important points on transformation from direct to indirect speech
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Direct Speech
In direct speech, we convey the message of the speaker in his own actual words without any change to another person.
Indirect Speech
In indirect speech, we convey the message of the speaker in our own words to another person.
Procedure of changing direct speech into indirect speech
Remove comma and inverted commas.
Put "that" between the reporting and reported speeches.(it is optional to put "that" between the reporting and reported speech)
Change the 1st letter of reported speech into small letter except for "I"
Change the pronoun of the direct speech according to the rules described in table 2
Change the tense of the direct speech appropriately according to rules described in table 3.
Change the words expressing nearness in time or places of the direct speech into its appropriate words expressing distance as per table 1
Rules for changing Direct into Indirect Speech
The past tense is often used when it is uncertain if the statement is true or when we are reporting objectively.
Indirect Speech Conversion Direct Speech Condition
Present Tenses in the Direct Speech are changed into Past Tense. If the reporting or principal verb is in the Past Tense.
Do Not Change Tense of reported Speech in Indirect Speech sentence If in direct speech you find say/says or will say.
Direct speech the words within the quotation marks talk of a universal truth or habitual action.
The reporting verb is in a present tense.
When there are two sentences combined with the help of a conjunction and both sentences have got different tenses. then change the tenses of both sentences according to the rule.
Words expressing nearness in time or places are generally changed into words expressing distance.
Change of place and time Direct Speech Word Indirect Speech Word
Here There
Today that day
this morning that morning
Yesterday the day before
Tomorrow the next day
next week the following week
next month the following month
Now Then
Ago Before
Thus So
Last Night the night before
This That
These Those
Hither Thither
Hence Thence
Come Go
Change in Pronouns
The pronouns of the Direct Speech are changed where necessary, according to their relations with the reporter and his hearer, rather than with the original speaker. If we change direct speech into indirect speech, the pronouns will change in the following ways.
Rules Direct Speech Indirect Speech
The first person of the reported speech changes according to the subject of reporting speech. She says, "I am in tenth class." She says, "I am in tenth class."
The second person of reported speech changes according to the object of reporting speech. He says to them, "You have completed your job." He tells them that they have completed their job.
The third person of the reported speech doesn't change. She says, "She is in tenth class." She says that she is in tenth class.
Change in Tenses
The past perfect and past perfect continuous tenses do not change.
Rules Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Simple Present Changes
To
Simple Past "I always drink coffee", she said She said that she always drank coffee.
Present Continuous Changes
To
Past Continuous "I am reading a book", he explained. He explained that he was reading a book
Present Perfect Changes
To
Past Perfect She said, "He has finished his work" She said that he had finished his work.
Present Perfect Continuous Changes
To
Past Perfect Continuous "I have been to Spain", he told me. He told me that he had been to Spain.
Simple Past Changes
To
Past Perfect "Bill arrived on Saturday", he said. He said that Bill had arrived on Saturday
Past Perfect Changes
To
Past Perfect (No Change In Tense) "I had just turned out the light," he explained. He explained that he had just turned out the light.
Past Continuous Changes
To
Past Perfect Continuous "We were living in Paris", they told me. They told me that they had been living in Paris.
Future Changes
To
Present Conditional "I will be in Geneva on Monday", he said He said that he would be in Geneva on Monday.
Future Continuous Changes
To
Conditional Continuous She said, "I'll be using the car next Friday." She said that she would be using the car next Friday.
Changes in Modals
Rules Direct Speech Indirect Speech
CAN changes into COULD He said, "I can drive a car". He said that he could drive a car.
MAY changes into MIGHT He said, "I may buy a computer" He said that he might buy a computer.
MUST changes into HAD TO He said, "I must work hard" He said that he had to work hard.
These Modals Do Not Change: Would, could, might, should, ought to.
Tip 3: Conversion Rules of Past & Future Tense
Simple Past Changes to Past Perfect
a) Direct: He said, “Ira arrived on Monday."
b) Indirect: He said that Ira had arrived on Monday.
Past Continuous Changes to Past Perfect Continuous
a) Direct: "We were living in Goa", they told me.
b) Indirect: They told me that they had been living in Goa.
