direct and indirect speech year 5

English - Class 5

Topic outline

Direct and Indirect Speech

We can report the words of a speaker in two ways:

      1.    By repeating the exact words used by the speaker.

      2.    By reporting only the material of what he said.  

Now read the following sentences.

      1.    Ram said , “ Anand is a good boy .”

      2.    Ram said that Anand was a good boy.

In the first sentence , we repeat, or quote, the exact words spoken by the speaker. This is called Direct Speech or Narration . Here we put the exact words of the speaker within quotation marks (" ") and we place a colon after 'said'. We write first word inside the quotation marks with a capital letter.

A comma is placed after the Reporting Verb to separate it from the second part of the sentence. In the first sentence, “ said ” is called the reporting verb, and “ Anand is a good boy .” is called the Reported Speech.

In the second sentence , we do not give the exact words of the speaker but give only the substance of what he said. This is called Indirect Speech or Narration .

In Indirect speech (sometimes called reported speech ), we do not use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and it doesn't have to be word for word. Here colon is not used after said. Reported or indirect speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we normally change the tense of the words spoken. The Verb ‘is’ is changed to was. (The Tense of the Verb in the Reported Speech is changed from the Present to the Past.). Here the Reported Speech is introduced by the Conjunction ‘that’.

Rules For Changing Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

Rule 1: If the Reporting Verb is in the Present or Future Tense, the Verb in the Reported Speech is not changed at all. In other words, if in direct speech we find say, says or will say then we will not change the tense of the verb inside the quotation marks.

Here are some examples:

Direct Speech - Dia says, “There is no water in the glass.”

Indirect Speech - Dia says that there is no water in the glass.

Direct Speech - Ram will say, “Nobody was in the auditorium.”

Indirect Speech - Ram will say that nobody was in the auditorium.

Direct Speech - The tutor will say, “Hari will pass the entrance exam.”

Indirect Speech - The tutor will say that Hari will pass the entrance exam.

Direct Speech - She says, “Meena likes chicken curry.”

Indirect Speech - She says that Meena likes chicken curry.

Rule 2: If the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense, the Verb in the Reported Speech is also changed to the Past Tense. In other word, if in direct speech we find reporting verb “said” then we will change the tense of the verb inside the quotation marks to the past tense.

      1.    The Simple Present becomes the Simple Past.

Direct Speech - Tia said, “Neena works very hard.”

Indirect Speech - Tia said that Neena worked very hard.

Direct Speech - She said, "It is cold outside."

Indirect Speech - She said it was cold outside.

      2.    The Present Continuous becomes the Past Continuous.

Direct Speech - He said, "I visited Delhi last year”

Indirect Speech - He said that he had visited Delhi the previous year.

Direct Speech - Meera said, "I'm teaching French online."

Indirect Speech - Meera said she was teaching French online.

      3.    The Present Perfect becomes the Past Perfect.

Direct Speech - Anu said, "I have lived here for a long time.”

Indirect Speech - Anu said that she had lived there for a long time.

Direct Speech - Meena said, “Kapil has written the article.”

Indirect Speech - Meena said that Kapil had written the article.

      4.    May is changed into might; can is changed into could.

Direct Speech - He said, “Rahul may clear the exam.”

Indirect Speech - He said that Rahul might clear the exam.

Direct Speech - I said, “I can solve this problem.”

Indirect Speech - I said that I could solve this problem.

      5.    The Simple Past becomes the Past Perfect.

Direct Speech - Dev,”Avi reached at night.”

Indirect Speech - Dev said that Avi had reached at night.

Direct Speech - He said, “She came at 11 a.m. in the morning.”

Indirect Speech - He said that she had come at 11 a.m. in the morning.

      6.    The Past Continuous becomes the Past Perfect Continuous.

Direct Speech - Ravi said, “All were looking at the magician.”

Indirect Speech - Ravi said that all had been looking at the magician.

Direct Speech - Jimmy said, “All the boys were shouting.”

Indirect Speech - Jimmy said that all the boys had been shouting.

      7.    Shall is changed into should; will is changed into would.

Direct Speech - Radha said, "I will open the door."

Indirect Speech - Radha said that she would open the door.

Direct Speech - I said, “I shall try to assist her.”

Indirect Speech - I said that I should try to assist her.

Rule 3: If in direct speech the Reported Speech contains some universal or habitual fact, then we will follow RULE ONE or in other words the tense inside the quotation marks remains unchanged.

Direct Speech - Ravi said, “Everything happens for a reason.”

Indirect Speech - Ravi said that everything happens for a reason.

Direct Speech - Teacher said, “The moon moves round the earth.”

Indirect Speech - Teacher said that the moon moves round the earth.

Direct Speech - She said, “God is never in hurry, but he is always on time.”

Indirect Speech - She said that God is never in hurry, but he is always on time.

Direct Speech - The teacher said,” The sun rises in the east”

Indirect Speech - The teacher said the sun rises in the east.

