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As you do not have much time before the exam, make a proper study plan and revise the syllabus thoroughly before taking mock tests. Here are some important topics for competitive exams. Revise them carefully, and if you have any doubts, consult your mentor.
Grammar Notes for Competitive exams
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In the SSC CGL,CHSL exam (both Tier 1 and Tier 2), Direct and Indirect Speech (also known as Narration) is a highly scoring area. You typically encounter 1 to 2 questions in Tier 1, and it forms a crucial part of the 40-question English block in Tier 2.
The best part? SSC questions follow rigid formulas. If you memorize the elimination rules, you can solve these in under 10 seconds without even reading the entire option.
Direct and indirect speech (also called reported speech) is a very important topic for competitive exams because questions often test rules, tense changes, and sentence transformation.
Narration is a common grammar topic in SSC exams. The goal is to convert Direct Speech into Indirect Speech (or vice versa).
"Let us consider the following example to understand the concept and difference between Direct and Indirect Speech."
Example
Direct Speech:
Rahul said, "I am preparing for SSC CGL."
Indirect Speech:
Rahul said that he was preparing for SSC CGL.
Difference:
In Direct Speech, the exact words of the speaker are reported within quotation marks.
In Indirect Speech, the speaker's words are reported without quotation marks, and necessary changes are made in pronouns, tense, and time expressions.
This example clearly demonstrates the concept and difference between Direct and Indirect Speech
Learn Grammar Easily Through Visual Learning:
Important for SSC CGL, CHSL Aspirants
Other examples:
👉 Look at this image to understand the difference, because visual learning stays longer in our memory.
In the first image:
Riya said, "I am going to the library tomorrow."
This is Direct Speech because the speaker's exact words are enclosed within quotation marks.
In the second image:
Riya said that she was going to the library the next day.
This is Indirect Speech because the speaker's words are reported without using quotation
marks.
While converting Direct Speech into Indirect Speech, changes are made to the pronoun, tense,and time expression (tomorrow → the next day)
Question setters may frame narration questions in different ways. One such example is given below:
Read the comic strip and complete the dialogue in reported speech by filling in the blanks with appropriate words.
Answers (paragraph)
Tom's Aunt Polly told him that he had spent time on that homework assignment, and it really showed. A pleased Tom (a) thanked Aunt Polly and (b) asked her if she meant it was that good. To that, Aunt Polly answered that what she meant was (c) that it would look much better if it wasn't covered in snack stains.
Answers
(a) thanked Aunt Polly
(b) asked her if she meant it was that good
(c) that it would look much better if it wasn't covered in snack stains
Since Aunt Polly's exact words are:
"Well, it would look much better if it wasn't covered in snack stains."
Key Difference
Direct Speech: The exact words of the speaker are reported.
Indirect Speech: The speaker's words are reported in a changed form without quotation marks.
Difference Between Direct & Indirect Speech:
Direct Speech vs Indirect Speech
Understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech is essential for effective communication. Here’s a breakdown of the two, along with examples and grammatical rules:
Direct Speech
1. Definition: Direct speech involves quoting the exact words spoken by someone, usually enclosed in quotation marks.
What is Direct Speech?
Direct speech repeats the exact words spoken.
👉 Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + "quoted speech".
The spoken words are presented exactly as they were said, often accompanied by a reporting verb like “said” or “asked.”
3. Punctuation: Quotation marks are used, and the first word of the quoted sentence begins with a capital letter.
4. Example:
Direct Speech
John said, “I am going to the store.”
She asked, “Are you coming with me?”
Indirect Speech:
2. What is Indirect Speech?
Indirect speech reports what someone said without quoting their exact words.
👉 Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + that + clause
Example:
John said that he was going to the store.
She asked if we were coming with her.
Transforming direct speech into indirect speech involves several grammatical changes. Here are six examples with explanations:
1. Direct Speech: She said, “I am going to the market.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she was going to the market.
Explanation: The present continuous tense “am going” changes to the past continuous tense “was going.” The pronoun “I” changes to “she,” and the conjunction “that” is added.
2. Direct Speech: He said, “I have finished my homework.”
Indirect Speech: He said that he had finished his homework.
Explanation: The present perfect tense “have finished” is converted to the past perfect tense “had finished.” The pronoun “my” changes to “his.”
3. Direct Speech: They said, “We will visit the museum tomorrow.”
Indirect Speech: They said that they would visit the museum the next day.
Explanation: The future tense “will visit” becomes “would visit.” The time expression
“tomorrow” changes to “the next day.”
4. Direct Speech: The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
Indirect Speech: The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Explanation: For general truths, the tense does not change. The present simple “revolves” remains the same, and the conjunction “that” is introduced.
5. Direct Speech: She asked, “Can you help me?”
Indirect Speech: She asked if I could help her.
Explanation: The modal verb “can” changes to “could.” The pronoun “you” changes to “I,”
and “me” changes to “her.” The question form is changed to a statement structure using “if.”
6. Direct Speech: He exclaimed, “What a beautiful painting!”
Indirect Speech: He exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
Explanation: Exclamatory sentences are transformed by using “exclaimed that” and changing the structure to a statement. The adjective “what a” becomes “a.”
These examples illustrate key transformations: tense shifts, pronoun changes, the addition of conjunctions, and modifications of time expressions.
Grammatical Rules for Indirect Speech
1. The Core Golden Rules
Whenever a sentence changes from Direct to Indirect, three major shifts occur:
Tense Backshift: When converting direct speech to indirect speech, the tense of the verbs typically shift back one step into the past, unless the reporting verb is in the present or the statement is still relevant.
Pronouns and Possessives: Adjust pronouns and possessive adjectives to reflect the change in speaker and listener perspective.
Time and Place Changes: Time expressions may change (e.g., “now” to “then,” “today” to “that day”) to fit the context of the reporting.
