DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH (कथन) – Complete Guide for Competitive Exams

August 16, 2026

📚 WHAT IS DIRECT-INDIRECT SPEECH?

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
किसी के कहे हुए शब्दों को बिल्कुल वैसा ही लिखना (Quotation marks में)	किसी के कहे हुए शब्दों को अपने शब्दों में बदलना (बिना Quotation marks के)
He said, “I am tired.”	He said that he was tired.

🔥 GOLDEN RULE (सबसे IMPORTANT!)

Rule 1: Tense Change (Backshift)

🧠 TRICK: जब ‘Reporting Verb’ Past में हो → Reported Speech का Tense एक पीछे (Past) चला जाता है

Direct (Present)	Indirect (Past)
He said, “I am tired.”	He said that he was tired.
He said, “I eat rice.”	He said that he ate rice.
He said, “I have eaten.”	He said that he had eaten.
He said, “I am eating.”	He said that he was eating.

📊 TENSE CHANGE TABLE (Most Important!)

Direct Speech Tense	Indirect Speech Tense	Example (Direct → Indirect)
Simple Present (V1/V1+s)	Simple Past (V2)	“I eat.” → He said that he ate.
Present Continuous (is/am/are + V1+ing)	Past Continuous (was/were + V1+ing)	“I am eating.” → He said that he was eating.
Present Perfect (has/have + V3)	Past Perfect (had + V3)	“I have eaten.” → He said that he had eaten.
Present Perfect Continuous (has/have been + V1+ing)	Past Perfect Continuous (had been + V1+ing)	“I have been eating.” → He said that he had been eating.
Simple Past (V2)	Past Perfect (had + V3)	“I ate.” → He said that he had eaten.
Past Continuous (was/were + V1+ing)	Past Perfect Continuous (had been + V1+ing)	“I was eating.” → He said that he had been eating.
Past Perfect (had + V3)	No Change (had + V3)	“I had eaten.” → He said that he had eaten.
Simple Future (will/shall + V1)	Would/Should + V1	“I will eat.” → He said that he would eat.
Future Perfect (will have + V3)	Would have + V3	“I will have eaten.” → He said that he would have eaten.

📊 MODAL CHANGE TABLE

Direct Modal	Indirect Modal	Example
Can	Could	“I can swim.” → He said that he could swim.
May	Might	“I may come.” → He said that he might come.
Will	Would	“I will go.” → He said that he would go.
Shall	Should	“I shall go.” → He said that he should go.
Must	Had to / Must	“I must go.” → He said that he had to go.
Could	No Change	“I could swim.” → He said that he could swim.
Would	No Change	“I would go.” → He said that he would go.
Should	No Change	“I should go.” → He said that he should go.
Might	No Change	“I might come.” → He said that he might come.
Used to	No Change	“I used to swim.” → He said that he used to swim.

🔄 PRONOUN CHANGE (सर्वनाम परिवर्तन)

Rule 2: Pronoun Change

🧠 TRICK: SON Rule (1st Person, 2nd Person, 3rd Person)

Person	Change Rule	Example
1st Person (I, We)	According to Subject (Speaker)	I → He/She
2nd Person (You)	According to Object (Listener)	You → Him/Her/Me
3rd Person (He, She, They)	No Change	He → He

📊 Examples:

Direct	Indirect
He said, “I am tired.”	He said that he was tired.
She said, “I am happy.”	She said that she was happy.
He said to me, “You are wrong.”	He told me that I was wrong.
I said to him, “You are right.”	I told him that he was right.
He said, “She is coming.”	He said that she was coming.
Ram said, “We are going.”	Ram said that they were going.

📍 ADVERB CHANGE (समय/स्थान परिवर्तन)

Rule 3: Time & Place Adverbs Change

Direct	Indirect
Now	Then
Today	That day
Tonight	That night
Yesterday	The previous day / The day before
Tomorrow	The next day / The following day
Last night	The previous night
Next week	The following week
Here	There
This	That
These	Those
Ago	Before
Thus	So
Hence	Thence

Examples:

He said, “I am here.” → He said that he was there.
She said, “I will come tomorrow.” → She said that she would come the next day.
He said, “I bought this yesterday.” → He said that he had bought that the previous day.

