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SSC CGL Direct & Indirect Speech

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This page covers SSC CGL Direct & Indirect Speech with complete concept notes, 53 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.

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Concept Notes

Direct & Indirect Speech— Rules & Concept

1.Core Concept

Read this first — the foundation of the topic
Example

Ram said, "I am happy." • Indirect Speech: We report the meaning without using the exact words. No quotation marks

Example

Ram said that he was happy. Think of it this way — Direct Speech is like a photograph (exact copy). Indirect Speech is like a painting (same meaning, different form). ▶ KEY RULES / PROPERTIES RULE 1 — TENSE CHANGE (Backshift of Tense) When the reporting verb (said, told, asked) is in PAST tense, the tense of the reported speech changes backward in time.

2.Formula Block

Memorise — at least one formula appears in every paper
Present Simple → Past Simple
Present Continuous → Past Continuous
Present Perfect → Past Perfect
Past Simple → Past Perfect
Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
Will → Would | Can → Could | May → Might | Shall → Should | Must → Had to
Example: She says, "I am tired." → She says that she is tired. (No change)
SHORTCUT — "SOS Rule" (Subject → Object → Speaker)
• 1st person pronoun → changes to the SUBJECT of reporting verb
• 2nd person pronoun → changes to the OBJECT of reporting verb
• 3rd person pronoun → NO change
now → then | today → that day | yesterday → the previous day / the day before
tomorrow → the next day / the following day | here → there | this → that
these → those | last night → the previous night | ago → before

IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: If the reporting verb is in PRESENT tense (says, tells), NO tense change happens.

RULE 2 — PRONOUN CHANGE

Pronouns change based on the subject and object of the reporting verb. Use this shortcut:

RULE 3 — TIME & PLACE WORD CHANGES

RULE 4 — SENTENCE TYPE RULES

• For STATEMENTS: Use "that" as a connector. Remove quotation marks.

• For QUESTIONS (Yes/No): Use "whether" or "if" as connector. Remove question mark.

• For QUESTIONS (Wh-): Use the Wh-word itself as connector.

• For COMMANDS/REQUESTS: Use "to + verb" (infinitive form). Reporting verb changes to told, ordered, requested, advised.

• For EXCLAMATIONS: Use "exclaimed with joy/sorrow" or "wished". Change to a statement.

▶

3.Exam Patterns

What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

SSC CGL asks Direct-Indirect Speech in two formats: 1. Error detection — find the wrong tense or pronoun in the reported speech. 2. Sentence transformation — convert direct to indirect or vice versa. Approximately 2-3 questions appear per paper. Tense backshift and pronoun changes are the most tested areas. ▶

4.Shortcuts

Use these to save 30–60 seconds per question
TRICK 1 — MODAL SHORTCUT

"Would, Could, Might, Should, Ought to" — these modals NEVER change in indirect speech. If you see them, leave them as they are

TRICK 2 — UNIVERSAL TRUTH SHORTCUT

If the reported speech states a universal fact or scientific truth, the tense does NOT change

Example

The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." → The teacher said that the sun rises in the east. ("rises" stays — not "rose") TRICK 3 — COMMAND FORMULA: Reporting verb + Object + (not) to + base verb Example: He said to me, "Close the door." → He told me to close the door. ▶

5.Worked Example

Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1

Identify reporting verb — "said" (past tense) → tense will change.

2
Step 2

Remove quotation marks. Add connector "that".

3
Step 3

Change pronoun — "I" = 1st person → becomes subject of reporting verb = "she". "my" → "her".

4
Step 4

Change tense — Present Perfect (have finished) → Past Perfect (had finished). Answer: She told him that she had finished her work. ▶ WORKED EXAMPLE 2 — Yes/No Question Direct: He said to me, "Are you coming tomorrow?"

1
Step 1

Reporting verb = "said" (past) → tense changes. Question type = Yes/No → use "if" or "whether".

2
Step 2

Change pronoun — "you" = 2nd person → becomes object of reporting verb = "I" (since object is "me").

3
Step 3

Change tense — Present Continuous (are coming) → Past Continuous (was coming).

4
Step 4

Change "tomorrow" → "the next day". Remove question mark. Answer: He asked me if I was coming the next day. ▶

6.Exam Traps

Common mistakes students make — avoid these

— THE #1 TRAP Students forget to change the tense when "said to" is used but keep the tense when "says" is used — they do it the WRONG WAY AROUND. Also, many students do NOT change the 2nd person pronoun correctly. They forget to check the OBJECT of the reporting verb. Example trap: "He said to me, 'You are wrong.'" → Wrong answer: He said to me that you were wrong. Correct answer: He told me that I was wrong. Always identify Subject → Object of the reporting verb FIRST before changing pronouns.

