Direct & Indirect Speech — REET English Notes
In Direct Speech, someone's exact words are written inside quotation marks; in Indirect (Reported) Speech, those words are reported in your own words. REET 2024 asked students to convert both a yes/no question and a wh-question into their correct reported form.
- 2 questions in REET 2024
- Class 6–8 / teaching-practice level
- 9 min read
How REET asks this topic
REET 2024 asked candidates to convert a yes/no question ('Did you sleep well?') and a wh-question ('Where are you going?') into indirect speech. Both questions tested three changes — the reporting verb (asked/enquired), the tense shifting back (backshift), and the correct change of pronoun/tense. In short, the exam places special emphasis on converting interrogative sentences.
The core rule of Direct and Indirect Speech
Reported speech involves three main changes — (1) the reporting verb changes (said → told, said to → asked/enquired for a question), (2) the verb's tense shifts one step back if the reporting verb is in the past (is → was, has → had), and (3) pronouns (I→he/she) and words showing place/time (now→then, here→there, today→that day) change.
Questions have one extra rule: the question mark (?) is dropped and the sentence is written in normal statement word order (subject + verb), not the inverted order (verb + subject) used in questions.
Tense backshift table
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| Simple Present (sleeps) | Simple Past (slept) |
| Present Continuous (is going) | Past Continuous (was going) |
| Present Perfect (has gone) | Past Perfect (had gone) |
| Simple Past (went) | Past Perfect (had gone) |
| can / will / may | could / would / might |
| must | had to |
This backshift only applies when the reporting verb (said, asked) is in the past tense — this is the single most-tested rule in REET.
Reporting structure by sentence type
| Sentence type | Structure |
|---|---|
| Statement | said → said; 'that' + statement-order sentence |
| Yes/No question | asked/enquired + if/whether + statement-order sentence (no question mark) |
| Wh- question | asked/enquired + wh-word + statement-order sentence (do/does/did is dropped) |
| Command | told/ordered/requested + to + base form of the verb |
In a wh-question, the wh-word (where, what, why) itself becomes the connector — a separate 'that' is not added.
The indirect form of imperative sentences
In command sentences, 'told', 'ordered' or 'commanded' replaces 'said' as the reporting verb, and the main verb changes to 'to + base form (V1)' — so 'He said, "Shut the door"' becomes 'He told me to shut the door' in indirect speech.
For a request, 'requested'/'begged' is used, and for advice, 'advised' — so 'She said, "Please help me"' becomes 'She requested me to help her' in indirect speech. A negative command uses 'not to + V1' — so 'Don't shout' becomes 'He told me not to shout'.
The indirect form of exclamatory and optative sentences
In exclamatory sentences, the reporting verb takes a form like 'exclaimed with joy/sorrow/wonder that', and the exclamation mark (!) and words like Hurrah/Alas are dropped — so 'She said, "Hurrah! I have won"' becomes 'She exclaimed with joy that she had won' in indirect speech.
In optative sentences (expressing a wish, like 'May you live long!'), the reporting verb becomes 'wished/prayed that' — so 'He said, "May you succeed!"' becomes 'He wished that I might succeed' in indirect speech.
Changes in words showing time and place
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the day before / the previous day |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
| ago | before |
These changes only apply when the reporting verb is in the past tense — if the reporting is happening on the same day/at the same time, some changes may become optional.
Universal truths and habitual actions don't change tense
If the statement in direct speech is a universal truth (such as 'The earth revolves around the sun') or a scientific fact, the tense doesn't shift in indirect speech, even if the reporting verb is in the past — so 'The teacher said, "The earth revolves around the sun"' becomes 'The teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun' in indirect speech, not 'revolved'.
The same holds if the statement is about a habitual action that is still true — there is no obligation to change the tense. This exception becomes important in questions where the options include both correct and incorrect backshifted forms.
