Direct and Indirect Speech: Definitions, Rules, and Examples

Direct speech and indirect speech (also known as reported speech) are two different ways of expressing what someone else has said. The distinction between the two lies in how the speech is presented—whether it's quoted exactly as spoken or paraphrased for indirect reporting.

1. Definition of Direct Speech:

Direct speech involves quoting the exact words spoken by someone. These words are placed within quotation marks and usually come with a reporting verb (like said, asked, exclaimed).

Example:
- He said, "I am going to the park."
- She asked, "Where are you going?"

2. Definition of Indirect Speech:

Indirect speech, also called reported speech, involves paraphrasing someone else's words. It does not use quotation marks, and changes are made to pronouns, verb tense, and other aspects of the sentence to suit the context.

Example:
- He said that he was going to the park.
- She asked where he was going.

Rules for Changing Direct to Indirect Speech:

1. Change in Pronouns:

Pronouns in the direct speech will often change depending on the perspective of the speaker and listener in indirect speech.

Direct: He said, "I am hungry."
Indirect: He said that he was hungry.

2. Change in Tense:

The tense of the verb in direct speech usually shifts back one tense in indirect speech, particularly if the reporting verb is in the past tense.

Direct: He said, "I am studying."
Indirect: He said that he was studying.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Present simple → Past simple	"I go to school." → He said he went to school.
Present continuous → Past continuous	"I am cooking." → She said she was cooking.
Present perfect → Past perfect	"I have finished." → He said he had finished.
Past simple → Past perfect	"I ate lunch." → She said she had eaten lunch.

3. Change in Time Expressions:

Time expressions often change to reflect the context of the indirect report.

Direct: "I will call you tomorrow," she said.
Indirect: She said that she would call me the next day.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Today → That day	"I’m going today." → He said he was going that day.
Tomorrow → The next day	"I will leave tomorrow." → She said she would leave the next day.
Yesterday → The day before	"I saw him yesterday." → He said he had seen him the day before.

4. No Quotation Marks in Indirect Speech:

In indirect speech, quotation marks are removed and the sentence is integrated into the larger sentence.

Direct: She said, "I love pizza."
Indirect: She said that she loved pizza.

5. Question Forms:

In indirect questions, the sentence becomes affirmative, and the question mark is removed. Words like if or whether are used to introduce yes/no questions, and question words (who, what, when) are used for open-ended questions.

Direct: "Do you know the answer?" he asked.
Indirect: He asked if I knew the answer.
Direct: "Where are you going?" she asked.
Indirect: She asked where I was going.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Statements:

Direct: She said, "I am happy today." Indirect: She said that she was happy that day.
Direct: They said, "We will visit Paris." Indirect: They said that they would visit Paris.
Direct: "I don’t like the movie," John said. Indirect: John said that he didn’t like the movie.
Direct: "I have finished my homework," Peter said. Indirect: Peter said that he had finished his homework.
Direct: "The show starts at 8 PM," they said. Indirect: They said that the show started at 8 PM.

Questions:

Direct: "Can you swim?" he asked. Indirect: He asked if I could swim.
Direct: "Where did you go?" she asked. Indirect: She asked where I had gone.
Direct: "Have you eaten?" John asked me. Indirect: John asked if I had eaten.
Direct: "Why are you crying?" she asked. Indirect: She asked why I was crying.
Direct: "Did they win the game?" the coach asked. Indirect: The coach asked if they had won the game.

Commands and Requests:

In indirect speech, commands and requests are reported using verbs like tell, ask, order, request, and the infinitive form (to + verb) is used.

Direct: He said, "Close the door." Indirect: He told me to close the door.
Direct: She said, "Please help me with this task." Indirect: She asked me to help her with the task.
Direct: The teacher said, "Write your name on the paper." Indirect: The teacher told the students to write their names on the paper.
Direct: "Don’t talk during the exam," the instructor said. Indirect: The instructor told us not to talk during the exam.
Direct: "Please, don’t be late," he said. Indirect: He asked me not to be late.

Exclamations and Interjections:

When changing exclamations into indirect speech, words like exclaimed, shouted, cried are often used. The exclamation mark is removed.

