When we tell someone what another person said, we can do it in two ways. We can repeat the exact words, or we can report the meaning in our own words. These are called direct speech and indirect speech.
Changing direct speech into indirect speech is often called narration in Bangladeshi and Indian schools. It is a common exam topic, and it is also very useful in everyday English.
This guide explains the main direct and indirect speech rules in simple steps, with clear examples and a short practice set.
What Are Direct and Indirect Speech?
Direct speech repeats the speaker’s exact words inside quotation marks.
Rahim said, “I am tired.”
Indirect speech (also called reported speech) gives the meaning without quotation marks. Some words usually change.
Rahim said that he was tired.
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary definition of reported speech describes it as a report of what someone said that does not use their exact words.
The Parts of a Direct Speech Sentence
- Reporting verb: the verb that introduces the speech, such as said, told or asked.
- Reported speech: the words inside the quotation marks.
In She said, “I like mangoes,” the reporting verb is said and the reported speech is I like mangoes.
Rule 1: Change the Tense (When the Reporting Verb Is Past)
If the reporting verb is in the past tense (said, told, asked), the tense inside usually moves one step back. This is called backshift.
| Direct speech | Indirect speech |
|---|---|
| Present simple: “I play.” | Past simple: he played |
| Present continuous: “I am playing.” | Past continuous: he was playing |
| Present perfect: “I have played.” | Past perfect: he had played |
| Past simple: “I played.” | Past perfect: he had played |
| Will: “I will play.” | Would: he would play |
| Can: “I can play.” | Could: he could play |
| May: “I may play.” | Might: he might play |
| Must: “I must play.” | Had to: he had to play |
Example: She said, “I am reading.” → She said that she was reading.
When the Tense Does Not Change
- When the reporting verb is in the present or future: He says, “I am busy.” → He says that he is busy.
- When the speech is a universal truth: The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.” → The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
Rule 2: Change the Pronouns
Pronouns change to match the person who is reporting.
- First person (I, we, my, our) changes to match the subject of the reporting verb.
- Second person (you, your) changes to match the object of the reporting verb.
- Third person (he, she, they) usually does not change.
He said to me, “You are my friend.” → He told me that I was his friend.
Rule 3: Change Words of Time and Place
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tonight | that night |
| yesterday | the previous day / the day before |
| tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
| ago | before |
| this | that |
| these | those |
| here | there |
She said, “I will come tomorrow.” → She said that she would come the next day.
Rule 4: Statements (Assertive Sentences)
- Change said to into told.
- Remove the quotation marks and add that.
- Change tense, pronouns and time words.
Karim said to me, “I have finished my work.” → Karim told me that he had finished his work.
Rule 5: Questions (Interrogative Sentences)
Yes/No Questions
Change said to asked. Use if or whether. Turn the question into a statement order and remove the question mark.
He said to me, “Are you hungry?” → He asked me if I was hungry.
Wh- Questions
Keep the question word (what, where, why, how). Do not add if. Use statement word order.
She said to him, “Where do you live?” → She asked him where he lived.
The British Council has a short lesson with practice on reported speech questions.
Rule 6: Commands and Requests (Imperative Sentences)
Change said to a verb like told, ordered, advised or requested. Use to + verb. For negative commands, use not to.
- The teacher said to us, “Sit down.” → The teacher told us to sit down.
- Mother said to me, “Please help me.” → Mother requested me to help her.
- He said to me, “Don’t go out.” → He told me not to go out.
Rule 7: Suggestions With “Let’s”
Use suggested or proposed with that we should.
He said to us, “Let’s play football.” → He suggested to us that we should play football.
Rule 8: Exclamations and Wishes
Use verbs like exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow or wished. Change the exclamation into a statement.
- She said, “What a beautiful bird!” → She exclaimed with joy that it was a very beautiful bird.
- They said, “May you be happy!” → They wished that I might be happy.
Common Mistakes in Narration
- Keeping the question mark: He asked me where I lived? is wrong. Use a full stop.
- Keeping question word order: She asked where did I live is wrong. Say where I lived.
- Using “told” without an object: say He told me or He said, not He told that.
- Forgetting to change pronouns: check every I, you, my and your.
Practice: Change Into Indirect Speech
- He said, “I am happy.”
- She said to me, “Do you know the answer?”
- The teacher said to the boys, “Don’t make a noise.”
- Rina said, “I will go to Sylhet tomorrow.”
- He said to me, “Why are you late?”
- Father said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
Answers
- He said that he was happy.
- She asked me if I knew the answer.
- The teacher told the boys not to make a noise.
- Rina said that she would go to Sylhet the next day.
- He asked me why I was late.
- Father said that honesty is the best policy. (Universal truth: no tense change.)
For more general grammar practice, Purdue OWL offers free grammar resources for learners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between direct and indirect speech?
Direct speech uses the exact words in quotation marks. Indirect speech reports the meaning without quotation marks and usually changes tense, pronouns and time words.
Do we always change the tense?
No. If the reporting verb is present or future, or if the statement is a universal truth, the tense stays the same. In everyday speech, people sometimes keep the tense when the fact is still true.
When do we use “said” and when “told”?
Use told when you mention the listener: He told me. Use said when you do not: He said that.
Conclusion
Direct and indirect speech follow clear rules: change the reporting verb, shift the tense back, change pronouns and update time and place words. Then follow the special rules for questions, commands and exclamations.
Since tense change is the heart of narration, make sure your tenses are strong. Review the 12 English tenses with examples, read how to understand verb tenses, and practise with our grammar exercises for Class 10.
