Direct and Indirect Speech in English: Rules, Differences and Exercises

English grammar provides two main ways of reporting what someone has said: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech presents a person’s exact words, while indirect speech reports the meaning of those words without necessarily repeating them exactly. Communication is an essential part of everyday life. People communicate by sharing information, asking questions, giving instructions, expressing feelings, making requests, and reporting events. In English, speakers and writers often need to tell someone what another person has said. For example, a student may tell a friend what the teacher said in class, a journalist may report a politician’s statement, or an employee may explain what a manager requested during a meeting.

Consider these two sentences:

• Direct speech: Mary said, “I am tired.”
• Indirect speech: Mary said that she was tired.

Both sentences communicate the same basic information. However, they use different grammatical structures. In the direct version, Mary’s exact words appear inside quotation marks. In the indirect version, the speaker reports Mary’s statement and changes the pronoun and verb tense to fit the reporting sentence.

Understanding direct and indirect speech is important for students, teachers, journalists, writers, professionals, and anyone who wants to communicate accurately in English. These structures are used in conversations, stories, interviews, news reports, academic writing, business communication, examinations, and everyday discussions.

A learner who understands reported speech can explain what someone said without confusing the original speaker’s words with the reporter’s words. The learner can also report questions, commands, requests, advice, promises, warnings, and suggestions correctly.

However, changing direct speech into indirect speech involves more than removing quotation marks. The learner may need to change pronouns, verb tenses, time expressions, place expressions, word order, and reporting verbs. The appropriate changes depend on the original statement, the reporting verb, the context, and whether the reported information is still true.

This article explains direct and indirect speech in detail, beginning with their meanings and differences before examining the rules for changing statements, questions, commands, requests, and other forms of speech. It also discusses exceptions, common mistakes, practical conversations, and exercises designed to help learners apply the rules confidently.

1. Meaning of Direct Speech

Direct speech is a way of reporting someone’s words by repeating exactly what the person said. The original words are placed inside quotation marks, also called inverted commas.

For example:

1. John said, “I am hungry.”
2. The teacher said, “Open your books.”
3. Sarah asked, “Where are you going?”
4. My mother said, “I will visit you tomorrow.”
5. David shouted, “What a beautiful day!”

In each example, the words inside quotation marks represent the original speaker’s exact words.

Direct speech is also called quoted speech because it quotes what someone has said.

1.1 Characteristics of Direct Speech

Direct speech has several important features.

1. It preserves the original speaker’s words.

The main characteristic of direct speech is that it reports the speaker’s actual words rather than changing them into a different grammatical structure.

For example:

• Original words: “I love reading.”
• Direct speech: Peter said, “I love reading.”

The expression “I love reading” remains unchanged.

2. It uses quotation marks.

In standard American English, double quotation marks are commonly used to enclose direct speech.

Example:

The girl said, “I have finished my homework.”

In British English, single quotation marks are also commonly used:

The girl said, ‘I have finished my homework.’

The important point is to follow one punctuation style consistently.

3. It often includes a reporting clause.

A reporting clause identifies the person speaking and may contain a reporting verb such as said, asked, replied, explained, or shouted.

Example:

James said, “I need some help.”

Here:

• “James said” is the reporting clause.
• “I need some help” is the quoted speech.

4. It maintains the original point of view.

The pronouns in direct speech remain as the original speaker used them.

For example:

Mary said, “I am preparing for my examination.”

The pronoun “I” refers to Mary because the sentence reproduces her exact words.

5. It can express different emotions and speaking styles.

Direct speech can preserve the speaker’s questions, exclamations, commands, and emotional expressions.

Examples:

• “Are you ready?” Peter asked.
• “Please help me!” the woman cried.
• “Stop making noise!” the teacher shouted.
• “What an exciting match!” the boy exclaimed.

1.2 Structure of Direct Speech

A common structure of direct speech is:

Subject + reporting verb + comma + quotation marks + original words.

Example:

Grace said, “I am learning English.”

However, the reporting clause can appear before, after, or sometimes within the quoted words.

Reporting clause before the quotation:

The man said, “I have lost my wallet.”

Reporting clause after the quotation:

“I have lost my wallet,” the man said.

Reporting clause within the quotation:

“I have,” the man said, “lost my wallet.”

The last construction is less common in everyday writing, but it is grammatically possible.

When the reporting clause comes after the quotation, punctuation requires attention. In American English, a comma or period is generally placed inside the closing quotation mark. Other punctuation styles may follow different conventions.

1.3 Examples of Direct Speech in Everyday Communication

Direct speech appears in many situations.

In a classroom

Teacher: “Submit your assignments on Friday.”

Student: “I will submit mine tomorrow.”

At home

Mother: “Have you eaten?”

Child: “Yes, I have eaten.”

At work

Manager: “We need to complete this project before Monday.”

Employee: “I will finish my part today.”

During a conversation

Peter: “Where did you buy your shoes?”

Mary: “I bought them at the shopping centre.”

In a news report

The governor said, “We are committed to improving public services.”

These examples show how direct speech can preserve the original words used in conversations and public statements.

1.4 When Should You Use Direct Speech?

Direct speech is particularly useful when the exact words matter.

It is commonly used in:

• Stories and novels, especially when presenting conversations between characters.
• Interviews, where the speaker’s original words are important.
• News reports, when quoting a person’s statement.
• Academic discussions, when accurately quoting a source.
• Personal conversations, when repeating what someone said.
• Dramatic writing, where dialogue helps reveal emotions and personalities.

For example, compare the following sentences:

• The witness said that the driver was careless.
• The witness said, “The driver was careless.”

The second sentence presents the witness’s exact words. This may be important if the writer wants to preserve the original statement.

Assignment 1: Understanding Direct Speech

Answer the following questions.

1. What is direct speech?
2. What punctuation marks are commonly used to indicate direct speech?
3. Identify the reporting clause in this sentence: Jane said, “I am feeling better.”
4. Write two examples of direct speech.
5. Change this sentence into direct speech using quotation marks: The boy said that he was hungry.
6. Explain one reason why a journalist might use direct speech.
7. Identify the quoted words in this sentence: “I will call you later,” Daniel promised.
8. Write a short conversation between two friends using at least four examples of direct speech.

2. Meaning of Indirect Speech

Indirect speech is a way of reporting what someone has said without repeating the person’s exact words. Instead of quoting the original statement, the speaker communicates its meaning through a reporting clause.

Indirect speech is also known as reported speech.

For example:

• Direct speech: Mary said, “I am tired.”
• Indirect speech: Mary said that she was tired.

The indirect sentence reports Mary’s statement, but it does not reproduce her exact words. It also changes the pronoun and verb tense to fit the reporting structure.

Other examples include:

1. Direct: Peter said, “I like football.”
   Indirect: Peter said that he liked football.
2. Direct: Susan said, “I am reading a book.”
   Indirect: Susan said that she was reading a book.
3. Direct: The teacher said, “The examination begins at nine.”
   Indirect: The teacher said that the examination began at nine.
4. Direct: James said, “I have completed the assignment.”
   Indirect: James said that he had completed the assignment.
5. Direct: Helen said, “I will visit my grandmother.”
   Indirect: Helen said that she would visit her grandmother.

The reported sentences communicate the original messages, but the grammatical forms have been adjusted.

2.1 Characteristics of Indirect Speech

1. It reports meaning rather than exact wording.

Indirect speech communicates what someone said without requiring the reporter to reproduce the original words.

Direct: David said, “I am busy.”

Indirect: David said that he was busy.

The indirect version preserves the message but changes its structure.

2. It usually does not use quotation marks.

Indirect speech does not normally place the reported statement inside quotation marks.

Correct:

The teacher said that the students were hardworking.

Incorrect:

The teacher said that “the students were hardworking.”

