Direct and Indirect Speech For Class 5

There are many such opportunities when we have a lead in explaining an incident or action and often they include repeating something said by someone such as a social situation as well action, email or presentation can also be included in these occasions. To explain what people said, there are two different types of speech direct speech and indirect speech. To learn more about these forms and to improve your English further, read the below articles.

Read the following sentences.

1. He said, “I have been studying since morning”.
2. He had said that he had been studying since morning.

In the first sentence, we can see the exact words spoken by a speaker, the exact words spoken is Direct speech.

In the second sentence, we can see that the words spoken are not exactly the speaker speak, the words that are not exact is Indirect speech.

Let us study Direct and Indirect Speech in detail.

1. Direct Speech

Direct speech is the words, statements, or clauses in which we convey the message of the speaker in his words without any change.

Examples:-

1. He said, “I am busy”.
2. She said,” I am not well”.
3. He said to me, “what are you doing”?
4. They said, “they have passed the examination”.
5. Rama said, “Will you listen to me”.
6. She shouted, “let me practice”.
7. The teacher said,” You performed well in exams”.
8. She said, “I am late”.
9. She asked,” Mayank will you help me”.
10. She asked, “Meet me in the hall”.

2. Indirect Speech

Indirect speech is the words, statements, phrases, or clauses in which we convey the message of the speaker in our own words to another person.

Examples:-

1. He said that he was busy.
2. He said that he was not well.
3. He asked me what I was doing.
4. They said that they had passed the examination.
5. Rama said that you would listen to her.
6. She shouted to let her dance.
7. The teacher said that they performed well in the exam.
8. She said that she was late.
9. She asked Mayank if he would help her.
10. She asked them to meet in the hall.

As you see in the above sentences direct speech is changed into indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech Rules

Rules for changing a sentence from direct to indirect speech.

1. The inverted commas have been removed after the verb in indirect speech. The comma after the reporting verb is removed in indirect speech.

Examples:-

Direct speech – Priyanka said,” She attended the meeting.”

Indirect speech – Priyanka said that she had attended the meeting.

2. First person is changed into the person of the subject, the second person is changed into the person of the subject and for the third person there is no change.

Examples:-

Direct speech: Mayank asked, ” Will you listen to me”.

Indirect speech: Mayank asked to listen to him.

3. The conjunction is used to join the reporting verb to the remaining sentence.

Examples:-

Direct speech: Ritika said, “She will go to the party”.

Indirect speech: Riya said that she will go to the party.

4. Verbs such as said and tell are used by one person to tell something to someone are called reporting verbs.

Examples:-

Direct speech: Pihu asked to her mother, “If she allows her to go to the party or not.”

Indirect speech: Pihu asked that if her mother allows her to go to the party or not.

5. If the reporting verb is present in the sentence then there is no change in the tense of the verb in which the reported speech has been taking place.

Examples:-

Direct speech: He said, “I want to buy a new car”.

Indirect speech: He said that he want to buy a new car.

6. When the speaker talks about a truth in which the tense of the sentence does not change.

Examples:-

Direct speech: The teacher said, “The sun rises in the East.”

Indirect speech: The teacher said that the sun rises in the East.

Study the table of changes in sentences from direct to indirect speech.

Change in Tenses

Change in Pronouns

Change in  Adverbs (time or place)

Key Changes from Direct to Indirect Speech:

1. Tense Shift: Often, the tense shifts from present to past.

•     “I am” → “he was”
•     “I will” → “he would”

2. Pronoun Change: Pronouns shift based on who is speaking.

•     “I” → “he” or “she”

3. Time and Place Words: Time words like “today” may change to “that day.”

•      “Today” → “that day”
•     “Tomorrow” → “the next day”

Synthesis & Transformation                             

Direct vs Indirect Speech

Also read:

• Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheet for Class 5 with Answers
• Direct and Indirect Speech for Class 6
• Synonyms and Antonyms for class 5

Direct and Indirect Speech For Class 5 PDF