Future Changes to Present Conditional
a) Direct: He said, "I will be in Kolkata tomorrow."
b) Indirect: He said that he would be in Kolkata the next day.
Future Continuous Changes to Conditional Continuous
a) Direct: She said, "I'll be using the car next Friday.”
b) Indirect: She said that she would be using the car next Friday.
Tip 4: Changes in Modals
CAN changes into COULD
a) Direct: He said, "I can swim."
b) Indirect: He said that he could swim.
MAY changes into MIGHT
a) Direct: He said, "I may buy a house.”
b) Indirect: He said that he might buy a house.
MUST changes into HAD TO/WOULD HAVE TO
a) Direct: He said, "I must work hard.”
b) Indirect: He said that he had to work hard.
Modals that DO NOT Change: Would, Could, Might, Should, Ought to.
a) Direct: He said, "I should face the challenge.”
b) Indirect: He said that he should face the challenge.
Tip 5: Conversion of Interrogative
Reporting Verb like ‘said/ said to’ changes to asked, enquired or demanded
a) Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?”
b) Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.
If sentence begins with auxiliary verb, the joining clause should be if or whether.
a) Direct: He said, “Will you come for the meeting?”
b) Indirect: He asked them whether they would come for the meeting.
If sentence begins with ‘wh’ questions then no conjunction is used as the "question-word" itself act as joining clause.
a) Direct: “Where do you live?” asked the girl.
b) Indirect: The girl enquired where I lived.
Tip 6: Command, Request, Exclamation, Wish
Commands and Requests
Indirect Speech is introduced by some verbs like ordered, requested, advised and suggested. Forbid(s)/ forbade is used for the negative sentences. The imperative mood is changed into the Infinitive.
a) Direct: Rafique said to Ahmed, “Go away.”
b) Indirect: Rafique ordered Ahmed to go away.
c) Direct: He said to her, “Please wait.”
d) Indirect: He requested her to wait.
Exclamations and Wishes
Indirect Speech is introduced by some words like grief, sorrow, happiness, applaud. Exclamatory sentence changes into assertive sentence and Interjections are removed.
a) Direct: He said, “Alas! I am undone.”
b) Indirect: He exclaimed sadly that he was broke.
Tip 7: Change of Pronouns
The first person of the reported speech changes according to the subject of reporting speech.
a) Direct: She said, “I am in ninth class.”
b) Indirect: She says that she was in ninth class.
The second person of reported speech changes according to the object of reporting speech.
a) Direct: He says to them, "You have completed your job.”
b) Indirect: He tells them that they have completed their job.
The third person of the reported speech doesn't change.
a) Direct: He says, "She is in tenth class.”
b) Indirect: He says that she is in tenth class.
Tip 8: Change of Place and Time
Words expressing nearness in time or place in Direct Speech are generally changed into words expressing distance in Indirect Speech.
Now -- then
Here -- there
Ago -- before
Thus -- so
Today -- that day
Tomorrow -- the next day
This -- that
Yesterday -- the day before
These -- those
Hither-- thither
Come -- go
Hence -- thence
Next week/month -- following week/month
a) Direct: She said, “My father came yesterday.”
b) Indirect: She said that her father had come the day before.
c) Direct: She says/will say, “My father came yesterday.”
Indirect: She says/will say that her father had come yesterday. (Here the reporting verb ‘says’ is in the present tense OR ‘will say’ is in future tense; hence the time expression ‘yesterday’ won’t change.)
Tip 9: Punctuation
The words that are actually spoken should be enclosed in quotes and begin with a capital letter
Example: He said, “You are right.”
Comma, full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark must be present at the end of reported sentences and are placed inside the closing inverted comma or commas.
Example: He asked, “Can I come with you?”
If direct speech comes after the information about who is speaking, comma is used to introduce the piece of speech, placed before the first inverted comma.
Example: She shouted, “Stop talking!”
Example: “Thinking back,” she said, “he didn't expect to win.” (Comma is used to separate the two reported speech and no capital letter to begin the second sentence).
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