Today →That day
Tomorrow →The next day
Yesterday →The previous day
Now →Then
Here →There
This →That
These →Those
Changing Time and Place Words SSC loves testing you on these minor words. Options are often eliminated based on just these:
Reporting Verbs: Choose appropriate verbs such as “said,” “told,” “asked,” or “explained” to convey the correct meaning and context.
Understanding these distinctions helps maintain clarity in writing and conversation, ensuring the original message is accurately conveyed.
🔹 Important Rules for Exams
✅ Rule 1: Change in Pronouns
Pronouns change according to the speaker and listener.
“I” → changes to subject
“you” → changes to object
Example:
Direct Speech: She said, “I love you.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she loved him/her.
When converting direct speech into indirect speech, one of the key changes involves pronouns. The pronouns in direct speech often change to reflect the perspective of the reporting speaker in indirect speech. The general rule is to shift pronouns from first or second person to third person, or adjust them according to the context of the reporting clause.
List of Pronoun Changes:
1. First Person Pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours) usually change to third person or match the subject of the reporting clause.
2. Second Person Pronouns (you, your, yours) generally change to third person or match the object of the reporting clause.
3. Third Person Pronouns (he, she, it, they, them, their, theirs) usually remain unchanged unless context demands otherwise.
Examples with Explanations:
1. Direct Speech: “I will call you tomorrow,” said John.
Indirect Speech: John said that he would call me the next day.
Explanation: “I” changes to “he” to match John; “you” changes to “me” to reflect the listener.
2. Direct Speech: “We are going to the park,” they said.
Indirect Speech: They said that they were going to the park.
Explanation: “We” remains “they” as it matches the subject of the reporting clause.
3. Direct Speech: “Can you help me with this?” asked Sarah.
Indirect Speech: Sarah asked if I could help her with that.
Explanation: “You” changes to “I”; “me” changes to “her”; “this” changes to “that.”
4. Direct Speech: “Your work is impressive,” the manager told him.
Indirect Speech: The manager told him that his work was impressive.
Explanation: “Your” changes to “his” to reflect the person being addressed.
5. Direct Speech: “She has finished her project,” Mark said.
Indirect Speech: Mark said that she had finished her project.
Explanation: Pronouns “she” and “her” remain unchanged as they are already third person.
6. Direct Speech: “I think it’s my turn now,” he said.
Indirect Speech: He said that he thought it was his turn then.
Explanation: “I” changes to “he”; “my” changes to “his”; “now” changes to “then.”
By understanding these basic principles and examples, you can accurately convert direct speech into indirect speech, ensuring pronouns are appropriately adjusted to maintain clarity
and grammatical correctness.
Here are three more examples each of direct and indirect speech, showing transformations from simple present to simple past, along with detailed explanations of the changes involved.
1. Direct Speech: She says, “I work from home.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she worked from home.
Explanation: When converting to indirect speech in the past, "says" changes to "said," and the verb "work" changes to "worked" to reflect the past tense. The pronoun "I" changes to "she" to match the subject of the reporting verb.
2 Direct Speech: He says, “We need more time.”
Indirect Speech: He said that they needed more time.
Explanation: In this transformation, "says" converts to "said," and "need" changes to "needed" to reflect the past tense. The pronoun "we" is changed to "they," assuming the speaker is not included in the reporting context.
3. Direct Speech: They say, “He travels often.”
Indirect Speech: They said that he traveled often.
Explanation: "Say" changes to "said," and "travels" becomes "traveled" to express past tense.
The pronoun "he" remains constant as it is the subject of the reported clause.
In each instance, the primary change involves adjusting the verb tense from present to past, while ensuring pronouns and time expressions are appropriately adapted to maintain clarity and consistency
in indirect speech.
✅ Rule 2: Change in Tense
If reporting verb is in past (said), tense usually changes:
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Present Simple →Past Simple
In each instance, the primary change involves adjusting the verb tense from present to past, while ensuring pronouns and time expressions are appropriately adapted to maintain clarity and consistency in indirect speech.
Here are six examples of transformations from simple present to simple past in both direct and indirect speech, along with explanations for each.
1. Direct Speech: She says, “I visit my grandparents every weekend.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she visited her grandparents every weekend.
Explanation: In indirect speech, "says" becomes "said," and "visit" changes to "visited" to reflect the past tense. The pronoun "I" changes to "she" to align with the subject of the reporting verb.
2. Direct Speech: He says, “We enjoy the movie.”
Indirect Speech: He said that they enjoyed the movie.
Explanation: "Says" is converted to "said," and "enjoy" becomes "enjoyed" to indicate the past tense. The pronoun "we" changes to "they," assuming the speaker is not included in the reported context.
3. Direct Speech: They say, “The shop opens early.”
Indirect Speech: They said that the shop opened early.
Explanation: "Say" changes to "said," and "opens" becomes "opened" to express the past tense. The subject "the shop" remains unchanged as it correctly refers to the subject of the reported action.
4. Direct Speech: She says, “I am happy.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she was happy.
Explanation: In indirect speech, "says" is changed to "said," and "am" becomes "was" to reflect the past tense. The pronoun "I" changes to "she" to match the subject of the reporting verb.
5. Direct Speech: He says, “We are ready.”
Indirect Speech: He said that they were ready.
Explanation: "Says" converts to "said," and "are" changes to "were" to indicate the past tense. The pronoun "we" is altered to "they," assuming the speaker is not included in the reporting context.
6. Direct Speech: They say, “He is a good player.”
Indirect Speech: They said that he was a good player.
Explanation: "Say" changes to "said," and "is" becomes "was" to express past tense. The pronoun "he" remains constant as it is the subject of the reported clause.
In all cases, the main transformation involves changing the verb tense from present to past, adjusting pronouns as necessary to ensure clarity and consistency in indirect speech.
Present Continuous →Past Continuous
Let's explore how to transform sentences from present continuous in direct speech to past continuous in indirect speech. This transformation involves a shift in the tense from present to past, along with necessary changes to pronouns and sometimes other elements depending on the context.
