meaning of indirect speech and examples

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

In this useful lesson, we’ll explore direct and indirect speech through 50 simple examples. These two ways of speaking help us share what someone else said. Think of direct speech as using the speaker’s exact words, like quoting a friend. Indirect speech , on the other hand, involves changing the original words a bit, as if you’re telling a story about what was said. This lesson is great for anyone looking to get better at English, offering clear examples to make learning easier.

Rules to Make Direct and Indirect Speech

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, it’s important to follow specific rules to ensure the sentence still conveys the original meaning. Here are the key rules:

Change in Pronouns : Pronouns often need to be changed according to the context and the point of view of the reporting verb. For example, “ I am going ” (direct) might become “ He said he was going ” (indirect).
Tense Shifts : The tense of the verb in direct speech usually changes when converting to indirect speech. If the reporting verb is in the past tense , the tense in the reported speech shifts back as well. For instance, “ She said, ‘I am eating ‘” changes to “ She said she was eating “.
Time and Place Words : Words indicating time and place in direct speech are often adjusted in indirect speech. “Here” may change to “there,” “today” to “ that day ,” “tomorrow” to “ the next day ,” etc.
Question Form : If the direct speech is a question, the indirect form does not use a question format. Instead, it integrates the question into a statement, often using “if” or “whether” for yes/no questions, and ‘wh’ words ( what, when, where, why, who ) for questions that require more detailed answers. For example, “ He asked, ‘Are you coming? ‘” becomes “ He asked if I was coming .”
No Quotes : In indirect speech, quotation marks are not used. The sentence is integrated into a larger statement, which often starts with verbs like said, asked, or told.
Exclamations and Commands : Exclamatory sentences and commands in direct speech are transformed into statements or requests in indirect speech. For instance, “He said, ‘How beautiful!'” becomes “He exclaimed that it was beautiful.” Commands like “He said, ‘Sit down!'” change to “He ordered me to sit down.”
Modal Verbs : Modal verbs can also change in indirect speech, especially might, could, would, and should, depending on the context and the necessity to maintain the original sentence’s meaning.

Remember, the goal of these changes is to maintain the essence of the original statement while adapting it to the grammatical and contextual framework of indirect speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

1. Direct: “I am busy,” she said.

Indirect: She said that she was busy.

2. Direct: “We will go tomorrow,” they said.

Indirect: They said that they would go the next day.

3. Direct: “He can play the guitar,” Mike said.

Indirect: Mike said that he could play the guitar.

4. Direct: “Do you like chocolate?” she asked me.

Indirect: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

5. Direct: “Please open the window,” John requested.

Indirect: John requested that the window be opened.

6. Direct: “I have finished my homework,” he announced.

Indirect: He announced that he had finished his homework.

7. Direct: “Don’t touch that,” she warned.

Indirect: She warned not to touch that.

8. Direct: “How are you?” he inquired.

Indirect: He inquired how I was.

9. Direct: “I will help you,” she promised.

Indirect: She promised that she would help me.

10. Direct: “I didn’t see him yesterday,” Tom confessed.

Indirect: Tom confessed that he hadn’t seen him the day before.

11. Direct: “I am going to the market,” Alex said.

Indirect: Alex said that he was going to the market.

12. Direct: “We saw a movie last night,” they told me.

Indirect: They told me that they had seen a movie the night before.

13. Direct: “Can you drive a car?” she questioned.

Indirect: She questioned whether I could drive a car.

14. Direct: “Please pass the salt,” he requested.

Indirect: He requested that the salt be passed.

15. Direct: “I have been to Spain,” she mentioned.

Indirect: She mentioned that she had been to Spain.

16. Direct: “Stay away from the dog,” he cautioned.

Indirect: He cautioned to stay away from the dog.

17. Direct: “Where did you buy this?” she inquired.

Indirect: She inquired where I had bought that.

18. Direct: “I’ll call you tonight,” he promised.

Indirect: He promised that he would call me that night.

19. Direct: “I didn’t take your book,” Sarah insisted.

Indirect: Sarah insisted that she hadn’t taken my book.

20. Direct: “Let’s meet at the café,” they suggested.

Indirect: They suggested meeting at the café.

21. Direct: “I’m feeling sick,” he said.

Indirect: He said that he was feeling sick.

22. Direct: “I won the match,” she exclaimed.

Indirect: She exclaimed that she had won the match.

23. Direct: “Could you please help me?” he asked.

Indirect: He asked if I could please help him.

24. Direct: “Turn off the lights,” she commanded.

Indirect: She commanded that the lights be turned off.

25. Direct: “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.

Indirect: He said that he would see me the next day.

26. Direct: “We’re moving to a new city,” they announced.

Indirect: They announced that they were moving to a new city.

27. Direct: “Do not disturb me,” she warned.

Indirect: She warned not to disturb her.

28. Direct: “Why are you late?” he questioned.

Indirect: He questioned why I was late.

29. Direct: “I’ll handle the situation,” she assured.

Indirect: She assured that she would handle the situation.

30. Direct: “I’ve never been to Asia,” he stated.

Indirect: He stated that he had never been to Asia.

31. Direct: “Let’s go for a walk,” she proposed.

Indirect: She proposed going for a walk.

32. Direct: “I am learning Spanish,” he mentioned.

Indirect: He mentioned that he was learning Spanish.

33. Direct: “Please close the door,” she asked.

Indirect: She asked that the door be closed.

34. Direct: “I will join you later,” he promised.

Indirect: He promised that he would join me later.

35. Direct: “I lost my wallet,” she declared.

Indirect: She declared that she had lost her wallet.

36. Direct: “Keep the secret,” he urged.

Indirect: He urged to keep the secret.

37. Direct: “Where is the nearest bank?” she inquired.

Indirect: She inquired where the nearest bank was.

38. Direct: “I might go to the concert,” he speculated.

Indirect: He speculated that he might go to the concert.

39. Direct: “Please be quiet,” she implored.

Indirect: She implored to be quiet.

40. Direct: “I will finish the project by Monday,” he assured.

Indirect: He assured that he would finish the project by Monday.

41. Direct: “Don’t forget to lock the door,” she reminded.

Indirect: She reminded to not forget to lock the door.

42. Direct: “How do you solve this problem?” he pondered.

Indirect: He pondered how to solve that problem.

43. Direct: “I can’t believe I won!” he exclaimed.

Indirect: He exclaimed that he couldn’t believe he had won.

44. Direct: “Would you like some coffee?” she offered.

Indirect: She offered if I would like some coffee.

45. Direct: “I must leave now,” he stated.

Indirect: He stated that he must leave then.

46. Direct: “We’re adopting a puppy,” they shared.

Indirect: They shared that they were adopting a puppy.

47. Direct: “Never speak to me again,” she commanded.

Indirect: She commanded never to speak to her again.

48. Direct: “When will you return the book?” he asked.

Indirect: He asked when I would return the book.

49. Direct: “I’ll think about your offer,” she considered.

Indirect: She considered that she would think about the offer.

50. Direct: “Please bring me a glass of water,” he requested.

Indirect: He requested that a glass of water be brought to him.

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Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.

Direct and Indirect Speech

When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.

Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.

To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.

It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.

In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:

Change of Pronouns

In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:

Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.

In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.

Change of Tenses

Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:

Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.

In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.

Change of Time and Place References

When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:

Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.

In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.

Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.

For example:

Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.

Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.

Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.