Direct: She said, "Wow! What a beautiful view!" Indirect: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful view.
Direct: "Oh no! I forgot my keys!" he said. Indirect: He exclaimed that he had forgotten his keys.
Direct: "Hurrah! We won the match!" they shouted. Indirect: They shouted with joy that they had won the match.
Direct: "Alas! I lost my wallet," he said. Indirect: He exclaimed with regret that he had lost his wallet.
Direct: "Bravo! You did a great job!" she said. Indirect: She praised me, saying that I had done a great job.

Important Notes:

Backshifting Tenses: In indirect speech, tenses often shift to a past tense form (known as backshifting), especially when the reporting verb is in the past.
- Direct: "I am going to the store."
- Indirect: She said that she was going to the store.
No Tense Change: If the reporting verb is in the present tense, or the statement is a general truth, the tense does not change.
- Direct: "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."
- Indirect: He said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Modals in Indirect Speech:

Will → Would
- Direct: "I will call you."
- Indirect: She said that she would call me.
Can → Could
- Direct: "I can swim."
- Indirect: He said that he could swim.
Must → Had to

Direct: "I must go now."
Indirect: He said that he had to go.

1. Direct Speech – Definition & Examples

Direct speech is when the exact words of a speaker are quoted without any change. It is enclosed in quotation marks and often introduced by verbs like said, asked, exclaimed, etc.

Structure:
- He said, "I am learning English."
- Reporting verb (said), quotation marks around the exact words spoken (I am learning English).

Examples of Direct Speech:

He said, "I love reading books."
- Explanation: The exact words I love reading books are quoted directly from the speaker, placed inside quotation marks.
She asked, "Where are you going?"
- Explanation: The speaker’s exact question Where are you going? is preserved in direct speech format.
John said, "The weather is beautiful today."
- Explanation: John's statement The weather is beautiful today is reported exactly, without any changes.
They exclaimed, "We won the game!"
- Explanation: The exclamatory sentence We won the game! is quoted exactly as spoken by them.
The teacher said, "Please complete the assignment."
- Explanation: The instruction Please complete the assignment is reported directly.

2. Indirect Speech – Definition & Examples

Indirect speech (also called reported speech) is when you paraphrase what someone has said. The exact words are not used; instead, the sentence is adapted, and there are changes in pronouns, verb tense, and time expressions.

Structure:
- He said that he was learning English.
- The reporting verb (said), no quotation marks, and changes in pronouns and tense.

Examples of Indirect Speech:

Direct: He said, "I love reading books."
Indirect: He said that he loved reading books.
- Explanation: The verb love changes to loved (past tense), and I becomes he to match the speaker’s perspective.
Direct: She asked, "Where are you going?"
Indirect: She asked where I was going.
- Explanation: Are changes to was (tense shift), and the question becomes a statement. The question word where remains, but the structure becomes declarative.
Direct: John said, "The weather is beautiful today."
Indirect: John said that the weather was beautiful that day.
- Explanation: Is becomes was, and today changes to that day to reflect the change in time.
Direct: They exclaimed, "We won the game!"
Indirect: They exclaimed that they had won the game.
- Explanation: The verb won changes to had won (past perfect) to indicate that the action happened earlier.
Direct: The teacher said, "Please complete the assignment."
Indirect: The teacher told us to complete the assignment.
- Explanation: Please complete becomes told us to complete (command form), and said changes to told.

3. Rules for Changing Direct to Indirect Speech

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, follow these key rules:

A. Pronoun Changes:

When reporting speech, pronouns in direct speech often need to change based on the subject of the sentence.

Direct: She said, "I am tired."
Indirect: She said that she was tired.
- Explanation: The pronoun I changes to she to match the subject of the sentence.

B. Tense Changes:

The verb tense in direct speech usually shifts back one tense in indirect speech. This is known as backshifting, and it happens when the reporting verb (e.g., said) is in the past tense.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Present simple → Past simple	"I go to school." → He said he went to school.
Present continuous → Past continuous	"I am reading." → She said she was reading.
Present perfect → Past perfect	"I have eaten." → He said he had eaten.
Past simple → Past perfect	"I finished work." → She said she had finished work.

Examples:

Direct: "I am hungry," he said.
Indirect: He said that he was hungry.
- Explanation: Am changes to was.
Direct: "I have completed the task," she said.
Indirect: She said that she had completed the task.
- Explanation: Have completed changes to had completed.

