Direct and
Indirect Speech
ST. FRANCIS GRAMMAR SCHOOL QUETTA
CLASS: 8TH
SUBJECT: ENGLIAH
Speech

Definition: The power of expression is known as speech or narration.
Types of Speech
2 types
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
Direct and Indirect
Speech

Direct Speech: The actual words of a speaker are known as
Direct Speech.

Indirect Speech: When we convert the actual words of the
speaker into our own words and express them is called indirect
speech.
Components of Direct
Speech

Reporting Speech: The words of a speaker which are being spoken and
they are always placed outside inverted comma’s are called reporting
speech.

Reported Speech: The words of a speaker which had been spoken and
they are always placed inside the inverted comma’s is called reported
speech.
Example
He says to me,
“they are good students.”
Reporting Speech
Reported Speech
Rules of Changing Direct to
Indirect Speech

Changing of Punctuation: When we change direct speech into indirect
speech the inverted comma’s are change into that/ if/ weather.

Changing of Pronoun:
Singular
1st person
Plural
We
2nd person
You
You
3rd person
He, She, It
They
 When we change direct in to indirect speech the pronouns will changed according
to “SON” formula.
• “S”: The first person pronoun (I, WE) of reported speech the pronouns are changed
according to the subject of the reporting speech.
• “O”: The 2nd person pronoun of reported speech is changed according to the
reporting (object of) speech.
E.g:
He says to me, “I teaches you.”
He says to me that he teaches me.
• “N”: No change occurs in 3rd person pronoun.
E.g:
He says to me, “They are helping her.”
He says to me that they are helping her.
CHANGING OF TENSES:
The change of the tenses are as following:
Present Indefinite
Past Indefinite
Past Indefinite
Past Perfect
Future Indefinite (Will/ Shall)
Would
Present Continuous
Past Continuous
Past Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
Future Continuous (Will/ Shall + be)
Would Be
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Past Perfect
No Change
Future Perfect (Will/ Shall + have)
Would have
Present Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
No Change
Future Perfect Continuous (Will/ shall have been)
Would have been
Tenses
Present Indefinite
Past Indefinite
Direct
1st form of verb
2 nd
Indirect
2nd form of verb
Had+ 3rd
Future Indefinite
Will/ Shall
Would
Present Continuous
is, am, are
was, were
Past Continuous
Was, Were
Had Been
Future Continuous
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Will/ Shall+ be
Would Be
Has, Have
Had
Had
No Change
Future Perfect
Will/ Shall+ have
Would Have
Present Perfect Continuous
Has/ Have+ Been
Had Been
Had Been
No Change
Past Perfect Continuous
Future Perfect Continuous
Will/ Shall+ Have Been
Would Have Been
Note: The Changes of tenses can only take place if reporting speech is in past tenses, but if
our reporting speech is in present or future tenses no change of tense take place in reported
speech.
 He says to me, “she is a doctor.”
He says to me that she is a doctor
 He will say to me “She is a doctor.”
He will say to me that she is a doctor.
 He said to me, “She is a doctor.”
She said to me that she was a doctor.
Home Work

Write all the definitions, Rules and Example in your English Language
copy.

Also Write 10 sentences of changing direct speech into indirect speech.