Direct & Indirect Speech
SSC GD English Section
Introduction
Direct and Indirect Speech is about reporting someone's words.
Direct Speech
Exact words inside quotation marks
He said, "I am happy."
Indirect Speech
Meaning of the speaker's words
He said that he was happy.
Exam Tip: SSC GD asks simple conversion questions — no tough narration rules.
Basic Changes in Direct → Indirect
1. Remove Quotes
Direct:
She said, "I like tea."
Indirect:
She said that she liked tea.
2. Pronoun Change
Pronouns change according to meaning.
I → he/she
my → his/her
you → me/him/them
they → they/them
Direct:
He said, "I am ready."
Indirect:
He said that he was ready.
3. Tense Change (Past Reporting Verb → Backshift)
If reporting verb is said / told, then tense changes:
am/is → was
are → were
have → had
will → would
can → could
may → might
Direct:
"I am tired."
Indirect:
He said that he was tired.
4. Time & Place Word Change
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the previous day |
| now | then |
| here | there |
Direct:
"I will go tomorrow."
Indirect:
He said that he would go the next day.
5. Said vs Told
Said → no object
He said, "I am fine."
Told → always needs an object
He told me that he was fine.
Special Cases (SSC GD Favourites)
Questions (Interrogative Sentences)
Yes/No Questions
Use if / whether.
Direct: He said, "Do you like tea?"
Indirect: He asked if I liked tea.
Wh- Questions
Keep the WH-word.
Direct: She said, "Where are you going?"
Indirect: She asked where I was going.
Imperative (Order/Request)
Use to + verb.
Order
Direct: He said, "Open the door."
Indirect: He told me to open the door.
Request
Direct: She said, "Please help me."
Indirect: She requested me to help her.
Exclamatory Sentences
Use exclaimed.
Direct: He said, "What a beautiful day!"
Indirect: He exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
Note: SSC GD rarely asks this, but included for safety.
Examples (SSC GD Level)
Direct: He said, "I am busy."
Indirect: He said that he was busy.
Direct: She said, "I will call you tomorrow."
Indirect: She said that she would call me the next day.
Direct: He said to me, "Do you play cricket?"
Indirect: He asked me if I played cricket.
Direct: She said, "Where do you live?"
Indirect: She asked where I lived.
Direct: He said, "Open the window."
Indirect: He told me to open the window.
Sample Questions (SSC GD Style)
Change into Indirect Speech: He said, "I am happy."
Options: (a) He said that he was happy (b) He says that he is happy (c) He told he was happy (d) He told that he is happy
View Answer
He said that he was happy
Choose the indirect form: She said, "I will go tomorrow."
Options: (a) She said she goes next day (b) She said that she would go the next day (c) She said that she will go next day (d) She told she would go tomorrow
View Answer
She said that she would go the next day
Convert into indirect: He said to me, "Do you know him?"
Options: (a) He asked me if I knew him (b) He asked me that I know him (c) He told me I knew him (d) He asked me do I know him
View Answer
He asked me if I knew him
Choose correct conversion: She said, "Open the door."
Options: (a) She requested me to open the door (b) She told me to open the door (c) She asked me that open the door (d) She told open the door
View Answer
She told me to open the door (because no "please")
Change to indirect: He said, "Where is your bag?"
Options: (a) He asked where my bag was (b) He asked where is my bag (c) He asked where was my bag (d) He told where my bag was
View Answer
He asked where my bag was
Quick Recap
Remove quotes + add that
Pronouns change naturally
Tense moves back (is → was, will → would)
Time words change (today → that day)
Questions: Yes/No → if, Wh → keep Wh-word
Imperatives → to + V1
Told → needs object, Said → doesn't
SSC GD asks only simple conversions
Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
SSC GD 2022 — Yes/No question → "if"
SSC GD 2021 — Tense backshift (am → was)
SSC GD 2020 — Imperative → "to + verb"
SSC GD 2019 — "Will" → "would"
SSC GD 2018 — "Tomorrow" → "the next day"
You've completed Direct & Indirect Speech Lesson!
Courage Tip: Master the basic conversion rules - pronoun changes, tense backshift, and time word modifications. Practice simple sentence conversions regularly. Remember that SSC GD focuses on straightforward applications, so concentrate on the most common patterns rather than complex exceptions.
Master Direct & Indirect Speech for SSC GD Exam!
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