1. Direct Speech: “I am reading a book,” she said.
Indirect Speech: She said she was reading a book.
Explanation: The present continuous "am reading" changes to the past continuous "was reading". The pronoun "I" changes to "she".
2. Direct Speech: “They are playing soccer,” he mentioned.
Indirect Speech: He mentioned they were playing soccer.
Explanation: The present continuous "are playing" becomes "were playing". The pronoun "they" remains unchanged as it fits the context.
3. Direct Speech: “We are watching a movie,” they announced.
Indirect Speech: They announced they were watching a movie.
Explanation: "Are watching" is converted to "were watching". The pronoun "we" changes to "they" to match the speaker's reference.
4. Direct Speech: “She is cooking dinner,” he reported.
Indirect Speech: He reported she was cooking dinner.
Explanation: The verb "is cooking" becomes "was cooking". The pronoun "she" stays the same as it correctly refers to the person mentioned.
5. Direct Speech: “You are singing beautifully,” the teacher remarked.
Indirect Speech: The teacher remarked that I was singing beautifully.
Explanation: "Are singing" transitions to "was singing". The pronoun "you" changes to "I" if the speaker is addressing the person directly, assuming the indirect speech is reported by the listener.
6. Direct Speech: “He is writing an essay,” she said.
Indirect Speech: She said he was writing an essay.
Explanation: "Is writing" is changed to "was writing". The pronoun "he" remains unchanged as it continues to correctly refer to the subject.
Grammatical Rules:
Tense Shift: Present continuous verbs (e.g., "am/are/is [verb]ing") are changed to past continuous (e.g., "was/were [verb]ing").
Pronoun Changes: Adjust pronouns based on the context of who is speaking and who is being referred to.
Reporting Verb: Reporting verbs like "said," "mentioned," "reported," etc., usually remain in the past tense.
Optional "that": In indirect speech, the word "that" is often optional.
Present Perfect →Past Perfect
Transforming sentences from direct speech to indirect speech involves several grammatical rules. When converting from the present perfect tense in direct speech to the past perfect tense in indirect speech, it's important to adjust the tense and pronouns appropriately. Below are six examples with explanations:
1. Direct Speech: “I have finished my homework,” said John.
Indirect Speech: John said that he had finished his homework.
Explanation: The present perfect "have finished" changes to the past perfect "had finished." The pronoun "I" changes to "he" to match the subject, John.
2. Direct Speech: “She has already left for the party,” he mentioned.
Indirect Speech: He mentioned that she had already left for the party.
Explanation: "Has left" becomes "had left" in the past perfect. Pronouns remain unchanged if
they are already in the third person.
3. Direct Speech: “They have seen the movie twice,” she said.
Indirect Speech: She said that they had seen the movie twice.
Explanation: "Have seen" converts to "had seen" for past perfect. The pronoun "they" stays the same.
4. Direct Speech: "We have been to Paris,” they claimed.
Indirect Speech: They claimed that they had been to Paris.
Explanation: The present perfect "have been" changes to the past perfect "had been." The pronoun "we" becomes "they."
5. Direct Speech: “I have never tried sushi before,” Mark confessed.
Indirect Speech: Mark confessed that he had never tried sushi before.
Explanation: "Have tried" changes to "had tried" in the past perfect. The pronoun "I" changes to "he."
6. Direct Speech: “You have completed the assignment,” the teacher noted.
Indirect Speech: The teacher noted that I had completed the assignment.
Explanation: "Have completed" converts to "had completed." "You" changes to "I" if the listener is the one being reported.
General Rules:
Change the present perfect tense in direct speech to the past perfect tense in indirect speech. Adjust pronouns according to the context and the subject involved.Time expressions, if present, may also need to change (e.g., "today" to "that day") depending on the context.
Past Simple →Past Perfect
Transforming sentences from direct speech to indirect speech involves several changes, primarily in tense, pronouns, and sometimes in words indicating time and place. Here are six examples illustrating these transformations from the simple past tense to the past perfect tense, along with explanations of the grammatical rules:
1. Direct Speech: John said, “I visited the museum.”
Indirect Speech: John said that he had visited the museum.
Explanation: The simple past tense "visited" is changed to the past perfect tense "had visited." The pronoun "I" is changed to "he" to match the subject of the reporting verb.
2. Direct Speech: Mary said, “I saw the movie.”
Indirect Speech: Mary said that she had seen the movie.
Rule Explanation: The simple past "saw" is converted to the past perfect "had seen." The pronoun "I" is changed to "she" to align with the subject "Mary."
3. Direct Speech: Tom explained, “They finished the project.”
Indirect Speech: Tom explained that they had finished the project.
Explanation: "Finished" in the simple past tense becomes "had finished" in the past perfect. The pronoun "they" remains unchanged as it already matches the subject in the reporting clause.
4. Direct Speech: She said, “We ate dinner early.”
Indirect Speech: She said that they had eaten dinner early.
Explanation: The simple past "ate" is transformed into the past perfect "had eaten." "We" changes to "they" to reflect the context from the speaker's perspective.
5. Direct Speech: The teacher stated, “The students completed the assignment.”
Indirect Speech: The teacher stated that the students had completed the assignment.
Explanation: "Completed" converts from simple past to "had completed" in the past perfect. The subjects and objects remain unchanged since the context remains consistent.
6. Direct Speech: He said, “I met her at the party.”
Indirect Speech: He said that he had met her at the party.
Explanation: The verb "met" in simple past is changed to "had met" in past perfect. The pronoun "I" is transformed to "he" to reflect the speaker's perspective accurately.
In summary, when converting direct speech from simple past to indirect speech, the tense typically shifts to past perfect, pronouns are adjusted according to the context, and sometimes time indicators are changed to fit the new perspective.
Will →Would
Here are six examples of transforming sentences from direct speech to indirect speech, focusing on changing "will" to "would," along with explanations of the grammatical rules involved:
1. Direct Speech: She said, “I will go to the market tomorrow.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she would go to the market the next day.