Key Points to Remember

  • Direct Speech uses exact words in quotation marks; Indirect Speech reports meaning without quotes.
  • If reporting verb is PAST tense, shift the tense of reported speech one step back into the past.
  • If reporting verb is PRESENT tense (says/tells), NO tense change is required.
  • SOS Rule: 1st person → Subject of reporting verb | 2nd person → Object | 3rd person → No change.
  • Modal verbs Would, Could, Might, Should, Ought to NEVER change in indirect speech.
  • Universal truths and scientific facts do NOT undergo tense change in indirect speech.
  • For Yes/No questions use 'if' or 'whether'; for Wh-questions use the Wh-word as connector.
  • Command formula: Reporting verb + Object + (not) to + base verb (e.g., told me to leave).
  • Time words: today → that day | tomorrow → the next day | yesterday → the previous day | now → then.
  • Must → Had to in indirect speech; but Would/Could/Might/Should remain unchanged.

Exam-Specific Tips

  • The reporting verb 'said to' is replaced by 'told' when converting statements to indirect speech.
  • In indirect speech for commands, the reporting verb changes to: told (order), requested (polite request), advised (suggestion), warned (caution).
  • Present Perfect tense (has/have + V3) changes to Past Perfect (had + V3) in indirect speech.
  • The word 'that' used as a conjunction in indirect speech can be omitted without making the sentence grammatically wrong.
  • For exclamatory sentences, reporting verb changes to 'exclaimed with joy/sorrow' or 'wished' and sentence becomes a statement.
  • The modal 'will' becomes 'would', 'can' becomes 'could', 'may' becomes 'might' in indirect speech.
  • If the direct speech expresses a universal truth, the present tense is retained even when the reporting verb is past tense.
Practice MCQs

Direct & Indirect Speech — Practice Questions

53graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 53

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Practice 1easy

The manager told his team that they (A) have worked / (B) had worked / (C) are working / (D) work very hard on the project. Choose the correct option.

Practice 2easy

Convert to indirect speech: She said to me, "I have completed my homework and I will submit it tomorrow."

Practice 3easy

She said, "I have finished my work." In indirect speech, this becomes: She said that (A) she has finished her work / (B) she had finished her work / (C) she finishes her work / (D) she will finish her work.

Practice 4easy

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) will complete / (D) completes the project by the deadline. Choose the correct option.

Practice 5easy

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) completes / (D) completed the project before the deadline.

Practice 6easy

The manager said, "You must complete the report by Friday." In indirect speech, this is: The manager said that (A) I must complete the report by Friday / (B) I had to complete the report by Friday / (C) I should complete the report by Friday / (D) I would complete the report by Friday.

Practice 7easy

Choose the correct indirect speech for: She said, 'I am very tired today.'

Practice 8easy

He asked me, "Are you coming to the party?" This is converted to indirect speech as: He asked me (A) if I am coming to the party / (B) if I was coming to the party / (C) whether I will come to the party / (D) if I would come to the party.

Practice 9easy

The teacher told the students that they (A) should submit / (B) should have submitted / (C) will submit / (D) would submit their assignments on time.

Practice 10easy

Convert to indirect speech: "I don't know where my keys are," he said.

Practice 11easy

Convert the following into Indirect Speech: Direct: She said, "I don't know where he has gone." (A) She said that she doesn't know where he has gone. (B) She said that she didn't know where he had gone. (C) She said that she don't know where he has gone. (D) She said that she didn't know where he has gone and she is confused.

Practice 12easy

Convert to indirect speech: "Can you help me with this problem?" she asked him.

Practice 13easy

The teacher told the students that they (A) should submit / (B) will submit / (C) are submitting / (D) have submitted their assignments on time. Choose the correct option.

Practice 14easy

He asked me whether I (A) am going / (B) was going / (C) have gone / (D) will go to the market. Choose the correct option.

Practice 15easy

She said that she (A) will attend / (B) would attend / (C) attends / (D) has attended the conference next month. Choose the correct option.

Practice 16medium

He asked me (A) where did I go / (B) where I went / (C) where I have gone / (D) where will I go yesterday.

Practice 17medium

The manager said that (A) the employees have worked / (B) the employees had worked / (C) the employees work / (D) the employees will work very hard on the project.

Practice 18medium

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) will complete / (D) completes the project before the deadline.

Practice 19medium

The teacher asked the students, "Have you (A) finished / (B) have finished / (C) had finished / (D) will finish your homework?"

Practice 20medium

She said that she (A) has completed / (B) had completed / (C) will complete / (D) completes the project by the deadline. No error

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60-Second Revision — Direct & Indirect Speech

  • Remember: Past reporting verb = tense shifts back one step. Present reporting verb = no tense change.
  • Formula (SOS): 1st person pronoun → Subject | 2nd person → Object | 3rd person → No change.
  • Formula (Command): told/ordered/requested/advised + object + (not) to + base verb.
  • Trap: Always find the OBJECT of the reporting verb before changing the 2nd person pronoun — most errors happen here.
  • Remember: Would, Could, Might, Should, Ought to — these modals NEVER change in indirect speech.
  • Remember: Universal facts keep present tense even in past reporting context (e.g., 'Sun rises in the east' stays 'rises').
  • Time word swap to memorise: now→then, today→that day, tomorrow→the next day, yesterday→the previous day, here→there, ago→before.
←Active & Passive VoiceModals→
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