By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:

Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.

Here is an example to illustrate the process:

Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.

Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.

By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:

Direct Speech Examples

Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.

“I am going to the store,” said Sarah.
“It’s a beautiful day,” exclaimed John.
“Please turn off the lights,” Mom told me.
“I will meet you at the library,” said Tom.
“We are going to the beach tomorrow,” announced Mary.

Indirect Speech Examples

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

Sarah said that she was going to the store.
John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
Mom told me to turn off the lights.
Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.

In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.

Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.

How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.

What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?

Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .

What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?

The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.

Indirect Speech

Introduction.

Communicating effectively requires us to master a variety of grammatical rules. One such critical element is the appropriate use of ‘Indirect Speech’, also known as reported speech. Indirect speech allows us to convey what another person has said without quoting them directly.

Table of Contents

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect Speech is a way of expressing the words or utterances of a speaker in a reported manner. In contrast to direct speech, where the original speaker’s words are quoted verbatim, indirect speech is more about reporting the essence or meaning of what the speaker said rather than quoting them exactly.

For example:

Direct Speech: Lisa said, “I am going shopping.”

Indirect Speech: Lisa said that she was going shopping.

Changes in Verb Tenses

Tense shifts.

When you transform sentences from direct to indirect speech, the verb tenses typically shift back a step in time. This phenomenon is often referred to as ‘sequence of tenses’ or ‘backshift’. However, the backshift is not applied if the spoken words still apply at the time of reporting or the words express a universal truth.

Here are the typical conversions:

Present Simple changes to Past Simple. E.g., “I like pizza” becomes “She said that she liked pizza.”
Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous. E.g., “I am eating pizza” becomes “She said that she was eating pizza.”
Will changes to would. E.g., “I will go” becomes “He said that he would go.”
Past Simple changes to Past Perfect. E.g., “I ate lunch” becomes “She said that she had eaten lunch.”

Exceptions to Tense Shifts

There are exceptions to these rules, such as when the direct speech element is a universal truth or a fact. Consider the below examples:

John said, “The sun rises in the east” becomes “John said that the sun rises in the east.”
She said, “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius” becomes “She said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.”

Changes in Pronouns and Time Expressions

Pronoun changes.

When changing from direct to indirect speech, it’s often necessary to modify the pronouns to match the speaker and listener’s point of view. For example:

“I love you,” he said. (Direct)
He said he loved me. (Indirect)

Time Expression Changes

Time expressions often undergo necessary modifications when moving from direct to indirect speech. Here are some examples:

“Today” becomes “That day.”
“Now” becomes “Then.”
“Tomorrow” becomes “The next day” or “the following day.”
“Next week” becomes “The following week.”

Indirect Commands and Requests

We can also convey commands and requests indirectly. For indirect commands, we use “to” + base verb and for indirect requests we use “if” or “whether” + subject + could/would, followed by the base verb.

Direct: “Close the window!” – Indirect: He told me to close the window.
Direct: “Can you lend me the book?” – Indirect: She asked if I could lend her the book.

Indirect Questions

When posing indirect questions, we need to ensure that the word order follows the structure of a standard statement, rather than a direct question.

Direct: “Where are you going?” – Indirect: He asked me where I was going.

Mastering indirect speech is essential but can be challenging because of the need to adjust verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions. However, with practice, it becomes easier, and steadily, you find yourself communicating more effectively and efficiently, especially in formal and written contexts. Keep practicing, and soon converting direct speech to indirect speech will become second nature.

Reported Speech – Rules, Examples

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

They say gossip is a natural part of human life. That’s why language has evolved to develop grammatical rules about the “he said” and “she said” statements. We call them reported speech.

Every time we use reported speech in English, we are talking about something said by someone else in the past. Thinking about it brings me back to high school, when reported speech was the main form of language!

Learn all about the definition, rules, and examples of reported speech as I go over everything. I also included a worksheet at the end of the article so you can test your knowledge of the topic.

What Does Reported Speech Mean?

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Reported speech is a term we use when telling someone what another person said. You can do this while speaking or writing.

There are two kinds of reported speech you can use: direct speech and indirect speech. I’ll break each down for you.

A direct speech sentence mentions the exact words the other person said. For example:

Kryz said, “These are all my necklaces.”

Indirect speech changes the original speaker’s words. For example:

Kryz said those were all her necklaces.

When we tell someone what another individual said, we use reporting verbs like told, asked, convinced, persuaded, and said. We also change the first-person figure in the quotation into the third-person speaker.

Reported Speech Examples

We usually talk about the past every time we use reported speech. That’s because the time of speaking is already done. For example:

Direct speech: The employer asked me, “Do you have experience with people in the corporate setting?”

Indirect speech: The employer asked me if I had experience with people in the corporate setting.

Direct speech: “I’m working on my thesis,” I told James.

Indirect speech: I told James that I was working on my thesis.

Reported Speech Structure

A speech report has two parts: the reporting clause and the reported clause. Read the example below:

Harry said, “You need to help me.”

The reporting clause here is William said. Meanwhile, the reported clause is the 2nd clause, which is I need your help.

What are the 4 Types of Reported Speech?

Aside from direct and indirect, reported speech can also be divided into four. The four types of reported speech are similar to the kinds of sentences: imperative, interrogative, exclamatory, and declarative.

Reported Speech Rules

The rules for reported speech can be complex. But with enough practice, you’ll be able to master them all.

Choose Whether to Use That or If

The most common conjunction in reported speech is that. You can say, “My aunt says she’s outside,” or “My aunt says that she’s outside.”

Use if when you’re reporting a yes-no question. For example:

Direct speech: “Are you coming with us?”

Indirect speech: She asked if she was coming with them.

Verb Tense Changes

Change the reporting verb into its past form if the statement is irrelevant now. Remember that some of these words are irregular verbs, meaning they don’t follow the typical -d or -ed pattern. For example:

Direct speech: I dislike fried chicken.

Reported speech: She said she disliked fried chicken.

Note how the main verb in the reported statement is also in the past tense verb form.

Use the simple present tense in your indirect speech if the initial words remain relevant at the time of reporting. This verb tense also works if the report is something someone would repeat. For example:

Slater says they’re opening a restaurant soon.
Maya says she likes dogs.

This rule proves that the choice of verb tense is not a black-and-white question. The reporter needs to analyze the context of the action.

Move the tense backward when the reporting verb is in the past tense. That means:

Present simple becomes past simple.
Present perfect becomes past perfect.
Present continuous becomes past continuous.
Past simple becomes past perfect.
Past continuous becomes past perfect continuous.

Here are some examples:

The singer has left the building. (present perfect)

He said that the singers had left the building. (past perfect)

Her sister gave her new shows. (past simple)
She said that her sister had given her new shoes. (past perfect)

If the original speaker is discussing the future, change the tense of the reporting verb into the past form. There’ll also be a change in the auxiliary verbs.

Will or shall becomes would.
Will be becomes would be.
Will have been becomes would have been.
Will have becomes would have.

For example:

Direct speech: “I will be there in a moment.”

Indirect speech: She said that she would be there in a moment.

Do not change the verb tenses in indirect speech when the sentence has a time clause. This rule applies when the introductory verb is in the future, present, and present perfect. Here are other conditions where you must not change the tense:

If the sentence is a fact or generally true.
If the sentence’s verb is in the unreal past (using second or third conditional).
If the original speaker reports something right away.
Do not change had better, would, used to, could, might, etc.

