Direct-Indirect Reported Speech
The "Shift" Rules ("மாற்ற" விதிகள்)
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
| Simple Present (eat) | Simple Past (ate) |
| Present Continuous (am eating) | Past Continuous (was eating) |
| Simple Past (ate) | Past Perfect (had eaten) |
| Will / Can | Would / Could |
| Today / Tomorrow | That day / The next day |
Exercises: Change into Indirect Speech
1. Rahul said, "I am reading a storybook."
Answer: Rahul said that he was reading a storybook.
பதில் எப்படி சரியானது? "I" changes to "he" (referring to Rahul), and the present continuous "am reading" shifts to the past continuous "was reading." விளக்கம்: "நான்" என்பது "அவன்" (ராகுலைக் குறிப்பிடுவது) என்று மாறுகிறது, மேலும் தற்போதைய தொடர்ச்சி "நான் படித்து வருகிறேன்" என்பது கடந்த கால தொடர்ச்சி "படித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தேன்" என்பதற்கு மாறுகிறது. இதைப் போலவே, மற்ற பதில்களையும் புரிந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்...
2. The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east."
Answer: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
- விளக்கம்: கிழக்கில் உதிக்கும் சூரியன் மாறாதது. எனவே வினைச்சொல் மாறாது. ஒரு வாக்கியம் ஒரு நிரந்தர உண்மையைக் கூறும்போது, அதன் காலம் மாறாது.
3. Priya said to me, "I will go to Delhi tomorrow."
Answer: Priya told me that she would go to Delhi the next day.
Explanation: "Said to" becomes "told." "Will" changes to "would," and "tomorrow" changes to "the next day." விளக்கம்: "சொன்னது" என்பது "சொல்லப்பட்டது" என்று மாறுகிறது. "WILL" என்பது "WOULD" என்றும், "நாளை" என்பது "அடுத்த நாள்" என்றும் மாறுகிறது.
4. Aman said, "I have finished my homework."
Answer: Aman said that he had finished his homework.
Explanation: The present perfect "have finished" shifts to the past perfect "had finished." The pronoun "my" changes to "his." விளக்கம்: "முடிந்துவிட்டது" என்பது கடந்த கால "முடிந்துவிட்டது" என்பதற்கு மாறுகிறது. "என்" என்ற PRONOUN "அவரது" என்று மாறுகிறது.
5. The boys said, "We are playing cricket."
Answer: The boys said that they were playing cricket.
Explanation: "We" (plural) becomes "they," and "are playing" becomes "were playing." "நாங்கள்" (பன்மை) "அவர்கள்" ஆகிறது, "விளையாடுகிறார்கள்" என்பது "விளையாடிக் கொண்டிருந்தனர்" ஆகிறது.
6. My mother said, "I cooked pasta for dinner."
Answer: My mother said that she had cooked pasta for dinner.
Explanation: The simple past ("cooked") usually shifts to the past perfect ("had cooked") in indirect speech. "cooked" என்ற simple past tense "had cooked" என்ற past perfect காலத்திற்கு மாறுகிறது.
7. He said, "Can you help me?"
Answer: He asked if I could help him.
Explanation: கேள்விகளுக்கு, "said" என்பதற்குப் பதிலாக "asked" ஐப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். இது ஆம்/இல்லை கேள்வி என்பதால், "if" ஐப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். "Can" என்பது "could" ஆக மாறுகிறது.
8. Riya said, "I am very happy today."
Answer: Riya said that she was very happy that day.
- Explanation: "நான் இருக்கிறேன்" என்பது "அவள் இருந்தாள்" என்று மாறுகிறது, மேலும் "இன்று" என்ற நேரச் சொல் "அந்த நாள்" என்று மாற வேண்டும்.
9. The coach said to the players, "Don't give up."
Answer: The coach advised the players not to give up.
Explanation: இது ஒரு கட்டளை/ஆலோசனை. நாம் "advised" மற்றும் "to + verb" வடிவத்தைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். "Don't" என்பது "not to" ஆக மாறுகிறது.
10. She said, "I live in Mumbai."
Answer: She said that she lived in Mumbai.
Explanation: The simple present "live" shifts to the simple past "lived." எளிய நிகழ்காலம், எளிய கடந்த காலத்திற்கு மாறுகிறது.
1. Rahul said, "I am reading a storybook."
Answer: Rahul said that he was reading a storybook.