👥 REPORTING VERB CHANGE

Rule 4: Say vs Tell

Direct	Indirect
He said (no object)	He said that
He said to me (with object)	He told me that

Examples:

✅ He said, “I am tired.” → He said that he was tired.
✅ He said to me, “You are wrong.” → He told me that I was wrong.
❌ He told, “I am tired.” (Wrong – tell के साथ object चाहिए)

📝 TYPES OF SENTENCES

Type 1: Assertive Sentences (विधानवाचक)

Structure: Subject + Reporting Verb + that + Clause

✅ Examples:

Direct: He said, “I am a teacher.”
Indirect: He said that he was a teacher.
Direct: She said to me, “You are honest.”
Indirect: She told me that I was honest.

Type 2: Interrogative Sentences (प्रश्नवाचक)

🧠 TRICK:

Yes/No Questions → if/whether + Subject + Verb
Wh- Questions → Wh-word + Subject + Verb

Rule 5: Yes/No Questions

Direct	Indirect
He said, “Are you tired?”	He asked if I was tired.
She said, “Do you know him?”	She asked whether I knew him.
He said, “Is she coming?”	He asked if she was coming.

Rule 6: Wh- Questions

Direct	Indirect
He said, “What is your name?”	He asked what my name was.
She said, “Where are you going?”	She asked where I was going.
He said, “Why are you crying?”	He asked why I was crying.

🧠 TRICK: Question form → Statement form (Subject + Verb)

Direct: “Are you coming?” (Verb + Subject)
Indirect: if/whether I was coming. (Subject + Verb)

Type 3: Imperative Sentences (आदेश/अनुरोध)

🧠 TRICK: to + V1 का प्रयोग करें (with/without ‘not’)

Type	Direct	Indirect
Command	He said, “Go out.”	He ordered me to go out.
Request	He said, “Please help me.”	He requested me to help him.
Advice	He said, “Study hard.”	He advised me to study hard.
Prohibition	He said, “Don’t smoke.”	He forbade me to smoke.
Let’s	He said, “Let’s go.”	He suggested that we should go.

Important Reporting Verbs:

Direct Verb	Indirect Verb
Said/Ordered	Ordered / Commanded / Directed
Said/Requested	Requested / Asked / Begged
Said/Advised	Advised / Suggested
Said (negative)	Forbade / Advised against
Let’s	Suggested / Proposed

Type 4: Exclamatory Sentences (आश्चर्य/भावना)

🧠 TRICK: exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise + that + Sentence

Direct	Indirect
He said, “Hurrah! We won!”	He exclaimed with joy that they had won.
She said, “Alas! I am ruined!”	She exclaimed with sorrow that she was ruined.
He said, “What a beautiful girl!”	He exclaimed with surprise that she was a very beautiful girl.
He said, “How tall you are!”	He exclaimed with surprise that I was very tall.

Words to Change:

Hurrah! → exclaimed with joy
Alas! → exclaimed with sorrow
What/How! → exclaimed with surprise
Oh! → exclaimed with wonder

Type 5: Optative Sentences (प्रार्थना/आशीर्वाद)

🧠 TRICK: Wished/Prayed + that + Subject + Verb

Direct	Indirect
He said, “May you live long!”	He wished that I might live long.
She said, “Good morning!”	She wished me good morning.
He said, “God bless you!”	He prayed that God might bless me.

📝 OLD EXAM QUESTIONS (पुराने प्रश्न पत्र)

SET 1: Basic Level (Assertive)

Q.1 Change into Indirect:

He said, “I am tired.” (SSC GD 2020)

(a) He said that he was tired.
(b) He said that he is tired.
(c) He said that he has been tired.
(d) He said that he had been tired.

