Direct and Indirect Speech Rules for all Tenses (with Examples) | Narration Change Rules for All Tenses

We have confusions regarding the tense of sentences used in both the speeches. With this article we will clear them.

Change the Narration of Different Tenses:

Rule 1:

If the reporting verb is in present tense:

Direct –  Reporting verb is in present tense.

Indirect – All the verbs in ihe whole indirect speech will be in Present tense.

Verbs in the Direct Speech		Verb in the Indirect Speech
Reporting Verb	Verb in the Reported Speech	-
Present tense (say/says)	Present tense	Present (same)
	Past tense	Present (same)
	Future tense	Future (same)

Structure 1 –

Direct – ...say/says, “Present indefinite tense.”
Indirect – ... Present indefinite tense.

E.g. –

Direct – John says, “I don’t smoke.”
Indirect – John says that he doesn’t smoke.


Direct – She has said to me, “You help me whenever I am in trouble.”
Indirect – She has told me I help her whenever she is in trouble.


Direct – I say to her, “Do you agree with me?”
Indirect – I ask het if/whether she agrees with me.


Direct – You say to me, “Don’t you read newspaper?”
Indirect – You ask me if I don’t read newspaper.


Structure 2 –
Direct – ...say/says, “Present continuous tense.”
Indirect – ... Present continuous tense.

E.g. –

Direct – You say, “We are going to Shimla tomorrow.”
Indirect – You say that you are going to Shimla tomorrow.

Direct – My friend says to me, “You are not going to be punished.”
Indirect – My friend tells me that I am not going to be punished.

Direct – I say to the child, “Are they teasing you?”
Indirect – I ask the child if they are teasing him.


Direct – He says to me, “Is your brother coming today?”
Indirect – He tells me of if my brother is going today.


Structure 3 –
Direct – ...say/says, “Present Perfect tense.”
Indirect – ... Present Perfect tense.

E.g. –

Direct – Mother says, “Have you finished your homework?”
Indirect – Mother asked whether I have finished my homework.

Direct – You say, “They have won the tournament.”
Indirect – You say that They have won the tournament.


Direct – You say to me, “Rohan has not returned my book.”
Indirect – You tell me that Rohan has not returned your book.

Direct – Dean says, “She has bought it for me.”
Indirect – Dean says that she has bought that for him.

Structure 4 –
Direct – ...say/says, “Past simple tense.”
Indirect – ... Past simple tense.

E.g. –

Direct – Rakesh says to me, “We bought a new motor-cycle.”
Indirect – Rakesh tells me that they bought a new motor-cycle.


Direct – Karim says, “I did not buy the book.”
Indirect – Karim says that he did not buy the book.


Direct – Mother says to me, “Did you wash your hands?”
Indirect – Mother asked me if I washed my hands.


Direct – My brother says to me, “Did you see the cat?”
Indirect – My brother asked me if I saw the cat.


Direct – Kamal says, “I was driving the car.”
Indirect – Kamal says that he was driving the car.”

Direct – He says, “I shall not play.”
Indirect – He says that he will not play.

Rule 2:

When the reporting verb is in past tense: 

Direct – ...said, “Reported speech.”
Indirect – ???

Verbs in the Direct Speech		Verbs in the Indirect Speech
Reporting Verb	Verbs in Reported Speech	–
Past tense (Said)	Present Indefinite	Past Indefinite
	Present Continuous	Past Continuous
	Present Perfect	Past Perfect
	Past Indefinite	Past Perfect
	Past Continuous	Past perfect Continuous
	Future indefinite	Would/should + main verb

       

Examples:

Direct – Koyel said to me, “I want a mobile phone.”
Indirect – Koyel told me that she wanted a mobile phone.


Direct – My brother said, “I don’t have an umbrella.”
Indirect – My brother said that he didn’t have an umbrella.

Direct – You said, “Do you know the boy?”
Indirect – You asked if I knew the boy. [Indirect speech must be an assertive sentence.]


Direct – You said to me, “I am going to Kolkata.”
Indirect – You said to me that you were going to Kolkata.

Direct – Iman said to me, “I was not planning for any tour.”
Indirect – Iman told me that he was not planning for any tour.

Direct – I said to my brother, “Are you enjoying the TV show?”
Indirect – I asked my brother if he was enjoying the TV show. [Indirect speech must be an assertive sentence.]

Direct – My uncle said to me, “I have bought it for you.”
Indirect – My uncle told me that he had bought that for me.

Direct – I say to Dwayne, “She has not read the story.”
Indirect – I told Dwayne that she had not read the story.


Direct – You said to her, “Have you gone to the market?”
Indirect – You asked her whether she had gone to the market.


Direct – She said to her husband, “I bought a shirt for you.”
Indirect – She told her husband that she had bought a shirt for him.


Direct – My friend said to me, “I did not call him.”
Indirect – My friend told me that he had not called him.

Direct – Ramit said, “Did I drive the car?”
Indirect – Ramit asked whether he had driven the car. [Indirect speech must be an assertive sentence.]

Thank you...