Quotation marks may still appear when the writer quotes a particular word or phrase within a larger reported sentence, but they are not normally used to enclose the entire indirect statement.

3. Pronouns may change.

Pronouns are often adjusted to match the people involved in the reporting situation.

Direct: Mary said, “I am happy.”

Indirect: Mary said that she was happy.

The pronoun “I” changes to “she” because the reporter is talking about Mary.

4. Verb tenses may change.

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense in the reported clause often moves one step back.

Direct: John said, “I am working.”

Indirect: John said that he was working.

The present continuous tense changes to the past continuous tense.

5. Time and place expressions may change.

Words such as today, tomorrow, yesterday, here, and this may change depending on the reporting situation.

Direct: Sarah said, “I will come tomorrow.”

Indirect: Sarah said that she would come the following day.

These changes are not automatic in every situation. They depend on when and where the reported speech is being communicated.

6. Word order may change in reported questions.

Direct: He asked, “Where are you going?”

Indirect: He asked where I was going.

The reported question uses statement word order rather than the question structure found in the direct version.

2.2 Structure of Indirect Speech

A common structure for reporting a statement is:

Subject + reporting verb + (that) + reported clause.

Example:

• Direct: Peter said, “I need a new phone.”
• Indirect: Peter said that he needed a new phone.

The word that is often optional after reporting verbs such as said and explained when reporting statements.

Both sentences are correct:

• Peter said that he needed a new phone.
• Peter said he needed a new phone.

The version containing that can make the structure clearer, especially in formal or complex sentences.

2.3 Examples of Indirect Speech in Everyday Communication

Indirect speech is useful when the reporter wants to summarise or explain what someone said.

At school

Direct: The teacher said, “The test will begin tomorrow.”

Indirect: The teacher said that the test would begin the following day.

At home

Direct: Mother said, “I am preparing dinner.”

Indirect: Mother said that she was preparing dinner.

At work

Direct: The manager said, “We need to reduce expenses.”

Indirect: The manager said that they needed to reduce expenses.

During a conversation

Direct: John said, “I cannot attend the meeting.”

Indirect: John said that he could not attend the meeting.

In a news report

Direct: The minister said, “We are reviewing the policy.”

Indirect: The minister said that the government was reviewing the policy.

The reporter may choose indirect speech when the exact wording is less important than the information being communicated.

2.4 When Should You Use Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech is useful when:

• You want to explain what another person said.
• You are summarising a conversation.
• You are writing a report or formal account.
• You want to avoid repeating long statements word for word.
• You are describing what someone asked, requested, promised, or instructed.
• You are reporting information in an academic or professional context.

For example:

Direct speech:

The principal said, “All students must arrive before eight o’clock.”

Indirect speech:

The principal said that all students had to arrive before eight o’clock.

The indirect version may be more convenient when including the information in a longer report.

Assignment 2: Understanding Indirect Speech

1. Define indirect speech.
2. What is another name for indirect speech?
3. Does indirect speech normally use quotation marks?
4. Change this sentence into indirect speech: Mary said, “I am hungry.”
5. Identify the reported clause in this sentence: John explained that he had lost his keys.
6. Why might the pronoun “I” change to “he” or “she” in indirect speech?
7. Write two examples of indirect speech.
8. Explain one situation in which indirect speech is more useful than direct speech.

3. Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech serve the same general purpose: communicating what someone has said. However, they differ in structure, punctuation, verb forms, pronouns, and the way the original message is presented.

Understanding these differences is essential because learners often confuse the two forms when changing sentences from one structure to another.

3.1 Main Differences

Feature	Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Meaning	Repeats the speaker’s exact words	Reports the speaker’s meaning
Quotation marks	Normally uses quotation marks	Normally does not use quotation marks
Pronouns	Keeps the original speaker’s pronouns	Changes pronouns when necessary
Verb tense	Preserves the original tense	May involve tense backshift
Time expressions	Keeps the original expressions	May change time expressions
Place expressions	Keeps the original expressions	May change place expressions
Word order	Preserves the original sentence structure	May change, especially in reported questions
Punctuation	Uses punctuation for quoted speech	Uses punctuation for the reporting sentence
Reporting	Presents the original words	Presents the reported message
Common use	Dialogue, interviews and quotations	Summaries, reports and explanations

3.2 Difference in Exact Wording

The most important difference is that direct speech preserves the speaker’s exact words, while indirect speech reports the message.

Example:

Direct: Grace said, “I need a new dress.”

Indirect: Grace said that she needed a new dress.

The direct sentence repeats Grace’s exact words. The indirect sentence reports what she said without quoting her.

3.3 Difference in Punctuation

Direct speech uses quotation marks to separate the speaker’s words from the reporting clause.

Example:

Peter said, “I am ready.”

Indirect speech does not normally use quotation marks.

Example:

Peter said that he was ready.

The comma before the quotation in the first sentence is not normally required in the second sentence.

3.4 Difference in Pronouns

Pronouns in direct speech remain as they were spoken. In indirect speech, they may change to reflect the relationship between the original speaker, the reporter, and the person being addressed.

Example:

Direct: Alice said, “I love my parents.”

Indirect: Alice said that she loved her parents.

The pronoun “I” changes to “she” because the reporter is referring to Alice.

Another example:

Direct: Mark said to me, “You are my best friend.”

Indirect: Mark told me that I was his best friend.

Here:

• “You” changes to “I” because Mark was speaking to the reporter.
• “My” changes to “his” because the reporter is referring to Mark.

Pronoun changes depend on context. The reporter must identify who each pronoun refers to rather than changing every pronoun mechanically.

3.5 Difference in Verb Tense

Direct speech normally keeps the tense used by the original speaker. Indirect speech often changes the tense when the reporting verb is in the past.

Example:

Direct: Susan said, “I am studying.”

Indirect: Susan said that she was studying.

Another example:

Direct: Peter said, “I have finished the work.”

Indirect: Peter said that he had finished the work.

The tense change is known as backshift. It is one of the most important features of reported speech.

However, backshift is not compulsory in every situation. It may be unnecessary when the reporting verb is in the present tense, when the statement remains true, or when the speaker wants to emphasise that the information is still valid.

3.6 Difference in Time Expressions

Direct speech expresses time from the original speaker’s perspective. Indirect speech may need to adjust time expressions to match the reporter’s perspective.

Example:

Direct: Mary said, “I will travel tomorrow.”

Indirect: Mary said that she would travel the following day.

Other examples:

• Direct: “I saw him yesterday.”
• Indirect: She said that she had seen him the previous day.
• Direct: “I am busy today.”
• Indirect: He said that he was busy that day.

The expressions change when the original and reporting situations have different time references.

3.7 Difference in Sentence Structure

Direct speech preserves the original sentence structure. Indirect speech may require a different structure, especially when reporting questions, commands, and requests.

Example:

Direct: The teacher asked, “Where is your assignment?”

Indirect: The teacher asked where my assignment was.

The direct version is a question with question word order. The indirect version uses statement word order.

Another example:

Direct: Mother said, “Close the door.”

Indirect: Mother told me to close the door.

The direct sentence is an imperative, while the indirect sentence uses an infinitive structure.

3.8 Difference in Reporting Verbs

Direct speech often uses simple reporting verbs such as said and asked before the quotation.

Indirect speech can use a wider range of reporting verbs to explain the purpose or attitude behind the original words.

Examples include:

• advised
• warned
• promised
• explained
• suggested
• admitted
• denied
• requested
• ordered
• reminded
• encouraged

For example:

Direct: The doctor said, “You should rest.”

Indirect: The doctor advised me to rest.

The reporting verb advised communicates the purpose of the original statement more clearly than simply using said.