Answer: (a) He said that he was tired. ✅
Reason: Present → Past (am → was)

Q.2 Change into Indirect:

She said to me, “You are wrong.” (SSC CHSL 2021)

(a) She told me that I was wrong.
(b) She said to me that I was wrong.
(c) She told me that you were wrong.
(d) She said that I was wrong.

Answer: (a) She told me that I was wrong. ✅
Reason: Said to → told; You → I; are → was

Q.3 Change into Indirect:

He said, “I have completed the work.” (SSC MTS 2022)

(a) He said that he completed the work.
(b) He said that he has completed the work.
(c) He said that he had completed the work.
(d) He said that he will complete the work.

Answer: (c) He said that he had completed the work. ✅
Reason: Present Perfect → Past Perfect (have → had)

Q.4 Change into Indirect:

Ram said, “I will go to Delhi tomorrow.” (NDA 2018)

(a) Ram said that he would go to Delhi tomorrow.
(b) Ram said that he would go to Delhi the next day.
(c) Ram said that he will go to Delhi the next day.
(d) Ram said that he went to Delhi the next day.

Answer: (b) Ram said that he would go to Delhi the next day. ✅
Reason: Will → Would; Tomorrow → the next day

Q.5 Change into Direct:

He said that he was a teacher. (SSC CPO 2020)

(a) He said, “I am a teacher.”
(b) He said, “I was a teacher.”
(c) He said, “He is a teacher.”
(d) He said, “I will be a teacher.”

Answer: (a) He said, “I am a teacher.” ✅
Reason: was → am (Back to present)

SET 2: Interrogative Sentences

Q.6 Change into Indirect:

He said, “Are you coming?” (SSC CGL 2019)

(a) He said if I was coming.
(b) He asked if I was coming.
(c) He asked if I am coming.
(d) He said that I was coming.

Answer: (b) He asked if I was coming. ✅
Reason: Said → Asked; Are you → if I was

Q.7 Change into Indirect:

She said, “What is your name?” (Bank PO 2018)

(a) She asked what is my name.
(b) She asked what my name was.
(c) She asked what was my name.
(d) She asked what my name is.

Answer: (b) She asked what my name was. ✅
Reason: Wh-word (what) + Subject (my name) + Verb (was)

Q.8 Change into Indirect:

He said to me, “Do you know him?” (SSC CHSL 2022)

(a) He asked me if I knew him.
(b) He asked me if I know him.
(c) He told me if I knew him.
(d) He asked me whether I know him.

Answer: (a) He asked me if I knew him. ✅
Reason: Said to → asked; Do you → if I; know → knew

Q.9 Change into Indirect:

The teacher said, “Why are you late?” (SSC MTS 2021)

(a) The teacher asked why I was late.
(b) The teacher asked why was I late.
(c) The teacher said why I was late.
(d) The teacher asked why I am late.

Answer: (a) The teacher asked why I was late. ✅
Reason: Wh-word (why) + Subject (I) + Verb (was)

Q.10 Change into Indirect:

He said, “Can you help me?” (SSC GD 2020)

(a) He asked if I could help him.
(b) He asked if I can help him.
(c) He said if I could help him.
(d) He asked if I could help me.

Answer: (a) He asked if I could help him. ✅
Reason: Can → Could; You → I; Me → Him

SET 3: Imperative Sentences

Q.11 Change into Indirect:

He said to me, “Open the door.” (SSC CGL 2022)

(a) He told me to open the door.
(b) He said me to open the door.
(c) He ordered me open the door.
(d) He told me that open the door.

Answer: (a) He told me to open the door. ✅
Reason: Command → told/ordered + to + V1

Q.12 Change into Indirect:

She said, “Please help me.” (Bank PO 2021)

(a) She requested me to help her.
(b) She said me to help her.
(c) She requested that help her.
(d) She said please help me.