பதில் எப்படி சரியானது? "I" changes to "he" (referring to Rahul), and the present continuous "am reading" shifts to the past continuous "was reading." விளக்கம்: "நான்" என்பது "அவன்" (ராகுலைக் குறிப்பிடுவது) என்று மாறுகிறது, மேலும் தற்போதைய தொடர்ச்சி "நான் படித்து வருகிறேன்" என்பது கடந்த கால தொடர்ச்சி "படித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தேன்" என்பதற்கு மாறுகிறது. இதைப் போலவே, மற்ற பதில்களையும் புரிந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்...
2. The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east."
Answer: The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
- விளக்கம்: கிழக்கில் உதிக்கும் சூரியன் மாறாதது. எனவே வினைச்சொல் மாறாது. ஒரு வாக்கியம் ஒரு நிரந்தர உண்மையைக் கூறும்போது, அதன் காலம் மாறாது.
3. Priya said to me, "I will go to Delhi tomorrow."
Answer: Priya told me that she would go to Delhi the next day.
Explanation: "Said to" becomes "told." "Will" changes to "would," and "tomorrow" changes to "the next day." விளக்கம்: "சொன்னது" என்பது "சொல்லப்பட்டது" என்று மாறுகிறது. "WILL" என்பது "WOULD" என்றும், "நாளை" என்பது "அடுத்த நாள்" என்றும் மாறுகிறது.
4. Aman said, "I have finished my homework."
Answer: Aman said that he had finished his homework.
Explanation: The present perfect "have finished" shifts to the past perfect "had finished." The pronoun "my" changes to "his." விளக்கம்: "முடிந்துவிட்டது" என்பது கடந்த கால "முடிந்துவிட்டது" என்பதற்கு மாறுகிறது. "என்" என்ற PRONOUN "அவரது" என்று மாறுகிறது.
5. The boys said, "We are playing cricket."
Answer: The boys said that they were playing cricket.
Explanation: "We" (plural) becomes "they," and "are playing" becomes "were playing." "நாங்கள்" (பன்மை) "அவர்கள்" ஆகிறது, "விளையாடுகிறார்கள்" என்பது "விளையாடிக் கொண்டிருந்தனர்" ஆகிறது.
6. My mother said, "I cooked pasta for dinner."
Answer: My mother said that she had cooked pasta for dinner.
Explanation: The simple past ("cooked") usually shifts to the past perfect ("had cooked") in indirect speech. "cooked" என்ற simple past tense "had cooked" என்ற past perfect காலத்திற்கு மாறுகிறது.
7. He said, "Can you help me?"
Answer: He asked if I could help him.
Explanation: கேள்விகளுக்கு, "said" என்பதற்குப் பதிலாக "asked" ஐப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். இது ஆம்/இல்லை கேள்வி என்பதால், "if" ஐப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். "Can" என்பது "could" ஆக மாறுகிறது.
8. Riya said, "I am very happy today."
Answer: Riya said that she was very happy that day.
- Explanation: "நான் இருக்கிறேன்" என்பது "அவள் இருந்தாள்" என்று மாறுகிறது, மேலும் "இன்று" என்ற நேரச் சொல் "அந்த நாள்" என்று மாற வேண்டும்.
9. The coach said to the players, "Don't give up."
Answer: The coach advised the players not to give up.
Explanation: இது ஒரு கட்டளை/ஆலோசனை. நாம் "advised" மற்றும் "to + verb" வடிவத்தைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். "Don't" என்பது "not to" ஆக மாறுகிறது.
10. She said, "I live in Mumbai."
Answer: She said that she lived in Mumbai.
Explanation: The simple present "live" shifts to the simple past "lived." எளிய நிகழ்காலம், எளிய கடந்த காலத்திற்கு மாறுகிறது.
Direct & Indirect Speech Practice
Instructions: Read the Direct Speech sentences below. Click on any sentence to reveal the correct Indirect Speech version.
These sentences are all Imperative Sentences (commands, requests, or advice). In Indirect Speech, we change the reporting verb to words like ordered, requested, advised, or told, and we use a "to + verb" (infinitive) structure.
Grammar Tip: The "Not To" Rule
When a teacher or elder says "Don't..." or "Do not...", the Indirect Speech always follows this pattern:
Indirect Speech Answers
Direct: “Bring me a glass of milk,” said the sage to the villagers. Indirect: The sage ordered the villagers to bring him a glass of milk.
