Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct speech presents exact words with quotation punctuation. Indirect speech integrates content and may backshift tense under a past reporting verb. Pronouns, time/place expressions, word order, and modals shift according to the new viewpoint.

Patterns and examples

• Mira said, “I am tired.”
• Mira said that she was tired.
• He asked where I lived. (statement order)
• She told us to wait. (reported command)

Notice how form and meaning work together. Read examples aloud, identify the controlling word or clause, and compare them with nearby alternatives before applying the pattern in new writing.

Practice sentences

• Convert a quotation into indirect speech.
• Report a yes/no question using whether or if.

After answering, explain the rule in your own words and create one original sentence using the same structure.