Changes in Place and Time Reference

Changing the place and time adverb when using indirect speech is essential. For example, now becomes then and today becomes that day. Here are more transformations in adverbs of time and places.

This – that.
These – those.
Now – then.
Here – there.
Tomorrow – the next/following day.
Two weeks ago – two weeks before.
Yesterday – the day before.

Here are some examples.

Direct speech: “I am baking cookies now.”

Indirect speech: He said he was baking cookies then.

Direct speech: “Myra went here yesterday.”

Indirect speech: She said Myra went there the day before.

Direct speech: “I will go to the market tomorrow.”

Indirect speech: She said she would go to the market the next day.

Using Modals

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If the direct speech contains a modal verb, make sure to change them accordingly.

Will becomes would
Can becomes could
Shall becomes should or would.
Direct speech: “Will you come to the ball with me?”

Indirect speech: He asked if he would come to the ball with me.

Direct speech: “Gina can inspect the room tomorrow because she’s free.”

Indirect speech: He said Gina could inspect the room the next day because she’s free.

However, sometimes, the modal verb should does not change grammatically. For example:

Direct speech: “He should go to the park.”

Indirect speech: She said that he should go to the park.

Imperative Sentences

To change an imperative sentence into a reported indirect sentence, use to for imperative and not to for negative sentences. Never use the word that in your indirect speech. Another rule is to remove the word please . Instead, say request or say. For example:

“Please don’t interrupt the event,” said the host.

The host requested them not to interrupt the event.

Jonah told her, “Be careful.”
Jonah ordered her to be careful.

Reported Questions

When reporting a direct question, I would use verbs like inquire, wonder, ask, etc. Remember that we don’t use a question mark or exclamation mark for reports of questions. Below is an example I made of how to change question forms.

Incorrect: He asked me where I live?

Correct: He asked me where I live.

Here’s another example. The first sentence uses direct speech in a present simple question form, while the second is the reported speech.

Where do you live?

She asked me where I live.

Wrapping Up Reported Speech

My guide has shown you an explanation of reported statements in English. Do you have a better grasp on how to use it now?

Reported speech refers to something that someone else said. It contains a subject, reporting verb, and a reported cause.

Don’t forget my rules for using reported speech. Practice the correct verb tense, modal verbs, time expressions, and place references.

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100 + Direct and Indirect Speech Examples and Answers (2025)

Gain a deep understanding of 100+ examples of direct and indirect speech, along with detailed, step-by-step guides on converting between the two. Enhance the skill of maintaining correct tense, pronoun, and modal usage when transforming direct and indirect speech. Explore comprehensive examples to support your learning journey.

Direct Speech Examples

When a speech is quoted with exact words used by the speaker is called Direct speech or narration .

Direct Speech: Ravi says, “I am tired.”

The speech which is quoted above in actual words (“ I am tired” is called the Reported Speech and the verb (“ says “) that introduces speech is called the Reporting Verb. The above speech is called Direct Speech .

Indirect Speech Examples

On the other hand, when the speech is reported in the form of a narrative, without quoting the speaker’s actual words , it is called Indirect speech or narration.

Indirect Speech: Ravi says that he is tired.

The above speech is reported in the form of a narrative , without quoting the speaker’s actual words , but keeping the meaning the same. So, it is Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples of Punctuation Marks

Punctuating direct and indirect speech correctly is essential for clarity and grammatical correctness in writing. Let me provide examples of both with explanations:

Direct Speech:

Direct speech involves conveying the exact words spoken by a person. When punctuating direct speech, you enclose the spoken words within quotation marks and separate them from the rest of the sentence using commas, question marks, or exclamation marks as appropriate.

Original sentence (Direct Speech): “I love reading,” she said.
Explanation: The spoken words “I love reading” are enclosed within quotation marks. The comma after “reading” indicates the end of the spoken sentence but keeps the dialogue flowing within the sentence.
Original sentence (Direct Speech): “What time is the meeting?” he asked.
Explanation: The question asked is enclosed within quotation marks. The comma after “meeting” separates the spoken words from the attribution “he asked.”

Indirect Speech:

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves reporting what someone said without quoting their exact words. When punctuating indirect speech, you do not use quotation marks. Instead, you change the verb tense and possibly pronouns to reflect the shift from direct to indirect speech.

Original sentence: “I’ll be there at 3 PM,” she said.
Indirect speech: She said she would be there at 3 PM.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the verb tense changes from “I’ll” to “she would,” reflecting the shift from present to past tense. The spoken words are not enclosed within quotation marks, and the reporting verb “said” is used to attribute the speech.
Original sentence: “I want to travel the world,” he exclaimed.
Indirect speech: He exclaimed that he wanted to travel the world.
Explanation: The verb tense changes from “want” to “wanted” in indirect speech. The spoken words are not enclosed within quotation marks, and the attribution “he exclaimed” is used to report the speech.

In both direct and indirect speech, proper punctuation and verb tense agreement are crucial for accurately conveying the speaker’s words and maintaining grammatical correctness within the sentence.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of All Tenses

In English grammar, examples of all tenses can be found in both direct and indirect speech, illustrating how verbs and structures change to reflect the shift in time.

1. Present Tense Examples

Direct: “I love chocolate,” she says . Indirect: She says that she lo ves chocolate.

Direct: “I am watching TV,” he says. Indirect: He says that he is watching TV.

Direct: “I have finished my homework,” she says. Indirect: She says that she has finished her homework.

Direct: “I have been studying for hours,” he says. Indirect: He says that he has been studying for hours.

Direct: “I played cricket,” he says . Indirect: He says that he played cricket.

Direct: “I shall visit New York,” he says . Indirect: He says that he will visit New York.

Direct: He says, “You will make a good result.” Indirect: He says that I shall make a good result.

Direct: They say, “We won the match.” Indirect: They say that they won the match.

2. Past Tense Examples

Direct: “I visited Paris last summer,” she said. Indirect: She said that she had visited Paris last summer.

Direct: “I was reading a book when you called,” he said. Indirect: He said that he had been reading a book when I called.

Direct: “I had already eaten dinner when she arrived,” she said. Indirect: She said that she had already eaten dinner when I arrived.

Direct: “I had been working on this project for months,” he said. Indirect: He said that he had been working on that project for months.

Direct: She said to me, “I am writing a letter now.” Indirect: She told me that she was writing a letter then.:

Direct: He said to me, “I shall not do it.” Indirect: He told me that he would not do it.

Direct: They said to us, “You make a mistake.” Indirect: They told us that we made a mistake

Direct: The doctor said to me, “You have brought the patient in time.” Indirect: The doctor told me that I had brought the patient in time.

Direct: Mother said , “I took tea.” Indirect: Mother said that she had taken tea.

Direct: My friend said to me, “you were doing a good job.” Indirect: My friend told me that I had been doing a good job.

Direct: The man said to me, “I had not seen you before.” Indirect: The man told me that he had not seen me before.

3. Future Tense Examples:

Direct: “I will call you tomorrow,” she will say. Indirect: She will say that she will call me tomorrow.

Direct: “I will be traveling to Europe next month,” he will say. Indirect: He will say that he will be traveling to Europe next month.

Direct: “I will have finished the project by Friday,” she will say. Indirect: She will say that she will have finished the project by Friday.

Direct: “I will have been studying for five hours by then,” he will say. Indirect: He will say that he will have been studying for five hours by then.

