Direct & Indirect Speech — Easy Tips

1. 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:

1. What is direct speech?
2. What is indirect speech?
3. Changes in pronouns
4. Changes in tenses
5. Changes in words (this → that, today → that day)
6. 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.