Explanation: In indirect speech, "will" often changes to "would" to reflect a shift in tense, as the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. Additionally, time expressions like "tomorrow" are adjusted to "the next day."
2. Direct Speech: John said, “I will finish the project by Friday.”
Indirect Speech: John said that he would finish the project by Friday.
Explanation: Here, "will" becomes "would" to maintain the sequence of tenses, as the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. The time expression "by Friday" remains unchanged because it is a specific point of reference.
3. Direct Speech: “We will meet you at the café,” they said.
Indirect Speech: They said that they would meet us at the café.
Explanation: "Will" changes to "would" to align with the past tense of the reporting verb "said." Pronouns are also adjusted as necessary, changing "you" to "us" to match the context.
4. Direct Speech: Maria said, “I will call you later.”
Indirect Speech: Maria said that she would call me later.
Explanation: The future tense "will" changes to "would," and the pronoun "you" is adjusted to "me" based on the context of the conversation. The time expression "later" remains because it does not specify an exact time.
5. Direct Speech: He said, “I will help you with your homework.”
Indirect Speech: He said that he would help me with my homework.
Explanation: "Will" is transformed to "would" to maintain past tense consistency. The pronoun "you" is altered to "me" to fit the narrative perspective of the indirect speech.
6. Direct Speech: She said, “We will see the new movie tonight.”
Indirect Speech: She said that they would see the new movie that night.
Explanation: The modal verb "will" is changed to "would," and the time expression "tonight" is modified to "that night" to reflect the change in temporal context.
These transformations follow the basic rule that, in reported speech, future tense verbs usually shift back one tense (from "will" to "would") when the reporting verb is in the past tense, and pronouns and time expressions may need to be adjusted to maintain clarity and context.
Example:
Direct Speech: He said, “I am studying.”
Indirect Speech: He said that he was studying.
✅ Rule 3: No Tense Change (Important!)
Tense does NOT change when:
Reporting verb is in present
- Universal truth
- Habitual fact
Example:
Direct Speech: He says, “The sun rises in the east.”
Indirect Speech: He says that the sun rises in the east.
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, if the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense of the reported speech remains unchanged. The present tense of the reporting verb indicates that the speech is being reported in real-time or as a general statement, so the original tense of the spoken words is maintained. Here are six examples with explanations:
1. Direct Speech: “I am reading a book,” says John.
Indirect Speech: John says (that) he is reading a book.
Explanation: The reporting verb “says” is in the present tense, so the present continuous tense “am reading” remains unchanged as “is reading.”
2. Direct Speech: “We will visit the museum tomorrow,” states Mary.
Indirect Speech: Mary states (that) they will visit the museum tomorrow.
Explanation: The reporting verb “states” is in the present tense, so the future tense “will visit” remains unchanged.
3. Direct Speech: “She has finished her homework,” notes the teacher.
Indirect Speech: The teacher notes (that) she has finished her homework.
Explanation: The reporting verb “notes” is in the present tense, so the present perfect tense “has finished” remains unchanged.
4. Direct Speech: “They play soccer every weekend,” mentions Tom.
Indirect Speech: Tom mentions (that) they play soccer every weekend.
Explanation: The reporting verb “mentions” is in the present tense, so the simple present tense “play” remains unchanged.
5.Direct Speech: “I can solve this problem,” asserts Emily.
Indirect Speech: Emily asserts (that) she can solve this problem.
Explanation: The reporting verb “asserts” is in the present tense, so the modal “can” remains unchanged.
6. Direct Speech: “You should exercise regularly,” advises the doctor.
Indirect Speech: The doctor advises (that) you should exercise regularly.
Explanation: The reporting verb “advises” is in the present tense, so the modal “should” remains unchanged.
In each example, the reporting verb remains in the present tense, and the tense of the original speech is retained, resulting in a seamless transition from direct to indirect speech.
✅ Rule: Change in Reporting Verbs
Transforming sentences from direct to indirect speech involves changes in verb tense, pronouns, and sometimes the reporting verb itself. Here are six examples with explanations:
1. Direct Speech: John said, “I am going to the store.”
Indirect Speech: John announced that he was going to the store.
Explanation: The reporting verb changes from "said" to "announced" to convey a stronger sense of the statement. The present continuous "am going" changes to the past continuous "was going" because of the backshifting rule, which applies when the reporting verb is in the past tense.
2. Direct Speech: Maria asked, “Can you help me with my homework?”
Indirect Speech: Maria inquired if I could help her with her homework.
Explanation: The reporting verb "asked" is replaced with "inquired" to reflect a more formal request. The modal verb "can" changes to "could" to match the past tense narrative, and pronouns shift from "you" to "I" and "me" to "her."
3. Direct Speech: The teacher said, “Please submit your assignments by Friday.”
Indirect Speech: The teacher instructed us to submit our assignments by Friday.
Explanation: The reporting verb "said" changes to "instructed" to indicate a command. The imperative "please submit" becomes an infinitive phrase "to submit."
4. Direct Speech: Emily exclaimed, “What a beautiful painting!”
Indirect Speech: Emily exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
Explanation: The reporting verb remains "exclaimed" as it captures the emotion. The structure shifts from exclamatory to declarative, and "what a" is transformed to "it was a."
5. Direct Speech: Tom said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
Indirect Speech: Tom promised that he would call me the next day.
Explanation: The reporting verb "said" is replaced with "promised" to convey commitment. The future tense "will call" becomes "would call," and "tomorrow" changes to "the next day" to maintain temporal accuracy.
6. Direct Speech: Sarah said, “I have finished my project.”
Indirect Speech: Sarah confirmed that she had finished her project.
Explanation: The reporting verb "said" changes to "confirmed" to reflect assurance. The present perfect "have finished" becomes past perfect "had finished" due to backshifting.
In each example, the change in the reporting verb not only conveys the speaker's intention more precisely but also provides a nuanced understanding of the context. The transformations adhere to grammatical rules of tense and pronoun adjustments necessary for coherent indirect speech.