Direct: He will say , “I shall be there within an hour.” Indirect: He will say that he will be there for an hour.

Direct: Mother will say , “I made the fish curry.” Indirect: Mother will say that She made the fish curry.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples in Sentences

Direct: Sarah said, “I am going to the store.” Indirect: Sarah said that she was going to the store.

Direct: “The meeting starts at 9 AM,” announced the manager. Indirect: The manager announced that the meeting started at 9 AM.

Direct: Tom asked, “Did you finish your homework?” Indirect: Tom asked if I had finished my homework.

Direct: “I love watching movies,” she exclaimed. Indirect: She exclaimed that she loved watching movies.

Direct: “Don’t touch that!” shouted Mark. Indirect: Mark shouted not to touch that.

Direct: He said, “You are intelligent.” Indirect: He said that I was intelligent.

Direct: You will say, “I am right.” Indirect: You will say that you are right.

Direct: Rita said, “She is my favourite player.” Indirect: Rita said that she was her favourite player.

Direct: I said to you, ‘I wish to start a business next year.’ Indirect: I told you that I wished to start a business in the following years.

Direct: Mother said to her, “Are you feeling feverish?” Indirect: Mother inquired of her if she was feeling feverish.

Direct: She said to him, ‘Which of the books do you want to buy?’ Indirect: She asked him which of the books he wanted to buy.

Direct: The teacher said, “Boys, go to your classes.” Indirect: The teacher ordered the boys to go to their classes.

Direct: Mother said, ‘May you be happy.’ Indirect: Mother wished that I might be happy.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Modal Verbs

Direct: He said to me, “You may go. ” Indirect: He told me that I might go.

Direct: “I can swim,” she said . (can) Indirect: She said that she could swim. (can)

Direct: “You will attend the meeting tomorrow,” he said to me. Indirect: He told me that I would attend the meeting the next day.

Direct: You will attend the meeting tomorrow,” I said to him. Indirect: I told him that he would attend the meeting the next day.

Direct: “You should study harder,” he advised . (should) Indirect: He advised that I should study harder. (should)

Direct: “ May I borrow your pen?” she asked . (may) Indirect: She asked if she might borrow my pen. (may)

Direct: “We must finish this project by Friday,” he insisted. (must) Indirect: He insisted that we must finish the project by Friday. (must)

Direct: “You might want to consider that option,” she suggested. (might) Indirect : She suggested that I might want to consider that option. (might)

Direct: “I will help you with your homework,” she promised. (will) Indirect: She promised that she would help me with my homework. (will)

Direct: “You ought to apologize for your mistake,” he scolded. (ought to) Indirect: He scolded that I ought to apologize for my mistake. (ought to)

Direct: “ Can you lend me some money?” she requested. (can) Indirect: She requested if I could lend her some money. (can)

Direct: “You need to finish your chores before you go out,” he reminded. (need to) Indirect: He reminded me that I needed to finish my chores before going out. (need to)

Direct: “You are allowed to leave early today,” she informed. (are allowed to) Indirect: She informed that we were allowed to leave early that day. (are allowed to)

Direct to Indirect Speech Examples with Change of Pronouns

Direct: He said to me, “ I am ill.” Indirect: He told me that he was ill.

Direct: They will say to you, “ We have made it.” Indirect: They will tell you that they have made it.

Direct: You said to him, “ You are not like me.” Indirect: You told him that he was not like you.

Direct: He said to me, “ My name is John.” Indirect: He tells me that his name is John.

Direct: They said to me, “ This is our playground.” Indirect: They told me that that was their playground.

Direct: He says to me, “Elders give us blessings.” Indirect: He tells me that elders give them blessings.

Direct: He said to me, “ You are not smart .” Indirect: He told me that I was not smart.

Direct: She said to him, “ I am not your friend.” Indirect: She told him that she was not his friend.

Direct: He said to us, “ I shall give you money.” Indirect: He told us that he would give us money.

Direct: You said, “ He is right.” Indirect: You said that he was right.

Direct: I said, “ They will be late.” Indirect: I said that they would be late.

Change of Time & Place for Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Direct: He said to me, “ This is my house.” Indirect: He told me that that was his house.

Direct: She said to him, “ These are golden flowers.” Indirect: She told him that those were golden flowers.

Direct: He said, “I have done it today .” Indirect: He said that he had done it that day.

Direct: She said to him, “I bought the book yesterday .” Indirect: She said that she had the book the previous day.

Direct: They said, ‘We will play now. ‘ Indirect: They said that they would play then .

Direct: You said, ‘ Here lives a lion.’ Indirect: You said that there lived a lion.

Direct: She always says, ‘I like these flowers.’ Indirect: She always says that she likes those flowers.

Direct: He said, ‘I will come here tomorrow. ‘ Indirect: He said that he would go there the next day .

Direct: I said, ‘You will get it today or tomorrow.’ Indirect: I said that you would get it that day or the next day.

Direct: He said to me, ‘ Come here .’ Indirect: He told me to go there.

Direct: He said, ‘I shall go there the day after tomorrow .’ Indirect: He said that he would go there in two day’s time.

Direct: He said to me, ‘I saw your sister two years ago. ‘ Indirect: He told me that he had seen my sister two years before.

Direct: He said to me, “I have no friend here .” Indirect: He told me that he had no friends here.

Direct: I said, ‘We cannot be happy in this world. Indirect: I said that we could not be happy in this world.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Assertive Sentences

Direct: Peter says, “My mother teaches me English.” Indirect: Peter says that his (Peter’s) mother teaches him English.

Direct: Shyam will say, “I have done this work. Indirect: Shyam will say that he has done that work.

Direct: Bappa said to him, “I am ten years old.” Indirect: Bappa told him that he was ten years old.

Direct: Laltu said, “I am watching television now. Indirect: Laltu said that he was watching television then.

Direct: He said to me, “My mother is now sleeping.’ Indirect: He told me that his mother was sleeping then.

Direct: I said, “The teacher has taken me to the task. Indirect: I said that the teacher had taken me to the task.

Direct: Mother said to me, “I have taken the medicine twice today.” Indirect: Mother told me that she had taken the medicine twice that day.

Direct: My sister said to me, “The bird flew away. Indirect: My sister told me that the bird had flown away.

Direct: Namrata said, “They came here yesterday.’ Indirect: Namrata said that they had come there the previous day.

Direct: Jamuna said, “Lalan was listening to my words. Indirect: Jamuna said that Lalan had been listening to her words.

Direct: He said, “I shall take rice.” Indirect: He said that he would take rice.

Direct: They said, “We shall leave for Goa tomorrow.” Indirect: They said that they would leave for Goa the next day.

Direct: Ashisbabu said, “Now we shall start the ceremony.’ Indirect: Ashisbabu said that they should start the ceremony then.

Direct Indirect Examples of Universal Truth or Habitual Truth, Historical Truth

Direct: The teacher said to us, “Oil floats on water.” Indirect: The teacher told us that oil floats on water

Direct: Lopa said, “God is almighty.” Indirect: Lopa said that God is almighty.

Direct: Father said, “God is good.” Indirect: Father said that God is good.

Direct: Keats said, “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” Indirect: Keats said that beauty is truth, truth beauty.

Direct: The teacher said, “The earth moves round the sun.” Indirect: The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.