3.9 Comparing Direct and Indirect Speech in Different Situations

Situation	Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Statement	Jane said, “I am happy.”	Jane said that she was happy.
Question	He asked, “Are you ready?”	He asked whether I was ready.
Wh-question	She asked, “Where do you live?”	She asked where I lived.
Command	The teacher said, “Stand up.”	The teacher told us to stand up.
Request	He said, “Please help me.”	He asked me to help him.
Advice	Mother said, “You should study.”	Mother advised me to study.
Warning	The guard said, “Do not enter.”	The guard warned us not to enter.
Promise	James said, “I will help you.”	James promised that he would help me.

3.10 Why Both Forms Are Important

Direct and indirect speech are not competing forms of English. Each has a specific purpose.

Direct speech is valuable when the original words are important. For example, a writer may use direct speech to show a character’s personality, preserve a witness’s statement, or quote a public figure accurately.

Indirect speech is valuable when the reporter wants to explain, summarise, or incorporate information into a longer piece of writing.

Consider a school report:

Direct speech:

The principal said, “Students must attend the assembly every Monday.”

Indirect speech:

The principal announced that students had to attend the assembly every Monday.

The indirect version fits naturally into a formal report because it communicates the announcement without reproducing the exact words.

Assignment 3: Comparing Direct and Indirect Speech

1. State five differences between direct and indirect speech.
2. Explain the difference between exact wording and reported meaning.
3. Identify the direct speech sentence:
   • A. She said that she was tired.
   • B. She said, “I am tired.”
4. Change this direct sentence into indirect speech: Peter said, “I will visit you tomorrow.”
5. Explain why pronouns may change when converting direct speech into indirect speech.
6. What is tense backshift?
7. Change this sentence into indirect speech: The teacher asked, “Why are you late?”
8. Explain one situation in which direct speech is preferable to indirect speech.
9. Explain one situation in which indirect speech is preferable to direct speech.
10. Write one direct and one indirect sentence that communicate the same message.

4. The Basic Rules for Changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech

Changing direct speech into indirect speech requires attention to several grammatical features. The most common changes involve reporting verbs, pronouns, verb tenses, time expressions, place expressions, and sentence structure.

Not every sentence requires all these changes. The correct form depends on the type of sentence and the context in which the original words were spoken.

4.1 Identify the Reporting Verb

The first step is to identify the reporting verb.

A reporting verb introduces the words or message being reported.

Examples include:

• said
• told
• asked
• replied
• explained
• announced
• warned
• advised
• promised
• requested

Consider this sentence:

Direct: John said, “I am hungry.”

The reporting verb is said.

When changing the sentence into indirect speech, the reporting verb usually remains said:

Indirect: John said that he was hungry.

However, the reporting verb may change when another verb describes the speaker’s intention more accurately.

Direct: John said, “You should see a doctor.”

Indirect: John advised me to see a doctor.

The reporting verb advised communicates that John was giving advice.

4.2 Change Pronouns Where Necessary

Pronouns must reflect the people involved in the reported conversation.

The reporter should ask:

• Who originally said the words?
• Who was being addressed?
• Who is reporting the conversation?
• What does each pronoun refer to?

Example 1:

Direct: Mary said, “I am happy.”

Indirect: Mary said that she was happy.

Example 2:

Direct: Peter said to Jane, “You are very kind.”

Indirect: Peter told Jane that she was very kind.

Example 3:

Direct: James said to me, “I will help you.”

Indirect: James told me that he would help me.

In the third example, “I” changes to “he” because it refers to James, while “you” changes to “me” because James was speaking to the reporter.

Pronoun changes should always be based on meaning, not on a fixed rule that every first-person pronoun must become third person.

4.3 Change the Verb Tense When Necessary

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the reported clause often moves one step back.

This is called tense backshift.

Examples:

• Present simple becomes past simple.
• Present continuous becomes past continuous.
• Present perfect becomes past perfect.
• Present perfect continuous becomes past perfect continuous.
• Past simple often becomes past perfect.
• Past continuous often becomes past perfect continuous.
• Will becomes would.
• Can becomes could.
• May becomes might.

For example:

Direct: She said, “I work in a bank.”

Indirect: She said that she worked in a bank.

Direct: She said, “I am working in a bank.”

Indirect: She said that she was working in a bank.

Direct: She said, “I have worked in a bank.”

Indirect: She said that she had worked in a bank.

The complete tense rules are explained in detail in a later section.

4.4 Change Time Expressions When Necessary

Time expressions may change when the reporter is speaking at a different time from the original speaker.

Examples:

• now becomes then
• today becomes that day
• yesterday becomes the previous day or the day before
• tomorrow becomes the following day or the next day
• last week becomes the previous week or the week before
• next week becomes the following week or the week after
• ago becomes before
• tonight becomes that night

Example:

Direct: David said, “I will travel tomorrow.”

Indirect: David said that he would travel the following day.

However, the change is not always necessary.

Suppose David makes a statement on Monday and the reporter repeats it on Monday. The reporter may say:

David said that he would travel tomorrow.

If the report is made on Tuesday, the following day or that day may be more appropriate.

The key principle is to preserve the intended time reference.

4.5 Change Place Expressions When Necessary

Place expressions may also change when the reporter is no longer speaking from the original location.

Common changes include:

• here becomes there
• this place becomes that place
• these places becomes those places

Example:

Direct: Susan said, “I live here.”

Indirect: Susan said that she lived there.

The word here changes to there because the reporter is referring to a location different from the original speaker’s position.

However, if the reporter is still in the same place, here may remain unchanged.

4.6 Change Demonstrative Words When Necessary

Demonstrative words such as this, these, and that may change depending on the reporting context.

Common changes include:

• this becomes that
• these becomes those

Example:

Direct: Peter said, “I like this book.”

Indirect: Peter said that he liked that book.

Another example:

Direct: Mary said, “These shoes are expensive.”

Indirect: Mary said that those shoes were expensive.

These changes are based on the reporter’s point of view. If the same book or shoes are still being indicated, the original demonstrative may sometimes remain.

4.7 Use the Correct Connector

The connector used in indirect speech depends on the type of sentence.

For statements, that is commonly used:

Direct: He said, “I am ready.”

Indirect: He said that he was ready.

For yes-or-no questions, if or whether is used:

Direct: She asked, “Are you ready?”

Indirect: She asked if I was ready.

For questions beginning with words such as what, where, when, why, and how, the original question word is retained:

Direct: He asked, “Where do you live?”

Indirect: He asked where I lived.

For commands and requests, an infinitive structure is commonly used:

Direct: The teacher said, “Sit down.”

Indirect: The teacher told us to sit down.

4.8 Change Word Order in Reported Questions

Direct questions normally use question word order. Indirect questions use statement word order.

Direct:

She asked, “Where are you going?”

Indirect:

She asked where I was going.

Notice that the indirect sentence does not say where was I going. The subject comes before the verb.

Another example:

Direct: He asked, “Do you like English?”

Indirect: He asked whether I liked English.

The auxiliary verb do disappears because the reported question uses statement word order.

4.9 Remove Quotation Marks

When changing direct speech into indirect speech, quotation marks are normally removed.

Direct:

The boy said, “I am hungry.”

Indirect:

The boy said that he was hungry.

The reporting sentence becomes a single grammatical sentence rather than a reporting clause followed by a quotation.

4.10 Check Whether the Original Meaning Has Been Preserved

The final step is to ensure that the indirect sentence communicates the same message as the original.

A sentence can be grammatically correct but still report the wrong meaning if the pronouns, time expressions, or reporting verbs have been changed carelessly.

For example:

Direct: Sarah said to John, “I will help you.”

Correct indirect speech:

Sarah told John that she would help him.

Incorrect indirect speech:

Sarah told John that he would help her.

The incorrect version reverses the people involved and changes the meaning.