Answer: (a) She requested me to help her. ✅
Reason: Request → requested + to + V1; Me → Her

Q.13 Change into Indirect:

The doctor said, “Don’t smoke.” (SSC CHSL 2023)

(a) The doctor advised me not to smoke.
(b) The doctor said me not to smoke.
(c) The doctor forbade me to smoke.
(d) Both (a) and (c)

Answer: (d) Both (a) and (c) ✅
Reason: Negative command → advised not to / forbade

Q.14 Change into Indirect:

He said, “Let’s go for a walk.” (CDS 2022)

(a) He suggested that we should go for a walk.
(b) He said that let’s go for a walk.
(c) He suggested to go for a walk.
(d) He proposed to go for a walk.

Answer: (a) He suggested that we should go for a walk. ✅
Reason: Let’s → suggested that we should

Q.15 Change into Indirect:

He said to me, “Wait for me.” (SSC CPO 2023)

(a) He told me to wait for him.
(b) He said me to wait for him.
(c) He ordered me wait for him.
(d) He told me wait for him.

Answer: (a) He told me to wait for him. ✅
Reason: Command → told + to + V1; Me → Him

SET 4: Exclamatory & Optative

Q.16 Change into Indirect:

He said, “Hurrah! I have won!” (SSC CGL 2021)

(a) He exclaimed with joy that he had won.
(b) He said that he had won.
(c) He exclaimed with joy that he has won.
(d) He exclaimed with surprise that he had won.

Answer: (a) He exclaimed with joy that he had won. ✅
Reason: Hurrah! → exclaimed with joy; have → had

Q.17 Change into Indirect:

She said, “Alas! I am ruined!” (Bank PO 2020)

(a) She exclaimed with sorrow that she was ruined.
(b) She exclaimed with sorrow that she is ruined.
(c) She said with sorrow that she was ruined.
(d) She exclaimed with surprise that she was ruined.

Answer: (a) She exclaimed with sorrow that she was ruined. ✅
Reason: Alas! → exclaimed with sorrow; am → was

Q.18 Change into Indirect:

He said, “What a beautiful flower!” (SSC MTS 2023)

(a) He exclaimed with surprise that it was a very beautiful flower.
(b) He said that it was a beautiful flower.
(c) He exclaimed with joy that it was a beautiful flower.
(d) He exclaimed that what a beautiful flower.

Answer: (a) He exclaimed with surprise that it was a very beautiful flower. ✅
Reason: What/How → exclaimed with surprise; very + adjective

Q.19 Change into Indirect:

He said, “May you live long!” (NDA 2021)

(a) He prayed that I might live long.
(b) He wished that I might live long.
(c) He said that I might live long.
(d) Both (a) and (b)

Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b) ✅
Reason: Optative → wished/prayed that + might

Q.20 Change into Indirect:

She said, “Good morning!” (SSC CHSL 2023)

(a) She wished me good morning.
(b) She said good morning.
(c) She told me good morning.
(d) She prayed good morning.

Answer: (a) She wished me good morning. ✅
Reason: Greeting → wished

SET 5: Error Detection

Q.21 Find the error: (SSC CGL 2022)

He said that (A) / he was (B) / going to market (C) / yesterday. (D)

(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D

Answer: (d) D ❌
Correct: “…the previous day.”
Reason: Yesterday → the previous day (in Indirect)

Q.22 Find the error: (Bank PO 2021)

She told me that (A) / she has completed (B) / the work (C) / the previous day. (D)

(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D

Answer: (b) B ❌
Correct: “…she had completed…”
Reason: Past Reporting Verb → Past Perfect (has → had)

Q.23 Find the error: (SSC CHSL 2023)

He asked me (A) / where I was going (B) / and said (C) / that he will join me. (D)

(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D

Answer: (d) D ❌
Correct: “…that he would join me.”
Reason: Will → Would (Backshift)

Q.24 Find the error: (CDS 2022)