Direct: My grandfather said, “Honesty is the best policy.” Indirect: My grandfather said that honesty is the best policy.

Direct: Father said, “The sun rises in the east.” Indirect: Father said that the sun rises in the east.

Direct: Saurav said, “My grandfather recites the Geeta every morning.” Indirect: Saurav said that his grandfather recites the Geeta every morning.

Direct: Arindam’s uncle said, “I walk for half an hour every afternoon.” Indirect: Arindam’s uncle said that he walks for half an hour every afternoon.

Direct: He said, “Man is mortal.” Indirect: He said that man is mortal.

Direct: The old man said, “God is merciful.” Indirect: The old man said that God is merciful.

Direct: The teacher said, “Ashoka was a great emperor.” Indirect: The teacher said that Ashoka was a great emperor.

Direct: The student answered, “Lord Buddha died in his eightieth year.” Indirect: The student answered that Lord Buddha died in his eightieth year.

Direct: He said, “Babar was the first emperor of the Mughal empire.” Indirect: He said that Babar was the first emperor of the Mughal Empire.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Interrogative Sentences

Direct: The boy said to me. “Is the mango sweet?” Indirect: The boy asked me whether(or, if) the mango was sweet.

Direct: Tanmay said to me, “Are you ill?” Indirect: Tanmay asked me whether (or, if) I was ill.

Direct: I said to him, “Do you know him?” Indirect: I asked him whether he knew him.

Direct: Rabin said to me, “Is there any problem?” Indirect: Rabin enquired of me if there was any problem.

Direct: I said to my brother, “Are you going to school?” Indirect: I asked my brother whether he was going to school.

Direct: The teacher said to the student. Did you come to school yesterday?” Indirect: The teacher enquired of the student whether he (the student) had come to school the day before.

Direct: I said to Binay, “Did you see Palash?” Indirect: I asked Binay whether he (Binay) had seen Palash.

Direct: His mother angrily said to him, “Do you know better than your elder brother?” Indirect: His mother asked him angrily whether he supposed that he knew better than his elder brother.

Direct: The judge said to the accused, “Have you anything to say in justification of your action?” Indirect: The judge wanted to know from the accused if he had anything to say in justification of his action.

Direct: Sadhan said to Nabin, “Have you read the letter?” Indirect: Sadhan asked Nabin if he had read the letter.

Direct: Santosh said to Seema, “Can you lend me a pen?” Indirect: Santosh asked Seema if she could lend him (Santosh) a pen.

Direct: The trainer said to Tarun, “Can you swim?” Indirect: The trainer asked Tarun whether he (Tarun) could swim.

Direct: The poet said, “Real happiness is only a dream.” Indirect: The poet said that real happiness is only a dream.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of “Wh-word”

Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?” Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.

Direct: I said to him, “What is your name?” Indirect: I asked him what his name was.

Direct: The passerby said to me, “What is the time now by your watch?” Indirect: The passerby asked me what time it was then by my watch.

Direct: I said to Basu, “Where do you live?” Indirect: I asked Basu where he (Basu) lived.

Direct: Dinu said to Manu, “Where are you going?” Indirect: Dinu asked Manu where he (Manu) was going.

Direct: I said to Gopal, “Where is your pencil box?” Indirect: I enquired of Gopal where his (Gopal’s) pencil box was.

Direct: The passenger asked, “When will the train start?” Indirect: The passenger asked (or, wanted to know) when the train would start.

Direct: Ratan said to me, “How are you?” Indirect: Ratan wanted to know from me how I was.

Direct: Suman said to me, “How did you know this? Indirect: Suman enquired (asked) me how I had known that.

Direct: I said to the policeman, “Why did you strike the boy?” Indirect: I wanted to know from the policeman why he had struck the boy.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Imperative Sentences

Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Sit down.” Indirect: The teacher told the students to sit down.

Direct: The commander-in-chief said to the soldiers, “March forward.” Indirect: The commander-in-chief ordered the soldiers to march forward.

Direct: The master said to his servant, Polish my shoes,” Indirect: The master ordered his servant to polish his master’s shoes.

Direct: Ratanbabu said to the man, “Leave the house at once,” Indirect: Ratanbaby ordered the man to leave the house at once.

Direct: The teacher said to his pupils, “Go out.” Indirect: The teacher told his pupils to go out.

Direct: Mother said to me, “Go to school at once.” Indirect: Mother ordered/urged me to go to school that very moment.

Direct: He said to Sujay. “Let’s have a cup of tea. Indirect: He invited Sujay to have a cup of tea with him.

Direct: Sunillbabe said to Sistab. Please lend me some money.” Indirect: Sunilbabe requested Sisibaba to lend him (Sababu) some money.

Direct: Father said, “Go on, apply for the job.” Indirect: Father advised/encouraged me to apply for the job.

Direct: The teacher said to the boy, “Don’t spit on the floor. Indirect: The teacher forbade the boy to spit on the floor.

Direct: I said to my brother, “Do not run in the sun.” Indirect: I advised my brother not to run in the sun. Or I forbade my brother to run in the sun.

Direct: The teacher said to me, “Do not waste time.” Indirect: The teacher advised me not to waste time.

Direct: He said to his sons, “Do not quarrel among yourselves.” Indirect: He advised his sons not to quarrel among themselves.

Direct Speech and Indirect Speech Examples with “Let”

Direct: Mukti said, “Let’s go for a walk.” Indirect: Mukti suggested that they should go for a walk.

Direct: The inspector said to the constable, “Let the man go.” Indirect: The inspector ordered the constable to let the man go.

Direct: Rama said, “Let’s arrange a musical party.” Indirect: Rama suggested that they should arrange a musical party.

Direct: The clergyman said, “The nations of the world should forget their differences and work together for peace.” Indirect: The clergyman suggested that the nations of the world should forget their differences and work together for peace.

Direct: Ramen said, “I must not delay any longer.” Indirect: Ramen said that he ought not to delay any longer.

Direct: He said, “I must return before 5 in the evening.” Indirect: He said that he must (or, would have to) return before 5 in the evening.

Direct: Rima said to me, “You ought to be careful when driving.” Indirect: Nima advised me to be careful when driving.

Direct: My father said, “You ought not to trust a man who is a habitual liar.” Indirect: My father warned me against trusting a man who was a habitual liar

Direct: Father said, “You should not be late in reaching school.” Indirect: Father advised me not to be late in reaching school. Or, Father said that I should not be late in reaching school.

Direct: Somen said, “It might rain tonight.” Indirect: Somen said that it might rain that night, Or Somen said that there was the possibility of rainfall that night,

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Optative Sentences

Direct: He said, “May God bless you.’ Indirect: He prayed that God might bless him (or, me).

Direct: The priest said to the accused, “May God pardon your sins.” Indirect: The priest prayed to God that He might pardon his sins (or, the sins of the accused).

Direct: We said, “May Mother Teresa’s soul rest in peace.” Indirect: We prayed that Mother Teresa’s soul might rest in peace.

Direct: The retiring teacher said to his pupils, “I bid all of you goodbye.” Indirect: The retiring teacher bade goodbye (or, farewell) to all his pupils.

Direct: They said, “Long live Netaji.” Indirect: They prayed for Netaji’s long life.

Direct: My grandfather said to me, “May you be happy.” Indirect: My grandfather blessed me wishing that I might be happy. Or. My grandfather blessed me by wishing me a happy life. Or, My grandfather wished that I might be happy.

