Unit 7
DIRECT AND
INDIRECT SPEECH
Introduction
Direct Speech )*+, - ./
0
1- .23 /
0 .4. 5 .4
2 4 7
4/
0 1 5*
 9: 

; <reporting verbB
4/
0 2 5*
 ;C
70)*- .
14/
0*   .  * )7
;270 

; <reported verbB
;
He says , <I will arrive at noon.B
(says = reporting verb will arrive = reported verb)
Indirect Speech )*+, 4/
0
:;- .270 4.

Direct Speech 2 4*
2.
;
He says that he arrives at noon
Direct and Indirect Speech 9 ;
1 4 
/ 7
1. Direct and Indirect Statements (4 
:;)
2. Direct and Indirect Requests or Commands (42 )7-0)
3. Direct and Indirect Questions (4-+*)
4. Direct and Indirect Mixed Types (9 3*)

Direct and Indirect Statement

)*+,  4- :; *. 
54C
70 )*-  . 2\ C

:
05 Direct Statements
1 Indirect Statements *
2\.
\
1. reporting verb <say (s) toB 
:
0
1 <tellB (s)
<said toB 
:
0
1 <toldB


 

 

 



2.
70*. that
3.
:
04C
70)*- .4.
:
0C)
)*7  4/
0 1
reported verb 
:
0*C)*; + reporting verb
1 Present Tense reported 
tense
.* + reporting verb
1 Past Tense 
:
0 reported verb .
\
Direct
Indirect
1. Present Simple

:
0
1
Past Simple
2. Present Continuous

:
0
1
Past Continuous
3. Present Perfect

:
0
1
Past Perfect
4. Past Simple

:
0
1
Past Perfect
5. Past Continuous

:
0
1
Past Perfect Continuous
6. Future Simple

:
0
1
Future in the Past
(would , should)

:
0 Adverb of time .
\
Direct
Indirect
1. today

:
0
1
that day
2. yesterday

:
0
1
the day before
the previous day
3. last night

:
0
1
the night before
the previous night
4. last week (year)

:
0
1
the previous week (year)
5. ago

:
0
1
before
6. tomorrow

:
0
1
the next day
7. next week (year)

:
0
1
the following week (year)
8. now

:
0
1
then


 

 

 



!"#$%&'(!#) *+,#Direct
Indirect
1. this
that
2. these
those
3. here
there
.+/'"0&,
Direct : He says <I always get up early.B
Indirect : He says that he always gets up early.
Direct : She says to me , <I finished my workB
Indirect : She tells me that she finished her work.
Direct : My teacher said , <I want to follow this project.B
Indirect : My teacher said that she wanted to follow that project
Direct : He said to me , <I am cooking now.B
Indirect : He told me that he was cooking then.
Direct : She said , <I lived here two years agoB
Indirect : She said that she had lived there two years before.
Direct : He father said , <I have been abroad.B
Indirect : He father said that he has been abroad.
Direct : She said to me , <I will go swimming tomorrow.B
Indirect : She told me that she would go swimming the next day.
Direct : He said , <I was sleeping when she came.B
Indirect : He said that he had been sleeping when she had come.


 

 

 



Direct and Indirect Requests / Commands

)*+, 42 )7-0 
54C
70)*- .
6+-#.'#&8!"#9# Indirect Requests or Commands :*+,#1. reporting verb <said, said toB 
:
0
1
commanded (-) /) :/))
asked (-2;)
ordered (-)  ;)
begged (-2/
002,\)
told (C./0)
warned (-
7)
2. ;.* + to + reported verb C  infinitive +
14-0)72
3. ;.* + not + to + reported verb C  infinitive +
14-0)* )7
2
4. reported verb /
0*): to 5
1 infinitive ; reported verb 705
:
0
tense
1 past 02,\
5. Adverb of time 9:-70i
:
0
;
.
 C Statement
.+/'"0&,
Direct : She said to her child , <Do as I tell you.B
Indirect : She told her child to do as she told him.
Direct : Sit down, please, <said the owner to the guests.B
Indirect : The owner asked the guests to sit down.
Direct : His friend said to him, <Do not be late tomorrow.B
Indirect : His friend warned him not to be late the next day.
Direct : He said to me, <Do not choose this course.B
Indirect : He told me not to choose that course.


