Direct and Indirect Speech For Class 5

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 speech 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.

Rules of Direct and Indirect Speech For Class 5

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)

Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheet For Class 5

Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. She says, “I study in seventh class.”
2. The teacher said, “She is a clever girl.”
3. She said to her mother, “I had completed my homework.”
4. The teacher said, “She does not work hard.”
5. He said, “It has been raining since morning.”
6. She said, “I took breakfast in the evening.”
7. She said, “I am suffering from a fever.”
8. They said, “We had spoken the truth.”
9. He said, “I shall leave you soon.”
10. Alex said, “I can solve the sums.”
11. Our teacher said, “We live on Earth.”
12. She said, “My mother is cooking food.”
13. Rama asked, “Where did Suhani live?”
14. She said, “We should obey our parents.”
15. She said to me, “Who teaches us Maths.”
16. Mehak said, “I shall play now.’
17. Ravi said, “I have been studying since morning.”
18. They said, “We shall help you in the morning.”
19. Poonam said, “I arrived before you.”
20. He said, “I am going out for dinner.”

Answers

1. She says that she studies in the seventh class.
2. The teacher said that she is a clever girl.
3. She said to her mother that she had completed her homework.
4. The teachers said that she does not work hard.
5. He said that it had been raining since morning.
6. She said that she had taken her breakfast in the morning.
7. She said that she was suffering from a fever.
8. They said that we have spoken the truth.
9. He said that he would leave me soon.
10. She said that she could solve the sums.
11. Our teacher said that we live on Earth.
12. She said that her mother cooked food.
13. Rama asked where did Suhani live.
14. She said that we should obey our parents.
15. She asked me who taught us Maths.
16. Mahesh said that she would play now.
17. Ravi said that she had been studying since morning.
18. They said that they would help you in the morning.
19. Poonam said that he had arrived before you.
20. He said that he was going out for dinner.

Also read: Synonyms and Antonyms for class 5

Direct and Indirect Speech For Class 5 PDF