Direct and Indirect Speech Questions, Concepts, Rules, Tricks and Tips

Direct and Indirect Speech is a crucial English grammar topic frequently tested in SSC, Banking, and RRB exams. In this blog, we will cover clear definitions, types of questions, logical patterns, tricks for fast solving, solved examples from 2024–25 exams, bank-specific concepts, and more.

What Is Direct and Indirect Speech in English?

Direct Speech: The exact words spoken by a person are quoted within quotation marks.
Example: She said, “I am reading a book.”

Indirect Speech: The speaker’s words are reported without quoting them directly. Changes in pronouns, tense, and time expressions are required.
Example: She said that she was reading a book.

Why it appears in exams:

• Tests grammatical accuracy, comprehension, and tense usage.
• Evaluates candidates’ ability to convert statements quickly without errors.

Skills required:

• Understanding pronouns and tense shifts
• Logical conversion of time and place references
• Quick sentence transformation without losing meaning

Why Is Direct and Indirect Speech Important in Competitive Exams?

Direct and Indirect Speech is a high-utility topic because it often has one to two questions in every major exam. Though easy to moderate in difficulty, it tests accuracy and attention to detail.

Exam	No. of Questions	Difficulty
SSC CGL / CHSL	1–2	Easy
IBPS PO / SBI PO	1–2	Moderate
RRB NTPC / Group D	1	Easy
State PSC / Police	1–2	Moderate

Direct and Indirect Speech English Short Notes

Below is a concise summary of key concepts for quick revision:

Term	Details
Direct Speech	Quoting the speaker’s exact words with quotation marks
Indirect Speech	Reporting the speaker’s words with necessary grammatical changes
Pronoun Change	Adjust pronouns according to context (I – he/she)
Tense Change	Shift tenses one step back in indirect reporting (Present – Past)
Time Expression Change	Example: today – that day, now – then
Question Conversion	Yes/No questions: if/whether; Wh-questions: maintain question word

Quick Revision Summary

Concepts mostly used to solve questions based on active and passive voice are as follows:

Concept	Details
Present Simple – Past Simple	She says – She said
Present Continuous – Past Continuous	She is reading – She was reading
Pronouns	I – he/she, We – they
Modals	Can – could, May – might
Reporting Questions	“Where are you going?” – He asked where I was going
Commands / Requests	“Close the door.” – He told me to close the door

What Are the Types of Direct and Indirect Speech Questions in English?

Most questions fall into these categories:

1. Statements – Convert declarative sentences to indirect speech
2. Questions – Convert interrogative sentences (Yes/No & Wh-questions)
3. Commands / Requests – Convert imperative sentences
4. Exclamations – Convert exclamatory sentences

Direct and Indirect Speech Question Patterns in English

The pattern of questions asked from this topic is as follows:

• Template 1: Identify tense – Pronoun – Time – Convert sentence
• Template 2: For questions, detect type – Insert if/whether for Yes/No – Adjust tense
• Template 3: For commands – Use “told/asked” + object + infinitive
• Mental Model: Always read from the end of the sentence first, then adjust pronouns and tense

Direct and Indirect Speech Tricks for SSC CGL and Other Exams

Tricks to solve questions based on direct and indirect speech are as follows:

1. Read the line carefully before attempting conversion
2. Start transforming from the end of the sentence
3. Replace pronouns logically according to context
4. Shift tense one step back (unless the reporting verb is in present)
5. Adjust time expressions accurately (today – that day)
6. For Yes/No questions, always add if/whether
7. For commands, convert to “told/asked + object + to + verb”

Solved Direct and Indirect Speech Questions from 2024–25 Exams

1. SSC CGL 2024 Tier 1 – Shift 2 – Memory-Based
Q: She said, “I am preparing for exams.”
Answer: She said that she was preparing for exams.
Explanation: Present continuous – Past continuous, pronoun change I – she

2. IBPS PO Prelims 2024
Q: He said to me, “Please close the door.”
Answer: He requested me to close the door.
Explanation: Imperative sentence – requested + object + infinitive

3. SBI PO 2024
Q: “Where are you going?” asked the teacher.
Answer: The teacher asked where I was going.
Explanation: Wh-question, tense shift Present – Past, pronoun adjustment

4. RRB NTPC 2024
Q: She said, “I will help you tomorrow.”
Answer: She said that she would help me the next day.
Explanation: Future – conditional past (will – would), pronoun & time adjustment

Direct and Indirect Speech Concepts for Bank Exams

Banking exams sometimes use symbol-based or coded sentences:
Example:

• “A said to B, ‘C is leaving now.’” – B is told by A that C is leaving then.
  Focus on who is speaking to whom, tense, and pronouns.

Common Mistakes to Avoid while Solving Direct and Indirect Speech

Common mistakes to avoid while solving questions based on direct and indirect speech are as follows:

1. Ignoring tense change – Always adjust tense according to reporting verb
2. Wrong pronoun replacement – Check subject carefully
3. Forgetting time expression shifts – today → that day, now → then
4. Incorrect question conversion – Yes/No questions must use if/whether
5. Misinterpreting commands – Always use infinitive with “told/asked”

FAQs

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