Rule 4: Pronouns of the First Person in Direct Speech are changed in indirect Speech to the same person as the subject of the introductory verb.

Direct Speech - Tia said, “I am tired.”

Indirect Speech - John said that I was tired.

Direct Speech - Sita said, “I have done my homework.”

Indirect Speech - Sita said that she had done her homework.

Direct Speech - He said, “I shall do my best.”

Indirect Speech - He said that he would do his best.

Direct Speech - He said, “I will not come.”

Indirect Speech - He said that he would not go there.

Direct Speech - I said, “The little boy calls me.”

Indirect Speech - I said that the little boy called me.

Rule 5: Pronouns of the Second Person in Direct Speech are changed in Indirect Speech to the same person as the noun or pronoun which comes after the introductory verb.

Direct Speech - Heera said to me, “You are genius.”

Indirect Speech - Heera told me that I was genius.

Direct Speech - Avi said to Abhi,”You are a smart boy.”

Indirect Speech - Avi told Abhi that he was a smart boy.

Direct Speech - Sia said to Kareena,”You are a nice girl.”

Indirect Speech - Sia told Kareena that she was a nice girl.

Direct Speech - Tom said to him, “You have not done your assignment.”

Indirect Speech - Tom told him that he had not done his assignment.

Direct Speech - Jimmy said to her, “You have done your job.”

Indirect Speech - Jimmy told her that she had done her job.

Rule 6: Pronouns of the Third Person in Direct Speech remain the same in Indirect Speech.

Direct Speech - Harmeet said to me, “She is not well.”

Indirect Speech - Harmeet told me that she was not well.

Direct Speech - He said to me, “She was correct.”

Indirect Speech - He told me that she was correct.

Direct Speech - Bali said to you, “You are mistaken.”

Indirect Speech - Bali told you that you are mistaken.

Note : - In all the above examples, the verb ‘said’ in Direct Speech becomes ‘told’ in Indirect Speech and the Preposition ‘to’ is omitted.

Rule 7: When turning a sentence from Direct into indirect Speech words showing ‘nearness’ are changed into words showing ‘distance.’ Thus:

Now becomes then.

Here becomes there.

Ago becomes before.

Today becomes before.

This becomes that.

These become those.

Tomorrow becomes the next day.

Yesterday becomes the day before (or the previous day).

Last night becomes the night before (or the previous night).

Direct Speech - Tim said, “I am free now.”

Indirect Speech - Tim said that he was free then.

Direct Speech - He said, “I have seen this woman in the market.”

Indirect Speech - He said that he had seen that woman in the market.

Direct Speech - I said, “These oranges are sour.”

Indirect Speech - I said that those oranges were sour.

Direct Speech - Heena said, “The red basket is here.”

Indirect Speech - Heena said that the red basket was there.

Direct Speech - She said,”Aftab may go tomorrow.”

Indirect Speech - She said that Aftab might go the next day.

Direct Speech - Teacher said, “Today is a sunny day.”

Indirect Speech - Teacher said that day was a sunny day.

Direct Speech - Ram said, “I went to the mall last night.”

Indirect Speech - Ram said that he had gone to the mall the night before.

Direct Speech - She said, “I went to cinema yesterday.”

Indirect Speech - She said that she had gone to the cinema the day before.

Rule 8: Commands and Requests

In reporting a Command or a Request in the Indirect Speech, we change the introductory Verb to request, order, command, advice or some other word suiting the sense. Here the verb in Reported Speech is put in the Infinitive.

Direct Speech - I said to Karishma,”Please give me your pen.”

Indirect Speech - I requested Karishma to give me her pen.

Direct Speech - “You must read this article” said the teacher to Riya.

Indirect Speech - Teacher advised Riya to read that article.

Direct Speech - He said to the Principal, “Forgive me.”

Indirect Speech - He begged the Principal to forgive him.

Direct Speech - The teacher said, “Do your best, Radhika.”

Indirect Speech - The teacher advised Radhika to do her best.

Direct Speech - He said, “Listen to me carefully.”

Indirect Speech- He urged them to listen to him carefully.

Rule 9: In reporting question in the Indirect Speech, we change introductory Verb to ask or inquire. We use ‘whether’ or ‘if’ if the interrogative sentence begins with a verb. Here interrogative form is changed into the Declarative form. There is no need to use new connective is used if the interrogative sentence begins with who, whose, whom, which, what, how, when or why.

Direct Speech - He said to me, “Where are you staying in Delhi?”

Indirect Speech - He asked me where I was staying in Delhi.

Direct Speech - Rosy said to her,” How are you doing?”

Indirect Speech - Rosy asked her how she was doing.

Direct Speech - The teacher said to the boy, “Why are you crying?”

Indirect Speech - The teacher asked the boy why he was crying.

Direct Speech - She said to me, “Have you completed your project?”

Indirect Speech - She asked me if I had completed my project.

Direct Speech - Mahesh said to me, “Do you play badminton?”

Indirect Speech - Mahesh asked me whether I played badminton.