Direct: His father said to him, “May you prosper.” Indirect: His father wished him prosperity. Or. His father wished that he might prosper.

Direct: Ajay said to his brother, “Welcome home.” Indirect: Ajay bade his brother welcome.

Direct: Rahul said to his playmates, “Good morning, I hope you are quite well.” Indirect: Rahul wished his playmates a good morning and expressed his hope that they were quite well.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Exclamatory Sentences

Direct: The students said, “Hurrah! Our school won the match.” Indirect: The students shouted with delight (exclaimed with joy) that their school had won the match.

Direct: He said, “Alas! I am ruined.” Indirect: He lamented that he was ruined.

Direct: He said, “What a fool I am !” Indirect: He reproached (feata lucuíba) himself for being such a big fool.

Direct: The audience said to the actor, “How wonderful is your acting !” Indirect: The audience expressed to the actor their appreciation of his fine acting.

Direct: Returning from the place of the accident, he said, “What a ghastly sight it was!” Indirect: Returning from the place of the accident he expressed his disgust at the ghastliness of the sight.

Direct: Looking at the Tajmahal the tourist said, “What an exquisitely beautiful creation !” Indirect: Looking at the Tajmahal the tourist exclaimed in wonder that it was indeed an extremely beautiful creation.

Direct: The youth said, “Alas! I am undone by the death of my father.” Indirect: The youth lamented that he was undone by his father’s death.

Direct: The coach of the team said to his players, “Bravo! You have played extremely well.” Indirect: The coach of the team cheered the players and said that they had played extremely well indeed.

Direct: Nabinbabu said to Sajal, “What a pity you could not succeed in spite of such great efforts !” Indirect: Nabinbabu expressed his sympathy for Sajal for not being successful in spite of his great efforts.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of More than one sentence

Direct: Sanu said to Sushama over the telephone, “I have got the tickets. Meet me at the station at 6.30 p.m.” Indirect: Sanu informed Sushama over the telephone that he had got the tickets and suggested that she meet him at the station at 6.30 p.m.

Direct: The supervisor of the examination said to the candidates, “Do not forget to put your names at the top of the page. Write down also the roll and the number.” Indirect: The supervisor of the examination advised the candidates not to forget to put their names at the top of the page and also reminded them to write down their roll and number therein.

Direct: Surabhi said to Mohan, “Let’s buy some flour. We will prepare bread at home.’ Indirect: Surabhi suggested to Mohan that they buy some flour and make bread themselves at home.

Direct: My assistant said to me, “You look tired. Why don’t you take a rest for a couple of days?” Indirect: My assistant told me that I looked tired, and suggested that I should take a rest for a couple of days.

Direct: My friend said to me, “Why don’t you open a bank account? I have opened one.” Indirect: My friend advised me to open a bank account and he also informed me that he had opened one.

Frequently Asked Questions Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Q: What are the 10 examples of direct and indirect speech?

Direct Speech: Rohan said, “She works hard.”
Indirect Speech: Rohan said that she worked hard
Direct Speech: Rohan said, “She is singing a song.”
Indirect Speech: Rohan said that she was singing a song.
Direct Speech: The guest said shouting, “We have arrived .”
Indirect Speech: The guest said shouting that they had arrived.
Direct Speech: My sister said, “It has been raining hard for 3 days”.
Indirect Speech: My sister said that it had been raining hard for 3 days.
Direct Speech: Father said, “I visited the Taj yesterday.”
Indirect Speech: Father said that he had visited the Taj the previous day.
Direct Speech: Boys said, “They were travelling in the park.”
Indirect Speech: Boys said that they had been travelling in the park.
Direct Speech: The reporters commented that the Kohinoor had been lost long ago.
Indirect Speech: The reporters commented, “The Kohinoor had been lost long ago”.
D i rect Speech: Jyotsna said, “ She had been doing the work for 3 hours”.
Indirect Speech: Jyotsna said that she had been doing the work for 3 hours.
Direct: The boy said to his mother, “ The sun rises in the East”. Indirect: The boy told his mother that the sun rises in the East. [ Universal Truth ]
Direct: The monk answered, “ Man is mortal”. Indirect: The monk answered that man is mortal. [ Universal Truth ]

Q: What is direct and indirect speech with examples for Class 5?

Ans: When a sentence is quoted with the exact words used by the speaker, it is called a sentence in Direct Speech.

When the sentence is spoken or written in the form of a narrative without quoting the speaker’s actual words but keeping the meaning the same, it is called a sentence in Indirect Speech .

(1) I said to him that I had once seen him before. Ans: I said to him, “ I once saw you ago.”

(2) She said that she had a dream that night. Ans : She said, “I have a dream tonight.”

(3) The boy said. “We were playing.” Ans: The boy said that they had been playing.

(4) He told me that I should obey my parents. Ans: He said to me, “You will obey your parents.”

(5) Amal said to Bimal, “I gave you, my pen.” Ans: Amal told Bimal that he had given him his pen.

Q: What is the example of direct and indirect speech Class 9?

Ans: Direct: You say, ‘I am always busy.’ Indirect: You say that you are always busy.

Direct: The child will say, ‘Mum knows everything.’ Indirect: The child will say that Mum knows everything.

Direct: He said, ‘I need some money.’ Indirect: He said that he needed some money,

Direct: She said, ‘I am waiting for him.’ Indirect: She said that she was waiting for him.

Q: What are the 5 rules of indirect speech?

Ans: The five rules of indirect speech consist of Assertive sentences, Interrogative Sentences, Imperative Sentences, Optative Sentences, and Exclamatory sentences.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Sentences

Literary English

Direct and Indirect Speech in English | A Complete Guide

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone else has said. In direct speech, the exact words spoken by a person are quoted within quotation marks. In indirect speech, the words of the speaker are reported without using their exact words and without using quotation marks. Instead, the reported speech is often introduced by verbs such as “said,” “told,” “asked,” etc. Indirect speech allows us to convey what someone else said without necessarily repeating their exact words, often to provide a summary or to integrate it into a larger narrative.

Direct Speech

Direct speech is also called reporting speech. There are two parts in a sentence in direct speech first part is known as reporting speech (in this sentence we know about reporting person) and the second part which is known as reported speech (indirect narration “example”, or indirect discourse). When we want to describe what someone said, one option is to use direct speech . We use direct speech when we simply repeat what someone says, putting the phrase between speech marks:

Saif came in and said, “I’m really happy”.

As you can see, with direct speech it is common to use the verb ‘to say’ and ‘to says’ (‘said’ in the past). But you can also find other verbs used to indicate direct speech such as ‘ask’, ‘reply’, and ‘shout’.

Indirect Speech

In grammar, when we want to report what someone said, without speech marks and without necessarily using exactly the same words, we use indirect speech. It is also known as reported speech. Look at the following sentences:

Direct speech: he says, “I am going to school.”
Indirect speech: he says that he is going to school.

In above sentences, the reporter delivers the message of the boy using his real words (e.g.“I am going to school.”) In the indirect speech sentence, the reporter delivers his message but in his own words without any change in the meaning. Thus, both direct and indirect speeches are two different ways of reporting a statement of person. In simple words, quoting a person using your own words is called an indirect speech.