 

 

 



Direct and Indirect Questions

)*+, 4-+* 
54C
70)*- . /
0 ;C 4-+*
552,\. Helping Verbs , special Verb, )7 Question Words
6+-#.'#&8!"#9# Direct Questions 9# Indirect Questions *
.
\
1. Reporting Verb <say, said, tell, toldB 
:
0
1
<ask, asked, inquire (d) ofB
2. +
14-+*C Direct 2,\. Helping Verbs 5C if )7 whether
1
-
70* 9:;.2*C4-+*/
0

4C  
:; .
70)*-+*

3. +4-+*C Direct 2,\. Question Words 5C Question Words \

1-
70*9:;.2*C4-+*/
0

4C  
:; 9:.
70)*
-+*
4. tense 2 reported verb 5
:
0)7*; 2,\ ; reporting verb
- + reporting verb
1 present tense, reported verb *;
:
0 tense 9;3
*C4
- + reporting verb
1 past tense, reported verb 
:
0 tense
1 past 02,\
9:3*C4.
.+/'"0&,
Direct : She says to me, <Do you want some coffee?B
Indirect : She asks me whether (if) I want some more coffee.
Direct : He said him, <Is your father happy?B
Indirect : He asked him, whether (if) his father was happy.
Direct : They said to us, <Where will you go next Monday?B
Indirect : They inquired of us where we would go the following Monday.
C:&"C.D : 24C
70)*- . +
1 <youB )7 <yourB C4
Indirect 5
:
0**): reported verb
;


 

 

 



* 7 us 
1 we * 7 me 
1 I

* 7 him 
1 his + noun (*;)
5. 4-/
0*
reporting verb 552,\.:
C -+* <Can you tell meF?B
)7  
:; <Please tell menB 
:
0 Indirect C)/-*2\ 2,3,4 HI&/9# $%&H&:
JI&"8KL"$.I',:$8(!',C:&"$/&:H&:*I/"
;
.+/'"0&,
Direct : Do you know, NWhat is he doing?B
Indirect : Do you know what he is doing?B
Direct : I donOt remember, NHas he ever been to Europe?B
Indirect : I donOt remember whether (if) he has ever been to Europe.
Direct : Find out, NWhere did she go?B
Indirect : Find out, where she went.

Mixed Types
)*+, *4 2 4
2. 55
14-:; 2 4 )7
2 2 4 )7-+* 2 4 )7-:; 9:-+* )7-:;9:2 )72
9:-+*
1):C
:
0 Direct
1 Indirect 9 3* (Mixed Type) *
.
\
1. Two Statements *4.:; 2 4
2.C Indirect C and that

70 *);  2 4 - ) 
:
0 ; 70 C)
1 *): 2
:
0  Indirect
Statements ..:;*9:
;
.+/'"0&,
Direct : She said to me, <I lost my pencil.B <I canpt find it.B
Indirect : She told me that she had lost her pencil and that she couldnpt find it.
2. Two Questions *4-+* 2 4 C Indirect C)
70*. and 9:C)

:
0*):2 Indirect Questions ..:;*9:
;


 

 

 



.+/'"0&,
Direct : He said <Do you learn English?B <Is it boring?B
Indirect : He asked if (whether) I learn English and if it was boring.
Direct : She says. <When will you go abroad?B <With whom do you go?B
Indirect : She asks when I will go abroad and with whom I go.
3. Two Commands or Requests *4-0)72 2 4C Indirect C
and + to + verb )7 -0 (2) )*C and not + to + verb
70*
;
Direct : He said, <Stand up.B <Read this passageB
Indirect : He told me to stand up and to read that passage.
Direct : She said to him, <Do not go outB <Do not play in the open air.B
Indirect : She told him not to go out and not to play in the open air.
4. Question and Statement *4-09:4-:;
+4):
1 Statement
70*. and said that )7 adding that
+4):
1 Question
70*. and asked if (whether) )7 and asked when
(Question Words)
.+/'"0&,
Direct : He said to her, <When will you return home?B <I will be ready at any time.B
Indirect : He asked her when she would return home and said that he would be ready
at any time.
Direct : She said. <You look pale.B <Are you sick?B
Indirect : She said that, I looked pale and asked if I was sick.
Direct : She said, <I take an English Course.B <Which course do you take?B
Indirect : She said that she took an English course and asked which course took.
5. Statement and Command *4-:; 9:4-0 )72
2
.
- +4):
1 Statement
70*. and said that )7 adding that
- +4):
1 Command
70*. and tell (told) + object + (not) to + V


 

 
.+/'"0&,
Direct :
Indirect :
Direct :
Indirect :
Direct :
Indirect :

 