A Practical Method for Conversion

Use the following steps when converting direct speech into indirect speech:

1. Identify the original speaker.
2. Identify the person being addressed.
3. Identify the reporting verb.
4. Determine whether the sentence is a statement, question, command, request, or another type.
5. Change pronouns according to the context.
6. Apply tense backshift if required.
7. Adjust time and place expressions when necessary.
8. Use the correct connector or reporting structure.
9. Remove quotation marks.
10. Read the final sentence to confirm that the original meaning is preserved.

Assignment 4: Basic Conversion Rules

Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

1. Mary said, “I am learning English.”
2. Peter said, “I have completed my assignment.”
3. The teacher said, “The students are working hard.”
4. John said, “I will visit my uncle tomorrow.”
5. Susan said, “I bought this dress yesterday.”
6. James said to me, “You are a good student.”
7. The woman said, “I live here.”
8. David said, “I can solve the problem.”
9. The children said, “We are playing football.”
10. Helen said, “I have been waiting for two hours.”

21. Advanced Rules and Special Cases in Reported Speech

Some reported-speech structures require more attention than ordinary statements and questions. These include conditional sentences, modal verbs, passive constructions, reporting speech that contains another reported statement, and sentences where the reporting verb describes the speaker’s attitude.

Understanding these structures helps learners use indirect speech accurately in more advanced writing and conversation.

21.1 Reporting Conditional Sentences

A conditional sentence expresses a condition and its possible result. It commonly uses if or another conditional expression.

Examples:

• If it rains, we will stay indoors.
• If I had more time, I would learn another language.
• If she had studied, she would have passed.

When a conditional sentence is reported, its structure depends on the type of condition and whether the original situation remains relevant.

First conditional

Direct: Peter said, “If it rains, I will stay at home.”

Indirect: Peter said that if it rained, he would stay at home.

The present simple changes to past simple, while will changes to would.

Second conditional

Direct: Mary said, “If I had more money, I would buy a car.”

Indirect: Mary said that if she had more money, she would buy a car.

The past simple and would generally remain unchanged because the sentence already expresses an unreal or hypothetical situation.

Third conditional

Direct: John said, “If I had studied harder, I would have passed.”

Indirect: John said that if he had studied harder, he would have passed.

The past perfect and would have generally remain unchanged.

The main principle is to preserve the relationship between the condition and the result. Do not change a conditional sentence so carelessly that it becomes a different type of condition.

21.2 Reporting Sentences with Must

The modal verb must can express obligation, necessity, or a strong logical conclusion. Its reported form depends on its meaning.

Must expressing obligation

Direct: The teacher said, “You must finish the exercise.”

Indirect: The teacher said that we had to finish the exercise.

Must expressing a strong conclusion

Direct: Peter said, “She must be very tired.”

Indirect: Peter said that she must be very tired.

Must expressing a continuing rule

Direct: The notice said, “Visitors must wear identification.”

Indirect: The notice said that visitors must wear identification.

The modal may remain unchanged when the rule is still in force or when the meaning is a logical conclusion. When it expresses an obligation viewed from a past situation, had to is often suitable.

21.3 Reporting Sentences with Should and Ought To

The modal verbs should and ought to generally remain unchanged in indirect speech.

Examples:

Direct: The doctor said, “You should rest.”

Indirect: The doctor said that I should rest.

Direct: The teacher said, “Students ought to read regularly.”

Indirect: The teacher said that students ought to read regularly.

These forms do not normally require backshift.

21.4 Reporting Sentences with Could, Would and Might

The modal verbs could, would, and might generally remain unchanged.

Examples:

Direct: Mary said, “I could help you.”

Indirect: Mary said that she could help me.

Direct: John said, “I would like some tea.”

Indirect: John said that he would like some tea.

Direct: Peter said, “I might visit tomorrow.”

Indirect: Peter said that he might visit the following day.

The reporting context may require changes to pronouns and time expressions, but these modal verbs normally retain their form.

21.5 Reporting Sentences with Used To

The expression used to describes a past habit or situation that is no longer true or no longer applies in the same way.

It generally remains unchanged in indirect speech.

Direct: James said, “I used to play football.”

Indirect: James said that he used to play football.

Direct: Mary said, “We used to live in Abuja.”

Indirect: Mary said that they used to live in Abuja.

The past habit remains a past habit in the reported sentence.

21.6 Reporting Sentences with Had Better

The expression had better gives strong advice or expresses what is considered the best course of action.

It generally remains unchanged when reported as part of a clause.

Direct: Mother said, “You had better go home.”

Indirect: Mother said that I had better go home.

A more natural alternative may use the reporting verb advised:

Mother advised me to go home.

21.7 Reporting Passive Sentences

A passive sentence focuses on the person or thing affected by an action rather than the person performing it.

Example:

Direct: The manager said, “The documents were signed yesterday.”

Indirect: The manager said that the documents had been signed the previous day.

The passive structure is retained, but the tense may change.

More examples:

Direct: The teacher said, “The results have been published.”

Indirect: The teacher said that the results had been published.

Direct: The officer said, “The road is being repaired.”

Indirect: The officer said that the road was being repaired.

Direct: The company announced, “A new branch will be opened next month.”

Indirect: The company announced that a new branch would be opened the following month.

The reporter should not change a passive sentence into an active sentence unless there is a clear reason to do so. Preserving the passive structure often helps maintain the original emphasis.

21.8 Reporting Sentences That Contain Another Reported Statement

Sometimes a person reports what another person has said. This creates a sentence containing more than one level of reporting.

Direct: Mary said, “John told me that he was leaving.”

Indirect: Mary said that John had told her that he was leaving.

Another example:

Direct: Peter said, “The teacher told us that the examination would be difficult.”

Indirect: Peter said that the teacher had told them that the examination would be difficult.

These sentences require careful attention to the reporting levels. The reporter must identify who made the original statement and who is reporting it.

21.9 Reporting General Questions About Opinions or Knowledge

Some questions ask what another person thinks, believes, or knows.

Direct: Mary asked, “Do you think the plan will work?”

Indirect: Mary asked whether I thought the plan would work.

Direct: John asked, “What do you believe caused the problem?”

Indirect: John asked what I believed had caused the problem.

The reporting structure must preserve the relationship between the main question and the embedded question.

21.10 Reporting Questions with Prepositions

In direct questions, a preposition may appear at the end of the sentence. It generally remains with the relevant expression in indirect speech.

Direct: She asked, “Who are you talking to?”

Indirect: She asked who I was talking to.

Direct: Peter asked, “What are you waiting for?”

Indirect: Peter asked what I was waiting for.

Direct: John asked, “Which company do you work for?”

Indirect: John asked which company I worked for.

The question word remains, and the clause uses statement word order.

21.11 Reporting Rhetorical Questions

A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point rather than to obtain an actual answer.

Examples:

• Who does not want to succeed?
• Is this not a wonderful opportunity?
• How could anyone forget such an event?

When reporting rhetorical questions, the reporter should preserve the intended meaning rather than mechanically treating them as ordinary information-seeking questions.

Direct: The speaker asked, “Who does not want to succeed?”

Possible indirect report:

The speaker asked who did not want to succeed.

If the rhetorical purpose is more important than the question form, the writer may report the meaning:

The speaker suggested that everyone wanted to succeed.

The second version interprets the rhetorical meaning rather than reproducing the question structure.

21.12 Reporting Statements with Here and Now in a Continuing Context

Words such as here and now depend heavily on the speaker’s location and time.

Direct: The guide said, “We are standing here.”

Indirect: The guide said that they were standing there.

However, if the reporter is still at the same location, here may remain.

Direct: The speaker said, “We are meeting here today.”

Indirect: The speaker said that they were meeting here that day.

The reporter should select expressions that make the location and time clear to the reader.

21.13 Reporting a Statement That Is Still Relevant

A speaker may report information that remains valid, even though the original statement was made in the past.

