: They said they would visit us during the summer.

4. Indirect: The professor explained that the test would cover three chapters.

5. Indirect: She said that she had been studying all night.

6. Indirect: The waiter asked if we were ready to order.

7. Indirect: He said that he was feeling much better.

8. Indirect: They inquired if I wanted to join them for lunch.

9. Indirect: The child said that he had lost his toy.

10. Indirect: She suggested that we should meet for coffee next week.

Answers:

1. Direct: She said, "I am planning a surprise party."

2. Direct: He asked, "Have you completed the assignment?"

3. Direct: They said, "We will visit you during the summer."

4. Direct: The professor explained, "The test will cover three chapters."

5. Direct: She said, "I have been studying all night."

6. Direct: The waiter asked, "Are you ready to order?"

7. Direct: He said, "I am feeling much better."

8. Direct: They asked, "Do you want to join us for lunch?"

9. Direct: The child said, "I have lost my toy."

10. Direct: She suggested, "We should meet for coffee next week."

These exercises offer further practice in converting between Direct and Indirect Speech.

Check your Knowledge of Direct and Indirect Speech

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

1. Direct: "I will finish the project by Friday," he said.

2. Direct: She asked, "Have you completed your preparations?"

3. Direct: "You should see a doctor," he advised.

4. Direct: "Why are you late?" she inquired.

5. Direct: "We are going to the beach tomorrow," they said.

6. Direct: "Can you help me with this task?" he asked.

7. Direct: "I haven't seen that film yet," she said.

8. Direct: "Please close the window," he requested.

9. Direct: "Where will you be next week?" she asked.

10. Direct: "I am taking a break," he said.

Answers:

1. Indirect: He said that he would finish the project by Friday.

2. Indirect: She asked if I had completed my preparations.

3. Indirect: He advised that I should see a doctor.

4. Indirect: She inquired why I was late.

5. Indirect: They said that they were going to the beach the next day.

6. Indirect: He asked if I could help him with that task.

7. Indirect: She said that she had not seen that film yet.

8. Indirect: He requested that I close the window.

9. Indirect: She asked where I would be the following week.

10. Indirect: He said that he was taking a break.

Takeaways from the Page

• Direct Speech quotes exactly what someone said, using quotation marks around their words. Tenses and punctuation stay the same as in the original speech.

• Indirect Speech reports what someone said without quoting their exact words. It doesn’t use quotation marks and often changes pronouns and tenses to fit the context.

• Changing Direct to Indirect: Replace the quotation marks with reporting verbs like "said" or "asked," adjust tenses, and modify pronouns.

• Changing Indirect to Direct: Use quotation marks and restore the exact wording and punctuation. Adjust pronouns and tenses to reflect the original speech.

• When to Use: Use Direct Speech to quote exactly or show dialogue. Use Indirect Speech to summarize or integrate what was said into your text.

• Practice: Regularly converting between Direct and Indirect Speech helps you get better at reporting speech accurately.