Tue. Mar 26th, 2024

     direct and indirect speech rules 

     

     

    if you want to know direct and indirect speech rules in a very easy way than you are at right today i will discuss direct and indirect speech rules in this article with explanations and examples 

    We may report the speaker’s words in two ways

    we may quote his actual words. This is called direct speech

    we may report what speaker say without quoting his exact words then the reported speech is called direct speech.

     

    direct and indirect speech rules

     

    When the reporting verb is in the Past Tense, speech of all Present tenses of the Direct are changed into the corresponding Past Tenses. Thus

     

    A simple present becomes a simple past.

     

    Direct: He said, 1 am unwell

     

    Indirect: He said (that) he was unwell.

     

    (b) A present continuous tense changes into a past continuous tense

     

    Direct He said, “Father is writing letter:

     

    Indirect. He said that his Father was writing books

     

    (c) A present perfect tense changes into a past perfect tense

     

    Direct. Haseeb said,1 have passed the examination

     

    Indirect. Haseeb said (that) he had passed the examination

     

    Note-The helping verb of future tense shall is changed into should. The will of the Future Tense is changed its form into would or should.

     

    As a rule, the simple past tense  in the Direct speech becomes the past perfect tense in the Indirect speech.

     

    Direct. Bilawal said the cat died in the night

    Indirect. Bilawal said that the cat had died in the night 

    Direct 1 know her address said Gopi

    Indirect. Gopi said he knows/knew her address.

     Direct The teacher said. The earth goes round the sun

    Indirect. The teacher said the earth went round the sun.

     

    Direct: French is easy to learn, she said,

     

    Indirect. She said French was easy to learn.

    We use past tense when we are no sure  that statement is true or not specially when we reported  objectively 

    If the principle verb is in the Present Tense, the tenses of the Direct Speech do not change its form. For example, we can rewrite the above examples, putting the principle verb in the Present Tense, thus:

     

    He says he is unwell

     

    He has just said his master is writing books.

     

    He says he has passed the examination,

     

    He says the cat died in the night.

     

    The pronouns of the Direct speech sentences are changed necessary, whenever we have to show that their relations are with the reporter and his hearer, rather than with the original speaker, are indicated. Observe the following examples:

     

    Direct: Anwar said to me, I don’t believe you

     

    Indirect: Anwar said he didn’t believe me.

     

    Direct: Amjad said to him, 1 don’t believe you

     

    Indirect : Amjad said he didn’t believe him.

     

    Words expressing nearness in time or place are generally changed into words expressing distance thus like below in the chart

     

    Now    changed to

    Then

    Here

    There

    Ago

    Before

    Thus

    So

    Today

    That day

    Tomorrow

    The next day

    Yesterday

    The day before

    Last night

    The night before

     These changes will not occur if the speech is reported during the same period or at the same place;

    For example

    direct sentence: Aliya says I am glad to be here this evening

    Indirect: Alia says she is glad to be there this evening

    Rules for changing interrogative sentences 

    to change the direct speech of interrogative sentences into indirect we use some like asked, inquired, whether and if

             Direct

    Indirect

    Amjad said to me what are you doing

    Amjed asked me what I was doing

    Where do you live? asked the stranger

    Th stranger enquired where I lived

    The policemen said to me where are you going

    The policemen enquired where i was going

    He said will you listen to such men

    He asked them whether you would listen to such a men

     Commands and requests sentences 

    To change commands and requesting speech of direct sentences we use some verb to change their mood of imperative into the infinite

              Direct

          Indirect

    Ali said to Ahmed go away

    Ali ordered Ahmed to go away

    Amjad said to him please wait here till I return

    Amjad  requested him to wait there till he returned

    Call the first witness said the judge

    The ordered them to call the  first witness

    Ali shouted let me go

    Ali shouted to them to let him go

    Basit said be quiet and listen to my words

    Basit urged them to be quiet and listen to his words

     

    Exclamations and wishes sentences rules

    when reporting speech is exclamations and wishes then the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing exclamation or wish

          Direct

       Indirect

    Amjad said, ‘alas ! I am undone

    Amjad exclaimed sadly that the he was undone

    Babar said how clever I am !

    Babar exclaimed that she was very clever

    Hassan said bravo ! you have done well

    Hassan applauded him saying that he had done well

    So help me heaven ! Ahmed cried I will never steal again

    Ahmed called upon heaven to witness his resolve never to steal again

    hope you understand all points of direct and indirect speech rules any suggestion feedback will be well come in the comments section below

     

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