Why: "Said to" becomes "ordered" because it's a command. "Me" changes to "him."
Direct: “Sit down, boys,” said the teacher. Indirect: The teacher asked the boys to sit down.
Why: We use "to sit" to connect the command. You could also use "ordered" or "told."
Direct: “Halt!” shouted the officer to his men. Indirect: The officer commanded his men to halt.
Why: "Halt" is a military command, so "commanded" or "ordered" fits perfectly.
Direct: “Take off your hat,” the king said to the Hatter. Indirect: The king ordered the Hatter to take off his hat.
Why: "Your" changes to "his" to match the Hatter.
Direct: The teacher said to him, “Do not read so fast.” Indirect: The teacher advised him not to read so fast.
Why: For negative commands (Do not), we use "not to".
Direct: He said to me, “Wait until I come.” Indirect: He told me to wait until he came.
Why: The present tense "come" shifts to the past tense "came."
Direct: “Hurry up,” he said to his servant, “Do not waste time.” Indirect: He ordered his servant to hurry up and not to waste time.
Why: We combined two commands using "and."
Direct: “Run away, children,” said their mother. Indirect: Their mother told the children to run away.
Why: The noun "children" moves from inside the quotes to become the object of the reporting verb.
Direct: He said, “Daughter, take my golden jug, and fetch me some water from the Well.” Indirect: He asked his daughter to take his golden jug and fetch him some water from the well.
Why: "My" becomes "his" and "me" becomes "him."
Direct: “Go down to the bazaar. Bring me some oil and a lump of ice.” ordered his master. Indirect: His master ordered him to go down to the bazaar and to bring him some oil and a lump of ice.
Why: We use "to" before both actions (go and bring).
To change Indirect Speech back into Direct Speech, we have to reverse the "shifting" rules. We restore the original pronouns, change the past tense back to the present (usually), and re-insert quotation marks.
Conversion Guide: From Indirect to Direct
Remove "that" or "if": Use a comma and quotation marks instead.
Shift Tenses Forward: "Would" becomes "will," "had" becomes "have/has," and "past" often becomes "present."
Restore Time/Place: "The next day" becomes "tomorrow," and "that" becomes "this."
Indirect to Direct Speech Answers
| # | Indirect Speech | Direct Speech (The Answer) |
| 1 | Nevin asked his father when the next letter would come. | Nevin said to his father, "When will the next letter come?" |
| 2 | I wrote that I would visit him next day. | I wrote, "I will visit you tomorrow." |
| 3 | I told them to be quiet. | I said to them, "Be quiet!" |
| 4 | Lakshan asked me if I had anything to say. | Lakshan said to me, "Do you have anything to say?" |
| 5 | An old mouse asked who would bell the cat. | An old mouse asked, |
| 6 | Mervin said that he wanted to be a soldier. | Mervin said, "I want to be a soldier." |
| 7 | Ebin asked me what I wanted. | Ebin said to me, "What do you want?" |
| 8 | Bhagya said that she had seen that picture. | Bhagya said, "I have seen this pi |
| 9 | The stranger asked Nasrin where she lived. | The stranger said to Nasrin, "Where do you live?" |
| 10 | I asked Mary if she would lend me a pencil. | I said to Mary, "Will you lend me a pencil?" |
Indirect Speech Answers : INTERROGATIVE SPEECH (QUESTIONS)
Direct: “What do you want?” he said to her. Indirect: He asked her what she wanted.
Explanation: "What" acts as the connector. The simple present "do... want" changes to the simple past "wanted." Note that "do" is dropped because it is no longer a question.
Direct: He said, “How's your father?” Indirect: He asked how her (or his) father was.
Explanation: "How's" is "How is." The "is" moves to the end of the phrase and becomes "was."
Direct: “Are you coming home with me?” he asked. Indirect: He asked if I was coming home with him.
Explanation: Since this is a Yes/No question, we use if. The pronoun "you" changes to "I" (or he/she depending on context) and "me" changes to "him."
Direct: The poor man exclaimed, “Will none of you help me?” Indirect: The poor man asked desperately if none of them would help him.
Explanation: "Will" changes to "would." We use "if" as the connector. "Exclaimed" can be kept or changed to "asked" to show it is a question.
Direct: “Don't you know the way home?” asked I. Indirect: I asked him (or her) if he didn't know the way home.
Explanation: The negative "don't" becomes "didn't." Because it's a Yes/No question, we use if.