Rule 10: Exclamations and Wishes

In reporting an Exclamation or Wish in the Indirect Speech, we omit words showing exclamation such as alas, hurrah, etc. and sign of exclamation. We change the introductory Verb into wish, claim, pray, bless, curse, etc.

Direct Speech - Students said, “Hurrah! We have won the series.”

Indirect Speech - Students exclaimed with joy that they had won the series.

Direct Speech - She said to her, “May you live long!”

Indirect Speech - She wished that she might live long.

Direct Speech - Harish said to her, “My God bless you!”

Indirect Speech - Harish prayed that god might bless her.

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Direct Speech

What is direct speech.

Direct speech is a sentence where the exact words spoken by somebody are recorded in inverted commas (also known as speech marks). Inverted commas are used to show which written words are spoken by the character and other punctuation is used to help the reader understand when each character starts and stops speaking. Usually, the spoken words are accompanied by a reporting clause which contains a speech verb and reveals the identity of the speaker.

How to punctuate direct speech

To punctuate direct speech, follow these simple rules:

Start a new line for each new speaker. This helps the reader to keep track of who is speaking.

Add a pair of inverted commas around the words spoken by the character. The first pair of inverted commas should go before the first spoken word and the second pair should go after the punctuation which follows the last spoken word.

Begin the spoken words with a capital letter.

Add closing punctuation to follow the last spoken word. This could be a comma, full stop, exclamation mark, question mark or even an ellipsis if the character's thoughts trail off.

Use a comma to separate the direct speech and reporting clause.

Our KS2 English Journey scheme based on the beautifully illustrated book by Aaron Becker, is a fantastic way to introduce children to direct speech punctuation.

Children tend to find rules three and four the most difficult so make sure you explicitly teach the following:

a. If the reporting clause comes before the spoken words , add a comma to separate the clause from the direct speech and a full stop within the inverted commas to indicate the end of the sentence. For example, Isa suggested, "Let's get a closer look."

b. If the reporting clause comes after the direct speech, add a comma (or other appropriate punctuation) within the inverted commas to indicate that the sentence continues and a full stop after the reporting clause to indicate the end of the sentence. For example, "Let's get a closer look," Isa suggested.

c. If the reporting clause comes in the middle of the direct speech, add a comma within the inverted commas for the first piece of speech, a comma after the reporting clause before the second piece of speech and a full stop following the reporting clause to indicate the end of the sentence. For example, "Let's get a closer look," Isa suggested, "I want to know where the tunnel leads."

When do we use direct speech?

Direct speech is used in narratives to reveal more about the thoughts, motivations and personalities of the characters, and to let new characters introduce themselves.

Using dialogue between characters is also a quick and engaging way to move on the plot of a story. For example, an instruction from a character is a useful plot device as it can prompt another character to act or move to another time or location (e.g. "Lock the door.","Go to the tower.", "Recover the diamond.").

Questions can let characters explain where they have been or what they have been doing offstage ("Why are you late?', "Where have you been?, "Why are you doing this?).

Statements can tell you more about a character's surroundings ("It's a beautiful day.", " That door wasn't there before.") or where they stand on a particular issue ("I don't agree.", "This is a risky plan.").

Inspire your children to write effective dialogue for an adventure story with our KS2 One Thousand and One Arabian Nights scheme.

Misconceptions when punctuating direct speech

Understanding and applying the rules for direct speech is no mean feat. Here are the top five misconceptions that children may have as they learn how to punctuate direct speech.

Children do not know to include punctuation inside the inverted commas.

Children do not know when to use a comma instead of a full stop inside the inverted commas.

Children incorrectly position inverted commas around the beginning and end of a full sentence rather than around the spoken words.

Children do not apply the new speaker, new line convention.

Children capitalise the first word in a reporting clause that comes in the middle or at the end of the speech sentence. This often accompanies a misuse of a full stop as closing punctuation inside the inverted commas.

Addressing these misconceptions needs careful and explicit teaching. Here are five top tips for teaching children how to punctuate direct speech in KS2.

Make sure to provide children with variety of examples which use different sentences structures.

Encourage children to find different speech sentences in their reading books and explore the similarities and differences between them.

Provide examples of incorrectly punctuated speech sentences and ask children to spot and correct the errors (identifying errors in given texts is so much less daunting than jumping straight into applying the rules within your own writing).

Give children focused editing time either as a discrete activity where children to add punctuation to unpunctuated text or where they spot and correct direct speech punctuation during independent writing.

Offer children the opportunity to read and perform their dialogue (as this can really help child get to grips with why punctuation is so important for the reader).

Teaching progression in direct speech - Year 3

Direct speech is introduced in the Year 3 English Curriculum. Here, children should be taught the correct terminology for 'inverted commas' and given opportunities to practise forming these correctly (during your regular handwriting sessions can work well). When children can identify and create inverted commas, they are ready to apply these to speech - adding opening and closing inverted commas around spoken words.