Common choices for the reporting verb
| Situation | Reporting verb |
|---|---|
| Simple statement | said / told |
| Yes/No question | asked / enquired / wanted to know |
| Wh- question | asked / enquired |
| Command | told / ordered / commanded |
| Request | requested / begged |
| Advice | advised / suggested |
| Exclamatory (joy) | exclaimed with joy that |
| Exclamatory (sorrow) | exclaimed with sorrow that |
Choosing the correct reporting verb matters just as much as changing the tense and pronoun — the wrong reporting verb changes the whole meaning of the sentence.
How to teach children
Activity
Have children read a comic strip or a dialogue in class and practise retelling it in reported speech — this connects the rule to real language use.
Teaching material
Put up a tense-backshift table chart in class, along with a list of pronoun changes (I→he, we→they).
Common misconception
When converting a question to indirect speech, children keep the inverted question word order (verb+subject) and even keep the question mark — this is wrong, and needs repeated correction with examples.
Assessment
Give 5 direct sentences to convert into indirect speech and discuss the common mistakes as a class — this is an effective assessment.
Differentiated teaching
For weaker children, start with simple statement sentences only, then move to questions, commands, and finally exclamatory sentences.
Peer learning
In pairs, one child says a direct sentence (statement/question/command, any type), the other immediately converts it into indirect speech with the correct reporting verb and structure.
Memory trick / exam tip
Remember — an indirect question is really a 'hidden statement': no question mark, no do/does/did auxiliary, no inverted order — just normal subject+verb order. For a Yes/No question, add 'if/whether'; for a Wh-question, let the wh-word itself act as the connector.
REET 2024 questions (solved)
Question 60
The hostess asked my son, “Did you sleep well ?” The indirect speech of this is :
- AThe hostess inquired my son if he had slept well.
- BThe hostess inquired my son if I had slept well.
- CThe hostess inquired my son if he sleep well.
- DThe hostess inquired my son if she had slept well.
Explanation
Direct speech में reporting verb 'asked' past में है, इसलिए reported speech का past simple 'Did you sleep' past perfect 'had slept' में बदलता है। Yes/No प्रश्न के लिए 'if/whether' लगता है और 'you' (my son) के लिए 'he' आता है: 'The hostess inquired my son if he had slept well.' विकल्प B में 'I' और D में 'she' सर्वनाम गलत हैं।
Question 41
Choose the correct indirect speech for The policeman said to us, “where are you going ?”
- AThe policeman asked that where we are going.
- BThe policeman enquired where we were going.
- CThe policeman asked us where we are going.
- DThe policeman enquired us where were are going.
Explanation
प्रश्नवाचक वाक्य को Indirect speech में बदलते समय said to को asked/enquired में बदलते हैं, प्रश्नवाचक शब्द 'where' को जोड़ने वाले शब्द के रूप में रखते हैं, वाक्य को कथन-क्रम (subject + verb) में लिखते हैं और Past reporting verb के कारण are going → were going हो जाता है; you → we। अतः 'The policeman enquired where we were going.' सही है। (C) में tense नहीं बदला, और (A) में 'that where' गलत है।
Practice questions
Question 1
Change into indirect speech: He said, 'I am reading a book.'
- AHe said that he is reading a book.
- BHe said that he was reading a book.
- CHe said that I was reading a book.
- DHe said that he had read a book.
Explanation
The reporting verb 'said' is in the past, so Present Continuous 'am reading' backshifts to Past Continuous 'was reading', and 'I' changes to 'he'.
Question 2
Change into indirect speech: She said to me, 'Where do you live?'
- AShe asked me where I lived.
- BShe asked me where do I live.
- CShe told me where I live.
- DShe asked me where did I lived.
Explanation
'said to' becomes 'asked'; the wh-word 'where' becomes the connector; the statement order gives 'I lived', with the do/does/did auxiliary dropped — so 'She asked me where I lived' is correct.
Question 3
Change into indirect speech: He said, 'I will help you tomorrow.'
- AHe said that he would help me the next day.
- BHe said that he will help me tomorrow.
- CHe said that he would help me tomorrow.
- DHe said that he helped me the next day.
Explanation
'will' backshifts to 'would', 'you' changes to 'me' (based on context), and the time word 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day'.
Question 4
Change into indirect speech: The teacher said, 'Open your books.'
