Direct and Indirect Speech (Reported Speech): Rules, Examples & Exercises

Direct speech repeats a speaker's exact words inside quotation marks ("I am happy"). Indirect speech, also called reported speech or narration change, restates the meaning in the reporter's own words without quotation marks (She said that she was happy). Both are tested in CBSE, ICSE, and competitive exams from Class 6 onward.

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. They appear in every CBSE, ICSE, Cambridge IGCSE and NIOS English paper from Class 6 onward, and they are equally useful in everyday conversation, written communication and storytelling. In many Indian school boards, this topic is also called narration or narration change. Whether your textbook calls it reported speech, indirect speech, or narration change, the rules are exactly the same, and this guide covers all of them.

This guide gives you clear definitions, all the major rules with tables, common mistakes that cost students marks, and 50+ direct and indirect speech exercises with answer keys including dedicated practice sets for Class 9, Class 10, and MCQ format questions. Solve them on paper, check your answers, and walk into your exam fully prepared.

What Is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is when we repeat the exact words spoken by a person, placed inside quotation marks, without changing anything. It is used in stories, dialogues, news quotes, exam questions, and everyday conversations to preserve the speaker's original tone and wording.

Common confusion: "Direct and indirect voice" is a phrase many students search for, but it mixes up two different grammar topics. "Voice" in English grammar refers to active voice and passive voice (how the subject relates to the verb). "Speech" refers to direct speech and indirect speech (how we report what someone said). This guide covers speech, not voice. For active and passive voice, read this guide.

Example: Riya said, “I love reading books.”

The quotation marks show the exact sentence Riya spoke. Direct speech is common in stories, dialogues, news quotes and conversations because it brings life and emotion to writing. Readers feel closer to the speaker’s tone when the original words are preserved.

What Is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech, also called reported speech or narration change, is when we convey what someone said in our own words without quoting them exactly. It requires changes to tense, pronouns, and time expressions, and it does not use quotation marks. Reporters, teachers, parents and students all rely on indirect speech to pass on information smoothly.

Example: Riya said that she loved reading books.

The meaning stays the same, but the wording, tense and pronouns adjust to fit the context. Indirect speech is widely used in news reports, formal writing, academic answers and everyday conversation because it focuses on what was said rather than the exact words used. Reporters, teachers, parents and students all rely on indirect speech to pass on information smoothly without needing to repeat someone’s words word for word.

Direct vs Indirect Speech: Key Differences

Direct and indirect speech are closely related but not the same. Here is a quick comparison. Also, learn the difference between too and to for better English communication.

The main difference between direct and indirect speech is how the speaker's words are reported. Direct speech uses the exact words inside quotation marks with no changes. Indirect speech restates the meaning in the reporter's words, which requires changing the tense, pronouns, and time expressions. Direct speech preserves the speaker's tone; indirect speech focuses on the content of what was said.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Looking at side-by-side examples is the fastest way to see how the rules apply. Further boost your confidence with reading Good thoughts in English.

Examples of Direct Speech

• She said, “I am feeling tired.”
• Rohan said, “I love storybooks.”
• The teacher said, “Please complete your homework.”
• He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
• The Same Sentences in Indirect Speech
• She said that she was feeling tired.
• Rohan said that he loved storybooks.
• The teacher requested the students to complete their homework.
• He said that he would call me the next day.

Notice how the quotation marks disappear, the tense shifts back, and time words like tomorrow become the next day. These are the patterns you will apply in every direct and indirect speech exercise.

What are the rules for direct and indirect speech?

The four main rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech are: (1) shift the verb tense one step back when the reporting verb is past, (2) change pronouns to match the reporter, (3) update time and place words like "today" to "that day" and "here" to "there," and (4) change modal verbs (can to could, will to would, may to might).

1. Change of Verb Tense (most important)

If the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, asked), the tense of the reported clause shifts one step back.

Important exception: The tense does not change for universal truths, scientific facts, or habitual actions. Example: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.

2. Change of Pronouns

Pronouns adjust to match the new speaker and listener. The simple rule: pronouns of the subject change as per the speaker, pronouns of the object change as per the listener, and third-person pronouns stay the same.

Example: Ravi said to Meera, “I will help you.” → Ravi told Meera that he would help her.