Direct: The manager said, “The office opens at eight.”

Possible indirect report:

The manager said that the office opens at eight.

This is suitable when the office still opens at that time.

If the reporter is simply describing what the manager said in a past conversation, the backshifted form may also be possible:

The manager said that the office opened at eight.

The choice depends on whether the sentence reports a continuing fact or simply describes a past statement.

21.14 Reporting Speech Without a Specific Reporting Verb

Sometimes a writer can report the content of speech without repeating said or told.

Examples:

• According to the manager, the meeting had been postponed.
• In the teacher’s explanation, the examination would begin at nine.
• The announcement indicated that the office would close early.
• The report stated that attendance had increased.

These structures are especially useful in formal writing because they help avoid repetitive sentence openings.

Assignment 21: Advanced Reported Speech

Rewrite the following sentences in indirect speech.

1. Peter said, “If it rains, I will stay at home.”
2. Mary said, “If I had more money, I would buy a car.”
3. John said, “If I had studied, I would have passed.”
4. The teacher said, “You must submit your assignment.”
5. The doctor said, “You should exercise regularly.”
6. James said, “I used to live in Kano.”
7. The manager said, “The documents have been signed.”
8. Mary said, “John told me that he was leaving.”
9. Sarah asked, “Who are you talking to?”
10. The guide said, “We are standing here.”
11. Peter asked, “What do you think caused the accident?”
12. The speaker asked, “Who does not want to be successful?”

22. Direct and Indirect Speech in Different Types of Writing

Direct and indirect speech are useful in many forms of writing. The choice between them depends on the writer’s purpose, the importance of the original wording, and the style of the document.

22.1 In Stories and Novels

Direct speech is especially common in stories because it allows readers to hear characters speaking.

Example:

“I cannot find my keys,” Sarah said.

“Have you checked your bag?” Peter asked.

“Yes, I have checked everywhere,” Sarah replied.

This dialogue makes the scene more immediate and helps reveal the characters’ personalities.

A writer can also use indirect speech to summarise conversations that are not important enough to present word for word.

Example:

Sarah explained that she had lost her keys and that she had already checked her bag.

Both forms are useful in storytelling.

22.2 In News Reports

News writers use direct quotations when the original wording is significant.

Example:

The minister said, “We will introduce new measures next month.”

The writer may also report the statement indirectly:

The minister said that the government would introduce new measures the following month.

Direct quotations can make a report more vivid, while indirect speech can make it more concise.

Accuracy is important. A journalist should not alter a quotation in a way that changes the speaker’s meaning.

22.3 In Academic Writing

Academic writing often uses indirect speech to report the findings, conclusions, and arguments of researchers.

Examples:

• The researcher concluded that regular exercise improved concentration.
• The study found that attendance had increased.
• The author argued that language learning required consistent practice.
• The report suggested that additional research was necessary.

Direct quotations may be used when the exact wording is important, but they should be reproduced accurately and acknowledged according to the relevant academic referencing style.

22.4 In Business Reports

Business reports often summarise discussions and decisions using indirect speech.

Examples:

• The manager explained that the project was behind schedule.
• The finance officer reported that expenses had increased.
• The client requested that the delivery date be changed.
• The committee recommended that the proposal be reviewed.

These forms make reports concise and professional.

22.5 In Meeting Minutes

Meeting minutes record the important points raised during a meeting.

Direct speech is rarely necessary for every contribution. Indirect reporting is often more suitable.

Example:

Direct conversation:

Chairperson: “We need to reduce unnecessary spending.”

Finance Officer: “The current budget is already under pressure.”

Secretary: “I will prepare a revised financial report.”

Reported meeting minutes:

The chairperson stated that unnecessary spending needed to be reduced. The finance officer explained that the current budget was already under pressure. The secretary promised to prepare a revised financial report.

The indirect version presents the discussion in a clear and organised form.

22.6 In Personal Communication

Indirect speech is common when telling friends or family members about earlier conversations.

Examples:

• My brother said he would visit us.
• The teacher told me to bring my textbook.
• My friend asked whether I was coming to the party.
• Mother reminded me to buy some food.

These everyday examples show why reported speech is an important practical skill.

23. How to Convert Direct Speech into Indirect Speech: A Complete Method

A systematic approach makes conversion easier. Instead of changing words randomly, learners should identify the sentence type and apply the relevant grammatical rules.

Step 1: Read the Original Sentence Carefully

Understand what the speaker is communicating.

Is the person:

• Making a statement?
• Asking a question?
• Giving an instruction?
• Making a request?
• Offering advice?
• Making a promise?
• Expressing an emotion?

The answer determines the reporting structure.

Step 2: Identify the Speaker and Listener

Identify who said the words and who was being addressed.

Example:

Direct: Mary said to John, “I will help you.”

Mary is the speaker, and John is the listener.

This information helps determine the pronouns in the indirect sentence.

Step 3: Select an Appropriate Reporting Verb

Choose a verb that accurately expresses the speaker’s intention.

Examples:

• Statement: said, explained, stated.
• Question: asked, inquired.
• Command: told, ordered, instructed.
• Request: asked, requested.
• Advice: advised, recommended.
• Suggestion: suggested, proposed.
• Promise: promised, assured.
• Warning: warned, cautioned.
• Offer: offered, volunteered.
• Apology: apologised.

Do not use a strong reporting verb when the original words do not justify it.

Step 4: Choose the Correct Structure

Different sentence types use different structures.

Sentence Type	Common Reported Structure
Statement	said that + clause
Yes-or-no question	asked if/whether + clause
WH-question	asked + question word + clause
Command	told/ordered + object + to-infinitive
Negative command	told/ordered + object + not to-infinitive
Request	asked/requested + object + to-infinitive
Advice	advised + object + to-infinitive
Suggestion	suggested + gerund or that-clause
Promise	promised + to-infinitive or that-clause
Offer	offered + to-infinitive
Warning	warned + object + to-infinitive or that-clause

Step 5: Change Pronouns

Check the reference of every personal and possessive pronoun.

Example:

Direct: Peter said to Mary, “I will give you my book.”

Indirect: Peter told Mary that he would give her his book.

Step 6: Apply Tense Backshift Where Appropriate

If the reporting verb is in the past tense, apply the standard tense changes unless the context supports retaining the original tense.

Example:

Direct: John said, “I am working.”

Indirect: John said that he was working.

Step 7: Adjust Time and Place Expressions

Change words such as today, tomorrow, yesterday, and here when the reporting context requires it.

Example:

Direct: Mary said, “I will come here tomorrow.”

Indirect: Mary said that she would go there the following day.

The exact changes depend on the reporter’s time and location.

Step 8: Use Correct Word Order

Reported questions use statement word order.

Direct: She asked, “Where are you going?”

Indirect: She asked where I was going.

Step 9: Remove Quotation Marks

Ordinary indirect speech does not use quotation marks around the reported clause.

Step 10: Check Meaning and Punctuation

Read the final sentence carefully. Confirm that it preserves the original message and uses appropriate punctuation.

A Complete Worked Example

Direct speech:

The teacher said to the students, “You must submit your assignments tomorrow, and you should not forget to write your names.”

Step 1: Identify the speaker and listeners.

The teacher is speaking to the students.

Step 2: Identify the sentence types.

The statement contains an instruction and advice.

Step 3: Choose suitable reporting verbs.

Told is suitable for the instruction. Reminded may also be suitable for the second part.

Step 4: Change pronouns.

“You” becomes “they” because the reporter is referring to the students.

Step 5: Change modal verbs and time expressions.

“Must” can become “had to” when reporting an obligation from a past perspective. “Tomorrow” may become “the following day.”

Step 6: Form the reported sentence.

The teacher told the students that they had to submit their assignments the following day and reminded them not to forget to write their names.

