Have you ever had to tell someone what another person said? Like when your teacher asks, “What did your mom say about your homework?” and you suddenly become the “speech reporter” of the day? Welcome to the wonderful world of Direct and Indirect Speech, also known as Reported Speech.

Whether you’re whispering secrets, sharing gossip (don’t do it too often!), or just repeating what someone told you, this grammar topic is essential—and not as scary as it sounds.

So buckle up, ESL legends! Let’s turn you into expert message messengers.

🎯 What Is Direct Speech?

Direct Speech is when you repeat someone’s exact words, usually inside quotation marks.

For example:

Sarah said, “I love pizza.”

You’re quoting her word-for-word. It’s like pressing play on her voice and writing down what she said exactly as she said it.

You’ll know you’re dealing with Direct Speech when:

• There are quotation marks (“ ”)
• The sentence uses a reporting verb like say or ask
• The tense stays the same as the original

🧠 Pro tip:

The punctuation (commas, question marks) stays inside the quotes. Example:

He said, “I’m going to the gym.”

📦 What Is Indirect Speech (Reported Speech)?

Indirect Speech is when you tell someone what another person said—but not using their exact words. You report the message without quotes and usually change the tense.

For example:

Sarah said that she loved pizza.

You see what happened? We’re not quoting Sarah directly. We changed the tense (from “love” to “loved”) and dropped the quotation marks. That’s reported speech in action!

🧪 Why Change the Tense?

When you switch from Direct to Indirect Speech, the verb tense often shifts back in time. This is called backshifting.

Here’s a cheat sheet:

But wait! 😲 Not all sentences require a tense change. If someone told you something just now or if the statement is still true, you might keep the tense.

Example:

“The sun is hot.” → He said the sun is hot. (Yep, still hot. ☀️)

🔄 Changing Pronouns, Too!

When you report speech, you also have to be a little detective and figure out the right pronouns.

Original:

Mark said, “I am hungry.”

Reported:

Mark said he was hungry.

If someone else said it about you, the pronouns change:

Original:

You said, “I am hungry.”

Reported:

You said you were hungry.

See? You need to be a grammar ninja 🥷 and adjust those little words carefully.

❓ Reporting Questions

Questions don’t like to be bossed around—but in reported speech, they get a little makeover.

1. Yes/No Questions

“Do you like coffee?” → He asked if I liked coffee.
“Are they here?” → She asked whether they were there.

Notice: No more question marks! 😎

2. Wh- Questions

“Where do you live?” → He asked where I lived.
“What time is it?” → She asked what time it was.

We keep the question word (what, where, when), but the sentence becomes a statement.

💬 Reporting Commands and Requests

If someone tells you to do something, and you’re reporting that… guess what? You need “to” + verb.

Commands:

“Close the window!” → He told me to close the window.
“Don’t be late!” → She told me not to be late.

Requests:

“Please help me.” → He asked me to help him.
“Can you pass the salt?” → She asked me to pass the salt.

Easy peasy!

🎭 Let’s Play! (Quick Practice)

Can you turn these direct sentences into indirect speech? (Answers below!)

1. Mary said, “I am going to the party.”
2. Tom said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
3. Anna said, “I have finished my homework.”
4. Peter said, “Can you help me?”
5. Lucy said, “Don’t touch that!”

See also

Prepositions list – The definitive guide

🔍 Answers:

1. Mary said she was going to the party.
2. Tom said he would call me the next day.
3. Anna said she had finished her homework.
4. Peter asked if I could help him.
5. Lucy told me not to touch that.

Sure! Here’s an ESL exercise built around a short essay where learners must identify direct and indirect speech. It includes a clear instruction, the essay, and a solution table at the end.

✅ Solution Table

🏁 Want to Go Further?

Try rewriting the essay so that it’s all in either direct or indirect speech. Or write your own short story using both types of speech!

🧙‍♂️ Why It Matters (Beyond the Classroom)

Reported Speech is super useful in real life. Imagine these situations:

• You’re translating for a friend 👯
• You’re writing a story 📚
• You’re sharing the juicy details of a meeting 😏
• You’re summarizing what your boss said 💼

This grammar helps you communicate clearly, respectfully, and accurately. It’s like giving your words a professional makeover.

✨ Final Fun Tip: Become the Drama

Want to master reported speech? Pretend you’re a reporter for the ESL Times.

• Interview your pet 🐶: “Woof woof.” → My dog said he was excited.
• Pretend your lamp talks 🛋️: “Turn me off!” → The lamp told me to turn it off.
• Ask your fridge what’s inside 🧊: “I have juice.” → The fridge said it had juice.

You’ll laugh—and you’ll learn. Win-win!

🎓 In Summary

Direct and Indirect Speech aren’t just grammar rules—they’re superpowers for sharing conversations. Here’s what you now know:

✅ Direct = exact words in quotes
✅ Indirect = reported version without quotes
✅ Change tenses, pronouns, and time words
✅ Use “if/whether” for yes/no questions
✅ Use “to + verb” for commands and requests

Now go forth and report some speech—with style, clarity, and maybe a little mischief. 😄