3. Change of Time and Place Words

4. Change of Modal Verbs

can → could

may → might

will → would

shall → should

must → had to

could, would, should, might, ought to → no change

Direct And Indirect Speech Rules for Different Types of Sentences

Every sentence you convert falls into one of these types. Each follows the rules above but uses a different reporting verb and auxiliary verbs.

a) Statements (Assertive or Declarative Sentences)

Use the conjunction that after the reporting verb. The word that can sometimes be dropped in spoken English. Declarative sentences are the most common type tested in direct and indirect speech exercises.

Direct — She said, “I am learning English.”

Indirect — She said that she was learning English.

b) Yes/No Questions (Interrogative Sentences)

Replace said with asked or enquired. Use if or whether as the linker. Drop the question mark and use statement word order. Interrogative-sentence questions are very common in Class 8, 9 and 10 papers.

Direct — She asked, “Do you like pizza?”

Indirect — She asked if I liked pizza.

c) Wh-Questions (Interrogative Sentences)

Keep the wh-word (what, where, when, why, how, who) as the linker. No question mark, statement order.

Direct — He asked, “Where are you going?”

Indirect — He asked where I was going.

d) Commands, Requests and Advice (Imperative Sentences)

Use a reporting verb that matches the tone — ordered, told, requested, advised, urged — followed by an object and a to-infinitive. Negative commands use not to + verb.

Direct — The teacher said, “Finish your homework.”

Indirect — The teacher told us to finish our homework.

Direct — Mother said, “Do not waste food.”

Indirect — Mother told me not to waste food.

e) Exclamations (Exclamatory Sentences)

Use reporting verbs like exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed with surprise or wished. Convert the exclamation into a statement.

Direct — She said, “Wow! What a beautiful view!”

Indirect — She exclaimed with joy that the view was very beautiful.

How Do You Choose the Right Reporting Verb in Indirect Speech?

The reporting verb is the word that introduces the indirect speech, and choosing the correct one can be the difference between full marks and lost marks in an exam. A reporting verb does more than just signal that someone spoke. It tells the reader whether the speaker was giving an order, making a polite request, offering advice, or expressing surprise. Using "said" for everything is grammatically acceptable but loses meaning, and examiners expect students to pick the verb that best matches the speaker's tone and intention.

Here is a complete list of reporting verbs organized by sentence type, with guidance on when to use each one.

Reporting Verbs for Statements

Reporting Verbs for Questions

Reporting Verbs for Commands and Orders

Reporting Verbs for Requests

Reporting Verbs for Advice

Reporting Verbs for Exclamations

Quick-Reference Summary Table

For quick revision before an exam, use this single table:

How to Pick the Right Verb in an Exam

When you are converting direct speech to indirect speech in a board exam or competitive exam, follow this 3-step process:

Step 1: Identify the sentence type. Is the speaker making a statement, asking a question, giving a command, making a request, offering advice, or expressing strong emotion? The sentence type narrows your options immediately.

Step 2: Read the tone. Is the speaker being polite, forceful, desperate, casual, or formal? The tone tells you which specific verb to pick from the list. "Please help me" is a request (use "requested" or "begged"), not a command (do not use "ordered").

Step 3: When in doubt, use the default. If you cannot decide between "warned" and "cautioned," or between "told" and "instructed," use the default verb for that sentence type ("said" for statements, "asked" for questions, "told" for commands, "requested" for requests, "advised" for advice, "exclaimed" for exclamations). The default verb is never wrong. A more specific verb earns slightly better marks if correct, but a wrong specific verb loses marks.

Common exam trap: Students sometimes use "said" for commands ("She said to close the door"). While not grammatically wrong in casual English, examiners expect "told" + object + to-infinitive for commands ("She told me to close the door"). Using "said" for a command in a board exam answer will cost you marks even though native speakers do it in conversation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid In Reported Speech

The most common mistakes students make in reported speech are forgetting the tense shift, changing pronouns incorrectly, keeping quotation marks or question marks in the indirect form, using 'that' after 'asked' in reported questions, not updating time and place words, and backshifting universal truths that should stay in present tense. Here are six errors that cost the most marks in exams, with the correct form shown for each.