The final sentence preserves the original meaning while using appropriate reported-speech structures.

24. Examination Tips for Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech commonly appear in English grammar examinations. Students may be asked to change sentences, identify errors, complete missing words, explain differences, or rewrite conversations.

The following tips can help learners answer these questions accurately.

24.1 Identify the Sentence Type First

Before converting a sentence, identify whether it is a statement, question, command, request, or exclamation.

This prevents the common mistake of using the same structure for every sentence.

24.2 Memorise the Main Tense Changes

Learn the common backshift patterns:

• Present simple to past simple.
• Present continuous to past continuous.
• Present perfect to past perfect.
• Past simple to past perfect.
• Will to would.
• Can to could.
• May to might.

Remember that context may make backshift unnecessary.

24.3 Pay Attention to Pronouns

Many examination errors occur because students change the tense correctly but use the wrong pronoun.

Always identify the speaker and listener.

24.4 Learn Reporting Verb Patterns

Do not simply memorise reporting verbs. Learn the grammatical structures that follow them.

For example:

• advised me to study
• suggested studying
• suggested that I study
• asked me to wait
• warned us not to enter
• promised to return

24.5 Remember Statement Word Order in Reported Questions

This is one of the most important examination rules.

Direct: Where are you going?

Indirect: She asked where I was going.

Do not write where was I going.

24.6 Do Not Change Every Time Expression Automatically

Check whether the reporting situation has changed. Tomorrow may remain tomorrow if the report is made on the same day and the future reference is still correct.

24.7 Read the Entire Sentence Before Choosing an Answer

A sentence may contain several pronouns, verbs, and time expressions. Changing only one part can create a sentence that is grammatically inconsistent.

24.8 Practise Different Sentence Types

Do not practise only statements. Include:

• Yes-or-no questions.
• WH-questions.
• Commands.
• Negative commands.
• Requests.
• Advice.
• Suggestions.
• Offers.
• Promises.
• Warnings.
• Exclamations.

24.9 Check Punctuation

Remember that ordinary indirect speech does not use quotation marks. A reported question inside a statement normally ends with a period.

24.10 Explain Your Answer When Required

Some examinations ask learners to explain why a word changes. In such cases, identify the relevant rule.

For example:

Am changes to was because the reporting verb said is in the past tense and the sentence follows the standard backshift pattern.

This demonstrates understanding rather than memorisation.

25. Comprehensive Revision Exercises

The following exercises bring together the major rules discussed in this article. They include statements, questions, commands, requests, advice, suggestions, exclamations, reporting verbs, and special cases.

Exercise A: Change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech

Rewrite each sentence in indirect speech.

1. Mary said, “I am learning English.”
2. John said, “I have completed my work.”
3. Peter said, “I will visit my grandmother tomorrow.”
4. Sarah said, “I bought a new dress yesterday.”
5. The teacher said, “The students are writing their examination.”
6. James said, “I can solve this problem.”
7. Helen said, “I have been waiting for two hours.”
8. The manager said, “We will announce the results next week.”
9. David said, “I was watching television.”
10. The children said, “We have won the competition.”
11. Mary said to John, “I will help you.”
12. The teacher said, “Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius under standard atmospheric pressure.”
13. Peter said, “I had already eaten.”
14. Susan said, “I may travel next month.”
15. The doctor said, “You should drink more water.”

Exercise B: Change Reported Questions into Indirect Speech

1. Mary asked, “Are you ready?”
2. John asked, “Where do you live?”
3. The teacher asked, “Have you completed your assignment?”
4. Peter asked, “Why are you crying?”
5. Sarah asked, “When will you return?”
6. The manager asked, “Did you send the report?”
7. Helen asked, “Who broke the window?”
8. The visitor asked, “How can I reach the station?”
9. James asked, “Which book do you prefer?”
10. The woman asked, “Whose bag is this?”
11. The teacher asked, “How many students are absent?”
12. The police officer asked, “Were you driving the car?”

Exercise C: Report Commands and Requests

1. The teacher said, “Close your books.”
2. Mother said, “Do not touch the stove.”
3. The manager said, “Send the report immediately.”
4. The doctor said, “Take this medicine twice a day.”
5. The woman said, “Please help me.”
6. John said, “Could you lend me your pen?”
7. The police officer said, “Do not cross the road.”
8. The librarian said, “Please return the books tomorrow.”
9. Father said, “Clean your room.”
10. The coach said, “Keep running.”

Exercise D: Report Advice, Suggestions and Other Expressions

1. The doctor said, “You should rest.”
2. Mary said, “Let us go to the library.”
3. Peter said, “I will help you.”
4. The teacher said, “You ought to revise your notes.”
5. John said, “I promise to return the money.”
6. Sarah said, “I am sorry for arriving late.”
7. The man said, “I will report you.”
8. The children said, “Hurrah! We have won!”
9. Mother said, “May you succeed in life!”
10. The teacher said, “Congratulations on your success!”

Exercise E: Choose the Correct Answer

Select the correct option.

1. Mary said, “I am hungry.” The correct indirect form is:

   A. Mary said that I am hungry.

   B. Mary said that she was hungry.

   C. Mary said that she is hungry yesterday.

   D. Mary told that she was hungry.

2. John asked, “Where do you live?” The correct reported form is:

   A. John asked where did I live.

   B. John asked where I lived.

   C. John asked where was I living.

   D. John told where I lived.

3. The teacher said, “Do not make noise.” The correct indirect form is:

   A. The teacher told us not to make noise.

   B. The teacher said us not make noise.

   C. The teacher told us to not made noise.

   D. The teacher asked that not make noise.

4. Peter said, “I will help you.” The correct indirect form is:

   A. Peter said he will helped me.

   B. Peter said that he would help me.

   C. Peter told that he would help.

   D. Peter said that I would help him.

5. Mary asked, “Are you ready?” The correct indirect form is:

   A. Mary asked that I was ready.

   B. Mary asked if I was ready.

   C. Mary asked was I ready.

   D. Mary told if I was ready.

6. The doctor said, “You should exercise.” The correct indirect form is:

   A. The doctor said that I should exercise.

   B. The doctor said that I shall exercised.

   C. The doctor told that I should exercised.

   D. The doctor said I should to exercise.

7. The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.” The best report of this scientific fact is:

   A. The teacher said that the Earth revolved around the Sun yesterday.

   B. The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

   C. The teacher said the Earth will revolve around the Sun.

   D. The teacher told that Earth revolved.

8. Sarah said, “I have finished my work.” The correct indirect form is:

   A. Sarah said that she had finished her work.

   B. Sarah said that she has finish her work.

   C. Sarah told she finished her work.

   D. Sarah said that I had finished my work.

9. Peter said, “Let us go home.” The correct indirect form is:

   A. Peter suggested that they go home.

   B. Peter suggested them to go home.

   C. Peter told that they go home.

   D. Peter asked that let us go home.

10. The woman said, “Please wait for me.” The correct indirect form is:

A. The woman asked me to wait for her.

B. The woman said me wait for her.

C. The woman told that I waited.

D. The woman asked that I waiting.

Exercise F: Identify and Correct the Errors

Rewrite each sentence correctly.

1. He asked where was I going.
2. She told that she was ill.
3. The teacher said the students to sit down.
4. Peter asked me did I understand.
5. Mary suggested me to study harder.
6. John said that I was tired.
7. The doctor advised me rest.
8. The manager asked whether had I sent the report.
9. Mother told me do not touch the fire.
10. The teacher asked why did the student leave.
11. Sarah said that “she was happy.”
12. Peter told me that he will return the following day.
13. The woman asked what was my name.
14. John suggested to take a taxi.
15. Mary asked whether I was ready?

Exercise G: Convert a Complete Conversation

Read the conversation and rewrite it as a paragraph in indirect speech.

