Interactive Learning Experience: Kids participate in fun grammar activities, storytelling sessions, and role-play exercises that bring concepts like direct and indirect speech to life.
Personalized Feedback from Expert Mentors: PlanetSpark mentors provide one-on-one guidance, track progress, and give customized feedback for improvement.
Practice-Oriented Curriculum: Worksheets, quizzes, and speaking exercises help children practice grammar in different formats until they gain mastery.
Focus on Communication Skills: The course builds confidence in speaking and writing, helping kids use direct and indirect speech naturally in real conversations.
Gamified Learning Modules: Lessons include interactive tools, digital exercises, and gamified challenges that keep children motivated and excited to learn.
Holistic Development: The course develops critical thinking, fluency, and creativity while strengthening grammar foundations.
Direct and Indirect Speech Rules, Examples & Usage Guide
Mastering direct and indirect speech is key to clear communication and effective writing. Direct speech quotes someone’s exact words, while indirect speech reports them. Learning these rules sharpens grammar, builds confidence, and helps students express ideas accurately in both writing and conversation.
This guide covers:
Direct and indirect speech rules explained clearly
Step-by-step examples for kids
Engaging exercises and tips
By the end, your child will not only know the rules but also apply them confidently in speaking and writing, making English learning fun and rewarding.
What Is Direct Speech?
Direct speech is when we quote someone’s exact words and place them inside quotation marks. The words remain the same except for punctuation.
Examples:
She said, “I am happy.”
John asked, “Are you coming tomorrow?”
He shouted, “Stop!”
Key points to remember:
Use quotation marks correctly
Always capitalize the first word inside the quotes
Keep the original tense, pronouns, and time expressions unchanged
What Is Indirect (Reported) Speech?
Indirect speech, or reported speech, is when we paraphrase what someone said without quoting their exact words. In this form, pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions often change.
Examples:
Direct: She said, “I am happy.”
Indirect: She said (that) she was happy.
Direct: John asked, “Are you coming tomorrow?”
Indirect: John asked whether I was coming the next day.
Features of indirect speech:
No quotation marks
“That” is often used but optional
Tenses usually shift (called backshifting)
Pronouns and time/place words may change
Why use indirect speech?
Makes communication concise and natural
Provides clarity in news, reports, or essays
Adds flexibility for summarizing conversations
Rules for Converting Direct → Indirect Speech
1 Tense Changes (Backshifting)
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the original tense usually shifts one step back.
📌 Note: Past Perfect usually stays the same.
2. Pronoun Changes
Pronouns change depending on the speaker and listener.
“I” → he/she
“We” → they
“You” → I/he/she/they (depends on context)
Examples:
She said, “I am tired.” → She said that she was tired.
They said, “We will come.” → They said that they would come.
3. Time & Place Changes
Some common shifts:
now → then
today → that day
tomorrow → the next day
yesterday → the previous day
here → there
Example:
Direct: “I will meet you here tomorrow.” → Indirect: He said that he would meet me there the next day.
4. Conjunctions & “That”
Formal: He said that he was coming.
Informal: He said he was coming.
Do not use “that” in questions.
5. Reporting Verbs
Say → general reporting (“He said he was happy.”)
Tell → specifies listener (“He told me he was happy.”)
Ask → for questions
Order/Request/Advise → for commands and suggestions
6. Questions
Yes/No Questions: Use if or whether.
Direct: “Do you like pizza?” → Indirect: He asked if I liked pizza.
Wh- Questions: Keep the Wh-word but use statement form.
Direct: “Where do you live?” → Indirect: He asked where I lived.
7. Commands & Requests
Direct: “Please help me.” → Indirect: She requested me to help her.
Direct: “Don’t be late.” → Indirect: He told me not to be late.
8. Modals in Indirect Speech
can → could
may → might
must → had to
will → would
shall → should
Example:
Direct: “I can swim.” → Indirect: She said that she could swim.
9. When Not to Change Tense
If the reporting verb is present/future
Direct: He says, “I am hungry.”
Indirect: He says he is hungry.
Universal truths
Direct: “The sun rises in the east.”
Indirect: He said that the sun rises in the east.
If fact is still true
Direct: She said, “I live in Delhi.”
Indirect: She said she lives in Delhi.
10. Converting Indirect → Direct Speech
Add quotation marks
Restore tense
Adjust pronouns and adverbs
Example:
Indirect: He said that he would meet me the next day.
Direct: He said, “I will meet you tomorrow.”
11. Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
❌ Forgetting tense change → Always check the reporting verb.
❌ Wrong pronouns → Adjust based on speaker/listener.
❌ Missing “if/whether” → Always use it in yes/no questions.
