DIRECT
AND INDIRECT SPEECH
We may
report the words of a speaker in two ways:-
Direct. --
Rahim said. “I am very busy now.”
It will be
noticed that in Direct Speech, we use inverted commas to mark off the
exact
(i) We
have used the conjunction that before the Indirect statement. (The that
is often
Rules for changing Direct Speech into Indirect
When the reporting
or principal verb is in the Past Tense, all Present tenses of the
(a) A simple present becomes a simple past.
Direct. --
He said, “I am unwell.”
(b) A present continuous becomes a past continuous.
Direct. --
He said, “My master is writing letters.”
(c) A present perfect becomes a past perfect.
Direct. --
He said, “I have passed the examination.”
Note:- The shall of the Future Tense is changed into should. The will
of the Future Tense
is changed
into would or should. As a rule, the simple past in the Direct
becomes the past
The tenses may not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a
universal
truth. We
can often choose whether to keep the original tenses or change them.
Direct. – “I know her address,” said George.
Indirect.
-- George said he knows/knew her address.
The past tense is often used when it is uncertain if the statement is true or
when we are
reporting
objectively (=considering only facts)
Note: If the reporting verb is in the Present Tense, the tenses
of the Direct Speech do not
change.
For example, we may rewrite the above examples, putting the reporting verb in
Note: The pronouns of the Direct Speech are changed, where
necessary, so that their
relations
with the reporter and his hearer, rather than with the original speaker, are
Note: Words expressing nearness in time or
place are generally changed into words
expressing
distance. Thus :-
Indirect.
-- He says that he was glad to be there that evening.
Questions
In
reporting questions the Indirect Speech is introduced by some such verbs as
asked,
inquired, etc. When the question is not introduced by an interrogative word,
the reporting verb is followed by whether or if.
Direct. --
He said to me, “What are you doing ?”
Indirect.
-- He asked me what I was doing.
Direct. --
“Where do you live?” asked the stranger.
Indirect.
-- The stranger enquired where I lived.
Direct. --
The policeman said to us, “Where are you going ?”
Indirect.
-- The policeman enquired where we were going.
Direct. --
He said, “Will you listen to such a man?”
Indirect.
-- He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
[Or] Would
they, he asked, listen to such a man ?
Direct. –
“Do you suppose you know better than your own father?”jeered his angry mother.
Indirect.
-- His angry mother jeered and asked whether he supposed that he knew better
than his
own father.
Commands and Requests
In
reporting commands and requests, the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb
expressing
command or request, and the imperative mood is changed into the Infinitive.
Direct. --
Richard said to David, “Go away.”
Indirect.
-- Richard ordered David to go away.
Direct. --
He said to him, “Please wait here till I return.”
Indirect.
-- He requested him to wait there till he returned.
Direct. --
“Call the first witness,” said the judge.
Indirect.
-- The judge commanded them to call the first witness.
Direct. --
He shouted, “Let me go.”
Indirect.
-- He shouted to them to let him go.
Direct. --
He said, “Be quiet and listen to my words.”
Indirect.
-- He urged them to be quiet and listen to his words.
Exclamations and Wishes
In reporting
exclamations and wishes the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb
expressing
exclamation or wish.
Direct. --
He said, “Alas! I am undone.”
Indirect.
-- He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
Direct. --
Alice said, “How clever I am!”
Indirect.
-- Alice exclaimed that she was very clever.
Direct. --
He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
Indirect.
-- He applauded him, saying that he had done well.
Direct. --
“So help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again.”
Indirect.
-- He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to steal again.
Exercise 01
Turn the
following into Indirect Speech:-
1. He said
to me, “I have often told you not to play with fire.”
2. “You
have all done very badly!” remarked the teacher.
3. They
wrote, “It is time we thought about settling this matter.”
4. The
teacher promised, "If you will come before school tomorrow, I will explain
it.
5. She
wrote, “I am waiting and watching and longing for my son's return.”
6. The
examiner's orders were, “No one is to bring books into the room nor ask me
questions
about what I have told you to do.”
7. The
dwarf said to her, “Promise me that when you are Queen you will give me your
first-born
child.”
8. “That
is my horse,” said he, “and if I do not prove it in a few minutes I will give up
my
claim.”
9. “I will
avenge your wrongs,” he cried, “I will not enter Athens until I have punished
the king
who had so cruelly treated you."