Conversation

Teacher: “Why are you late today?”

Student: “I missed the bus.”

Teacher: “Did you leave home early?”

Student: “No, I woke up late.”

Teacher: “You should prepare your school materials the night before.”

Student: “I will do that from now on.”

Teacher: “Please make sure you arrive early tomorrow.”

Student: “I promise I will arrive before eight o’clock.”

Exercise H: Write Your Own Examples

Write original sentences to demonstrate your understanding.

1. Write two examples of direct speech.
2. Write two examples of indirect speech.
3. Write a direct statement and convert it into indirect speech.
4. Write a yes-or-no question and report it.
5. Write a WH-question and report it.
6. Write a command and report it.
7. Write a polite request and report it.
8. Write an example of advice and report it.
9. Write an example of a promise and report it.
10. Write a short conversation of at least six lines and report the conversation in indirect speech.

26.1 Answers to Exercise A: Direct Statements

1. Mary said that she was learning English.
2. John said that he had completed his work.
3. Peter said that he would visit his grandmother the following day.
4. Sarah said that she had bought a new dress the previous day.
5. The teacher said that the students were writing their examination.
6. James said that he could solve that problem.
7. Helen said that she had been waiting for two hours.
8. The manager said that they would announce the results the following week.
9. David said that he had been watching television.
10. The children said that they had won the competition.
11. Mary told John that she would help him.
12. The teacher said that water freezes at zero degrees Celsius under standard atmospheric pressure.
13. Peter said that he had already eaten.
14. Susan said that she might travel the following month.
15. The doctor said that I should drink more water.

Explanation: Most examples use standard tense backshift. In sentence 12, the present tense remains because the statement expresses a scientific fact. In sentence 15, should normally remains unchanged.

26.2 Answers to Exercise B: Reported Questions

1. Mary asked if I was ready.
2. John asked where I lived.
3. The teacher asked whether I had completed my assignment.
4. Peter asked why I was crying.
5. Sarah asked when I would return.
6. The manager asked if I had sent the report.
7. Helen asked who had broken the window.
8. The visitor asked how I could reach the station.
9. James asked which book I preferred.
10. The woman asked whose bag that was.
11. The teacher asked how many students were absent.
12. The police officer asked whether I had been driving the car.

Explanation: Yes-or-no questions use if or whether. WH-questions retain their question words. All reported questions use statement word order.

26.3 Answers to Exercise C: Commands and Requests

1. The teacher told us to close our books.
2. Mother told me not to touch the stove.
3. The manager instructed the staff to send the report immediately.
4. The doctor instructed the patient to take the medicine twice a day.
5. The woman asked me to help her.
6. John asked me to lend him my pen.
7. The police officer instructed us not to cross the road.
8. The librarian asked us to return the books the following day.
9. Father told me to clean my room.
10. The coach told the players to keep running.

Explanation: Positive commands and requests commonly use an object followed by to and the base form of the verb. Negative commands use not to.

26.4 Answers to Exercise D: Advice and Other Expressions

1. The doctor advised me to rest.
2. Mary suggested that we go to the library.
3. Peter offered to help me.
4. The teacher advised us to revise our notes.
5. John promised to return the money.
6. Sarah apologised for arriving late.
7. The man threatened to report me.
8. The children exclaimed with joy that they had won.
9. Mother wished me success in life.
10. The teacher congratulated the students on their success.

Explanation: The reporting verb should communicate the purpose of the original words. For example, offered reports willingness to help, while promised reports a commitment.

26.5 Answers to Exercise E: Multiple Choice

Question	Correct Answer
1	B
2	B
3	A
4	B
5	B
6	A
7	B
8	A
9	A
10	A

26.6 Answers to Exercise F: Error Correction

1. He asked where I was going.
2. She said that she was ill. / She told me that she was ill.
3. The teacher told the students to sit down.
4. Peter asked me if I understood.
5. Mary advised me to study harder. / Mary suggested that I study harder.
6. John said that he was tired.
7. The doctor advised me to rest.
8. The manager asked whether I had sent the report.
9. Mother told me not to touch the fire.
10. The teacher asked why the student had left.
11. Sarah said that she was happy.
12. Peter told me that he would return the following day.
13. The woman asked what my name was.
14. John suggested taking a taxi. / John suggested that we take a taxi.
15. Mary asked whether I was ready.

26.7 Suggested Answer to Exercise G: Complete Conversation

The teacher asked the student why he was late that day. The student replied that he had missed the bus. The teacher asked whether he had left home early. The student answered that he had not and explained that he had woken up late. The teacher advised him to prepare his school materials the night before. The student promised that he would do that from then on. The teacher asked him to make sure that he arrived early the following day. The student promised to arrive before eight o’clock.

Explanation: The reported paragraph combines WH-questions, yes-or-no questions, explanations, advice, requests, and promises. Pronouns and time expressions are adjusted to fit the reporting context.

26.8 Suggested Answers to Exercise H: Original Examples

1. Direct speech:
   • Mary said, “I am happy.”
   • John said, “I need a new book.”
2. Indirect speech:
   • Mary said that she was happy.
   • John said that he needed a new book.
3. Direct and indirect statement:
   • Direct: Peter said, “I am hungry.”
   • Indirect: Peter said that he was hungry.
4. Yes-or-no question:
   • Direct: Sarah asked, “Are you ready?”
   • Indirect: Sarah asked whether I was ready.
5. WH-question:
   • Direct: John asked, “Where do you live?”
   • Indirect: John asked where I lived.
6. Command:
   • Direct: The teacher said, “Open your books.”
   • Indirect: The teacher told the students to open their books.
7. Request:
   • Direct: Mary said, “Please help me.”
   • Indirect: Mary asked me to help her.
8. Advice:
   • Direct: The doctor said, “You should rest.”
   • Indirect: The doctor advised me to rest.
9. Promise:
   • Direct: James said, “I will return the money.”
   • Indirect: James promised to return the money.
10. Conversation:

Direct:

• Ada: “Where are you going?”
• Tunde: “I am going to school.”
• Ada: “When will you return?”
• Tunde: “I will return in the afternoon.”
• Ada: “Will you attend the meeting?”
• Tunde: “Yes, I will attend.”

Indirect:

Ada asked Tunde where he was going. Tunde replied that he was going to school. Ada asked when he would return, and Tunde said that he would return in the afternoon. Ada then asked whether he would attend the meeting. Tunde replied that he would attend.

Guidance for the Earlier Section Assignments

The assignments in Sections 1 to 25 are designed for practice, so learners should check their answers against the rules and worked examples in the relevant sections. The following points are particularly important when marking them:

• In the direct-speech exercises, preserve the speaker’s original words and use quotation marks.
• In statement-conversion exercises, check pronouns and tense backshift.
• In question-conversion exercises, use if or whether for yes-or-no questions and retain WH-words for information questions.
• In command and request exercises, use an appropriate reporting verb followed by an object and an infinitive.
• In advice and suggestion exercises, distinguish between advise someone to do something and suggest doing something or suggest that someone do something.
• In exercises involving time and place, make changes only when the reporting context requires them.
• In exercises involving general truths, consider retaining the present tense.
• In punctuation exercises, use quotation marks for direct speech and normally omit them in indirect speech.

For open-ended tasks, such as writing original conversations, more than one answer may be correct. A good answer must be grammatically accurate, preserve the intended meaning, and use reporting verbs appropriately.

26.1 Answers to Exercise A: Direct Statements

1. Mary said that she was learning English.
2. John said that he had completed his work.
3. Peter said that he would visit his grandmother the following day.
4. Sarah said that she had bought a new dress the previous day.
5. The teacher said that the students were writing their examination.
6. James said that he could solve that problem.
7. Helen said that she had been waiting for two hours.
8. The manager said that they would announce the results the following week.
9. David said that he had been watching television.
10. The children said that they had won the competition.
11. Mary told John that she would help him.
12. The teacher said that water freezes at zero degrees Celsius under standard atmospheric pressure.
13. Peter said that he had already eaten.
14. Susan said that she might travel the following month.
15. The doctor said that I should drink more water.

