Indirect Speech: Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
In indirect speech, the way we use pronouns and possessive adjectives changes depending on who is speaking and who is being talked about. Let’s break it down:
1. First Person Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
When the pronouns and possessive adjectives of the first person (I, We) are used, they change to reflect the subject of the reporting verb.
Examples:
(i) Direct : I said, “I am going to my native place.”
Indirect : I said that I was going to my native place.
(ii) Direct : You said, “I do my homework”
Indirect : You said that you did your homework.
(iii) Direct : He/ She said, “I am solving my problems.”
Indirect : He/ She said that he/ she was solving his/ her problems.
(iv) Direct : I said, “I am going to my cousin’s home.”
Indirect : I said that I was going to my cousin’s home.
2. Second Person Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
When the pronouns and possessive adjectives of the second person (You) are used, they change to correspond with the object of the reporting verb.
Examples:
(i) Direct : He said to me, “Your brother obeys to you.”
Indirect : He told me that my brother obeyed to me.
(ii) Direct : He said to me, “Your sister respects you.”
Indirect : He told me that my sister respected me.
(iii) Direct : Roshan said to me, “You are honest.”
Indirect : Roshan said to me that I was honest.
3. Third Person Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
When the pronouns and possessive adjectives of the third person (He, She, It, They, etc.) are used, they remain unchanged.
Examples:
(i) Direct : Ajit said to me, “They are good children.”
Indirect : Ajit tol d me that they were good children.
(ii) Direct : I said, “She is washing her clothes.”
Indirect : I said that she was washing her clothes.
(iii) Direct : Kamal said to me, “Rohan works hard.”
Indirect : Kamal told me that Rohan worked hard.
Note: If the reporting verb ‘said’ is followed by an object it is changed into ‘told’. The verb told is not followed by the preposition to.