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o (5). Exclamatory Sentences

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Direct Indirect Speech Explanation

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What is Direct and Indirect Speech
Definition?
Direct and indirect speech can confuse new English learners, let us define
direct speech and indirect speech first.
What is Direct Speech?
Saying Exact words of someone is called Direct Speech. in other words, you
can say.
Direct Speech is the form of speech where you can convey the exact
statement of a person in his own words.
E.g. He said to me, “You are not ill.”
The Direct speech sentence has two parts;
 Reporting speech.
 Reported speech.
Words used before inverted commas are the Reporting Speech.
And words in inverted commas are Reported Speech.
See Few Examples of Reporting Speech and Reported Speech below
Reporting Speech

I said to him

Gregory said: “

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech is a form of speech where a person conveys his experience of
some specific event, situation or refers to a person in his own words. It is
written without quotation marks.
That’s to say indirect speech is the interpretation of an event or situation by
a person, in his own words.
Let’s take a few examples.
E.g. He told me that I was not ill.
Main Points of Indirect speech
i. In indirect speech commas (,) will replaced with to, if, that etc.
ii. The reported speech will not be covered in inverted commas (“”)
iii. Reporting verb (e.g. Said) will be replaced with (told, commanded,
ordered, advised, replied, admitted, inquired or insisted, etc)

Changes in Reported Speech

Here are a few words which will be changed in reported speech
Direct Speech

I
 Me

My

We

Us

Our

Here

Now

Today

Yesterday

Tomorrow

Ago
 Last

This

These

Hence

Thus

Just

Before

Main Points
i. The reporting verb (say) will be added when you are not mentioning
hearer.
E.g. His boss said that he could be there early.
ii. The reporting verb (tell) will be added when we are mentioning hearer.
E.g. His boss told her that he could be there early.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech is an integral part of English study.
It is equally essential for school students, college studies and university
studies.
Direct and Indirect speech has specific rules of study like a reported speech
for assertive, imperative, optative and exclamatory sentences.
In addition to that reported speech rules with tense changes, pronoun
changes and modal verbs etc. must be studied.
Direct and Indirect Speech Rules
Rule No: 1
Rule No: 1. No Quotation marks
Quotation marks are omitted in Indirect speech.
Direct and Indirect Speech wh Questions Examples:
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Lara says,  “I like cooking rice.” Lara says that she likes cooking rice.

Father said to me, ” I am waiting for you outside.” Father told me that he was waiting for us outside.

The beggar said, “I am thankful to God.” The beggar said that he was thankful to God.

The students said, “We would like to visit the library.” The students said that they would like to visit the library.

Rule No: 2
Rule No: 2. Use of 'that'
Use of the word “that” to connect the reporting speech with the reported
speech. However, there is a certain exception where ‘that’ is excluded.
 

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He said, “we are going to a dancing concert.” He said that they were going to a dancing

She said, ” I have to obey my father’s commands.” She said that she had to obey her father’s c

The Policemen said, “Did you see anyone here.” The Policemen asked if I had seen anyone

I said, “We should listen to the demands of students.” I said that we should listen to the demands

Rule No: 3
Rule No: 3. Change of Subjects in indirect speech
In indirect speech pronoun of reporting speech is changed according to the
sense of the sentence. Like I into he/she, me into mine, this into that, etc.
However, there is a certain exception in this rule.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
 Maria said, ” I am learning a new language.” Maria said that she was learning a new lan

Maria said, ” I hope we are safe here.” Maria said that she hoped they were safe th

She said, “What are you doing here?” She asked what I was doing there.

Alex said, ” It is raining today.” Alex said that it was raining that day.

 
Rule No: 4
Rule No: 4. Change in verb form
In the indirect speech the form of the verb is changed from the first form to
second and third form, keeping in view other rules
Direct and Indirect Speech dialogue examples with answers
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Lara said, “I am waiting for my turn here.” Lara said that she was waiting for her turn th

Sara said, ” I have worked hard this time.” Sara said that she had worked hard at that tim

They said, “We are not ready today.” They said that they were not ready that day.

He said, “It is a better plan.” He said that it was a better plan.

Rule No: 5
Rule No: 5. Change in Tense Form
Tense are changed as per the sequence of tenses in indirect speech.
Direct and Indirect Speech sentences examples
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
 Alex says, ” I love to learn reported speech.” Alex says that he loves to learn reported s

Alex said, “I am in the classroom.” Alex said that he was in the classroom.

