REPORTED SPEECH

DIRECT SPEECH


We often need to report what someone says or has said to a third person. We can say the exact words spoken by the speaker, in which case it is the direct speech. The direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks.



She says, "I am tired". (This is reported in the present tense , "says")

The student said, "English grammar is confusing". ( This is reported in past tense, "said")


INDIRECT SPEECH

In the case of reported speech, we need to change the tenses, pronouns and other words and do away with the quotation marks. Expressions in time also need to be changed.



For eg, we can say the above mentioned statement in reported speech in this way.

She says that she is tired. ( The tense does not change ... it remains in the present tense).

The student said that English grammar was confusing. 


Note the change in time expressions in the following examples;


He said ," I got my report yesterday". (Direct)
He said that he got his report the previous day". (Indirect/ reported)

Notice the change in pronouns from I to He and from My to His and
Yesterday becomes The previous day.

Please note the change in tenses as per rule :