Direct and Indirect Speech Rules Explained with Chart 2025 - Summary
Knowing the rules for direct and indirect speech is important for reporting what someone said in English. Direct speech repeats the exact words inside quotation marks, while indirect speech shares the meaning without using the exact words. Understanding these rules helps you tell stories and report conversations clearly.
Guide to Direct and Indirect Speech Rules with Chart
When you change direct speech into indirect speech, there are some rules you need to follow. This guide will help you learn those rules easily, along with a simple chart you can download.
Main Elements of Direct and Indirect Speech
Before learning the rules, it’s important to know the two main parts of direct and indirect speech.
Reporting Verb: This shows who is speaking or telling the story. Common verbs are “said,” “told,” “asked,” or “says.” For example, in the sentence:
He says, “I have finished my homework.”
“He says” is the reporting verb that introduces the words spoken.
Reported Speech: This is the actual message or words spoken by the person. In the same example, “I have finished my homework” is the reported speech.
Knowing these parts helps you change direct speech into indirect speech correctly.
You can download the Direct and Indirect Speech Rules Chart PDF from the link below for easy learning and practice. Be sure to download this PDF for quick revision whenever you need it.