An engaging, hands-on activity to help children understand where to position the inverted commas in a speech sentence is to ask children to write speech sentences on whiteboards and add macaroni around the spoken words to represent the opening and closing inverted commas. This activity can be extended to include speech and a reporting clause to consolidate understanding and to address the misconception that inverted commmas are used at the beginning and end of the sentence, rather than at the beginning and end of the spoken words.

Introduce your children to direct speech with our magical Year 3 The Snowman scheme which provides children with the foundations for punctuating direct speech.

Teaching progression in direct speech - Year 4

In Year 4, the focus should be mastering all of the punctuation required to indicate direct speech. This includes the use of a comma to separate the reporting clause from the piece of speech as well as using punctuation within inverted commas: The conductor shouted, “Sit down!”. Children will need plenty of modelled examples as to when to use the different punctuation marks inside inverted commas to get to grips with when to use a comma, full stop and other punctuation.

By the end of Year 4, children should be able to choose more precise speech verbs for their reporting clause, using verbs such as growled, snarled, whispered, mumbled to let the reader know more about the speaker's personality or mood.

One way to help chidren understand the rules of punctuating direct speech is to use a text message template to show an exchange of dialogue between characters. This helps children understand that the speech for each character starts on a new line. It is also helpful for reinforcing the learning point from Year 3, that only the spoken words should be included within the opening and closing inverted commas. Children can use the speech given in the model as the basis for writing their own dialogue between the two characters, constructing their own reporting clauses using appropriate speech verbs and adverbs.

Why not use the our KS2 English Journey scheme or our Text to Speech FreeBee to give children an opportunity to practise using direct speech in their writing?

Teaching progression in direct speech - Year 5

In Year 5, children should be able to vary the structure of their speech sentences, positioning the reporting clause at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the spoken words. Here, children should consider the impact of these choices on pace and intensity. Children should be taught that the reporting clause can reveal a lot about how the words are spoken and the character of the speaker and start to experiment with adding additional clauses to add further contextual detail.

As children become more proficient with the direct speech punctuation and sentence structure, the focus of teaching should shift to encouraging children to write coherent and effective dialogue which conveys character and/or advances the action of the story.

Teaching progression in direct speech - Year 6

By Year 6, children should be able to vary the structure of their speech sentences and extend these to provide the reader with extra details about the speaker or their environment. Children should continue to write dialogue which conveys character and/or advances the action of the story,. The focus of teaching should shift to ensure that the children can integrate dialogue well into their narratives and that they know how to strike a balance between dialogue and description to produce an enjoyable or gripping experience for the reader.

In additon, children should also be taught how and when to use the structures associated with formal and informal speech to help set the tone of their piece or to contextualise their writing within a certain time period. To do this, use texts which allow you to explore a variety of speech conventions used by different characters such as those by Arthur Conan Doyale (e.g. Sherlock Holmes) or Charles Dickens (e.g. Scrooge, the Artful Dodger).  

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Easy Insightful Literature Notes

Transformation of Sentence: Direct & Indirect Speech

A direct speech can be transformed into an indirect speech and vice versa using a suitable reporting verb and a linker depending on the sentence. Let’s have an example first.

• Tina said to me, “Are you busy now?” [direct speech]
• Tina asked me whether I was busy then. [indirect speech]

Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

• Look, if the reporting verb in direct speech (said) is in past tense, the reporting verb in indirect speech (asked) would also be in past tense. ‘Whether’ is the linker added here as it is a ‘yes-no’ type question (Refer to list 1 below).
• ‘Are’ changes to ‘was’. As the reporting verb was in past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in past. (Refer to list 2 below)
• ‘Now’ has become ‘then’. Time and place expressions change if the reporting verb is in past tense. (Refer to list 3 below)
• The question mark (?) has changed to a full stop(.).
• Another important thing, the format of question (v + s + o) has changed to the format of a statement (s + v + o). In indirect speech the pattern always comes to subject + verb + object.

List of Reporting verbs and linkers (list 1)

Verbs of Reported speech (if the reporting verb is in past tense) (list 2) Direct speech → Indirect speech Am / is / are →  was / were Was / were → had been Has / have → had Had → had had Shall / will → would Can → could May → might Must, should → must, should Verb1 → verb2 Verb2 → had + verb3

Change of time and place expressions in past tense (list 3) now → then ago → before today → that day yesterday → the previous day tomorrow → the next day last night → the previous night here → there this → that these → those

Narration change of Assertive sentence

• Robin said, “I went to Delhi yesterday.” – Robin said that he had gone to Delhi the previous day .
• She said to her husband, “I want to go with you.” – She told her husband that she wanted to go with him.

Narration change of Interrogative sentence

• He said to me, “Do you know English?” – He asked me whether I knew English.
• She said to me, “Did you go there?” – She wanted to know whether I had gone there.
• I said to him, “What are you doing?” – I asked him what he was doing.
• Rahul said to his mother, “How do you do all these things together?” – Rahul asked his mother how she did all those things together.

Narration change of Imperative sentence

• He said to me, “Go there right now.” – He ordered me to go there right then.
• My teacher said to me, “Obey your parents.” – My teacher asked me to obey my parents.
• She said to me, “Please don’t go there.” – She requested me not to go there.
• He said to her, “Let’s go home.” – He suggested her that they should go home.
• His mother said, “Let him eat whatever he likes.” – His mother suggested that he might be allowed to eat whatever he liked.

Narration change of Optative sentence

• He said to the boy, “May god bless you.” – He prayed that God might bless the boy.
• The girl said, “Had I the wings of a dove.” – The girl wished that she had the wings of a dove.

Narration change of Exclamatory sentence

• “How happy we are here!” said the children. – The children exclaimed in joy that they were very happy there.
• The children said, “How happy we were there!” – The children exclaimed in sorrow that they had been very happy there.
• He said to me, “Good bye!” – He bade me good bye.
• She said to me, “Good evening!”—She wished me good evening.

Narration change of Vocatives

• Teacher said, “ Robin , stand up.” – Teacher asked Robin to stand up.
• The Bishop said to the convict, “Always remember, my son , that the poor body is the temple of the living God.” – The Bishop addressed the convict as his son and advised him to always remember that the poor body is the temple of the living God.

Narration change of question tag

• He said to me, “You went to Kolkata, didn’t you?” – He asked me whether I had gone to Kolkata and assumed that I had.
• I said to him, “Tina didn’t tell a lie, did she?” – I asked him if Tina had told a lie and assumed that she had not.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Year 5 Ready to Write Resource Pack

Step 5: Direct and Indirect Speech Year 5 Resources

Direct and Indirect Speech Year 5 Resource Pack includes a teaching PowerPoint and differentiated varied fluency and application and reasoning resources. This pack is designed to work alongside our GPS Scheme of Work for Autumn Block 1 .

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What's included in the pack?

This pack includes:

• Direct and Indirect Speech Year 5 Teaching PowerPoint.
• Direct and Indirect Speech Year 5 Varied Fluency with answers.
• Direct and Indirect Speech Year 5 Application and Reasoning with answers.

National Curriculum Objectives

English Year 4: (4G5.7)  Using and punctuating direct speech

English Year 4: (4G5.7)  Use of inverted commas and other punctuation to indicate direct speech [for example, a comma after the reporting clause; end punctuation within inverted commas: The conductor shouted, “Sit down!”]

Varied Fluency Developing Questions to support identifying and punctuating individual pieces of direct and indirect speech which do not form a conversation. Expected Questions to support identifying and punctuating direct and indirect speech in short paragraphs with more than one speaker and a range of synonyms for ‘said’. Greater Depth Questions to support identifying and punctuating direct and indirect speech in short paragraphs with more than one speaker, speech interspersed with narrative and a range of synonyms for ‘said’.

Application Questions 1, 4 and 7 (Application) Developing Rewrite the sentences, adding the correct punctuation to the direct speech. Incudes individual, standalone sentences which do not form a conversation. Expected Rewrite the paragraph, adding the correct punctuation to the direct speech. Includes more than one speaker and a range of synonyms for ‘said’. Greater Depth Rewrite the paragraph, adding the correct punctuation to the direct speech. Includes more than one speaker, a range of synonyms for ‘said’ and speech interspersed with narrative.

Questions 2, 5 and 8 (Application) Developing Rewrite the sentences, turning the indirect speech into direct speech. Incudes individual, standalone sentences which do not form a conversation. Expected Rewrite the paragraph, turning the indirect speech into direct speech. Includes more than one speaker and a range of synonyms for ‘said’. Greater Depth Rewrite the paragraph, turning the indirect speech into direct speech. Includes more than one speaker, a range of synonyms for ‘said’ and speech interspersed with narrative.

Questions 3, 6 and 9 (Reasoning) Developing Explain if a sentence contains indirect speech. Incudes individual, standalone sentences which do not form a conversation. Expected Explain if a paragraph contains indirect speech. Includes more than one speaker and a range of synonyms for ‘said’. Greater Depth Explain if a paragraph contains indirect speech. Includes more than one speaker, a range of synonyms for ‘said’ and speech interspersed with narrative.

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What are direct and indirect speech?

What is direct speech?

Direct speech is a sentence in which the exact words spoken are reproduced in speech marks (also known as quotation marks or inverted commas). For example:  

What is indirect speech?

Indirect speech is when the general points of what someone has said are reported, without actually writing the speech out in full. It is sometimes called reported speech. For example:  

When do children learn about direct speech?

Teachers will start to teach children how to set out direct speech in Year 3 .