He said to me. <Do not go outB <I will go to the party.B

He told me not to go out and said that he would go to the party.
She said to him, <Ipm very bored with you.B
She told him that she was very bored with him and told him to go away.
His mother said, <Ipm doing my work.B <Donpt make a loud noise.B
His mother said that she was doing her work and told him not to make a
loud noise.
6. Command (Request) + Question *4-0 (2) 9:4-+*
2
.
- +4):
1 Command (request)
70*. and tell (told) + object + (not) to + V
- +4):
1 Question
70*. and ask (led) + if (whether) )7 and ask (ed)
+ question words
.+/'"0&,
Direct : He said to me, <Did you see Mali?B <Find her.B
Indirect : He asked me If I had seen Mali and told me to find her.
Direct : She said to the student, <DonOt make a loud noise.B
<Have you finished your homework?B
Indirect : She told the students not to make a loud noise and asked if they had
finished their homework.


 

 

 



U8D
1. Indirect Statement
subject

say , says
said
that subject + v
tell , tells object + that
told

2. Indirect request , Command

command (ed)
ask (ed)
subject order (ed)
tell , told
warn (ed)
beg (ged)

object to
v (infinitive)
not to

3. Indirect question

subject

ask
asks
asked

if , whether question
words
where
why
when
what
which


4C  
:;

2
 S + V + O


 

 

 



Pre Y test on Direct and Indirect speech

DIRECTION : Choose the correct answer for each item.
1. I didnpt hear _____________ because there was too much noise when I was sitting.
a. what did he say
b. what said
c. what he said
d. what was he said
2. She told him _____________ .
a. not to go out
b. do not go out
c. he does not go not
d. that he not go out
3. Tell me _____________ .
a. how it is far
b. how is it far
c. how far it is
d. how far is it
4. He ordered them _____________ why they come in.
a. to sit there and said that
b. sit there and asked
c. to sit there and asked that
d. to sit there and asked
5. She asked me _____________ .
a. whether coconuts I liked
b. if I liked coconuts
c. that liked coconuts
d. did liked coconuts
6. He said that woman _____________ the say before.
a. came
b. had come
c. would came
d. has come


 

 

7. They tell us that _____________ .

a. they are quite well
b. they were quite well
c. I am quite well
d. I was quite well
8. His friend says that _____________ two years before.
a. he lived there
b. he has lived
c. he lives there
d. he had lived there
9. She told me that _____________ the next day.
a. it must be a lot of rain
b. it has a lot of rain
c. there was a lot of rain
d. there would be a lot of rain
10. They begged their father _____________ fifty baht.
a. give them
b. eat not too much
c. to give them
d. not to eat too much
11. The doctor told him _____________ .
a. to eat not too much
b. eat not too much
c. to eat too much not
d. not to eat too much
12. She told her daughter _____________ .
a. wait there till she returned
b. to wait there till she returned
c. to wait there till she returns
d. wait here till she re turned

 




 

 

13. He asked us _____________ for Tak that day.

a. whether we were leaving
b. whether we are leaving
c. we were leaving
d. to leave
14.a. She told me if I knew how to make soup.
b. She told me to know how to make soup.
c. She asked me that I knew how to make soup.
d. She asked me if I knew how to make soup.
15. Ask her _____________ .
a. that she went where
b. where did she go
c. where she went
d. to went where
16. He canpt tell me _____________ .
a. how old is she
b. how old she is
c. how she is old
d. that how is old she
17. Do you know _____________ .
a. that what time it is
b. what is it time
c. what it is time
d. what time it is

 




 

 

 



18. I want to know _____________ .

a. how much does this wrist watch cost
b. that this wrist watch costs
c. how much this wrist watch costs
d. that costs this wrist watch
19.a. He said to her not to make a loud noise.
b. He says to her didnpt make a loud noise.
c. He told her didnpt make a loud noise.
d. He told her not to make a loud noise.
20. The teacher asked the student _____________ he was absent and he missed the train.
a. how, whether
b. why, whether
c. that, whether
d. why, that
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


 

 

 



Exercise 1 (Direct and Indirect Speech)

DIRECTION : Change the following sentences from Direct to Indirect.
1. My aunt said, <Go and send off this parcel.B
__________________________________________________________________________
2. <Pity meB, cried the cripple man to the passers-by.
__________________________________________________________________________
3. She said to her friend, <Donpt stay here.B
__________________________________________________________________________
4. She said to him, <Come and see me next weekB
__________________________________________________________________________
5. He said to me, <Please give me your dictionary.B
__________________________________________________________________________
6. <Bring me a cup of coffee.B Said the woman to her servant.
__________________________________________________________________________
7. <Do not smoke in this roomB, <said the lady to the guests.B
__________________________________________________________________________
8. His father said to him, <Donpt return home late tonight.
__________________________________________________________________________
9. <Give me your licenceB, said the policeman to the driver.
__________________________________________________________________________
10.BLeave this room nowB, said the teacher to the students.
__________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 2 (Direct and Indirect Speech.)