- AThe teacher said to open your books.
- BThe teacher told us to open our books.
- CThe teacher told that we open our books.
- DThe teacher asked us opening our books.
Explanation
A command sentence's indirect form is built as 'told/ordered + object + to + base form of the verb' — so 'The teacher told us to open our books' is correct.
Question 5
Change into indirect speech: She said, 'The earth revolves around the sun.'
- AShe said that the earth revolved around the sun.
- BShe said that the earth revolves around the sun.
- CShe said that the earth had revolved around the sun.
- DShe said the earth will revolve around the sun.
Explanation
Because this is a universal truth, the tense doesn't change, so 'revolves' stays exactly as it is.
Question 6
Change into indirect speech: He asked, 'Are you coming to the party?'
- AHe asked if I was coming to the party.
- BHe asked that I am coming to the party.
- CHe asked if am I coming to the party.
- DHe asked was I coming to the party?
Explanation
In a Yes/No question, 'if/whether' is added, the sentence is written in statement order (subject+verb), and the tense backshifts — so 'He asked if I was coming to the party' is correct.
Question 7
Change into indirect speech: The boy said, 'Alas! I have failed.'
- AThe boy exclaimed sadly that he had failed.
- BThe boy said alas that he has failed.
- CThe boy exclaimed that he failed.
- DThe boy said that he has failed sadly.
Explanation
An exclamatory sentence uses a reporting verb like 'exclaimed with sorrow/sadly', and the exclamation mark is dropped; 'has failed' backshifts to 'had failed'.
Question 8
A student converts 'She said, "What is your name?"' into 'She asked what was my name?' A teacher marks this wrong. What is the main error?
- AUsing 'asked' is wrong
- BThe question mark and inverted order ('was my') were kept, when it should be statement order ('my name was')
- CThe word 'What' should have been removed
- D'my' should have remained 'your'
Explanation
In an indirect question, the sentence must be written in statement order and the question mark dropped — the correct form is 'She asked what my name was'; here the student mistakenly kept the inverted question word order.
Question 9
Change into indirect speech: 'I am here,' she said.
- AShe said that she was there.
- BShe said that she is here.
- CShe said that I was here.
- DShe said that she was here.
Explanation
'I' changes to 'she', 'am' backshifts to 'was', and the place word 'here' changes to 'there' — so 'She said that she was there' is correct.
Question 10
Change into indirect speech: The mother said to her son, 'Do not make noise.'
- AThe mother told her son not to make noise.
- BThe mother told her son to not make noise.
- CThe mother said her son not making noise.
- DThe mother asked her son do not make noise.
Explanation
A negative command's indirect form is built as 'told + object + not to + verb' — so 'The mother told her son not to make noise' is correct.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Direct Speech and Indirect Speech?+
In direct speech, someone's exact words are written inside quotation marks, while in indirect speech they are reported in your own words, without quotation marks.
What's the rule for converting a Yes/No question to indirect speech?+
Change the reporting verb to 'asked/enquired', add 'if' or 'whether', write the sentence in normal statement order (subject+verb), and drop the question mark.
What's the rule for converting a Wh-question to indirect speech?+
Change the reporting verb to 'asked/enquired', let the wh-word itself act as the connector, write the sentence in statement order, and drop the do/does/did auxiliary.
When does tense backshift not apply?+
If the statement is a universal truth, like 'The sun rises in the east', the tense doesn't change, even if the reporting verb is in the past.
What's the rule for converting an Imperative Sentence to Indirect speech?+
Change the reporting verb to 'told/ordered/requested' and give the main verb the form 'to + V1'; use 'not to + V1' for a negative command.
How do 'Now' and 'Today' change in Indirect Speech?+
'Now' changes to 'then' and 'today' changes to 'that day' — these changes only happen when the reporting verb is in the past tense.
Why doesn't Tense Backshift happen in a Universal Truth sentence?+
Because a universal truth (like 'The sun rises in the east') is always true, so the original sentence's tense isn't changed even if the reporting verb is in the past.
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Change Log
- 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked