直接引语就是直接引用别人的话，并把它放在引号内；间接引语就是用自己的话转述别人的话，不加引号。直接引语变成间接引语时，间接引语通常以宾语从句的形式出现。直接引语变成间接引语时还要注意人称的变化、时态的变化、指示代词的变化、时间状语的变化及地点状语的变化。
1. 直接引语是陈述句变为间接引语的方法
如果直接引语是陈述句，在变为间接引语时，由连词that引导（在口语中that常省略）。主句中如果有say to somebody （对某人说），通常变为tell somebody （告诉某人）。
◆ He said, “I get on well with people here.”
→He said that he got on well with people there.
◆ Susan said, “We can finish the work tomorrow.”
→Susan said that they could finish the work the next day.
◆ John said to me, “I told her all about it three days ago.”
→John told me that he had told her all about it three days before.
【提醒注意】如果直接引语是两个并列的陈述句，变为间接引语时，第一个宾语从句前的that有时可省略，但第二个宾语从句前的that不可省略。
◆He said, “I like swimming and I want to go swimming with you.”
→He said (that) he liked swimming and that he wanted to go swimming with us.
2. 直接引语是一般疑问句变为间接引语的方法
直接引语如果是一般疑问句，变为间接引语时，要用连词whether 或if 引导，同时把原来的疑问句语序变为陈述句语序。主句中的谓语动词是said时，要改为asked，没有间接宾语时，还可根据具体情况加一个间接宾语，
如me, us, him等。
◆The teacher said, “Will you be back today?”
→The teacher asked (him) if (whether) he would be back that day. 
◆He asked, “Has the bell rung?”
→He asked if / whether the bell had rung.
◆ “Shall (Should) I tell her your telephone number?” he asked me. （表示询问、征求意见）
→He wanted to know if （whether） he should tell her my telephone number.
【提醒注意】 “Would you like to...?”和“Would you please...?” 表示的是请求，变为间接引语时，常用动词不定式形式。
◆ “Would  you  like  to  help  me  with  my
lessons?” she asked me.
→She asked me to help her with her lessons.
3. 直接引语是特殊疑问句变为间接引语的方法
直接引语如果是特殊疑问句（即what, which, who, whom, whose, how, why, when, where, how many, how long等引导的疑问句），变为间接引语时，仍用原来的疑问词引导，但要把原来的疑问句语序改为陈述句语序。
◆ He asked, “Who can carry the box?” 
→He asked who could carry the box. (who作主语，语序不变)
◆ He asked, “Who is the man near the window?”
→He asked who the man near the window was.（who作表语，要改为陈述句语序）
◆ “Which one do you like best here?” he asked her.
→He asked her which one she liked best there.
◆“How shall (should) I read the book?” she asked. （表示征询意见）
→She wanted to know how she should read the book.