• Forgetting the tense shift. Writing He said that he is busy instead of He said that he was busy. If the reporting verb is past, the inner clause must shift too.
• Wrong pronoun changes. Always identify the speaker and the listener first, then adjust the pronouns accordingly.
• Keeping “that” in reported questions. After asked, never use that. Use if, whether or the wh-word.
• Leaving the question mark. The reported question is no longer a direct question, so the sentence ends with a full stop.
• Not updating time and place words. Words like today, tomorrow, yesterday, here, now must change to that day, the next day, the previous day, there, then.
• Backshifting a universal truth. The sun rises in the east never becomes rose in the east. Scientific and habitual truths stay in the present tense.

Direct Indirect Speech Exercises 

The best way to master direct and indirect speech is to practice converting sentences yourself before checking the answer key. The 50+ exercises below cover all sentence types (statements, questions, commands, requests, and exclamations), both directions of conversion (direct to indirect and indirect to direct), and include dedicated sets for Class 9, Class 10, and MCQ format. They are aligned with CBSE, ICSE, and competitive exam patterns.

̌Exercise 1: Basic Practice 

Convert each sentence from direct to indirect speech.

1. She said, “I am going to the market.”
2. He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
3. They said, “We are watching a movie.”
4. Rahul said, “I have finished my homework.”
5. The boy said, “I cannot solve this sum.”
6. Mother said, “I cooked your favourite dish.”
7. He said, “I bought this bag yesterday.”
8. She said, “I will meet you here tomorrow.”
9. The teacher said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
10. Karan said, “I am feeling much better today.”

Answer Key — Exercise 1

1. She said that she was going to the market.
2. He said that he would call me the next day.
3. They said that they were watching a movie.
4. Rahul said that he had finished his homework.
5. The boy said that he could not solve that sum.
6. Mother said that she had cooked my favourite dish.
7. He said that he had bought that bag the previous day.
8. She said that she would meet me there the next day.
9. The teacher said that honesty is the best policy. (universal truth — no shift)
10. Karan said that he was feeling much better that day.

Exercise 2: Mixed Sentence Types 

This set mixes statements, questions, commands and exclamations.

1. He said to me, “Are you coming with us?”
2. The teacher said, “Where is your notebook?”
3. Mother said to me, “Wash your hands.”
4. The doctor said to him, “Do not eat oily food.”
5. He said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
6. She said, “Alas! I have lost my purse.”
7. He said to her, “Please help me with this work.”
8. The boy said, “Why are you laughing?”
9. The principal said to the students, “Be on time.”
10. She said, “I have been waiting for two hours.”

Answer Key — Exercise 2

1. He asked me if I was coming with them.
2. The teacher asked where my notebook was.
3. Mother told me to wash my hands.
4. The doctor advised him not to eat oily food.
5. He exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
6. She exclaimed with sorrow that she had lost her purse.
7. He requested her to help him with that work.
8. The boy asked why I was laughing.
9. The principal told the students to be on time.
10. She said that she had been waiting for two hours.

Exercise 3: Indirect to Direct Speech 

Now reverse the process. Convert each indirect sentence back into direct speech.

1. He said that he was watching a film.
2. She told me that she had bought a new dress the previous day.
3. The teacher asked the boy where he had been.
4. Mother told me to wash my hands before eating.
5. He exclaimed with joy that he had got the first prize.

Answer Key — Exercise 3

1. He said, “I am watching a film.”
2. She said to me, “I bought a new dress yesterday.”
3. The teacher said to the boy, “Where have you been?”
4. Mother said to me, “Wash your hands before eating.”
5. He said, “Hurrah! I have got the first prize.”

Tips to Master Reported Speech

• Spot the reporting verb first. If it is in the past, expect a tense backshift; if it is in the present or future, almost nothing changes.
• Underline pronouns and time words in the direct sentence so you do not skip any change.
• Match the reporting verb to the sentence type — said/told for statements, asked for questions, ordered/told for commands, requested for requests, advised for advice, exclaimed for exclamations.
• Practice mixed sets daily. Five sentences a day for two weeks is enough to make the rules automatic before your exam.

Conclusion

Direct and indirect speech is a fundamental part of English grammar that become easier with regular practice and a clear understanding of the rules. By learning how to change tenses, pronouns, reporting verbs, and time expressions correctly, you can confidently transform statements, questions, commands, and exclamations from one form to another.

Practice direct and indirect exercises in this guide to communicate effectively in both spoken and written English. Remember, consistent practice is the key to mastering reported speech.

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