Common Grammar Mistakes Indians Make
December 1, 2025How to Use Has / Have / Had Correctly
December 1, 20251. INTRO
Direct and indirect speech confuse many learners,
but the rules are actually very easy once you understand the basics.
Today, I’ll explain them in a simple and quick way.
2. PURPOSE
This vlog will help you:
- Understand what direct and indirect speech mean
- Learn basic conversion rules
- Change sentences quickly and correctly
3. SCOPE
We will cover:
- What is direct speech?
- What is indirect speech?
- Changes in pronouns
- Changes in tenses
- Changes in words (this → that, today → that day)
- Quick practice
4. WHAT IS DIRECT SPEECH?
Direct speech shows exact words spoken by someone.
Example:
Riya said, “I am tired.”
We use quotation marks (“ ”).
5. WHAT IS INDIRECT SPEECH?
Indirect speech reports the idea without exact words.
Example:
Riya said that she was tired.
No quotation marks.
6. RULE 1: CHANGE THE PRONOUN
Pronouns change based on the speaker.
Direct: “I am happy.”
Indirect: He said that he was happy.
Direct: “We will go.”
Indirect: They said that they would go.
7. RULE 2: CHANGE THE TENSE (Past Backshift)
When reporting verb is in the past, tense moves one step back:
- am/is → was
- are → were
- will → would
- can → could
- have/has → had
- do/does → did
- simple past → had + past participle
Example:
Direct: “I am studying.”
Indirect: He said that he was studying.
8. RULE 3: CHANGE THE TIME WORDS
- today → that day
- tomorrow → the next day
- yesterday → the previous day
- now → then
- here → there
- this → that
- these → those
Example:
Direct: “I will come tomorrow.”
Indirect: He said that he would come the next day.
9. RULE 4: REMOVE QUOTATION MARKS + ADD ‘THAT’
Direct: “I like tea.”
Indirect: She said that she liked tea.
(‘That’ is optional but recommended in formal English.)
10. QUICK PRACTICE
Direct: “I am hungry.”
✔ Indirect: She said that she was hungry.
Direct: “We will meet tomorrow.”
✔ Indirect: They said that they would meet the next day.
Direct: “These books are mine.”
✔ Indirect: He said that those books were his.
11. CONCLUSION
Direct = exact words.
Indirect = meaning without exact words.
Just remember:
Pronoun change + tense backshift + time word change.
That’s it — simple and clear.