10. He
wrote and said, “I am unable to come just now because I am ill, but I will
certainly
start as
soon as I am well enough to do so.”
11. One
day he sent for David and said to him, “You are now old enough to earn your
living, so
you must set off, and make your own way in the world.”
Exercise 02
Turn the
following into Indirect Speech:-
1. “What
do you want?” he said to her.
2. He
said, “How's your father?”
3. “Are
you coming home with me?” he asked.
4. He
enquired, “When do you intend to pay me?”
5. He said
to us, “Why are you all sitting about there doing nothing?”
6. “Do you
really come from China?” said the prince.
7. The
poor man exclaimed, “Will none of you help me?”
8. “Which
way did she go?” asked the young John.
9. Aladdin
said to the magician, “What have I done to deserve so severe a blow?”
10. “Don't
you know the way home?” asked I.
11. “Do
you write a good hand?” he said.
12. “Have
you anything to say on behalf of the prisoner ?”said the judge finally.
13. “Which
is the proper way to answer this question, father?” the boy enquired.
14. “Have
you anything to tell me, little bird?”. asked Sara.
15. The young
sparrow said, “Mother, what is that queer object?”
16. Then
aloud he said, “Tell me, boy, is the miller within?”
17. “Who
are you, sir, and what do you want?” they cried.
18. “Dear
bird,” she said, stroking its feathers, “have you come to comfort me in my
sorrow?”
19. The
Robert was deeply grieved, and said to his wife, “What can I do for you?”
20. When
the sun got low, the king's son said, “Jack, since we have no money, where can
we lodge
this night ?”
21. She
said to him, “What is it that makes you so much stronger and braver than any
other man
?”
22. When
the Brahmin approached, the first thief said, “Why do you carry a dog on your
back ? Are
you not ashamed ?”
Exercise 03
Put the
following in Indirect Speech:-
1. “Bring
me a drink of milk,” said the swami to the villagers.
2. “Sit
down, boys,” said the teacher.
3. “Halt!”
shouted the officer to his men.
4. “Take
off your hat,” the king said to the Hatter.
5. The
teacher said to him, “Do not read so fast.”
6. He said
to me, “Wait until I come.”
7. “Hurry
up,” he said to his servant, “do not waste time.”
8. “Run
away, children,” said their mother.
9. He
said, “Daughter, take my golden jug, and fetch me some water from the Well.”
10. “Go
down to the bazaar. Bring me some oil and a lump of ice.” ordered his master.
Exercise 04
Put the
following in Indirect Speech:-
1. “What a
rare article milk is, to be sure, in London !” said Mr. Squares with a sigh.
2. “What a
stupid fellow you are!” he angrily remarked.
3. He
said, “My God! I am ruined.”
4. He
said, “Alas! our foes are too strong.”
5. He
said, “What a lazy boy you are! How badly you have done your work!”
6. “How
smart you are!” she said.
7. He
said. “Oh ! that's a nuisance.”
8.He said,
“How cruel of him!”
9. He
said, “What a pity you did not come!”
10. “Ah
me!” exclaimed the Queen. “What a rash and bloody deed you have done!”
Conversion of Indirect into Direct
The
conversion of Indirect into Direct generally presents no special difficulties,
as
the
following examples will show :-
Indirect.
-- He inquired whether his name was not Ahmed.
Direct. --
He said to him, “Is not your name Ahmed ?”
Indirect.
-- As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked him
if he was
a traveller. He replied carelessly that it would appear so.
Direct. --
As the stranger entered the town, he was met by a policeman, who asked, “Are
you a
traveller?” “So it would appear,” he answered carelessly.
Indirect.
-- She asked how she, a girl, who could not ride or use sword or lance,
could be
of any help. Rather would she stay at home and spin beside her dear mother.
Direct. --
She said, “How can I, a girl, who cannot ride or use sword or lance, be
of any
help? Rather would I stay at home and spin beside my dear mother?”
Exercise 05
Put the following in Direct Speech:-
1. He
asked Rama to go with him.
2. Richard
replied that he could not do so.
3. He
asked his father when the next letter would come.
4. His
father replied that there might not be another that year.
5. Richard
asked me what had become of Harry.
6. I told
him that I had not seen him for months.
7. The
master requested that they would attend carefully to what he was saying.
