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When we report what someone has said, we can use two methods: direct speech (quoting their exact words) or indirect speech (reporting their words in our own way). Both forms are essential in English for storytelling, journalism, academic writing, and everyday conversation. Understanding how to convert between direct and indirect speech—including the required changes to tenses, pronouns, and time expressions—is a crucial grammar skill.
Table of Contents
What Is Direct and Indirect Speech?
Direct speech repeats the speaker's exact words, enclosed in quotation marks. Indirect speech (also called reported speech) conveys the same message but rephrases it, usually without quotation marks and with grammatical adjustments.
Direct: She said, "I am happy."
Indirect: She said (that) she was happy.
Direct Speech Rules
Direct speech uses the speaker's exact words within quotation marks. Key formatting rules include:
Tom said, "I will be late."
"I will be late," Tom said.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
Punctuation goes inside the quotation marks. A comma separates the reporting clause from the quoted speech. The first word inside the quotation marks is capitalized.
Indirect Speech Rules
When converting to indirect speech, several changes must be made:
- Remove quotation marks
- Change the tense (backshift)
- Change pronouns to match the new perspective
- Change time and place expressions
- Use a reporting verb (said, told, asked, etc.)
- Optionally add "that" after the reporting verb
Tense Changes (Backshift)
When the reporting verb is in the past tense (said, told, asked), the tenses in the reported speech typically shift back by one step:
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Present simple: "I work here." | Past simple: She said she worked there. |
| Present continuous: "I am working." | Past continuous: She said she was working. |
| Past simple: "I worked late." | Past perfect: She said she had worked late. |
| Present perfect: "I have finished." | Past perfect: She said she had finished. |
| Will: "I will call you." | Would: She said she would call me. |
| Can: "I can help." | Could: She said she could help. |
| May: "I may come." | Might: She said she might come. |
| Must: "I must go." | Had to: She said she had to go. |
Note: Could, would, should, might, and ought to do not change in indirect speech because they are already "past" forms.
Pronoun Changes
Pronouns must be adjusted to reflect the new speaker's perspective:
Direct: He said, "I love my job."
Indirect: He said (that) he loved his job.
Direct: She said, "You should try it."
Indirect: She said (that) I should try it.
Time and Place Expression Changes
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| today | that day |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| tonight | that night |
| last week | the week before / the previous week |
| next week | the following week |
| now | then / at that time |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
| ago | before / earlier |
Reporting Questions
Yes/No Questions
Use if or whether in indirect speech. Change to statement word order (no inversion).
Direct: "Are you coming?" she asked.
Indirect: She asked if/whether I was coming.
Direct: "Did you enjoy the movie?"
Indirect: He asked if I had enjoyed the movie.
Wh- Questions
Keep the question word but change to statement word order.
Direct: "Where do you live?" she asked.
Indirect: She asked where I lived.
Direct: "What time does the train leave?"
Indirect: He asked what time the train left.
Reporting Commands and Requests
Commands and requests are reported using told + object + to infinitive or asked + object + to infinitive.
Direct: "Sit down," the teacher said.
Indirect: The teacher told us to sit down.
Direct: "Please help me," she said.
Indirect: She asked me to help her.
Direct: "Don't touch that!" he said.
Indirect: He told me not to touch that.
When Tense Doesn't Change
Tense backshift is optional when the reported information is still true or relevant, when reporting with present tense verbs, or when reporting universal truths:
She says, "I am tired." → She says she is tired. (present reporting verb)
He said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun." → He said the Earth revolves around the Sun. (universal truth)
"I'm a doctor," she said. → She said she is a doctor. (still true)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Question Word Order in Indirect Questions
❌ She asked where did I live. → ✅ She asked where I lived.
Mistake 2: Using "Say" Instead of "Tell" with Objects
❌ He said me he was tired. → ✅ He told me he was tired.
✅ He said (that) he was tired. (no object after "said")
Mistake 3: Forgetting Pronoun Changes
❌ She said I was happy. (means the reporter is happy)
✅ She said she was happy. (means the original speaker is happy)
Practice Exercises
Convert to indirect speech.
1. "I am leaving tomorrow," he said.
Answer: He said (that) he was leaving the next day.
2. "Do you like pizza?" she asked me.
Answer: She asked me if I liked pizza.
3. "Where is the bank?" he asked.
Answer: He asked where the bank was.
4. "Close the window," she told me.
Answer: She told me to close the window.
5. "I have finished my homework," the boy said.
Answer: The boy said (that) he had finished his homework.
6. "We will arrive at 6 PM," they said.
Answer: They said (that) they would arrive at 6 PM.
7. "Can you help me?" she asked.
Answer: She asked if I could help her.
8. "Don't forget your passport," my mother said.
Answer: My mother told me not to forget my passport.
Direct and indirect speech are essential skills for reporting conversations, writing narratives, and communicating in academic and professional settings. By mastering tense backshift, pronoun changes, time and place adjustments, and the special rules for questions and commands, you will report speech accurately and naturally.
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