The general rules of direct speech are:  

• Each new character's speech starts on a new line.
• Speech is opened with speech marks.
• Each line of speech starts with a capital.
• The line of speech ends with a comma, exclamation mark or question mark.
• A reporting clause is used at the end ( said Jane, shouted Paul, replied Mum).
• A full stop goes after the reporting clause.
• If the direct speech in the sentence is broken up by information about who is speaking, add in a comma or question mark or exclamation mark to end the first piece of speech and a full stop or another comma before the second piece (before the speech marks), for example: "It's lovely," she sighed, "but I can't afford it right now." / "I agree!" said Kate. "Let's go!"

When do children learn about indirect speech?

In Year 5, children may be taught a literacy unit that guides them in writing a newspaper article including the use of indirect (or reported) speech. In Year 6, children may be encouraged to use indirect speech when writing a biography or practising further journalistic writing.

When changing direct speech into indirect speech, changes have to be made to a sentence. For example:

• Verb tenses usually shift back a tense (into the past)
• Word order often needs to change
• Pronouns often need to change
• Words indicating place and time need to change

By Year 6 children should be setting out speech and punctuating it correctly in their stories. In fiction indirect speech can sometimes be helpful if a character in a story wants to recount a conversation they have had in the past.

For direct and indirect speech worksheets and activities to help your child put the theory into practice look through our punctuation worksheets.

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Direct Speech Worksheets (KS2)

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

22 February 2018

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Direct and Indirect Speech: The Ultimate Guide

Direct and Indirect Speech are the two ways of reporting what someone said. The use of both direct and indirect speech is crucial in effective communication and writing. Understanding the basics of direct and indirect speech is important, but mastering the advanced techniques of these two forms of speech can take your writing to the next level. In this article, we will explore direct and indirect speech in detail and provide you with a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know.

Table of Contents

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is a way of reporting what someone said using their exact words. Direct speech is typically enclosed in quotation marks to distinguish it from the writer’s own words. Here are some examples of direct speech:

• “I am going to the store,” said John.
• “I love ice cream,” exclaimed Mary.
• “The weather is beautiful today,” said Sarah.

In direct speech, the exact words spoken by the speaker are used, and the tense and pronouns used in the quote are maintained. Punctuation is also important in direct speech. Commas are used to separate the quote from the reporting verb, and full stops, question marks, or exclamation marks are used at the end of the quote, depending on the tone of the statement.

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech is a way of reporting what someone said using a paraphrased version of their words. In indirect speech, the writer rephrases the speaker’s words and incorporates them into the sentence. Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• John said that he was going to the store.
• Mary exclaimed that she loved ice cream.
• Sarah said that the weather was beautiful that day.

In indirect speech, the tense and pronouns may change, depending on the context of the sentence. Indirect speech is not enclosed in quotation marks, and the use of reporting verbs is important.

Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

The structure of direct and indirect speech is different. Direct speech is presented in quotation marks, whereas indirect speech is incorporated into the sentence without quotation marks. The tenses and pronouns used in direct and indirect speech also differ. In direct speech, the tense and pronouns used in the quote are maintained, whereas, in indirect speech, they may change depending on the context of the sentence. Reporting verbs are also used differently in direct and indirect speech. In direct speech, they are used to introduce the quote, while in indirect speech, they are used to report what was said.

How to Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Converting direct speech to indirect speech involves changing the tense, pronouns, and reporting verb. Here are the steps involved in converting direct speech to indirect speech:

• Remove the quotation marks.
• Use a reporting verb to introduce the indirect speech.
• Change the tense of the verb in the quote if necessary.
• Change the pronouns if necessary.
• Use the appropriate conjunction if necessary.

Here is an example of converting direct speech to indirect speech:

Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

How to Convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech to direct speech involves using the same tense, pronouns, and reporting verb as the original quote. Here are the steps involved in converting indirect speech to direct speech:

• Remove the reporting verb.
• Use quotation marks to enclose the direct speech.
• Maintain the tense of the verb in the quote.
• Use the same pronouns as the original quote.

Here is an example of converting indirect speech to direct speech:

Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store. Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.

Advanced Techniques for Using Direct and Indirect Speech

Using direct and indirect speech effectively can add depth and complexity to your writing. Here are some advanced techniques for using direct and indirect speech:

Blending Direct and Indirect Speech

Blending direct and indirect speech involves using both forms of speech in a single sentence or paragraph. This technique can create a more engaging and realistic narrative. Here is an example:

“Sarah said, ‘I can’t believe it’s already winter.’ Her friend replied that she loved the cold weather and was excited about the snowboarding season.”

In this example, direct speech is used to convey Sarah’s words, and indirect speech is used to convey her friend’s response.

Using Reported Questions

Reported questions are a form of indirect speech that convey a question someone asked without using quotation marks. Reported questions often use reporting verbs like “asked” or “wondered.” Here is an example:

“John asked if I had seen the movie last night.”

In this example, the question “Have you seen the movie last night?” is reported indirectly without using quotation marks.

Using Direct Speech to Convey Emotion

Direct speech can be used to convey emotion more effectively than indirect speech. When using direct speech to convey emotion, it’s important to choose the right tone and emphasis. Here is an example:

“She screamed, ‘I hate you!’ as she slammed the door.”