Said → told (when object is present)
Said to → told
Example:
Direct Speech: He said to me, “Open the door.”
Indirect Speech: He told me to open the door.
🔹 4. Types of Sentences
9 Here are six examples of transforming sentences from direct speech into indirect speech, covering both affirmative and negative sentences, along with explanations of the grammatical rules applied:
1. Affirmative Sentence:
Direct Speech: She said, “I am going to the market.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she was going to the market.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the present continuous tense “am going” changes to the past continuous tense “was going.” The pronoun “I” changes to “she” based on the subject of the reporting verb.
2. Negative Sentence:
Direct Speech: He said, “I do not like broccoli.”
Indirect Speech: He said that he did not like broccoli.
Explanation: The simple present tense “do not like” changes to the simple past tense “did not like.” The negation remains intact in indirect speech.
3. Affirmative Sentence:
Direct Speech: They said, “We have finished our homework.”
Indirect Speech: They said that they had finished their homework.
Explanation: The present perfect tense “have finished” changes to the past perfect tense “had finished.” The pronoun “we” changes to “they.”
4. Negative Sentence:
Direct Speech: She said, “I cannot attend the meeting.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she could not attend the meeting.
Explanation: The modal verb “cannot” changes to “could not” in indirect speech, reflecting the past form of the modal.
5. Affirmative Sentence:
Direct Speech: John said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
Indirect Speech: John said that he would call me the next day.
Explanation: The future tense “will call” changes to “would call.” The adverb “tomorrow” is transformed into “the next day.”
6. Negative Sentence:
Direct Speech: Mary said, “I haven't seen the movie.”
Indirect Speech: Mary said that she hadn't seen the movie.
Explanation: The present perfect tense “haven't seen” changes to the past perfect tense “hadn't seen.” The negative form remains unchanged.
These transformations demonstrate the typical shifts in tense, pronoun, and time expressions required when converting direct speech into indirect speech.
Direct Speech: She said, “I am happy.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she was happy.
🟡 Interrogative Sentence
Use if/whether (for yes/no questions)
Direct Speech: He said, “Are you ready?”
Indirect Speech: He asked if I was ready.
Transforming sentences from direct speech to indirect speech requires a few grammatical adjustments to ensure clarity and maintain the original meaning. Here, I will provide three examples for interrogative sentences using "Wh-" words and three examples for "yes or no" questions, along with explanations of the grammatical rules for each.
Interrogative Sentences with "Wh-" Words
1. Direct Speech: John asked, “Where are you going?”
Indirect Speech: John asked where I was going.
Rule: Remove the quotation marks and the question mark. The verb "asked" introduces the indirect question. The subject ("I") comes before the verb ("was going"). Change the pronoun and verb tense as necessary.
2. Direct Speech: She wondered, “What time does the meeting start?”
Indirect Speech: She wondered what time the meeting started.
Rule: Like the previous example, remove the quotation marks and question mark. The verb "wondered" introduces the indirect question. Adjust verb tense to the past form and maintain the order: question word + subject + verb.
3. Direct Sp:eech He inquired, “Why did she leave?”
Indirect Speech: He inquired why she had left.
Rule: Omit the quotation marks and question mark. Use the verb "inquired" to introduce the question. Change the verb tense to past perfect ("had left") to reflect the past.
Interrogative Sentences with "Yes or No" Questions
4. Direct Speech: Mark asked, “Are you coming to the party?”
Indirect Speech: Mark asked if I was coming to the party.
Rule: Use "if" or "whether" to introduce the indirect question. Remove the quotation marks and question mark. The subject ("I") precedes the verb ("was coming"), and adjust the verb tense accordingly.
5. Direct Speech: She asked, “Do you like coffee?”
Indirect Speech: She asked if I liked coffee.
Rule: Introduce the question with "if" or "whether." Adjust the verb tense from present to past ("do" to "liked"), and remove the quotation marks and question mark.
6. Direct Speech: They asked, “Will you attend the conference?”
Indirect Speech: They asked whether I would attend the conference.
Rule: Use "whether" or "if" to start the indirect question. Change "will" to "would" to maintain consistent tense. Remove the quotation marks and question mark.
Remove the question mark and use if/whether for yes/no questions.
Reporting Verb Change: said / said to → asked, enquired, or demanded.
Conjunction:
For Yes/No questions (starting with helping verbs like is, do, have, can), use if or whether.
For Wh- questions (starting with who, what, why, where), do not use any conjunction; the Wh-word itself acts as the connector.
Word Order Change: Turn the question format into an assertive statement format (Subject + Verb).Drop the question mark.
Example (Yes/No):
Direct: She said to him, "Are you coming?"
Indirect: She asked him if he was coming. (NOT if was he coming)
Example (Wh-):
Direct: Ravi asked, "Where is my bag?"
Indirect: Ravi asked where his bag was. (NOT where was his bag)
In summary, transforming from direct to indirect speech involves adjusting pronouns, verb tenses, and sentence structure while maintaining the original meaning. Use a reporting verb like "asked" or "wondered," and remove direct speech punctuation. For "yes or no" questions, introduce the clause with "if" or "whether."
🔵 Imperative Sentence
Transforming sentences from direct speech to indirect speech involves changing the structure of the sentence, while maintaining the original meaning. Here are six examples of transforming imperative sentences, along with explanations of the grammatical rules involved:
1. Direct Speech: She said, “Please close the door.”
Indirect Speech: She asked me to close the door.
Rule: In indirect speech, imperative sentences are typically changed to infinitive phrases. The word "please" is omitted, and verbs like "asked" or "told" are used to convey the request or command.
2. Direct Speech: The teacher said, “Finish your homework.”
Indirect Speech: The teacher instructed the students to finish their homework.
Rule: Use "instructed" for formal commands, and change the verb to its infinitive form. The pronoun is adjusted according to context.
3. Direct Speech: He said, “Don't touch that.”
Indirect Speech: He warned me not to touch that.