8. I wrote
that I would visit him next day.
9. He
observed that he had never liked doing that.
10. I told
them to be quiet.
11. He
asked me if I had anything to say.
12. Richard
asked Harry if he would change places with him.
13. He
said that he was tired, and that he wished to go to bed.
14. An old
mouse asked who would bell the cat.
15. John
said that he wanted to be a soldier.
16. He
asked me where I was going.
17. He
asked me what I wanted.
18. Abdul
said that he had seen that picture.
19. The
boy said that he would go with us.
20. He
said that the earth moves round the sun.
21. The
stranger asked Alice where she lived.
22. I asked
Mary if she would lend me a pencil.
23. He
told us that he had waited an hour.
24. The
lady inquired if he was now quite well again.
25. He
said that he had come to see them.
26. He
said that though he had come, it was against his will.
27. The
speaker said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
28. He
asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
29. He
asked me if I would accompany him.
30. He
ordered him to leave the room and forbade him to return.
31. The
mother asked her boy where he had been all the afternoon.
32. Harry
asked Richard if he had read the letter.
33. The
King asked the philosopher whom he considered the happiest man living.
34. The
magistrate asked the prisoner what he was doing with his hand in the gentleman's
pocket.
35. The
fox cried out to the goat that a thought had just come into his head.
36. He
advised his sons not to quarrel amongst themselves, when he was dead but to remain
united.
37. The
lion told the fox that he was very weak, that his teeth had fallen out, and
that he had no appetite.
38. He
replied that he had promised to reward his soldiers and that he had kept his
word.
Study the following examples, and in each case carefully note the changes madewhile turning from Direct into Indirect Speech:-
Direct.
-- The Prince said, “It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening.”
Indirect.
-- The Prince said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
Direct.
-- He said, “I shall go as soon as it is possible”
Indirect.
– He said that he would go as soon as it was possible.
Direct.
-- He said, “I do not wish to see any of you; go away.”
Indirect.
-- He said that he did not wish to see any of them and ordered them to go away.
Direct.
-- My teacher often says to me, “If you don't work hard, you will fail.”
Indirect.
-- My teacher often says to me that if I don't work hard I shall fail.
Direct.
-- He said, “We are all sinners.”
Indirect.
-- He said that we are all sinners.
Direct.
-- The lecturer said, “Akbar won the respect of all races and classes by his justice.”
Indirect.
-- The lecturer said that Akbar won the respect of all races and classes by his
justice.
Direct.
-- He said, “Let us wait for the award.”
Indirect.
-- He proposed that they should wait for the award.
Direct.
– “Saint George strike for us!” exclaimed the Knight, “do the false yeomen give
way?”
Indirect.
-- The Knight prayed that Saint George might strike for them and asked whether
the false
yeomen gave way.
b.
– “Curse it!” exclaimed the driver. “Who could have foreseen such ill-luck? But
for
accident we should have caught the train easily.”
Indirect.
-- The driver exclaimed with an oath that nobody could have foreseen such ill luck.
But for
the accident they would have caught the train easily.
Direct.
-- The general, addressing his mutinous troops said, “You have brought disgrace
upon a
famous regiment. If you had grievances, why did you not lay them before your
own
officers? Now you must first suffer punishment for your offence, before your
complaints
can be heard.”
Indirect.
-- The general told his mutinous troops that they had brought disgrace upon a
famous
regiment. If they had grievances, why had they not laid them before their own
officers?
Now they must suffer punishment for their offence before their complaints
could be
heard.
Direct.
-- The traveller said, “Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?” “Yes,”
said the
peasant,
“do you want one in which you can spend the night?” “No,” replied the
traveller,
“I only
want a meal.”
Indirect.
-- The traveller asked the peasant if he could tell him the way to the nearest
inn.
The
peasant replied that he could, and asked whether the traveller wanted one in
which he
could
spend the night. The traveller answered that he did not wish to stay there, but
only
wanted a
meal.
Remark. --
It will be noticed that we have avoided the ugly phrases “replied in the
affirmative”
and “replied in the negative.”
Exercise 06
Turn the following into Indirect Speech:-
1. “Cheer
up, mother, I'll go and get work somewhere,” said Jack.
2. But the
sea-god cried, “Do not be afraid, noble prince. I have taken pity on you and
will help
you.”