In this example, the use of direct speech and the exclamation mark convey the intense emotion of the moment.

• When should I use direct speech?
• Direct speech should be used when you want to report what someone said using their exact words. Direct speech is appropriate when you want to convey the speaker’s tone, emphasis, and emotion.
• When should I use indirect speech?
• Indirect speech should be used when you want to report what someone said using a paraphrased version of their words. Indirect speech is appropriate when you want to provide information without conveying the speaker’s tone, emphasis, or emotion.
• What are some common reporting verbs?
• Some common reporting verbs include “said,” “asked,” “exclaimed,” “whispered,” “wondered,” and “suggested.”

Direct and indirect speech are important tools for effective communication and writing. Understanding the differences between these two forms of speech and knowing how to use them effectively can take your writing to the next level. By using advanced techniques like blending direct and indirect speech and using direct speech to convey emotion, you can create engaging and realistic narratives that resonate with your readers.

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Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.

Direct and Indirect Speech

When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.

Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.

To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.

It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.

In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:

Change of Pronouns

In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
• Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.

In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.

Change of Tenses

Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
• Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.

In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.

Change of Time and Place References

When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:

• Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
• Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.

In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.

Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.

For example:

• Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
• Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.

• Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.

• Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
• Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.

By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:

• Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
• Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
• Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
• Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.

Here is an example to illustrate the process:

Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.

Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.

By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:

Direct Speech Examples

Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.

• “I am going to the store,” said Sarah.
• “It’s a beautiful day,” exclaimed John.
• “Please turn off the lights,” Mom told me.
• “I will meet you at the library,” said Tom.
• “We are going to the beach tomorrow,” announced Mary.

Indirect Speech Examples

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• Sarah said that she was going to the store.
• John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
• Mom told me to turn off the lights.
• Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
• Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.

In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.

Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.

How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.

What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?

Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .

What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?

The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.

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• English Grammar
• Grammar Exercises
• Direct And Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises

Direct and indirect speech is one topic in English grammar that confuses most language learners. It need not necessarily be so; if you understand how it works, you can easily use it in your writing.

Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

When converting direct speech to indirect speech or vice-versa, you will have to take care to convert the verb , pronoun and the adverb appropriately. Go through the following exercises and try them out. Answers are given below each exercise; refer to them to see if your answers are right.

Exercise 1: Change into indirect speech

Read the following sentences and convert them into indirect speech.

• Rahul told to me, “When are you leaving?”
• “Where do you live?” the stranger asked Aladdin.
• The teacher said to Shelly, “Why are you laughing?”
• Dhronacharya said to Arjun, “Shoot the bird’s eye.”
• “Call the first convict,” said the jury.
• “Call the ambulance,” said the man.
• Bruce said to me, “I shall do the work.”
• My mother said to me, “You were wrong.”
• Mr Richard said to me, “Please wait here till I return.”
• The captain said to me, “Bravo! You have played well.”
• Raj said, “Alas! My pet died.”
• Ruchi said, “I may go there.”
• Bucky said to Steve, “Do you hear me?”
• The boy said, “Let me come in.”
• Granny said to me, “May God bless you.”

Answers –

• Rahul asked me when I was leaving.
• The stranger asked Aladdin where he lived.
• The teacher asked Shelly why he was laughing.
• Dhronacharya ordered Arjun to shoot the fish’s eye.
• The jury ordered to call the first convict.
• The man urged to call the ambulance.
• Bruce said to me he would do the work.
• My mother told me that I was wrong.
• Mr Richard requested me to wait there till he returned.
• The captain applauded me, saying that I had played well.
• Raj exclaimed sadly that his pet died.
• Ruchi said that she might go there.
• Bucky asked Steve if he heard him.
• The boy asked to let him come in.
• Granny prayed that God might bless me.

Convert the following into Direct Speech

Read the following passage and convert it into direct speech.

One of them told Issac that the latter had forgotten one thing that belonged to a mill. Issac enquired what that was. The friend asked where the miller was. Issac replied that (absence of the miller) was true – and he must look for one.

“But Issac,” said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs to a mill.”

“What is that?” asked Issac.

“Why, where is the miller?” said his friend.

“That is true – I must look for one,” said Issac.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct narration.

When the actual words/sentences as spoken by the speaker are quoted in a speech, it’s called direct speech/narration.

What is indirect speech?

When the quoted speech is reported in the form of a narrative without changing the meaning of the actual quotation/words by the speaker, it’s called indirect speech/narration.

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• Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Direct and Indirect Speech

• Direct : Mary said, “I am going to the US next month.” Indirect : Mary said that she was going to the US the following month.
• Direct : The sports teacher said, “Run fast, boys.” Indirect : The sports teacher asked the boys to run fast.

In these two examples, you might have observed that when we use direct speech, we use quotations to outline the real words of the speaker. As against, in an indirect speech, there is no such thing, as the listener narrates the same in his/her own words.

Content: Direct Speech Vs Indirect Speech

Comparison chart.

• Rules with Examples

How to remember the difference

Definition of direct speech.