Basic Rules for Direct and Indirect Speeches

When we change direct speech to indirect speech always we will replace inverted commas with word ‘ that’ .
When we combine reporting and reported speech we use that between these sentences.
If the first part of the sentence does not include word said then tense will not be changed.
At the end of reporting speech if there is a comma then it will be removed.
Say always will be changed into tell .
Says always will be changed into tells .
Said will be changed into told only in one condition when there is object in reporting speech.
Direct : You said to Saif, “you are going to Lahore”.
Indirect : you told Saif that he was going to Lahore.

Changes in the Person of Pronouns

1 st person 2 nd person 3 rd person

Subject Object No change

I, we, you he, she, it,

My, our, us, me your they and noun.

1 st person pronouns in reported speech are always changed according to the subject of the reporting speech.
2 nd person pronouns in reported speech are always changed according to the object of the reporting speech.
3 rd person pronouns in reported speech are not changed.

Important word changes

The above rules are mandatory for converting direct speech into indirect speech. Hence, they should be memorized thoroughly. The following examples cover all the aforementioned rules. So, focus on every sentence to know how the above-mentioned rules have been used here.

Some special words will be changed when direct speech changes into indirect speech

Now into then
Today into that day
Yesterday into the previous day
This into that
Last night into the previous night
Tomorrow into the next day
These into those
Here into there
Next day into the following day
Ago into before
Come into go
Will into would
Shall into should
May into might
Can into could
Good Morning, into greeted
Good Evening, into greeted
Good Day into greeted
Madam into Respectfully
Sir into Respectfully

Changes in Verbs

If the reporting speech is in present tense or future tense, then no change is required to be made in the verb of reported speech.

Direct Speech: he says, “I live in Pakistan”.

Indirect Speech: he tells that he lives in Pakistan.

Direct Speech: you say to me, “you will go to Lahore”.

Indirect Speech: you tell me that I shall go to Lahore.

Direct Speech: I say, “she was ill”.

Indirect Speech: I tell that she was ill.

How to Make Direct and Indirect Speeches in Different Tenses

Present indefinite will be changed into past into past indefinite tense.

(First form into second form)

Direct: I said, “I go to school”.
Indirect: I said that I went to school.

Present continues will be changed into past continues tense.

(is, am, are into was, were)

Direct: Raza said, “I am a boy”.
Indirect : Raza said that he was a boy.

Present perfect will be changed into past perfect tense.

(has, had into had)

Indirect : You told Saif that he was going to Lahore.

Present perfect continues will be changed into past perfect continues tense.

(has been, have been into had been)

Direct : The guard said to the passenger, “the train has come”
Indirect : The guard told to the passenger that the train had come.

Past indefinite will be changed into past perfect tense.

(second form into had)

Direct : Aslam said, “They played cricket”.
Indirect: Aslam said that they had played cricket.

Past continues will be changed into past perfect continues tense.

(was, were into had been)

Direct : The policeman said, “The thief has been stealing for two year”.
Indirect : The policeman told that the thief had been stealing for two year.

Note : Past perfect, past perfect continues, future indefinite, future continues, future perfect, future perfect continues tense will not be changed.

Direct and Indirect Speech in Assertive Sentences

Sentences that make a declaration are called assertive sentences. These sentences may be positive, negative, false, or true statements. To convert such sentences into indirect speech, use the rules as declared above except said is sometimes replaced with told . Look at the following examples:

Direct Speech: She says, “I am writing a letter to my brother.”

Indirect Speech: She says that she is writing a letter to her brother.

Direct Speech: She says, “I was not writing a letter to my brother.”

Indirect Speech: She says that she was not writing a letter to her brother.

Direct Speech: She said to me, “I am writing a letter to my brother.”

Indirect Speech: She told me that she was writing a letter to her brother.

Direct and Indirect Speech in Imperative Sentences

Imperative sentences are sentences that give an order or a direct command. These sentences may be in the form of advice, appeal, request, or order. Mostly, it depends upon the forcefulness of the presenter. Thus, a full stop (.) or sign of exclamation (!) is used at the end of the sentence.

When we will be convert these types of sentences into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:

Both sentences will be joined with the conjunction
If in the reported sentence has word do not, then it will be changed with the word not to.
Direct speech : Aslam said, “Do not beat him”.
Indirect speech: Aslam ordered to not beat him.

The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case order the speaker gives a direct command. Then said will be changed into ordered For example:

Direct Speech: The father said to me, “Sit down.”
Indirect Speech: The father ordered me to sit down.

The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case request the speaker gives a request command. Then said will be changed into request.

For example:

Direct Speech: The man said, “Please show me your pen.”
Indirect Speech: the man requested to show him my door.

The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case guide the speaker gives a piece of advice. Then said will be changed into advised .

Direct Speech: The headmaster said, “Write neat and clean.”
Indirect Speech: the headmaster advised to write neat and clean.

The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case forbade the speaker stopped to do something. Then said will be changed into forbade .

Direct Speech: The teacher said, “Don’t sit.”
Indirect Speech: The teacher forbade to sit.

Optative & Exclamatory Sentences

The sentence, which expresses a prayer, keen wish, curse, happiness etc., is called an optative sentence . This kind of sentence generally starts with ‘may’ and ‘wish’. Sometimes, ‘may’ remains hidden.

The sentence, which expresses a sudden and deep excitement, wonder, shock, or sorrow, etc., is called an exclamatory sentence . In this kind of sentence must have exclamation mark (!) at the end of the sentence or in the central of the sentence.

May you succeed in the test!
May you get well soon!
Would that I was rich!

When we will be converted these types of sentences into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:

In a prayer sentence said will be replaced by

When we will be changed direct speech to indirect speech always we will be replaced inverted commas that .

Direct speech : He said, “May you live long”.
Indirect speech : He prayed that I might live long.

In a hope sentence said will be replaced by

When we will be changed direct speech to indirect speech always we will be replaced inverted commas that .

Direct speech: The father said, “May my son get first position”.
Indirect speech: The father wished that his son might get first position.

In a glad & happy sentence, said will be replaced by exclaimed with joy or exclaimed with joyfully. And exclamatory mark (!) will be removed.

Direct speech: The boys said, “Hurrah! We have won the match”.
Indirect speech: The boys exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.

In a sad or sorrow sentence, said will be replaced by exclaimed with sorrow or exclaimed with sorrowfully.

Direct speech: The bagger said, “Ah! I am undone”.
Indirect speech: The exclaimed with sorrow that he was undone.

Interrogative Sentences

Which sentences, ask questions, are called interrogative sentences. Every interrogative sentence has question mark (?) at the ends.

Where are you going?
Where did you live?
Are you want to go with me?

To change interrogative sentences from direct speech into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:

When we will be changed sentence direct speech to indirect Said will be replaced by asked .

If interrogative sentence will be started from “ Wh ” mean when, whom, what, where, who, which, why, how, whose when we will be changed sentence direct speech to indirect speech inverted commas will not be replaced. Just it will be removed.

If the reported sentence will be started form helping verb, then if will be used in place of that .

After the changing sentence mark of interrogation (?) will be replaced with full stop (.).

Direct speech: He said to me, “Who are you”?

Indirect speech: He asked me who I was.

Direct speech: He said to me, “Where are you going”?

Indirect speech: He asked me where I was going.

Direct speech: Sunny said to me, “will you help me”?

Indirect speech: Sunny asked me if I would help him.

Direct and indirect Speech in Universal Sentence

Sentences which have natural truth or universal truth in the part of reported speech are called universal sentences .

