Direct & Indirect Speech Cheat Sheet

Direct & Indirect Speech Cheat Sheet

1. What Is Direct Speech?

Direct Speech reports the exact words spoken by a person.

Ram said, "I am busy."

The exact words are placed inside quotation marks.

Basic Structure

Reporting Clause + "Exact Words"

Example:

She said, "I am tired."

2. What Is Indirect Speech?

Indirect Speech reports the meaning of what someone said without using the exact words.

Ram said that he was busy.

Quotation marks are removed.

Basic Structure

Reporting Subject + Reporting Verb + Connector + Reported Statement

3. Direct vs Indirect Speech

4. Basic Transformation Rules

When changing Direct → Indirect Speech, check:

1. Reporting verb
2. Tense
3. Pronoun
4. Time expression
5. Place expression
6. Question/command structure
7. Punctuation

5. Reporting Verb

Common reporting verbs:

• said
• told
• asked
• replied
• requested
• advised
• ordered
• commanded
• suggested
• exclaimed
• warned

Important Difference

said + to + person

He said to me, "I am busy."

told + person

He told me that he was busy.

❌ He told that he was busy. ✅ He told me that he was busy.

6. Said vs Told

Examples

He said, "I am ready."

→ He said that he was ready.

He said to me, "I am ready."

→ He told me that he was ready.

7. Tense Change: Basic Rule

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported speech commonly shifts one step into the past.

Common Changes

8. Present Simple → Past Simple

He said, "I work hard."

→ He said that he worked hard.

She said, "I like tea."

→ She said that she liked tea.

9. Present Continuous → Past Continuous

He said, "I am studying."

→ He said that he was studying.

They said, "We are playing."

→ They said that they were playing.

10. Present Perfect → Past Perfect

He said, "I have finished the work."

→ He said that he had finished the work.

She said, "I have completed the assignment."

→ She said that she had completed the assignment.

11. Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous

He said, "I have been working for two hours."

→ He said that he had been working for two hours.

12. Past Simple → Past Perfect

He said, "I visited Delhi."

→ He said that he had visited Delhi.

She said, "I completed the work."

→ She said that she had completed the work.

13. Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous

He said, "I was reading."

→ He said that he had been reading.

14. Past Perfect

Past Perfect generally remains unchanged.

He said, "I had finished the work."

→ He said that he had finished the work.

15. Future: Will → Would

He said, "I will help you."

→ He said that he would help me.

She said, "I will come tomorrow."

→ She said that she would come the next day.

16. Modal Changes

Examples

He said, "I can swim."

→ He said that he could swim.

She said, "I may come."

→ She said that she might come.

He said, "I will help you."

→ He said that he would help me.

17. Modals That Usually Remain Unchanged

These commonly remain unchanged:

• could
• would
• should
• might
• ought to
• used to

Example:

He said, "I could solve it."

→ He said that he could solve it.

18. When Tense Does NOT Change

Tense does not always need to change.

Universal Truth

The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun."

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

Scientific/General Fact

He said, "Water boils at 100°C."

→ He said that water boils at 100°C.

Reporting Verb in Present/Future

He says, "I am busy."

→ He says that he is busy.

He will say, "I am ready."

→ He will say that he is ready.

19. Pronoun Changes

Pronouns change according to the speaker, listener and person being referred to.

Basic Rule

First person → generally changes according to the subject of the reporting verb.

Second person → generally changes according to the object of the reporting verb.

Third person → generally remains unchanged, subject to context.

Example

Ram said to me, "I will help you."

→ Ram told me that he would help me.

• I → he
• you → me

20. Common Pronoun Changes

Important

Do not change pronouns mechanically. Always check who is speaking to whom.

21. Time Expression Changes

When the reporting situation is in the past, time expressions may change.

Example

He said, "I will come tomorrow."

→ He said that he would come the next day.

22. Place and Demonstrative Changes

Common changes:

Example:

He said, "I live here."

→ He said that he lived there.

23. Assertive / Statement Sentences

For ordinary statements, use:

said/told + that + statement

Example

He said, "I am tired."

→ He said that he was tired.

She told me, "I am busy."

→ She told me that she was busy.

24. Negative Statements

Keep not in the reported statement.

He said, "I do not know."

→ He said that he did not know.

She said, "I am not ready."

→ She said that she was not ready.

25. Yes/No Questions

For questions that can be answered with yes/no, use:

if/whether

Example

He said to me, "Are you ready?"

→ He asked me if I was ready.

She said, "Do you know him?"

→ She asked whether I knew him.

Important

Do not retain the question word order.

❌ He asked me if was I ready. ✅ He asked me if I was ready.

26. Wh-Questions

For questions beginning with:

• what
• why
• when
• where
• who
• whom
• which
• how

retain the question word.

Example

He said to me, "Where do you live?"

→ He asked me where I lived.

She said, "Why are you late?"

→ She asked why I was late.

27. Question Word Order

In indirect speech, the reported question becomes a statement structure.

Direct

Where are you going?

Indirect

He asked where I was going.

Not:

He asked where was I going.

Golden Rule

No question-word inversion in indirect questions.

28. Questions with "Who"

He said, "Who is coming?"

→ He asked who was coming.

The exact transformation depends on whether who is the subject or object of the reported question.

29. Commands and Orders

Use reporting verbs such as:

• ordered
• commanded
• instructed
• told

Common structure:

ordered/told + object + to + V1

Example

The officer said to the soldier, "Stand up."

→ The officer ordered the soldier to stand up.