The teacher said (A) / that the sun (B) / rises in the east (C) / and sets in the west. (D)

(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D

Answer: No error ✅
Reason: Universal Truth → No tense change (rises remains rises)

Q.25 Find the error: (SSC CPO 2023)

He told me that (A) / I should complete (B) / the work by (C) / the next day. (D)

(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D

Answer: No error ✅
“Should” → No change (Correct)

📊 QUICK REVISION TABLE

Direct	Indirect
Reporting Verb (said)	said/told/asked/ordered/requested
Comma & Quotes	that/if/whether/to
Present Tense	Past Tense (Backshift)
Past Tense	Past Perfect
Will/Shall	Would/Should
Can/May	Could/Might
Now	Then
Today	That day
Tomorrow	The next day
Yesterday	The previous day
Here	There
This/These	That/Those

🎯 SUPER TRICKS SUMMARY

TRICK 1: Tense Backshift (1 Step Back)

Present → Past
Past → Past Perfect
Will → Would
Can → Could
May → Might

TRICK 2: “SON” Rule (Pronoun Change)

Subject (1st Person → Speaker के अनुसार)
Object (2nd Person → Listener के अनुसार)
No Change (3rd Person)

TRICK 3: Time/Place Words Change

Today → That day
Tomorrow → The next day
Yesterday → The previous day
Here → There

TRICK 4: Interrogative Sentences

Yes/No → if/whether
Wh-word → Wh-word (Question form नहीं, Statement form)

TRICK 5: Imperative Sentences

Command → ordered/told to
Request → requested to
Advice → advised to
Negative → forbade / advised not to
Let’s → suggested that we should

TRICK 6: Exclamatory Sentences

Hurrah! → exclaimed with joy
Alas! → exclaimed with sorrow
What/How! → exclaimed with surprise
Oh! → exclaimed with wonder

TRICK 7: Universal Truth (No Change!)

The sun rises in the east. → रहेगा ही (No tense change)

💪 COMMON EXAM TRAPS

Trap 1: Tense Change भूलना

❌ He said, “I am tired.” → He said that he is tired. (Wrong)
✅ He said that he was tired. (Correct)

Trap 2: Pronoun Change गलत करना

❌ He said to me, “You are wrong.” → He told me that you were wrong. (Wrong)
✅ He told me that I was wrong. (Correct – Object के अनुसार)

Trap 3: Time/Place Words न बदलना

❌ He said, “I will come tomorrow.” → He said that he would come tomorrow. (Wrong)
✅ He said that he would come the next day. (Correct)

Trap 4: Interrogative का Statement Form न करना

❌ He asked, “What is your name?” → He asked what is my name. (Wrong – Question form)
✅ He asked what my name was. (Correct – Statement form)

Trap 5: “Said to” → “told” (Object के साथ)

❌ He said to me, “Go.” → He said me to go. (Wrong)
✅ He told me to go. (Correct)

Trap 6: Universal Truth में Tense Change

❌ The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.” → The teacher said that the sun rose in the east. (Wrong)
✅ The teacher said that the sun rises in the east. (Correct – No change)

📌 MOST IMPORTANT FOR EXAMS:

Tense Backshift → 2-3 questions (पक्का!)
Pronoun Change → 1-2 questions
Interrogative Sentences → 1-2 questions
Imperative Sentences → 1-2 questions
Time/Place Word Change → 1 question
Universal Truth → 1 question (No change)
Exclamatory Sentences → 1 question
Error Detection → 1-2 questions

💪 Practice Tips:

Daily Practice: 10 sentences Direct→Indirect and 10 sentences Indirect→Direct
Tense Table याद करें: कौन सा Tense किस Tense में बदलता है
Time/Place Words Table याद करें
SON Rule (Pronoun Change) याद रखें
Previous Papers (SSC, Bank, NDA, CDS) solve करें
Imperative Sentences (to + V1) का practice करें
Universal Truth/General Facts → No change (याद रखें!)

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