DIRECTION : Change the following sentences from Direct to Indirect.
1. The teacher asked her, <Do you understand this lesson?B
__________________________________________________________________________
2. The little girl said, <May go with your Father?B
__________________________________________________________________________


 

 

 



3. She ask him, <Are you leaving for Singapore?B

__________________________________________________________________________
4. <Have you finished cooking lunch, Mali?B Tawin said.
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Where did you go last night?, asked our aunt.
__________________________________________________________________________
6. The shopkeeper said to them, <Which book do you want to buy?B
__________________________________________________________________________
7. My friend said to me, <Why donpt you come in time?B
__________________________________________________________________________
8. I want to know, <How well does he speak French?B
__________________________________________________________________________
9. Ask her, <Does she live on Sriayudthaya Road?B
__________________________________________________________________________
10.Do you know, <What subject do they learn in this semester?B
__________________________________________________________________________


 

 

 



Post Y test
DIRECTION : Choose the correct answer for each item.
1. He asked the class which lessons they _____________ the next day.
a. will prepare
b. prepare
c. would prepare
d. have prepared
2. If was recommended that one way to prevent communism _____________ to improve the
standard of living among the Thai people
a. was
b. had
c. has
d. be
3. She exclaimed with surprise at _____________ .
a. how expensive things were
b. how were things expensive
c. how were expensive things
d. how things are expensive
4. The boy _____________ their teacher if they _____________ in the examination.
a. asknmight smoke
b. asknpermitted to smoke
c. askednpermitted to smoke
d. askednmight smoke
5. The secretary explained to them that here _____________ mistake and that the meeting
_____________ not take place.
a. has hadnwill
b. had beennwill
c. had beennwould
d. had hadnwill


 

 

 



6. <What was Dad saying at breakfast?B

<He was saying that Jim _____________ would soon.B
a. will have come
b. would come
c. has been coming
d. would have come
7. The manager _____________ that the profits the company _____________ during the past
ten years were low average.
a. had declarednhad received
b. has declarednhad received
c. declarednhad received
d. declaresnhad received
8. A : He seemed to enjoy talking with you.
B : Yes, He asked me _____________ .
a. what hobbies I had
b. I had what hobbies
c. that I had what hobbies
d. what hobbies did I have
9. She didnpt say how _____________ .
a. tall was the men
b. the man was tall
c. was the man tall
d. tall the man was
10. The weather report said that there _____________ a lot of rain the following week.
a. was
b. would be
c. had been
d. will be
11. He said he wad sorry he _____________ me so much trouble.
a. had given
b. gave
c. has given
d. was given


 

 

 



12. Tell me whether you _____________ hungry.

a. were
b. bad been
c. went
d. have been
13. I havenpt the least idea why she _____________ there the day beore.
a. had gone
b. would go
c. went
d. had gone
14. Could you tell me if your wife _____________ from Spain?
a. had returned
b. being returned
c. would return
d. has returned
15. Mr. Hill asked me where I _____________ the day before.
a. went
b. had gone
c. was going
d. would go
16. <Ipm late today.B
<She said that _____________B
a. she was late that day
b. I am late today
c. I was late today
d. she would not be late that day
17. <Donpt wait for meB
He told me _____________ .
a. you mustnpt wait for me
b. donpt wait for me
c. you shouldnpt wait for me
d. not to wait for him
18. <What time is it?B
Do you know _____________?
a. what time is it
b. what time it is
c. what it is time
d. what is the time


 

 

 



19. What color hair does she have?

a. what color hair does hair
b. she had what color hair
c. does she have what color hair
d. what color hair she has
20. How often is the President elected?
Ipd like to know _____________ .
a. how often is the President is elected
b. how often the President is elected
c. the President how often is elected
d. the President is elected how often
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn..


