Grammar

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

1	Direct	She says, “I am ill.”
	Indirect	She says that she is ill.
2	Direct	I will study”, Mary said.
	Indirect	I will study”, said Mary.
3	Direct	She said; “The exam is difficult.
	Indirect	She said the test was difficult.
4	Direct	I bought a car.
	Indirect	He said he bought a car.
5	Direct	My parents are very well.
	Indirect	Alex said that his parents were very well.
6	Direct	Please don’t be late.
	Indirect	He asked their not to be late.
7	Direct	I’m living in Texas now.
	Indirect	Her father said that he was living in London now.
8	Direct	I am living in Paris.
	Indirect	He said that he was living in Paris.
9	Direct	My mother isn’t very well.
	Indirect	She said that her mother wasn’t very well.
10	Direct	I need help with my work.
	Indirect	George said “I need help with my homework.”
11	Direct	I was walking along the Street.
	Indirect	He said he had been walking along the Street.
12	Direct	I haven’t seen George recently.
	Indirect	She said that she hadn’t seen George recently.
13	Direct	I would help, but…
	Indirect	He said he would help but…
14	Direct	I’m waiting for Michael, she said.
	Indirect	She said (that) she was waiting for Michael”.
15	Direct	They said, “They have taken exercise.”
	Indirect	They said that they had taken exercise.

16	Direct	I can speak perfect Spanish.
	Indirect	He said he could speak perfect Spanish.
17	Direct	I haven’t seen Mary.
	Indirect	He said he hadn’t seen Mary.
18	Direct	What is your name? she asked me.
	Indirect	She asked me what my name was.
19	Direct	I was sleeping when Mary called.
	Indirect	He said that he had been sleeping when Mary called.
20	Direct	Please help me!
	Indirect	He asked me to help his.
21	Direct	It is too late.
	Indirect	I said it was too late.
22	Direct	I had taken Spanish lessons before.
	Indirect	He said he had taken Spanish lessons before.
23	Direct	Did you do your homework?
	Indirect	He asked me if I did (had done) my homework.
24	Direct	Please help me carry this!
	Indirect	My mother asked me to help her carry that.
25	Direct	I like ice cream.
	Indirect	He said that he liked ice cream.
26	Direct	I’II see you later.
	Indirect	He said he would see me later.
27	Direct	I could swim when I was four.
	Indirect	He said he could swim when he was four.
28	Direct	I should call my mother.
	Indirect	He said he should call her mother.
29	Direct	I might be late.
	Indirect	He said he might be late.
30	Direct	He said, “I was teaching earlier.”
	Indirect	He said he had been teaching earlier.

31	Direct	Mary said, “I have been writing this essay.”
	Indirect	Mary said that he had been writing that essay.
32	Direct	Michael said, “I may go there.’
	Indirect	Michael says that she may go there.
33	Direct	We can´t go the zoo next week.
	Indirect	They said they couldn’t go to the zoo next week.
34	Direct	George is said, “I write a letter”.
	Indirect	George is said that she wrote a letter.
35	Direct	I said, “He is driving a car”
	Indirect	I said that he was driving a car.
36	Direct	I am reading a book, he explained.
	Indirect	He explained that he was reading a book.
37	Direct	My father said, “I am cooking dinner.”
	Indirect	My father said he was cooking dinner.
38	Direct	My sister said, “I had already eaten.”
	Indirect	My sister said she had already eaten.
39	Direct	My boyfriend asked, “Do you like horror films?”
	Indirect	Do you like horror films? my boyfriend asked.
40	Direct	I never get up late, my mother said.
	Indirect	My mother said that she never got up late.
41	Direct	She said, “I might come early.”
	Indirect	She said she might come early.
42	Direct	I am leaving home now.”
	Indirect	He said that he left home then.
43	Direct	Are you living here?
	Indirect	He asked me if I was living here.
44	Direct	I’m going to come.
	Indirect	She said that she was going to come.
45	Direct	We can communicate smoothly.
	Indirect	They said that they could communicate smothly.

46	Direct	I often enjoy myself.
	Indirect	Mary will say that that she often enjoys herself.
47	Direct	Everything is going fine.
	Indirect	The news says that everything is going fine.
48	Direct	My father was born in 1962.
	Indirect	My father told us that he was born in 1962.
49	Direct	She said, “I’ve missed my train.”
	Indirect	She said that she’d missed her train.
50	Direct	I’m sorry for the accident.
	Indirect	Georger told Samuel (that) he was sorry for the accident.