C. Changes in Time Expressions:

Time expressions in direct speech are adapted to reflect the time in indirect speech.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Today → That day	"I’m going today." → He said he was going that day.
Tomorrow → The next day	"I will leave tomorrow." → She said she would leave the next day.
Yesterday → The day before	"I saw him yesterday." → He said he had seen him the day before.

Examples:

Direct: "I will call you tomorrow," he said.
Indirect: He said that he would call me the next day.
- Explanation: Tomorrow changes to the next day.
Direct: "I saw you yesterday," she said.
Indirect: She said that she had seen me the day before.
- Explanation: Yesterday changes to the day before.

D. Reporting Questions:

In indirect speech, questions are transformed into statements, and the question mark is removed. Use words like if or whether for yes/no questions, and maintain question words (who, what, when, where) for open-ended questions.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Yes/No Questions → if or whether	"Did you finish?" → She asked if I had finished.
Wh-Questions → that structure	"Where do you live?" → She asked where I lived.

Examples:

Direct: "Do you like pizza?" she asked.
Indirect: She asked if I liked pizza.
- Explanation: Do changes to if in indirect speech.
Direct: "Where did you go?" he asked.
Indirect: He asked where I had gone.
- Explanation: The question word where stays, but the sentence becomes a statement.

4. More Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

A. Statements:

Direct: "I am feeling better," she said.
Indirect: She said that she was feeling better.
Direct: "We are going to the beach tomorrow," they said.
Indirect: They said that they were going to the beach the next day.
Direct: "I have lost my keys," he said.
Indirect: He said that he had lost his keys.
Direct: "I will travel next month," she said.
Indirect: She said that she would travel the following month.

B. Questions:

Direct: "Have you finished your homework?" the teacher asked.
Indirect: The teacher asked if I had finished my homework.
Direct: "Why are you late?" she asked.
Indirect: She asked why I was late.

C. Commands and Requests:

Direct: "Please sit down," he said.
Indirect: He asked me to sit down.
Direct: "Don’t be late," she said.
Indirect: She told me not to be late.

1. Types of Sentences in Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech can be classified based on the type of sentence being reported. These include:

A. Declarative Sentences (Statements)

These are simple statements made by the speaker.
In indirect speech, the reporting verb is often said, told, or stated, and there is a change in tense and pronouns.
Example:
- Direct: He said, "I am tired."
- Indirect: He said that he was tired.

B. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

These include yes/no questions or wh-questions.
Yes/No questions in indirect speech use if or whether, while wh-questions retain the question word (who, where, what, etc.).
Example (Yes/No question):
- Direct: She asked, "Do you like chocolate?"
- Indirect: She asked if I liked chocolate.
Example (Wh-question):
- Direct: He asked, "Where are you going?"
- Indirect: He asked where I was going.

C. Imperative Sentences (Commands or Requests)

Imperative sentences are commands or requests. In indirect speech, they often use reporting verbs like told, asked, or ordered, and the verb is converted into the infinitive form (to + verb).
Example (Command):
- Direct: The teacher said, "Complete the assignment."
- Indirect: The teacher told us to complete the assignment.
Example (Request):
- Direct: He said, "Please help me."
- Indirect: He asked me to help him.

D. Exclamatory Sentences (Exclamations)

Exclamatory sentences express emotions like surprise, joy, or sadness. In indirect speech, the reporting verb changes to words like exclaimed, cried, shouted, and the exclamation mark is removed.
Example:
- Direct: She said, "Wow! This is amazing!"
- Indirect: She exclaimed that it was amazing.

2. Types of Reporting Verbs

The choice of reporting verb impacts how the direct speech is converted into indirect speech. Let’s classify the types of reporting verbs and how they affect the sentence structure.

A. Reporting Verbs for Statements

Common reporting verbs: said, told, stated, explained.
Example:
- Direct: He said, "I am going to the store."
- Indirect: He said that he was going to the store.
Usage Note: When using told, we must include an object (e.g., he told me).
- Direct: He told me, "I am going to the store."
- Indirect: He told me that he was going to the store.

B. Reporting Verbs for Questions

Common reporting verbs: asked, inquired, questioned.
Example:
- Direct: She asked, "Are you coming to the party?"
- Indirect: She asked if I was coming to the party.

