1. Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you will learn:
- Structure of direct speech
- Structure of indirect speech
- Reporting verb usage
- Basic tense backshift
- Pronoun changes
- Time expression changes
2. Direct vs Indirect Speech
Direct Speech
Exact words are quoted.
She said, “I am tired.”
Quotation marks are used.
Indirect Speech
We report the meaning without quotation marks.
She said that she was tired.
3. Structure of Indirect Speech
Reporting verb + (that) + clause
She said that she was tired.
He said that he would come.
“That” is optional in spoken English.
4. Tense Backshift Rule
If the reporting verb is in past (said, told, asked), the tense usually shifts back.
|
Direct |
Indirect |
|
present simple |
past simple |
|
present continuous |
past continuous |
|
present perfect |
past perfect |
|
past simple |
past perfect |
|
will |
would |
|
can |
could |
|
may |
might |
Examples
Direct:
She said, “I work hard.”
Indirect:
She said that she worked hard.
Direct:
He said, “I am studying.”
Indirect:
He said that he was studying.
Direct:
She said, “I will help.”
Indirect:
She said that she would help.
5. Pronoun Changes
Pronouns change according to the speaker and the listener.
Direct:
She said, “I am ready.”
Indirect:
She said that she was ready.
“I” → “she”
Direct:
He said, “We are leaving.”
Indirect:
He said that they were leaving.
6. Time & Place Changes
|
Direct |
Indirect |
|
now |
then |
|
today |
that day |
|
tomorrow |
the next day |
|
yesterday |
the previous day |
|
here |
there |
|
this |
that |
Example:
Direct:
She said, “I will come tomorrow.”
Indirect:
She said that she would come the next day.
7. When No Backshift Is Needed
If the reporting verb is in present:
She says, “I am tired.”
She says that she is tired.
If a statement is a universal truth:
The teacher said, “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
The teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
No tense change.
8. Common Errors
⚠ Forgetting tense change
Incorrect: She said that she is tired.
Correct: She said that she was tired.
⚠ Incorrect pronoun change
Incorrect: She said that I was tired.
Correct: She said that she was tired.
⚠ Keeping quotation marks in indirect speech
Remove quotation marks.
9. End of Lesson Check
You should now be able to:
✅Identify direct speech
✅Convert statements into indirect speech
✅Apply tense backshift
✅Change pronouns logically
✅Adjust time expressions