The teacher said to the students, "Open your books."

→ The teacher told the students to open their books.

30. Negative Commands

Use:

not + to + V1

Example

The teacher said, "Do not make noise."

→ The teacher told the students not to make noise.

He said to me, "Do not touch it."

→ He told me not to touch it.

31. Requests

Use reporting verbs such as:

• requested
• begged
• pleaded
• urged

Structure

requested + object + to + V1

Example:

He said to me, "Please help me."

→ He requested me to help him.

She said, "Please wait."

→ She requested me to wait.

32. Advice

Use:

• advised
• urged
• recommended, depending on sentence structure

Example

The doctor said to me, "Take rest."

→ The doctor advised me to take rest.

He said to his brother, "Work hard."

→ He advised his brother to work hard.

33. "Let's" Sentences

"Let's" generally expresses a suggestion or proposal.

Common reporting verbs:

• suggested
• proposed

Example

He said, "Let's go for a walk."

→ He suggested going for a walk.

Another possible structure:

He suggested that they should go for a walk.

Important

Avoid:

❌ He suggested me to go.

Use:

✅ He suggested going. ✅ He suggested that I should go.

34. Exclamatory Sentences

Exclamatory sentences express:

• joy
• sorrow
• surprise
• regret
• admiration
• anger

The reporting verb changes according to the emotion.

Examples

He said, "Hurrah! We have won."

→ He exclaimed with joy that they had won.

She said, "Alas! I have failed."

→ She exclaimed with sorrow that she had failed.

He said, "What a beautiful place!"

→ He exclaimed with admiration that it was a very beautiful place.

35. "What" and "How" Exclamations

Direct

She said, "What a beautiful flower!"

Indirect

She exclaimed with admiration that it was a very beautiful flower.

Direct

He said, "How beautiful the scene is!"

Indirect

He exclaimed with admiration that the scene was very beautiful.

36. Greetings and Wishes

Reporting verbs depend on the expression.

Greeting

He said, "Good morning."

→ He wished me good morning.

Farewell

He said, "Goodbye."

→ He bade me goodbye.

Good wishes

He said, "May you succeed!"

→ He wished that I might succeed.

37. "Thank You"

He said to me, "Thank you."

→ He thanked me.

Do not unnecessarily retain "said".

38. "Sorry"

He said, "I am sorry."

→ He apologised.

The exact reporting structure can depend on the context.

39. "Congratulations"

He said to me, "Congratulations!"

→ He congratulated me.

40. Common Reporting Verb Conversion

41. Punctuation Changes

Direct Speech

Uses:

• quotation marks
• comma
• question mark/exclamation mark as required

Example:

He said, "I am ready."

Indirect Speech

Quotation marks are removed.

He said that he was ready.

42. Quick Tense Conversion Table

43. Quick Time Conversion Table

44. Common Errors

45. Fast Exam Method

When converting Direct → Indirect Speech:

Step 1: Identify the sentence type

Is it:

• statement?
• question?
• command?
• request?
• advice?
• suggestion?
• exclamation?
• wish?

Step 2: Change the reporting verb

Examples:

• statement → said/told
• question → asked
• command → ordered
• request → requested
• advice → advised
• suggestion → suggested

Step 3: Check the tense

If the reporting verb is past tense, apply the appropriate tense shift unless an exception applies.

Step 4: Change pronouns

Ask:

Who is speaking? Who is listening? Who is being discussed?

Step 5: Change time/place words

Check:

• now
• today
• yesterday
• tomorrow
• here
• this
• these

Step 6: Remove quotation marks

Convert the sentence into normal reported speech.

46. Golden Rules

1. Statement → that
2. Yes/No question → if/whether
3. Wh-question → retain the question word
4. Question → statement word order
5. Command → to + V1
6. Negative command → not to + V1
7. Request → requested + object + to + V1
8. Advice → advised + object + to + V1
9. Let's → suggested/proposed
10. Exclamation → appropriate reporting verb + statement
11. Past reporting verb → usually backshift tense
12. Universal truth → tense generally remains unchanged
13. Pronouns change according to context
14. Time/place expressions may change
15. Remove quotation marks in indirect speech

47. One-Minute Revision

Statement

He said, "I am busy."

→ He said that he was busy.

Yes/No Question

He said, "Are you ready?"

→ He asked if I was ready.

Wh-Question

He said, "Where are you going?"

→ He asked where I was going.

Command

He said, "Open the door."

→ He ordered me to open the door.

Negative Command

He said, "Do not go."

→ He told me not to go.

Request

He said, "Please help me."

→ He requested me to help him.

Advice

He said, "Work hard."

→ He advised me to work hard.

Suggestion

He said, "Let's go."

→ He suggested going.

48. Quick Exam Checklist

Before selecting the answer:

• [ ] Identify the type of sentence.
• [ ] Check the reporting verb.
• [ ] Check whether the reporting verb is in the past.
• [ ] Apply the correct tense change.
• [ ] Check pronouns.
• [ ] Check time expressions.
• [ ] Check place expressions.
• [ ] Use that for ordinary statements.
• [ ] Use if/whether for yes/no questions.
• [ ] Keep the Wh-word in Wh-questions.
• [ ] Use statement word order in indirect questions.
• [ ] Use to + V1 for commands/requests/advice where appropriate.
• [ ] Use not to + V1 for negative commands.
• [ ] Remove quotation marks.

Golden Rule: First identify the type of sentence, then change the reporting verb, tense, pronoun and time/place expressions while keeping the original meaning unchanged.