When a person gives a written or spoken account of the speech, by repeating the exact words of the speaker, then this is known as Direct Speech. It uses inverted commas to highlight the original statement of the speaker, which is supported by a signal phrase or say dialogue guide.

• Alex said, “I will be there in five minutes.”
• The teacher said to Peter, “If you don’t complete your homework, I will make a call to your parents.”
• Paul said to me, “What are you looking at?”
• Joseph said, “You should give him a second chance.”

Sometimes, reporting verb appears in the mid of the sentence:

• Is that so, she asked, You don’t want to come with us?

Adverbs can be used with the reporting verb, to delineate the manner in which something is spoken.

• “I won’t come to your party,” Kate said angrily.
• “I will always be there to help you”, he said sympathetically.

Definition of Indirect Speech

Indirect Speech or otherwise called as reported speech is one in which a person reports on what someone else said or wrote to him, not using the actual words. The indirect speech stresses on the content, i.e. what someone stated, instead of the words that are used for stating it.

The formation of the reported clause in an indirect speech is mainly based on whether the speaker is just reporting something, or ordering, commanding, requesting, etc.

• Alex said that he would be here in five minutes.
• The teacher scolded Peter that if he does not complete his homework, she would call his parents.
• Paul asked me what am I looking at.
• Joseph advised that I should give him a second chance.

Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

The difference between direct and indirect speech are discussed as under:

• Direct Speech refers to the literal repetition of the words spoken by someone, using a quotative frame. On the other hand, indirect speech is one that reports something said or written by another person, without making the use of exact words.
• Direct Speech is also called a quoted speech, as it uses the exact words of the speaker. As against, the indirect speech is termed as reported speech, as it narrates what is said by the speaker.
• Direct Speech is from the speaker’s standpoint, whereas indirect speech is from the listener’s standpoint.
• Direct speech is when we use the exact rendition of the words of the speaker. Conversely, in an indirect speech own words are used to report the speaker’s statement.
• The inverted comma is used in direct speech, but not in indirect speech.

Rules for changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

There are certain rules which need to be followed while changing from direct to indirect speech or vice versa:

Rule 1 : Backshift changes

Exception : When the direct speech consists of a universal fact or truth, then the tense of the sentence remains the same.

• Direct : The teacher said, “Human Rights day is celebrated on 10th December.” Indirect : The teacher said that Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10th December.

Rule 2 : For change in adverbs, pronouns, demonstratives and auxiliary verbs

Rule 3 : For Interrogative Sentences

Questions may be of two types: Objective questions whose answer can be given in yes or no which starts with an auxiliary verb.

On the other hand, Subjective questions whose answers can be given in detail. Here subjective question refers to the questions that begin with wh-word, i.e. when, how, who, what, which, where, why and so forth. Here, the reporting verb is changed from said to ask in the reporting speech.

• Direct : She said, “Are you going to the party?” Indirect : She asked if I was going to the party.
• Direct : Joe said to me, What is the time by your watch? Indirect : Joe asked me what was the time by my watch.

Rule 4 : When the direct speech contains orders, request, advise, suggestions command etc. then the reporting verb is changed to tell, request, command, instruct, order, advise, suggestion etc.

• Direct : “Don’t make noise”, said the librarian. Indirect : The librarian told me to stop making noise.

Rule 5 : When something is said repeatedly by a person, or it is said by many people we use says/say instead of said in the direct speech. Says when it is said by only one person and say when it is said by many people. Further, in indirect speech, it is replaced by tell/tells accordingly.

• Direct : My father says to me, “You are very naughty.” Indirect : My father tells me that I am very naughty.

The reporting verb remains in simple present tense also when the actual words are still true when it is reported.

Rule 6 : When there is an exclamatory sentence in the direct speech, first of all, the exclamatory sentence is changed into an assertive sentence. The inverted commas, interjections like oh, hurray, bravo etc. and the exclamatory mark is removed. The reporting verb, i.e. said is changed into exclaimed, and we use the conjunction that to add the clause.

• Direct : “Oh wow! it’s beautiful” she said. Indirect : She exclaimed that it was very beautiful.

The basic tip to recognize the difference between direct and indirect speech is that in case of direct speech we use inverted commas which are not used in case of indirect speech. Further, we use the word ‘that’ in general, in indirect speech.

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josophina emvula says

July 15, 2019 at 2:37 pm

what are the rules that I must know to make the different of this direct and indirect speech?

January 26, 2024 at 2:36 am

Direct speech uses the exact words while indirect speech report what someone said without using the exact word

Ritupallab Bora says

January 4, 2021 at 6:56 pm

So good. Earlier I didn’t understand the difference between direct and indirect speech but now I got the whole concept

Arma Farooqui says

May 18, 2022 at 8:35 pm

It’s really really helpful. I understood everything very well. Thanks a lot…

Garang Chiman says

July 5, 2022 at 10:37 pm

Well illustrated. Thank you so much.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

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Yakub Susanto

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