C. Reporting Verbs for Commands/Requests

Common reporting verbs: told, asked, requested, ordered, advised.
Example:
- Direct: He said, "Close the door."
- Indirect: He told me to close the door.

D. Reporting Verbs for Exclamations

Common reporting verbs: exclaimed, shouted, cried, cheered.
Example:
- Direct: They exclaimed, "We won the match!"
- Indirect: They exclaimed that they had won the match.

3. Classifying Transformations in Direct and Indirect Speech

Let’s classify how statements, questions, commands/requests, and exclamations are transformed when converted from direct to indirect speech.

A. Statements

Statements in direct speech are converted to indirect speech by:

Changing pronouns
Changing tense (backshifting)
Changing time expressions (e.g., today → that day)

Examples:

Direct: "I am tired," he said.
Indirect: He said that he was tired.
Direct: "We will travel tomorrow," they said.
Indirect: They said that they would travel the next day.

B. Questions

Questions need to:

Remove question marks.
Yes/No questions are converted using if or whether.
Wh-questions retain the question word and are changed to statement form.

Examples:

Yes/No Question:
- Direct: "Do you like ice cream?" she asked.
  Indirect: She asked if I liked ice cream.
Wh-Question:
- Direct: "Where is the library?" he asked.
  Indirect: He asked where the library was.

C. Commands and Requests

In indirect speech, commands and requests:

Use reporting verbs like told, asked, or requested.
Convert the verb into infinitive form (to + verb).

Examples:

Command:
- Direct: He said, "Stop talking."
  Indirect: He told me to stop talking.
Request:
- Direct: She said, "Please help me."
  Indirect: She asked me to help her.

D. Exclamations

Exclamations in indirect speech:

Change the reporting verb to exclaimed, shouted, cried, etc.
Remove the exclamation mark.

Examples:

Direct: "Hooray! We won!" they shouted.
Indirect: They shouted with joy that they had won.
Direct: "What a beautiful view!" she exclaimed.
Indirect: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful view.

4. Special Changes in Modals, Time, and Place

Some modals and time/place expressions need to change when converting to indirect speech:

A. Changes in Modals

Will → Would
Can → Could
Shall → Should
May → Might

Examples:

Direct: "I will help you," she said.
Indirect: She said that she would help me.
Direct: "You can leave now," he said.
Indirect: He said that I could leave.

B. Changes in Time Expressions

Today → That day
Tomorrow → The next day
Yesterday → The day before
Next week → The following week
Last week → The previous week

Examples:

Direct: "I will call you tomorrow," she said.
Indirect: She said that she would call me the next day.
Direct: "I met him yesterday," John said.
Indirect: John said that he had met him the day before.

C. Changes in Place Expressions

Here → There
This → That

Examples:

Direct: "I will meet you here," he said.
Indirect: He said that he would meet me there.
Direct: "Take this book," she said.
Indirect: She told me to take that book.

Summary of Key Points

Direct Speech uses quotation marks to show the exact words of the speaker.
Indirect Speech paraphrases the speech, changing pronouns, tense, and time expressions.
Statements in indirect speech use said, told, or similar verbs.
Questions use if/whether for yes/no questions and retain question words for wh-questions.
Commands and requests use told or asked with the infinitive form of the verb.
Exclamations use verbs like exclaimed, shouted, and remove exclamation marks.

1. Detailed Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech for Different Sentence Types

A. Declarative Sentences (Statements)

Declarative sentences are simple statements that make a claim, describe something, or provide information.

Examples:

Direct: He said, "I am reading a book."
- Indirect: He said that he was reading a book.
- Clarification: Here, am (present continuous) changes to was (past continuous), and the pronoun I becomes he.
Direct: She said, "We have finished the project."
- Indirect: She said that they had finished the project.
- Clarification: Have finished (present perfect) becomes had finished (past perfect), and we becomes they.
Direct: "I will travel to Japan next year," he said.
- Indirect: He said that he would travel to Japan the following year.
- Clarification: Will travel becomes would travel, and next year becomes the following year.
Direct: She said, "I bought a new phone yesterday."
- Indirect: She said that she had bought a new phone the day before.
- Clarification: Bought (past simple) changes to had bought (past perfect), and yesterday changes to the day before.

B. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

Questions need a little more attention. Yes/No questions use if or whether, and wh-questions keep the question word, but the sentence structure changes.

Examples:

Yes/No Question:
- Direct: "Do you like pizza?" she asked.
- Indirect: She asked if I liked pizza.
- Clarification: The auxiliary do is dropped, like becomes liked, and we use if to report the yes/no question.
Yes/No Question with Modals:
- Direct: "Can you help me?" he asked.
- Indirect: He asked if I could help him.
- Clarification: Can changes to could, and we use if to report the yes/no question.
Wh-Question:
- Direct: "Where do you live?" he asked.
- Indirect: He asked where I lived.
- Clarification: The question word where remains, and do live becomes lived (present simple → past simple).
Complex Wh-Question:
- Direct: "Why didn't you attend the meeting?" she asked.
- Indirect: She asked why I hadn't attended the meeting.
- Clarification: Didn’t attend (past simple) becomes hadn't attended (past perfect), and why is retained.

C. Imperative Sentences (Commands and Requests)

Imperative sentences are either commands or requests. In indirect speech, we convert the verb into infinitive form (to + verb).

Examples:

Command:
- Direct: He said, "Lock the door."
- Indirect: He told me to lock the door.
- Clarification: The verb lock changes to to lock in indirect speech. We use the reporting verb told with an object (me).
Negative Command:
- Direct: She said, "Don't be late."
- Indirect: She told me not to be late.
- Clarification: Don't becomes not to.
Request:
- Direct: He said, "Please help me."
- Indirect: He asked me to help him.
- Clarification: The request help me is converted into to help him, and we use the reporting verb asked.

D. Exclamatory Sentences (Exclamations)

Exclamations in indirect speech lose their exclamation marks and are reported with appropriate verbs like exclaimed, shouted, or cried.

Examples:

Direct: She said, "Wow! What a beautiful painting!"
- Indirect: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful painting.
- Clarification: The exclamation Wow! is removed, and the verb exclaimed is used. The sentence structure is adapted to a statement form.
Direct: "Alas! We lost the game," they said.
- Indirect: They exclaimed with sorrow that they had lost the game.
- Clarification: Alas! is removed, and the phrase with sorrow is added to express the emotion.

2. Specific Clarifications on Tense Changes

A. Present to Past Tense Changes

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, tense changes (backshifting) usually occur, especially when the reporting verb (e.g., said) is in the past tense.

Examples:

Present Simple → Past Simple:
- Direct: "I like coffee," she said.
- Indirect: She said that she liked coffee.
Present Continuous → Past Continuous:
- Direct: "I am working," he said.
- Indirect: He said that he was working.
Present Perfect → Past Perfect:
- Direct: "I have finished my homework," she said.
- Indirect: She said that she had finished her homework.

B. Past Tense Changes in Indirect Speech

When the original sentence is in the past tense, we usually convert it to the past perfect tense in indirect speech.

Examples:

Past Simple → Past Perfect:
- Direct: "I bought a new car," he said.
- Indirect: He said that he had bought a new car.
Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous:
- Direct: "I was reading a book," she said.
- Indirect: She said that she had been reading a book.

3. Reporting Speech with Modals

Modals like can, may, will and shall change to could, might, would, and should in indirect speech.

Examples:

Will → Would:
- Direct: "I will help you," she said.
- Indirect: She said that she would help me.
Can → Could:
- Direct: "Can you come tomorrow?" he asked.
- Indirect: He asked if I could come the next day.
May → Might:
- Direct: "May I leave early?" she asked.
- Indirect: She asked if she might leave early.
Shall → Should:
- Direct: "Shall we meet at 5 PM?" they asked.
- Indirect: They asked if they should meet at 5 PM.

4. Further Clarification on Changes in Time, Place, and Pronouns

A. Time Expressions

Time expressions often change when converting to indirect speech. This reflects the passage of time between when the words were spoken and when they are reported.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Today → That day	"I’m busy today." → He said he was busy that day.
Tomorrow → The next day	"I’ll call you tomorrow." → She said she would call me the next day.
Yesterday → The day before	"I saw him yesterday." → He said he had seen him the day before.
Now → Then	"I’m leaving now." → He said he was leaving then.