Rule: For negative commands, "do not" is changed to "not" + infinitive. The verb "warned" indicates the seriousness of the command.
4. Direct Speech: She said, “Be quiet.”
Indirect Speech: She told us to be quiet.
Rule: Use "told" or "asked" to convey the instruction, and convert the verb to its infinitive form.
5. Direct Speech: The doctor said, “Take your medicine daily.”
Indirect Speech: The doctor advised her to take her medicine daily.
Rule: Use "advised" for recommendations or advice, and change the verb to the infinitive form. Adjust pronouns as necessary.
6. Direct Speech: The manager said, “Submit the report by Monday.”
Indirect Speech: The manager told them to submit the report by Monday.
Rule: "Told" is used for direct commands, and the verb is transformed into its infinitive form. Pronouns and time expressions are adjusted to fit the context.
In each example, the transformation involves selecting an appropriate reporting verb (like asked, told, instructed, warned, advised), changing the imperative verb to the infinitive form, and adjusting pronouns and time expressions as needed.
Use to / not to
Direct Speech: She said, “Close the door.”
Indirect Speech: She told me to close the door.
🔴 Exclamatory Sentence
Transforming exclamatory sentences from direct to indirect speech involves a few grammatical adjustments to ensure the sentence retains its original meaning while fitting the indirect speech structure. Here are six examples with explanations:
1. Direct Speech: She said, “Wow, what a beautiful painting!”
Indirect Speech: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
Explanation: The exclamatory phrase "Wow" is removed, and the sentence is restructured using the word "exclaimed" to convey the emotion. The exclamation is converted to a statement with "that."
2. Direct Speech: He said, “How amazing this performance is!”
Indirect Speech: He exclaimed that the performance was amazing.
Explanation: The phrase "How amazing" is transformed into a statement by changing the verb tense from "is" to "was" to match the past reporting verb "said."
3. Direct Speech: She said, “What a surprise to see you here!”
Indirect Speech: She exclaimed that it was a surprise to see him there.
Explanation: The exclamatory "What a surprise" is turned into a statement. The pronoun "you" changes to "him," and "here" changes to "there" to match the new context.
4. Direct Speech: They said, “Hurrah! We won the game!”
Indirect Speech: They exclaimed with joy that they had won the game.
Explanation: "Hurrah" is replaced with "exclaimed with joy," and the verb "won" is changed to "had won" to reflect the past perfect tense.
5. Direct Speech: She said, “Oh no, I lost my keys!”
Indirect Speech: She exclaimed with regret that she had lost her keys.
Explanation: "Oh no" is substituted with "exclaimed with regret," and the present perfect "lost" becomes past perfect "had lost."
6. Direct Speech: He said, “What a fantastic experience this is!”
Indirect Speech: He exclaimed that it was a fantastic experience.
Explanation: The exclamatory phrase is changed into a statement, and the verb "is" is converted to "was" to align with the past narration.
In each transformation, the direct speech's emotional expression is maintained by using verbs like "exclaimed" or adding phrases like "with joy" or "with regret," and the tense is adjusted as needed.
Use words like exclaimed, exclaimed with joy/sorrow
Direct Speech: He said, “What a beautiful day!”
Indirect Speech: He exclaimed that it was a very beautiful day.
🎯Modals
Transforming sentences from direct to indirect speech involves changing the structure and sometimes the tense of the verbs. Here are six examples focusing on sentences with modals, along with explanations of the grammatical rules applied:
1. Direct Speech: She said, “I can swim.”
Indirect Speech: She said that she could swim.
Explanation: The modal verb “can” changes to “could” in indirect speech. This is because when reporting speech, the present ability “can” is often back shifted to the past ability “could.”
2. Direct Speech: He said, “I will help you tomorrow.”
Indirect Speech: He said that he would help me the next day.
Explanation: The modal “will” changes to “would” as part of the sequence of tenses. Additionally, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” to reflect the perspective shift.
3. Direct Speech: She asked, “Can you come to the party?”
Indirect Speech: She asked if I could come to the party.
Explanation: In questions, “can” is changed to “could” and the sentence structure changes from a question to a statement. The word “if” is used to introduce indirect questions.
4. Direct Speech: They said, “We must finish this today.”
Indirect Speech: They said that they had to finish it that day.
Explanation: The modal “must” often changes to “had to” in indirect speech, indicating necessity. “Today” is shifted to “that day” to maintain temporal consistency.
5. Direct Speech: She said, “You should visit your grandmother.”
Indirect Speech: She said that I should visit my grandmother.
Explanation: The modal “should” remains unchanged in indirect speech because it already conveys a sense of advice or suggestion that doesn’t need back shifting.
6. Direct Speech: He said, “We may go to the beach.”
Indirect Speech: He said that they might go to the beach.
Explanation: “May” changes to “might” to align with the sequence of tenses, showing a less definite possibility in reported speech.
In transforming direct speech into indirect speech, it's important to adjust pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions to fit the context of the reporting.
🔹 5. Exam Tips (Very Important for SSC Aspirants)
Always check tense of reporting verb
- Focus on pronoun change
- Don’t forget that (in most cases)
- Practice mixed sentence types
- Watch for tricky time word
⚠️ The SSC Trap (No Change Zone): If the statement inside the quotes is a Universal Fact, Habitual Action, or Historical Truth, the tense never changes.
Direct: The teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun."
Indirect: The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun. (NOT revolved)
Changing Time and Place Words
SSC loves testing you on these minor words. Options are often eliminated based on just these:
Today →That day
Tomorrow → The next day / The following day
Yesterday The previous day / The day before
Now →Then
Here →There
This →These
That →Those
3. The 10-Second Elimination Cheat Sheet for SSC CHSL
When solving multiple-choice questions in the exam hall, follow this exact workflow to eliminate wrong options instantly:
1. Check the Reporting Verb tense
1 second
Look at the verb outside the quotes. If it is says or will say, scanning options for a tense change is useless because the tense inside will not change.