❌ Mixing direct & indirect → Keep one form consistent.
✅ Tip: Always re-read your converted sentence to ensure it sounds natural.
12. Practice Exercises
Exercise A: Convert Direct → Indirect
He said, “I will help you tomorrow.”
She asked, “Do you like chocolate?”
They said, “We are watching a movie.”
He told me, “Don’t worry about it.”
She said, “The earth revolves around the sun.”
Answers:
He said that he would help me the next day.
She asked if I liked chocolate.
They said that they were watching a movie.
He told me not to worry about it.
She said that the earth revolves around the sun.
Exercise B: Convert Indirect → Direct
She said that she would come the next morning.
He asked whether I had seen the movie.
They said that they had been studying hard.
She told him not to be late.
He said that the train leaves at 6 a.m.
Answers:
She said, “I will come tomorrow morning.”
He asked, “Did you see the movie?”
They said, “We have been studying hard.”
She said, “Don’t be late.”
He said, “The train leaves at 6 a.m.”
PlanetSpark Grammar Course: Learn English Grammar the fun way
Learning grammar doesn't have to be boring or stressful. At PlanetSpark, kids discover grammar concepts like direct and indirect speech in an engaging and interactive way. Instead of memorizing rules, children learn through stories, games, live activities, and real-life examples that make learning fun and practical. The course is designed by experts to ensure kids not only understand grammar but also apply it confidently in speaking and writing.
Why choose Planet Spark's English Grammar Course?
Unlock Your Child’s True Potential in English
Mastering direct and indirect speech is more than just a grammar lesson, it lays the foundation for clear communication, confident writing, and effective expression in both school and everyday life. When children understand direct and indirect speech rules, they can accurately report conversations, narrate stories, and excel in English assignments, building skills that last a lifetime.
At PlanetSpark, learning is personalised, structured, and activity-based, making tricky grammar concepts like reported speech rules and examples easy to grasp. Our AI-powered exercises adapt to your child’s pace, providing instant feedback and engaging challenges that transform learning into a fun experience. From practicing direct and indirect speech exercises to exploring statements, questions, commands, and exclamations, every step reinforces understanding while boosting confidence and communication skills.By integrating grammar learning with interactive storytelling, quizzes, and real-life examples, PlanetSpark ensures that children don’t just memorize rules, they apply them naturally in speaking and writing. This approach helps children:
Improve academic performance in English
Enhance comprehension and writing clarity
Communicate effectively in social and professional settings
Build confidence in public speaking and storytelling
With PlanetSpark’s personalised learning and AI tools, English learning becomes enjoyable, practical, and goal-oriented, turning a challenging subject into an exciting journey for your child.
You can also read -
Basic English Grammar for Kids: Easy & Effective Ways to Teach
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct speech quotes a person’s exact words, often using quotation marks. For example:
- Direct: Ria said, “I am reading a book.”
- Indirect speech, also called reported speech, conveys what someone said without quoting them word-for-word, and often requires tense or pronoun changes:
- Indirect: Ria said that she was reading a book.
- Understanding this difference is essential for writing, speaking, and completing school grammar exercises accurately.
Pronouns in indirect speech are adjusted to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For instance:
- Direct: “I love ice cream,” said Ravi.
- Indirect: Ravi said that he loved ice cream.
Here, “I” changes to “he” to match Ravi’s perspective. Correct pronoun usage is a key part of direct and indirect speech grammar and helps avoid confusion in sentences.
Yes! Modern EdTech platforms like PlanetSpark make learning direct and indirect speech rules fun and interactive. Using AI-powered exercises and personalized learning modules, children can:
- Convert direct speech to indirect speech and vice versa.
- Practice statements, questions, commands, and exclamations.
- Get instant feedback to correct mistakes.
This approach ensures kids learn at their own pace while retaining concepts effectively.
Absolutely! Effective learning involves practicing direct and indirect speech exercises for all sentence types:
- Statements: Simple sentences your child can report or convert.
- Questions: Both Yes/No and Wh-questions.
- Commands & Requests: Sentences like “Please close the door.”
- Exclamations: Expressing emotions, e.g., “What a beautiful day!”
Regular practice across these types builds confidence in both speaking and writing.
Short, consistent practice is better than long, occasional sessions. Ideally:
- 10–15 minutes daily focused on converting sentences and solving exercises.
- Use storytelling or daily conversations to reinforce concepts naturally.
- Gradually increase difficulty as your child masters basic direct and indirect speech rules.
Download Free Worksheets
Personalized Communication Report
Record a video to get a AI generated personalized communication report for your child
Hi There, want to try these
tips for your child with
LIVE with our expert coach?
Let's check your child's
English fluency