B. Place Expressions

Place expressions may also change, especially when there is a shift in location.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Here → There	"I’ll meet you here." → She said she would meet me there.
This → That	"Take this book." → He told me to take that book.

C. Pronoun Changes

Pronouns often change depending on the speaker, listener, and context of the indirect speech.

Direct: He said, "I am hungry."
Indirect: He said that he was hungry.
- Clarification: I changes to he to match the speaker’s point of view.

Examples:

Direct: She said, "You are very kind."
- Indirect: She said that I was very kind.
- Explanation: You changes to I in indirect speech since the speaker is referring to the listener.
Direct: They said, "We will join the meeting."
- Indirect: They said that they would join the meeting.
- Explanation: We changes to they because the report is referring to the group who spoke.

Summary of Clarifications and Advanced Examples:

Declarative Sentences: Statements are changed by backshifting the tense and altering pronouns/time/place expressions.
Interrogative Sentences: Yes/No questions use if or whether, while wh-questions retain their question words but shift to statement form.
Imperative Sentences: Commands and requests are changed into infinitive form (to + verb).
Exclamations: Use reporting verbs like exclaimed or shouted and remove the exclamation mark.
Modal Verbs: Modals change as follows: can → could, may → might, will → would, and shall → should.
Pronoun and Time/Place Expressions: Adapt to match the speaker's and listener’s perspective and time differences.

1. Detailed Explanation of Backshifting Tenses in Indirect Speech

When changing direct speech to indirect speech, backshifting occurs when the reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked) is in the past tense. Backshifting moves the verb one tense back into the past.

A. Present Simple → Past Simple

Direct: She said, "I eat breakfast at 8 AM."
Indirect: She said that she ate breakfast at 8 AM.
- Explanation: Eat (present simple) changes to ate (past simple).

B. Present Continuous → Past Continuous

Direct: He said, "I am studying."
Indirect: He said that he was studying.
- Explanation: Am studying (present continuous) changes to was studying (past continuous).

C. Present Perfect → Past Perfect

Direct: She said, "I have finished my homework."
Indirect: She said that she had finished her homework.
- Explanation: Have finished (present perfect) becomes had finished (past perfect).

D. Past Simple → Past Perfect

Direct: He said, "I bought a new car."
Indirect: He said that he had bought a new car.
- Explanation: Bought (past simple) changes to had bought (past perfect) because we're reporting a past event.

E. Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous

Direct: They said, "We were watching TV."
Indirect: They said that they had been watching TV.
- Explanation: Were watching (past continuous) becomes had been watching (past perfect continuous).

F. Future Tense (Will) → Would

Direct: She said, "I will call you tomorrow."
Indirect: She said that she would call me the next day.
- Explanation: Will becomes would in indirect speech.

Important Note on Tense Backshifting:

No tense change occurs if the reporting verb is in the present tense.
- Direct: He says, "I like pizza."
- Indirect: He says that he likes pizza.
  - Explanation: Since the reporting verb says is in the present, no backshifting happens.

2. Reporting Different Types of Sentences in Indirect Speech

A. Yes/No Questions in Indirect Speech

To report yes/no questions, we use the words if or whether in indirect speech. There is no question mark, and the sentence structure changes to a statement.

Examples:

Direct: She asked, "Do you like tea?"
Indirect: She asked if I liked tea.
- Explanation: Do you like (question form) becomes if I liked (statement form).
Direct: He asked, "Can you swim?"
Indirect: He asked if I could swim.
- Explanation: Can becomes could, and the structure is converted into a statement.

B. Wh-Questions in Indirect Speech

In wh-questions (who, what, where, when, why, how), the question word is retained, but the sentence changes into a statement.

Examples:

Direct: She asked, "Where do you live?"
Indirect: She asked where I lived.
- Explanation: Do live (question form) becomes lived (statement form).
Direct: He asked, "Why are you late?"
Indirect: He asked why I was late.
- Explanation: Are (present simple) changes to was (past simple), and why remains.

3. Reporting Commands and Requests in Indirect Speech

Imperative sentences (commands or requests) in direct speech become infinitive structures (to + verb) in indirect speech. The reporting verb usually changes to told (for commands) or asked (for requests).

