Direct and indirect speech

Rules

1. If the reporting verb is in the past, the tense moves one step back: is → was, will → would, has → had.
2. Universal truths keep their tense: He said that the earth moves round the sun.
3. Words of nearness change: now → then, today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, here → there.
4. Questions use 'asked' + if/whether (yes–no) or the question word, in statement order.
5. Orders use 'told/ordered' + to-infinitive; requests use 'requested' + to-infinitive.

Examples

• He said that he was tired.
• She asked me where I lived.
• The teacher told us to sit down.

Practice MCQs

1. He said, "I am busy."

   1. He said that he is busy.
   2. He said that he was busy.
   3. He said that I was busy.
   4. He said that he had been busy.
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) He said that he was busy.. Past reporting verb: 'am' becomes 'was'; 'I' becomes 'he'.

2. She said, "I will come tomorrow."

   1. She said that she will come tomorrow.
   2. She said that she would come the next day.
   3. She said that she would come tomorrow.
   4. She told that she will come the next day.
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) She said that she would come the next day.. 'Will' → 'would' and 'tomorrow' → 'the next day'.

3. The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east."

   1. The teacher said that the sun rose in the east.
   2. The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
   3. The teacher said that the sun had risen in the east.
   4. The teacher told that the sun rises in the east.
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.. A universal truth keeps the present tense.

4. He said to me, "Where do you live?"

   1. He asked me where do I live.
   2. He asked me where I lived.
   3. He asked me where did I live.
   4. He said me where I lived.
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) He asked me where I lived.. Reported questions use statement order and back-shift.

5. She said to him, "Are you ready?"

   1. She asked him that he was ready.
   2. She asked him if he was ready.
   3. She asked him was he ready.
   4. She told him if he is ready.
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) She asked him if he was ready.. Yes–no questions use 'if' or 'whether'.

6. The officer said to the soldiers, "Fire!"

   1. The officer ordered the soldiers to fire.
   2. The officer said the soldiers to fire.
   3. The officer ordered that the soldiers fire.
   4. The officer told the soldiers fire.
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) The officer ordered the soldiers to fire.. Orders become 'ordered + object + to-infinitive'.