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Direct and Indirect Speech | Kerala PSC LDC
- Fact 1 of 8🗣️
'Say' or 'tell'? Check for the object
'Say' is normally followed directly by the words spoken or by 'to + person', as in 'He said to me'. 'Tell' needs a person as object, as in 'He told me', so the object is a common exam trap.
- Fact 2 of 8⏪
Backshift: present becomes past in reported speech
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense usually moves back one step. 'She said, "I am happy"' becomes 'She said that she was happy'. This is one of the most frequently tested rules.
- Fact 3 of 8🔄
Modals change in reported speech
'Can' becomes 'could', 'may' becomes 'might', 'will' becomes 'would' and 'shall' becomes 'should' when reported. For example, 'I will go' becomes 'He said he would go'.
- Fact 4 of 8📅
Time and place words shift too
'Now' changes to 'then', 'today' to 'that day', 'tomorrow' to 'the next day' and 'here' to 'there'. These changes are standard in reported speech and often appear in competitive exams.
- Fact 5 of 8❓
Yes/no questions use 'if' or 'whether'
A yes/no question is reported with 'if' or 'whether' and normal statement word order. 'He asked, "Are you ready?"' becomes 'He asked whether I was ready', with no question mark.
- Fact 6 of 8🙏
Commands become 'to + infinitive'
Imperative sentences are reported with 'tell', 'order', 'advise' or 'request' followed by 'to + infinitive'. 'Sit down,' he said becomes 'He told me to sit down'.
- Fact 7 of 8🌍
Universal truths keep their present tense
If the reported statement is a general truth or a fact that is still true, the tense does not change. 'The teacher said that the earth is round' keeps 'is', which is a common point of confusion in exams.
- Fact 8 of 8😲
Exclamations become statements with feeling
Exclamatory sentences such as 'What a beautiful day!' are usually reported as 'He exclaimed with joy that it was a beautiful day'. The verb 'exclaimed' shows the emotion.