A. Positive Commands

Examples:

Direct: He said, "Close the door."
Indirect: He told me to close the door.
- Explanation: The verb close becomes to close, and said changes to told.
Direct: The teacher said, "Write your name on the paper."
Indirect: The teacher told us to write our names on the paper.
- Explanation: Write becomes to write, and said changes to told.

B. Negative Commands

For negative commands, use not + infinitive.

Examples:

Direct: She said, "Don't be late."
Indirect: She told me not to be late.
- Explanation: Don’t becomes not to be.
Direct: He said, "Don’t touch the painting."
Indirect: He told me not to touch the painting.
- Explanation: Don’t touch changes to not to touch.

C. Requests

Requests in indirect speech use asked or requested.

Examples:

Direct: He said, "Please help me."
Indirect: He asked me to help him.
- Explanation: Please help becomes to help, and said changes to asked.
Direct: The manager said, "Please submit the report tomorrow."
Indirect: The manager asked us to submit the report the next day.
- Explanation: Please submit becomes to submit, and tomorrow changes to the next day.

4. Changes in Modals in Indirect Speech

Modals (like can, may, will) change when reporting speech.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Can → Could	"I can swim." → He said he could swim.
Will → Would	"I will go." → She said she would go.
May → Might	"I may leave." → He said he might leave.
Shall → Should	"Shall we go?" → He asked if they should go.
Must → Had to	"I must go." → He said he had to go.

Examples:

Direct: She said, "I can drive a car."
Indirect: She said that she could drive a car.
- Explanation: Can becomes could.
Direct: He said, "I will help you."
Indirect: He said that he would help me.
- Explanation: Will becomes would.
Direct: She said, "You must complete the assignment."
Indirect: She said that I had to complete the assignment.
- Explanation: Must changes to had to.

5. Reporting Mixed Tenses and Complex Sentences

When a sentence includes multiple tenses or clauses, each part must be carefully adjusted to maintain the correct sequence of tenses.

A. Mixed Tenses in Direct and Indirect Speech

Example:

Direct: "I was sleeping when you called," she said.
Indirect: She said that she had been sleeping when I had called.
- Explanation: Was sleeping (past continuous) becomes had been sleeping (past perfect continuous), and called (past simple) becomes had called (past perfect).

B. Reporting Speech with Conditionals

In conditional sentences, the if-clause or when-clause usually remains unchanged, but the tense of the main clause often shifts back.

Examples:

Direct: "If I win, I will celebrate," he said.
Indirect: He said that if he won, he would celebrate.
- Explanation: Will celebrate changes to would celebrate, but the if-clause remains.
Direct: "When I finish, I will call you," she said.
Indirect: She said that when she finished, she would call me.
- Explanation: Will call changes to would call, and finish becomes finished.

6. Further Clarification on Time, Place, and Pronoun Changes

A. Time Expressions

Time expressions in indirect speech need to be adapted to reflect when the event was reported.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Today → That day	"I’ll go today." → He said he would go that day.
Tomorrow → The next day	"I’ll call you tomorrow." → She said she would call me the next day.
Yesterday → The day before	"I saw him yesterday." → He said he had seen him the day before.
Now → Then	"I’m leaving now." → He said he was leaving then.

B. Place Expressions

Place expressions may also change if the speech is reported in a different location.

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Here → There	"I’ll meet you here." → She said she would meet me there.
This → That	"Take this book." → He told me to take that book.

C. Pronoun Changes

Pronouns change based on who is speaking and who is being addressed.

Examples:

Direct: He said, "I am happy."
Indirect: He said that he was happy.
- Explanation: I becomes he.
Direct: She said, "You are very smart."
Indirect: She said that I was very smart.
- Explanation: You becomes I.

Conclusion

In direct and indirect speech, tense changes, modals, questions, commands, and time/place expressions all need careful attention to ensure the meaning is clear and accurate. Here are the key takeaways:

Backshifting tenses: Verbs move back one tense in indirect speech (except if the reporting verb is in the present).
Reporting verbs: Use told, asked, or exclaimed depending on the sentence type (statement, question, command).
Modals: Can → could, will → would, must → had to, etc.
Time/place expressions: Adapt based on the context and passage of time (e.g., today → that day, here → there).