Maria said, ” I will learn English soon.” Maria said that she would learn English so

Lara will say, ” I am writing a letter.” Lara will say that he is writing a letter.

Rule No: 6
Rule No: 6. For Universal truth
Things that are universal truth are eternal statements, are not changed in verb
forms and sequence of tenses as following examples.
Direct and Indirect speech rules examples
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Sunny said, ” Earth is round.” Sunny said that earth is round.

Martin said, ” There is God.” Martin said that there is God.

Maria said, ” Honesty is the best policy.” Maria said that honesty is the best poli

Father said, “Truth never fails.” Father said that the truth never fails.
Use of Direct and Indirect Speech with
rules and examples
Study the following brief to understand the varying usage of direct indirect
speech with all types of Sentences.
(1) Assertive Sentences
Those sentences that show a statement, affirmation or negation, are called
assertive sentences
How to change Direct Indirect Speech for Assertive Sentences?
1. ‘Said’ in reporting verb is changed into ‘told’ when takes an objective
pronoun with it, e.g. “said to me” into “told me”.
2. All other basic rules of changing direct and indirect speech.
Study the Examples below
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

She said, “I am not coming to attend the wedding.” She said that she was not going to attend

He said, “I have been watching my favorite movie.” He said that he had been watching his fa
 I said, “I am looking for a job here. I said that I was looking for a job.

She said to me, “It is not a profitable business.” She told me that it was not a profitable b

(2). Direct Indirect Speech Change for Imperative Sentences

When a sentence shows, command, order, request, advice, etc. and end with
an exclamation mark, it is called an imperative sentence.
Basic Rules
1. The reporting verb ‘said’ is changed as per the nature of the sentence. i.e.
into ordered, commanded, suggested, or advised.
2. If the reported speech part has the word ‘please’ in the start, change it into
requested or implored.
Study the Examples Below
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He said, “Please help me; I don’t want to leave this job.” He requested to help him as he didn’t wa

The commander said, “March one, soldiers!” The commander ordered soldiers to marc

The teacher said to the student, “Shut the books quickly.” The teacher ordered the student to shut t
 She said to the servant, “Clean the room again quickly.” She ordered the servant to clean the room

(3). Direct and Indirect Speech For Interrogative Sentences

These are question sentences and end with question marks.
How to Make Direct and Indirect Speech of Interrogative
Sentences?
1. Use ‘if or whether if the reported speech is starting with auxiliary verbs.
2. No change if reported speech starts with Wh words (what, where, when,
why),
3. change the reporting verb ‘said’ into asked, questioned or inquired
Study the Examples Below
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

She said, “Do you know who am I?” She asked whether I knew who she w

He said, “What is the street number of your house?” He asked what the street number of h

Father said, “Do you still intend to leave your job?” Father said whether I still intended to

She said, “Why are you crying here?” She asked why I was crying there.
100 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech
(4). Direct and Indirect Speech with Optative Sentences
The sentence in which we express hope, the prayer of any wish, is called
optative sentences. These sentences use the mark of exclamation at the end
of the sentence.
What are the rules of reported speech for Optative Sentences?
1. Understand the sentence whether it shows prayer, hope or wish.
2. Omit the word ‘May’ or ‘Would that from the start of reported speech and
replace said with ‘prayed’ and ‘wished’, respectively.
3. Replace mark of Exclamation with a full stop.
Study the Examples Below
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

The beggar said, “May God, you be lucky today.” The beggar prayed that I might be luc

He said, “Would that! father had not listened to his call.” He wished that his father had not liste

She said, “O that! a single last chance to meet my son.” She wished for a single last chance to
 The teacher said, “May God bless you a success.” The teacher prayed that God might ble

(5). Exclamatory Sentences

Those sentences that express sorrow, wonder, joy are called exclamatory
sentences. They take an interjection as Alas, hurrah, vow, etc. with them and
take a mark of exclamation.
Rules For Exclamatory Sentences
1. Understand the sentence, whether it shows joy, grief, or wonder.
2. Omit the interjection.
3. Replace the reporting verb ‘said’ with suitable word showing wonder,
grief or joy (exclaimed with joy/wonder/grief)
Study the Examples Below
Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He said, “Alas! I left a perfect job.” He exclaimed with sorrow that he left a perfe

She said, “Hurrah! My brother has got the first position in the Exam. She exclaimed with joy that her brother had

He said, “Bravo! the captain did a wonderful batting.” He applauded the captain and said that he ha
Mother said, “Aha! I have lost my only son.” Mother exclaimed with sorrow that she had l