If it is said, move to step 2.
2. Scan for Time/Place words
2 seconds
Instantly look at words like tomorrow, yesterday, today, now. Eliminate any option that kept them exactly the same (e.g., if 'now' is still 'now' in an option, cross it out).
3. Check the Main Tense Change
3 seconds
Look at the primary verb inside the quote. If the direct speech has has/have, your correct option must have had. Cross out choices that retain the old tense.
4. Verify Interrogative structures
2 seconds
If it's a question, immediately look for choices that incorrectly use that if or keep the question format intact (like asked where he was instead of asked where he was).
Quick Memory Tricks for SSC CGL, CHSL Aspirants:
- Said → Asked (Question)
- Said → Ordered/Requested/Advised (Command)
- Said → Exclaimed (Emotion)
Practice Question (SSC CHSL Style)
Q. Choose the correct indirect form:
The captain said to the team, "We must win the match tomorrow."
Option A: The captain told the team that they must win the match tomorrow.
(Wrong — 'tomorrow' didn't change)
Option B: The captain told the team that we must win the match the next day.
(Wrong — pronoun 'we' didn't change to 'they')
Option C: The captain told the team that they had to win the match the next day.
(CORRECT — correct pronoun, tense shift for 'must', and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day')
Option D: The captain says to the team that they must win the match.
(Wrong — reporting verb changed to present tense 'says')
Exercise to crack the competitive exam :
Creating multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on direct and indirect speech along with explanations requires clarity and focus on the rules governing speech transformation. Here are 20 MCQs with answers and explanations:
1. Which of the following is the correct indirect speech for:
“She said, ‘I am reading a book."?
a) She said she was reading a book.
b) She said she is reading a book.
c) She said she has been reading a book.
d) She said she had been reading a book.
Answer: a) She said she was reading a book.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the present continuous tense "am reading" changes to past continuous "was reading."
2. Choose the correct indirect speech for:
“He asked, ‘Are you coming tomorrow?"
a) He asked if I was coming the next day.
b) He asked if I am coming tomorrow.
c) He asked if I will come tomorrow.
d) He asked if I was coming tomorrow.
Answer: a) He asked if I was coming the next day.
Explanation: "Are you" changes to "was I" and "tomorrow" changes to "the next day."
3. Convert the following into indirect speech:
“The teacher said, ‘The Earth revolves around the Sun."
a) The teacher said that the Earth revolved around the Sun.
b) The teacher said the Earth revolves around the Sun.
c) The teacher said the Earth was revolving around the Sun.
d) The teacher said the Earth had revolved around the Sun.
Answer: b) The teacher said the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Explanation: Universal truths remain in present tense in indirect speech.
4. Which option correctly changes into indirect speech: “She said, ‘I have finished my homework.’”?
a) She said she had finished her homework.
b) She said she finished her homework.
c) She said she has finished her homework.
d) She said she would finish her homework.
Answer: a) She said she had finished her homework.
Explanation: Present perfect "have finished" changes to past perfect "had finished."
5. Identify the indirect speech for: “He says, ‘I can swim well."
a) He said that he can swim well.
b) He says that he could swim well.
c) He says that he can swim well.
d) He says that he will swim well.
Answer: c) He says that he can swim well.
Explanation: When the reporting verb is in present tense, the tense of the reported speech doesn’t change.
6. Convert into indirect speech:
“She said, ‘I will go to the market."
a) She said she would go to the market.
b) She said she will go to the market.
c) She said she was going to the market.
d) She said she had gone to the market.
Answer: a) She said she would go to the market.
Explanation: The future tense "will go" changes to "would go" in indirect speech.
7. Choose the correct indirect speech for:
“They said, ‘We were playing football."
a) They said they had been playing football.
b) They said they were playing football.
c) They said they have been playing football.
d) They said they are playing football.
Answer: a) They said they had been playing football.
Explanation: The past continuous "were playing" changes to past perfect continuous "had been playing."
8. Which is the correct indirect form for:
“She said, ‘I have been waiting for you.”?
a) She said she had been waiting for me.
b) She said she was waiting for me.
c) She said she has been waiting for me.
d) She said she waited for me.
Answer: a) She said she had been waiting for me.
Explanation: Present perfect continuous "have been waiting" changes to past perfect continuous "had been waiting."
9. Identify the correct indirect speech: “John said, ‘I was tired yesterday.”
a) John said he was tired the day before.
b) John said he had been tired the day before.
c) John said he is tired yesterday.
d) John said he had been tired yesterday.
Answer: b) John said he had been tired the day before.
Explanation: "Was tired" changes to "had been tired," and "yesterday" changes to "the day before."
10. Convert this into indirect speech.
“She said, ‘I don't like apples.”
a) She said she doesn't like apples.
b) She said she didn't like apples.
c) She said she wouldn't like apples.
d) She said she hadn't liked apples.
Answer: b) She said she didn't like apples.
Explanation: Present simple "don't like" changes to past simple "didn't like."
11. Which is the correct indirect speech for:
“He said, ‘I am going to the gym now.”?
a) He said he was going to the gym then.
b) He said he is going to the gym now.
c) He said he was going to the gym now.
d) He said he had gone to the gym then.
Answer: a) He said he was going to the gym then.
Explanation: "Am going" changes to "was going," and "now" changes to "then."
12. **Identify the correct indirect speech: “She said to him, ‘Do you know the way?"
a) She asked if he know the way.
b) She asked him if he knew the way.
c) She asked him does he know the way.
d) She asked him did he know the way.
Answer: b) She asked him if he knew the way.
Explanation: "Do you know" changes to "if he knew."
13. Choose the correct indirect speech for:
“He said, ‘I should call my mother.’”
a) He said he should call his mother.
b) He said he would call his mother.
c) He said he should have called his mother.
d) He said he could call his mother.
Answer: a) He said he should call his mother.
Explanation: "Should" does not change in indirect speech.