3. “No,”
said the child; “I won't kneel, for if I do, I shall spoil my new breeches.”
4. “What a
horse are they losing for want of skill and spirit to manage him!” exclaimed
Alexander.
5.
Telemachus replied, "How can I drive away the mother, who bore me and
nourished
me?"
6. “Call
no man happy,” was the reply of the philosopher, “until he has ended his life
in a
fitting
manner.”
7. Then
said the wolf to the fox, “Now either yield thyself as vanquished, or else
certainly
I will
kill thee.”
8. “I
believe,” said he, “that we are in this country among a people whom we like and
who like
us.”
9. he
said, “Take that bird away. Its gilded cage reminds me of my father whom I
imprisoned.”
Page 265
10. “I
have just one word to say to you,” said the dealer. “Either make your purchase,
or
walk out
of my shop.”
11. “My
hour is come,” thought he. “Let me meet death like a man.”
12. “Be
not cast down,” said Mentor, “remember whose son thou art, and all shall be
well
with
thee.”
13. Richard
said: “Boys! boys ! remember you play a game. If it be David’s turn let him
have it.”
14.
“Friends,” said the old man, “sit down and rest yourselves here on this bench.
My
good wife
Baucis has gone to see what you can have for supper.”
15. “Ah!
you don't know what these beans are, said the man; if you plant them overnight,
by morning
they grow right up to the sky.”
16. “How
clever I am !” he said. “All my life I have been talking prose without knowing
it.”
17. “I am
old and lonely,” said she. “Hast thou no pity on my lonelines? Stay with me,
my best
son, for thou art yet more boy than man.”
18. “I do
not practice”, Goldsmith once said; "I make it a rule to prescribe only
for my
friends."
"Pray, dear doctor," said Beauclerk, "alter your rule, and
prescribe only for your
enemies."
19. He
said: "Who are you to speak to me like this? I am the master. Why should I
help
you? It is
your work, not mine, to draw the cart."
20.
"I cannot hope to see these trees which I am planting come in
perfection," said the
duke,
"but it is right for me to plant for the benefit of my successors."
21.
"Are you angry, my friends," said the king, "because you have
lost your leader? I am
your king;
I will be your leader."
22. Said
an old Crab to young one, "Why do you walk so crooked, child? Walk
straight!"
"Mother,"
said the young Crab, "show me the way, will you?"
23.
"Who are you?" said the Deer. The Jackal replied: "I am
Kshudrabuddhi the Jackal. I
live in
this forest all by myself; I have neither friend nor relation."
24. One
summer some elephants were very much distressed by the heat, and said to their
leader:
"We are absolutely perishing, for want of water. The smaller animals have
bathing-places
but we have none. What are we to do? Where are we to go?"
25. When
the king saw him coming he said, "Pray who are you, and what do you want
?"
The Rabbit
said, "I am an ambassador from His Majesty Chandra - the Moon." The
Elephant
King replied, "Declare your errand."
26. A
young Rajah once said to his Vizier, "How is it that I am so often ill? I
take great
care of
myself; I never go out in the rain; I wear warm clothes; I eat good food. Yet I
am
always
catching cold or getting fever."
27.
"My sons," said he, "a great treasure lies hidden in the estate
I am about to leave
you."
"Where is it hid?" said the sons. "I am about to leave
you." said the old man, "but
you must
dig for it."
28.
"How very well you speak French!" Lady Grizzel said. "I ought to
know it," Becky
modestly
said. "I taught it in a school, and my mother was a Frenchwoman."
29.
"What are you going to do with the tinder-box?" asked the soldier.
"That's no
business
of yours," said the witch; "You've got your money; give me my
tinder-box."
30.
"My name is Noman," said Ulysses, "my kinsmen and friends in my
own country call
me
Noman." "Then," said the Cyclops, "this is the kindness I
will show thee, Noman; I
will eat
thee last of all thy friends."
31.
"I am a dead man, Hardy," said Nelson; "I am going fast; it will
be all over with me
soon. Come
nearer to me. Let my dear Lady Hamilton have my hair, and all other things
belonging
to me."
32. He
said to the shoemaker: "You are a big blockhead; you have done the reverse
of
what I
desired you. I told you to make one of the shoes larger than the other, and,
instead
of that,
you have made one of them smaller than the other."
The End
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