 

 

 



ADDITIONAL EXERCISE
In each of the following, which of the options a to d is the best reported form?
1. Sidney said, <I shall come tomorrow if I am not prevented.B
a. Sidney said that he will come the next day if he is not prevented.
b. Sidney said that he would come tomorrow if he were not prevented.
c. Sidney said that he would come the next day if he were not prevented.
d. Sidney said that he will come the next day if he was not prevented.
2. <I wouldnpt believe it if I were you, Susie,B said Helen.
a. Helen said I didnpt believe it if I were Susie.
b. Helen said she wouldnpt have believed it if I were Susie.
c. Helen said she wouldnpt have believed it if she was Susie.
d. Helen said she wouldnpt believed it if she were Susie.
3. Kathy said, <Betty will have completed the task by noon tomorrow.B
a. Kathy said that Betty would complete the task by noon tomorrow.
b. Kathy said that Betty would have complete the task by noon tomorrow.
c. Kathy said that Betty would have complete the task by noon the next day.
d. Kathy said that Betty and complete the task by noon the next day.
4. <Last year, I used to eat out in the restaurant near the school.B
a. John said that in the previous year he used to eat out in the restaurant near the school.
b. John said that last year he was used to eating out in the restaurant near the school.
c. John said that in the previous year he was used to eating out in the restaurant near the school.
d. John said that last year he would have eaten out in the restaurant near the school.


 

 

 



5. Louis said, <You should do it here and now.B

a. Louis said that he should do it there and then.
b. Louis said that you would do it there and then.
c. Louis said that you would have to do it there and then.
d. Louis told his friend that he should do it there and then.
6. <She is coming here with us tonight,B Ann said.
a. Ann said that she is coming here with us tonight.
b. Ann said that she was coming there with them tonight.
c. Ann said that her sister was coming there with them that night.
d. Ann said that her sister was going there with them that night.
7. <Where is the airport?B the tourist asked.
a. The tourist wondered where was the airport?
b. The tourist wondered where the airport was?
c. The tourist asked for the airport.
d. The tourist inquired where the airport was.
8. <Go away, you a dirty rat!B
a. He yelled at a dirty rat to go away.
b. He told me to go away that I was a dirty rat.
c. He called me a dirty rat and told me to go away.
d. He called me a dirty rat and went away.
9. <Could I use your car?B Charles asked me.
a. Charles asked he could use my car.
b. Charles asked if he were able to use my car.
c. Charles asked me whether he could use my car.
d. Charles asked me whether he was able to use my car.


 

 

 



10. The teacher asked, <Where are you going, John?B

a. The teacher asked where was John going?
b. The teacher asked him where John was going?
c. The teacher asked John where was he going?
d. The teacher asked John where he was going.
11. <Play the violin!B
a. They instructed her to play the violin. b. They asked her to play the violin
c. They told her to play the violin
d. They said that she must play the violin
12. <Go to the waiting-room and donpt come out until you are called!B
a. She adked him to go to the waiting-room and not to come out until she called him.
b. She told him to go to the waiting-room and did not come out until he was called.
c. She told him to go to the waiting-room and not out until he was called.
d. She requested him to go to the waiting-room and not ought not to came out until she
called him.


 

 

 



KEY TO EXERCISES
DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
PRE-TEST
1. c
2. a
3. c
4. d
6. b
7. a
8. a
9. d
11. d
12. b
13. a
14. d
16. b
17. c
18. c
19. d
EXERCISE 1.
1. My aunt told to go and send off that parcel.
2. The cripple man begged the passers-by to pity him.
3. She told her friend not to stay there.
4. She told him to come and see her the following week.
5. He asked me to give him my dictionary.
6. The woman told her servant to bring her a cup of coffee.
7. The lady asked the guests not to smoke in that room.
8. His father warned him not to return home late that night.
9. The policeman told the driver to give him his licence.
10. The teacher told the students to leave that room them.
EXERCISE 2.
1. The teacher asked her if she understood that lesson.
2. The little girl asked her father if she might go with him.
3. She asked him if he was leaving for Singapore.
4. Tawin asked Mali if she had finished cooking lunch.
5. Our aunt asked where we had hone the night before.
6. The shopkeeper asked them which book they wanted to buy.
7. My friend asked me why I didnpt come in time.

5.
10.
15.
20.

b
c
c
b


 

 

 



8. I want to know how well he speaks English.

9. Ask her if she lives on Sriayudthaya Road.
10. Do you know what subject they learn in that semester.
POST-TEST
1. c
6. b
11. a
16. a

2.
7.
12.
17.

a
c
c
d

ADDITIONAL EXERCISE
1. c
2. d
6. c
7. d
11. b
12. c

3.
8.
13.
18.

a
a
c
b

3. c
8. c

4.
9.
14.
19.

d
d
d
d

4. a
9. c

5.
10.
15.
20.

c
b
b
b

5. d
10. d