14. Which option is correct for indirect speech:
“The manager said, ‘Finish the report by tomorrow."?
a) The manager said to finish the report by tomorrow.
b) The manager asked them to finish the report by the next day.
c) The manager told them to finish the report by the next day.
d) The manager said them to finish the report by the next day.
Answer: c) The manager told them to finish the report by the next day.
Explanation: Imperative commands often use "told" in indirect speech, and "tomorrow" changes to "the next day."
15. Convert this into indirect speech:
“They said, ‘We won the match yesterday."
a) They said they had won the match the day before.
b) They said they won the match yesterday.
c) They said they have won the match the day before.
d) They said they would win the match the day before.
Answer: a) They said they had won the match the day before.
Explanation: Past simple "won" changes to past perfect "had won," and "yesterday" changes to "the day before."
16. Identify the correct indirect speech:
“He said, ‘I can help you with that."
a) He said he could help me with that.
b) He said he can help me with that.
c) He said he will help me with that.
d) He said he might help me with that.
Answer: a) He said he could help me with that.
Explanation: "Can" changes to "could" in indirect speech.
17. Which is the correct indirect speech for: “She asked, ‘Where do you live”?
a) She asked where do I live.
b) She asked where I lived.
c) She asked where did I live.
d) She asked where was I living.
Answer: b) She asked where I lived.
Explanation: "Do you live" changes to "I lived."
18. Convert into indirect speech: “He said, ‘I'll be there at 6.’”
a) He said he would be there at 6.
b) He said he will be there at 6.
c) He said he would have been there at 6.
d) He said he is there at 6.
Answer: a) He said he would be there at 6.
Explanation: "I'll" (I will) changes to "he would."
19. Choose the correct indirect speech: “She said, ‘I must complete this today.’”
a) She said she must complete that today.
b) She said she had to complete that today.
c) She said she must complete that then.
d) She said she had to complete that then.
Answer: d) She said she had to complete that then.
Explanation: "Must" can change to "had to," and "today" changes to "then."
20. Identify the correct indirect speech for: “He exclaimed, ‘What a beautiful painting!’
a) He exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
b) He exclaimed what a beautiful painting it was.
c) He exclaimed that it is a beautiful painting.
d) He exclaimed that it was what a beautiful painting.
Answer: a) He exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
Explanation: Exclamations become statements, and "What a" is omitted in indirect speech.
These questions and explanations provide a comprehensive overview of the rules applied in converting direct speech into indirect speech, focusing on changes in tense, pronouns, and other contextual elements.
How to prepare narration for SSC CGL & MTS?
Preparing for the narration section of exams like SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level) and MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) involves a few strategic steps to ensure clarity, coherence, and confidence in your spoken delivery. Firstly, familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and types of questions that are typically asked in the narration section, such as direct and indirect speech. Practice converting sentences between these forms, paying close attention to the changes in pronouns, tenses, and word order.
To improve your skill, read a variety of materials out loud, such as newspapers, novels, or essays, which will help you get accustomed to different styles and tones of writing. Recording your practice sessions can be incredibly beneficial; it allows you to critique your pronunciation, pace, and fluency. Additionally, listening to proficient speakers, such as through podcasts or speeches, can provide you with examples of effective narration techniques. Lastly, engage in regular revision and seek feedback from educators or peers to identify areas for improvement, ensuring that you are well-prepared to handle the narration section with ease and competence.
What is the difference between direct and indirect speech?
Direct and indirect speech are two ways to convey what someone has said. Direct speech involves quoting the speaker's exact words, often enclosed in quotation marks. For example: Sarah said, “I will meet you at the park.” This method captures the original phrasing and tone of the speaker.
Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves paraphrasing what the speaker said, often involving changes in pronouns, verb tenses, and sometimes the structure of the sentence. It does not use quotation marks. For example, the same statement in indirect speech would be: Sarah said that she would meet me at the park. Indirect speech is useful for reporting conversations and can make writing more fluid by integrating the speaker's message into the narrative seamlessly.
What are the golden rules of direct and indirect speech?
Direct and indirect speech are two ways of conveying what someone has said. Here are the golden rules for each:
Direct Speech:
1. Quotation Marks: Use quotation marks to enclose the exact words spoken by the speaker. For example, “I am going to the market,” she said.
2. Punctuation: Punctuation marks like commas, periods, question marks, or exclamation points should be placed inside the quotation marks.
3. Speaker Tag: The speaker's tag (e.g., he said, she asked) can appear before, after, or in the middle of the quoted speech, and should be separated by a comma unless a verb of saying follows directly.
Indirect Speech:
1. No Quotation Marks: Do not use quotation marks. Instead, convey the message in your own words. For instance, she said that she was going to the market.
2. Tense Changes: Typically, when converting from direct to indirect speech, the tense of the verbs may change. For example, present tense in direct speech often becomes past tense in indirect speech.
3. Pronoun and Time Expression Adjustments: Adjust pronouns and time expressions to fit the context of the indirect speech. Words like “today” might change to “that day,” and “here” to “there.”
By understanding and applying these rules, you can accurately convey spoken words in writing, maintaining clarity and context.
Tips and tricks to solve exercises of direct and indirect speech?
Solving exercises on direct and indirect speech can be made easier with a few key tips and tricks. First, understand the basic differences: direct speech quotes the speaker's exact words, often enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech paraphrases these words without quotation marks and often requires changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions.
When converting from direct to indirect speech, pay attention to the reporting verb, as it often dictates the tense change. For example, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense in the reported speech typically shifts back one step (present to past, past to past perfect, etc.). Additionally, adjust pronouns and time indicators to reflect the change in perspective and timing. For example, "now" becomes "then," "today" becomes "that day," and "here" becomes "there."
Practice consistently with a variety of sentences, and remember to maintain the original message’s meaning. It can also be helpful to create a checklist of common changes and refer to it until the process becomes second nature. Lastly, reading more examples of both direct and indirect speech in literature can improve your understanding and intuitiveness over time.
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