Differentiate between direct and indirect speech?

In Indirect speech, commands and requests statement carry words like told, asked, requested, ordered followed by an infinitive.

Direct: The principal said, "Turn off the lights."

Indirect: The principal told us to turn off the lights.

Direct: Reema said, "Please help me."

Indirect: Reema requested me to help her.

In indirect speech, questions are changed to statements without any question mark. If the question starts with a WH-word, it remains as is. If it is a Yes/No question, we use if or whether.

For example:

Direct: Maya asked, "Where are you going?"

Indirect: Maya asked where I was going.

Direct: Pinto asked, "Do you like coffee?"

Indirect: Pinto asked if I liked coffee.

In Indirect Speech, pronouns change according to the perspective of the speaker and listener.

Direct: Pinky said to me, "I will help you."

Indirect: Pinky told me that she would help me.

Here, 'I' becomes 'she', and 'you' becomes 'me'.

Class 10 students should have a basic understanding of direct and indirect speech. Some of the common rules are given below:

• Basic conversion rules

• Sentence types: statements, questions, commands

In order to master the topic applicants are advised to practice through CBSE/ICSE board sample papers

The direct and indirect speech or narration refers to reporting a speaker's words. Some of the popular key rules include:

• Tense shift (present to past)

• Changing personal pronouns

• Using proper reporting verbs

Adjusting time expressions (e.g., “now”? “then”)
However, these rules differ for assertive, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences.