🗣️ Indirect Speech – Usage of “said,” “told,” and “asked”

What is Indirect Speech?
We use direct speech to repeat someone’s exact words.
We use indirect speech to report what someone said using our own words.
Direct speech में हम किसी के शब्दों को ज्यों का त्यों दोहराते हैं। Indirect speech में हम अपनी भाषा में रिपोर्ट करते हैं।

Key Changes in Indirect Speech:
- Use a reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked)
- Change pronouns and time/place words (e.g., “now” → “then”, “here” → “there”)
- Adjust verb tense (e.g., “am” → “was”, “will” → “would”)
Usage of “said,” “told,” and “asked”:
- ✅ said: No indirect object
Riki said that he was hungry.
रिकी ने कहा कि वह भूखा था।

- ✅ told: Must have an indirect object
I told my sister that she was right.
मैंने अपनी बहन से कहा कि वह सही थी।

- ✅ asked: Used for questions or requests
Alexa asked Meena if she had visited Puducherry.
एलेक्सा ने मीना से पूछा कि क्या उसने पुडुचेरी का दौरा किया था।

📚 Common Reporting Verbs

Verb Usage Example हिंदी अर्थ
said He said he was tired. उसने कहा कि वह थका हुआ था।
told She told me to wait. उसने मुझसे कहा कि मैं इंतजार करूं।
asked He asked if I was ready. उसने पूछा कि क्या मैं तैयार था।
warned The teacher warned us not to be late. शिक्षक ने हमें देर न करने की चेतावनी दी।
suggested She suggested that we take a break. उसने सुझाव दिया कि हम एक ब्रेक लें।
complained He complained that the room was noisy. उसने शिकायत की कि कमरा शोरगुल वाला था।
replied She replied that she had already finished the work. उसने जवाब दिया कि उसने काम पहले ही पूरा कर लिया था।
reported The journalist reported that the event was successful. पत्रकार ने रिपोर्ट किया कि कार्यक्रम सफल रहा।
answered He answered that he didn’t know the result. उसने उत्तर दिया कि उसे परिणाम नहीं पता था।
explained The guide explained how the machine worked. गाइड ने समझाया कि मशीन कैसे काम करती है।
exclaimed She exclaimed that the view was breathtaking. उसने चिल्लाकर कहा कि दृश्य बहुत सुंदर था।
promised He promised that he would help me. उसने वादा किया कि वह मेरी मदद करेगा।
ordered The officer ordered the troops to move forward. अधिकारी ने सैनिकों को आगे बढ़ने का आदेश दिया।
inquired She inquired if the parcel had arrived. उसने पूछा कि क्या पार्सल आ गया है।
mentioned He mentioned that he had visited Jaipur last year. उसने उल्लेख किया कि वह पिछले साल जयपुर गया था।
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