Explanation: Most examples use standard tense backshift. In sentence 12, the present tense remains because the statement expresses a scientific fact. In sentence 15, should normally remains unchanged.

26.2 Answers to Exercise B: Reported Questions

1. Mary asked if I was ready.
2. John asked where I lived.
3. The teacher asked whether I had completed my assignment.
4. Peter asked why I was crying.
5. Sarah asked when I would return.
6. The manager asked if I had sent the report.
7. Helen asked who had broken the window.
8. The visitor asked how I could reach the station.
9. James asked which book I preferred.
10. The woman asked whose bag that was.
11. The teacher asked how many students were absent.
12. The police officer asked whether I had been driving the car.

Explanation: Yes-or-no questions use if or whether. WH-questions retain their question words. All reported questions use statement word order.

26.3 Answers to Exercise C: Commands and Requests

1. The teacher told us to close our books.
2. Mother told me not to touch the stove.
3. The manager instructed the staff to send the report immediately.
4. The doctor instructed the patient to take the medicine twice a day.
5. The woman asked me to help her.
6. John asked me to lend him my pen.
7. The police officer instructed us not to cross the road.
8. The librarian asked us to return the books the following day.
9. Father told me to clean my room.
10. The coach told the players to keep running.

Explanation: Positive commands and requests commonly use an object followed by to and the base form of the verb. Negative commands use not to.

26.4 Answers to Exercise D: Advice and Other Expressions

1. The doctor advised me to rest.
2. Mary suggested that we go to the library.
3. Peter offered to help me.
4. The teacher advised us to revise our notes.
5. John promised to return the money.
6. Sarah apologised for arriving late.
7. The man threatened to report me.
8. The children exclaimed with joy that they had won.
9. Mother wished me success in life.
10. The teacher congratulated the students on their success.

Explanation: The reporting verb should communicate the purpose of the original words. For example, offered reports willingness to help, while promised reports a commitment.

26.5 Answers to Exercise E: Multiple Choice

Question	Correct Answer
1	B
2	B
3	A
4	B
5	B
6	A
7	B
8	A
9	A
10	A

26.6 Answers to Exercise F: Error Correction

1. He asked where I was going.
2. She said that she was ill. / She told me that she was ill.
3. The teacher told the students to sit down.
4. Peter asked me if I understood.
5. Mary advised me to study harder. / Mary suggested that I study harder.
6. John said that he was tired.
7. The doctor advised me to rest.
8. The manager asked whether I had sent the report.
9. Mother told me not to touch the fire.
10. The teacher asked why the student had left.
11. Sarah said that she was happy.
12. Peter told me that he would return the following day.
13. The woman asked what my name was.
14. John suggested taking a taxi. / John suggested that we take a taxi.
15. Mary asked whether I was ready.

26.7 Suggested Answer to Exercise G: Complete Conversation

The teacher asked the student why he was late that day. The student replied that he had missed the bus. The teacher asked whether he had left home early. The student answered that he had not and explained that he had woken up late. The teacher advised him to prepare his school materials the night before. The student promised that he would do that from then on. The teacher asked him to make sure that he arrived early the following day. The student promised to arrive before eight o’clock.

Explanation: The reported paragraph combines WH-questions, yes-or-no questions, explanations, advice, requests, and promises. Pronouns and time expressions are adjusted to fit the reporting context.

26.8 Suggested Answers to Exercise H: Original Examples

1. Direct speech:
   • Mary said, “I am happy.”
   • John said, “I need a new book.”
2. Indirect speech:
   • Mary said that she was happy.
   • John said that he needed a new book.
3. Direct and indirect statement:
   • Direct: Peter said, “I am hungry.”
   • Indirect: Peter said that he was hungry.
4. Yes-or-no question:
   • Direct: Sarah asked, “Are you ready?”
   • Indirect: Sarah asked whether I was ready.
5. WH-question:
   • Direct: John asked, “Where do you live?”
   • Indirect: John asked where I lived.
6. Command:
   • Direct: The teacher said, “Open your books.”
   • Indirect: The teacher told the students to open their books.
7. Request:
   • Direct: Mary said, “Please help me.”
   • Indirect: Mary asked me to help her.
8. Advice:
   • Direct: The doctor said, “You should rest.”
   • Indirect: The doctor advised me to rest.
9. Promise:
   • Direct: James said, “I will return the money.”
   • Indirect: James promised to return the money.
10. Conversation:

Direct:

• Ada: “Where are you going?”
• Tunde: “I am going to school.”
• Ada: “When will you return?”
• Tunde: “I will return in the afternoon.”
• Ada: “Will you attend the meeting?”
• Tunde: “Yes, I will attend.”

Indirect:

Ada asked Tunde where he was going. Tunde replied that he was going to school. Ada asked when he would return, and Tunde said that he would return in the afternoon. Ada then asked whether he would attend the meeting. Tunde replied that he would attend.

26.9 Guidance for the Earlier Section Assignments

The assignments in Sections 1 to 25 are designed for practice, so learners should check their answers against the rules and worked examples in the relevant sections. The following points are particularly important when marking them:

• In the direct-speech exercises, preserve the speaker’s original words and use quotation marks.
• In statement-conversion exercises, check pronouns and tense backshift.
• In question-conversion exercises, use if or whether for yes-or-no questions and retain WH-words for information questions.
• In command and request exercises, use an appropriate reporting verb followed by an object and an infinitive.
• In advice and suggestion exercises, distinguish between advise someone to do something and suggest doing something or suggest that someone do something.
• In exercises involving time and place, make changes only when the reporting context requires them.
• In exercises involving general truths, consider retaining the present tense.
• In punctuation exercises, use quotation marks for direct speech and normally omit them in indirect speech.

27. Conclusion

Direct and indirect speech are important parts of English grammar because they allow speakers and writers to communicate what other people have said. Although both forms report speech, they differ in how the original message is presented.

Direct speech repeats a person’s exact words and normally uses quotation marks. Indirect speech reports the meaning of those words without necessarily reproducing them exactly. It generally does not use quotation marks and may require changes to pronouns, verb tenses, time expressions, place expressions, and sentence structure.

The most important rules include identifying the type of sentence, selecting an appropriate reporting verb, changing pronouns according to the people involved, and applying tense backshift where necessary. Learners must also understand how to report yes-or-no questions, WH-questions, commands, requests, advice, suggestions, promises, warnings, offers, and exclamations.

Tense backshift is a common feature of indirect speech, but it is not compulsory in every situation. A present tense may remain unchanged when the reporting verb is in the present, when the statement expresses a general truth, or when the information is still relevant. Time and place expressions also change according to the reporting situation rather than through automatic substitution.

Another important area is the use of reporting verbs. Words such as said, told, asked, advised, suggested, promised, warned, and explained help communicate the purpose of the original speech. Each verb has its own grammatical pattern, so learners should understand how it is used rather than memorising the word alone.

The difference between direct and indirect speech becomes easier to understand through regular practice. Students should practise converting individual sentences, reporting questions, rewriting commands, and summarising complete conversations. They should also pay attention to punctuation, word order, pronouns, and the meaning of each sentence.

These skills are useful far beyond grammar examinations. They help people communicate clearly in everyday conversations, academic writing, news reporting, storytelling, workplace communication, and formal reports.

Ultimately, the goal is not simply to memorise rules but to use them accurately and naturally. With consistent reading, writing, speaking, and revision, learners can become confident in both direct and indirect speech and communicate other people’s messages without changing their intended meaning.