Complete Guide to Direct and Indirect Speech for CBSE Class 10 EnglishDirect and Indirect Speech Get PDF @ Rs. 99 – All Chapter Notes Get PDF @ Rs. 199 – Class 10 Notes Direct and Indirect SpeechWhat is Speech in Grammar?The way the words of a speaker are expressed is called speech. There are two types of speech:• Direct speech• Indirect speechDirect SpeechDirect speech is where the exact words of a person are stated.Characteristics of Direct Speech• The speech is enclosed within quotation marks.• A comma (,) is used to separate the rest of the sentence from the speech in the quotations.• Sometimes, a colon (:) is used instead of the comma. This is done if the quote is formal in nature or is lengthy.• The tense of the speech within the quotations will not change no matter when it is spoken.Indirect SpeechIndirect speech is where the words of the speaker are not reported in the exact manner in which they are said.Characteristics of Direct Speech• The speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.• The relative pronoun „that‟ is used in the sentence instead of the comma.• The tense of the statement within the quotations may usually change into the past tense unless the statement is a fact.• The pronouns in the quoted speech will change in indirect speech.• The modal auxiliaries may also change in indirect speech.• For imperative and exclamatory sentences, the reported verb changes according to the nature of the sentence.• Adverbs of time and place change in indirect speech.Rules for Tense Change in Indirect SpeechThe tense of the verbs in the direct speech may change in indirect speech.Rules for Changing Adverbs in Indirect SpeechAdverbs of place and time change in indirect speech.Rules for Changing Modal Auxiliaries in Indirect SpeechModal auxiliaries also undergo change when the sentence changes to indirect speech.Modals such as would, could, might, should and ought to will not change in indirect speech.Direct speechIndirect speechSimple present tenseSimple past tenseRita said, “I ride bikes.”Rita said that she rode bikes.Present continuous tensePast continuous tenseFrieda said, “I am buying some clothes.”Frieda said that she was buying some clothes.Present perfect tensePast perfect tenseHe told me, “The dog has been fed.”He told me that the dog has been fed.Present perfect continuous tensePast perfect continuous tenseMala said, “The tap has been running since 9 am.”Mala said that the tap had been running since 9 am.Simple past tensePast perfect tenseGertrude said, “The guests left.”Gertrude said that the guests had left.Past continuous tensePast perfect continuous tenseThe boy said, “It was raining that night.”The boy said that it had been raining that night.Past perfect tensePast perfect tenseFiona said, “I had called Maria.”Fiona said that she had called Maria.Simple future tense (will)Simple future tense (would)Greg said, “I will arrive by morning.”Greg said that he would arrive by morning.Future continuous tense (will)Future continuous tense (would)He said, “I will be reading a book.”He said that he would be reading a book.Future perfect tense (will)Future perfect tense (would)Jigar said, “I will have finished the work by 3.”Jigar said that he would have finished the work by 3.Direct speechIndirect speechTodayThat day/the same dayUsha said, “I will watch a movie today.”Usha said that she would watch a movie that day.TomorrowThe day after/the next dayI said, “I will visit my friend tomorrow.”I said that I would visit my friend the day after.YesterdayThe day before/the previous dayVeena said, “The meeting was held yesterday.”Veena said that the meeting was held the day before.Next week/month/yearThe week/month/year afterShe said, “I will arrive next week.”She said that she would arrive the week after.Last week/month/yearThe week/month/year beforeThey said, “You should have called us last year.”They said that I should have called them the yearbefore.AgoBeforeHe said, “Many years ago, this house wasuninhabited.”He said that many years before that house wasuninhabited.NowThenPriya said, “I need your files now.”Priya said that she needed my files then.HereThereDiana told me, “Stand here.”Diana told me to stand there.ThisThatGeeta said, “I cannot accept this.”Geeta said that she could not accept that.Direct speechIndirect speechCanCouldThe teacher said to me, “You can submit yourassignment tomorrow.”The teacher said to me that I could submit myassignment the day after.MayMightBianca said, “I may visit my parents.”Bianca said that she might visit her parents.MustHad toFredrick said, “I must call my friend.”Fredrick said that he had to call his friend. JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL Join Our WhatsApp Channel JOIN NOW