Allah is one.
Honesty is the best policy.

To change universal sentences from direct speech into indirect speech, follow the following rules along with the above-mentioned rules:

When we will be changed sentence direct speech to indirect Said will be replaced by

When we will be changed direct speech to indirect speech always we will be replaced inverted commas with that .

Always remember that universal truth will never change so we will not be changed reported speech portion.

Direct speech: The teacher said to the boys, “The earth revolves around the sun”.

Indirect speech: The teacher told the boys that the earth revolves around the sun.

Direct speech: Saif said, “Allah is one”.

Indirect speech: Saif told that Allah is one.

Direct speech: She said to him, “Honesty is the best policy”.

Indirect speech: She told him that honesty is the best policy.

Direct speech: Sunny said to Farrukh, “The sun rises in the east”.

Indirect speech: Sunny told Farrukh that the sun rises in the east.

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The difference between direct and indirect speech

Direct speech is when we report what someone says by repeating the exact words. In writing, we use inverted commas:

David: I have to talk to you about something. (original statement) " I have to talk to you about something ," said David. (direct speech)

Michelle: I'll call them tomorrow. (original statement) Michelle said, " I'll call them tomorrow ." (direct speech)

Indirect speech (also called reported speech) is when we give the same meaning of what someone says without repeating the exact words. In this case, we do not use inverted commas and certain changes may be necessary:

David: I have to talk to you about something. (original statement) David said he had to talk to me about something. (indirect speech)

Michelle: I'll call them tomorrow . (original statement) Michelle promised she would call them the next day. (indirect speech)

We also use indirect speech when we report inner thoughts:

I had no idea where my keys were. (Where are my keys?) She knew that the lock had been changed. (The lock has been changed.)

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Direct and Indirect Speech – Rules and Examples

13th June 2020 By Edify English Leave a Comment

Any word spoken by a speaker can be written in two different ways. Those two are direct and indirect speech. Direct Speech is when the speaker’s actual words are quoted and these words are put in inverted commas (“…..”) while Indirect Speech is when the speaker’s words are said indirectly with the same meaning without repeating the exact words. For Example, the statement in direct speech She said to me, “I am going to the park” changes into She told me that she was going to the park in indirect speech.

Basic Changes while changing from Direct speech to indirect speech

The comma ( , )after the reporting verb is removed and the conjunction that is added in the indirect speech.
If the direct speech contains ‘said to’ , it will be converted into ‘told’ in the indirect speech.
The quotation marks (Inverted commas) are to be removed in the indirect speech.
I becomes He/ She
We becomes they
You becomes He / She/ They
Me becomes Him/ he r (Depending on the gender in the direct speech)
My becomes His/ Her .
Our becomes their
Us becomes them
Your becomes His/ her/ their .

Rules in changing a sentence from Direct and Indirect Speech

Rule 1: The Verb in the simple present tense in the direct speech changes into the simple past tense in indirect speech

Example: He said to me, “I am happy” becomes He told me that he was happy

(The verb in the direct speech ‘am’ is converted into ‘was’.)

Rule 2: The verb in the simple past tense becomes past perfect tense in indirect speech.

Example: He said to me, “I was happy” changes into He told me that he had been happy

Rule 3: A present continuous tense in direct speech becomes past continuous tense in indirect speech.

Example: The peon said, “The professor is teaching in that classroom” changes into The peon said that the professor was teaching in that classroom.

Rule 4: If the direct speech contains present perfect tense, it changes into the past perfect tense in indirect speech.

Example: She said, “I have passed the test” becomes She said that she had passed the test.

Rule 5: If the direct speech contains a statement talking about a universal truth or a factual statement, there will be no change of tense in indirect speech.

Example: The teacher said, “The sun rises in the East” becomes The teacher said that the sun rises in the east in indirect speech.

Example: Samuel said, “I know the university’s address.” and the indirect speech for that is Samuel said that he knows the university’s address

Rules for converting Interrogatory sentences

Rule 6: While converting interrogative sentences, the verb ‘said to’ becomes ‘asked’ and if/ whether will come in the place of ‘that’. The connecting word ‘that’ will not be used in indirect speech. Also, the interrogation mark (?) is not repeated in the indirect speech.

Example: He said to her, “Will you marry me?” changes into He asked her whether she would marry him in the indirect speech.

Rules for Converting Imperative Sentences

Rule 7: During the conversion of imperative sentences, the verb “said to” is changed into ordered, advised, requested, suggested, proposed, etc. depending on the situation. Also, the connecting word ‘that’ is not used. Instead of that, ‘ to’ is used before the reporting verb.

Example: My father said to me, “prepare well for your examination” . It can be converted to My father advised me to prepare well for my examination.

Rules for Converting Exclamatory Sentences

Rule 8: For exclamatory sentences, the verb is converted into: exclaimed with joy or sorrow or with surprise, wished, prayed, applauded,/ etc. The exclamatory words and the exclamation are not mentioned anymore in the indirect speech. For example,

Example: The coach said, “Hurrah! we won the match!” is changed as The coach exclaimed with joy that we had won the match.

These are the changes in helping verbs while changing from Direct and Indirect Speech


Am/ Is	Was
Are	Were
Have/ Had/ Did	had
Do/ Does	Did
Will	Would
Shall	Should
Can	Could
May	Might
Must	Had to
Was/ Were	had been
Should	Should
Had	Had
Would	Would
Could	Could

Note: There is no change in the helping verbs “would, should, could, might, had” in the direct speech and they remain the s ame in indirect speech as well.

Changes in Time and Place


This	That
These	Those
Here	There
Now	Then
Today	That Day
Tonight	That Night
Tomorrow	The next day/ The following day
The Day after tomorrow	In two days
The Day before yesterday	Two days before
Ago	Before
Next	The following
Last	The previous
Thus	So
This Evening	That Evening
Hence	Thence

Cha nges in pronoun s

The changes in pronouns in indirect speech depends on the subject and the object of the reporting verb.

Rule 1: The first person of reported speech changes based on the subject of the reporting verb.

Example: She said, “I watched a movie” can be converted into She said that she had watched a movie . Hence, the first person in the direct speech “I” has become “she” based on the subject.

Had there been “he” instead of “she”, the first person in reported speech changes accordingly into “he”.

Rule 2: The second person in reported speech changes based on the object of the reporting verb.

Example: She said to me, “You watched a movie” can be converted into She told me that I had watched a movie.

Rule 3 : The third person in the reported speech remains unchanged.

Example: I said to her, “He will play Chess” can be converted into I told her that he would play Chess.

Stay tuned for more examples of direct and indirect speech.

For an extensive material on tenses, Click here

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Reported Speech - Definition, Rules and Usage with Examples

Reported speech or indirect speech is the form of speech used to convey what was said by someone at some point of time. This article will help you with all that you need to know about reported speech, its meaning, definition, how and when to use them along with examples. Furthermore, try out the practice questions given to check how far you have understood the topic.

Definition of reported speech, rules to be followed when using reported speech, table 1 – change of pronouns, table 2 – change of adverbs of place and adverbs of time, table 3 – change of tense, table 4 – change of modal verbs, tips to practise reported speech, examples of reported speech, check your understanding of reported speech, frequently asked questions on reported speech in english, what is reported speech.

Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message.

Now, take a look at the following dictionary definitions for a clearer idea of what it is.

Reported speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a report of what somebody has said that does not use their exact words.” The Collins Dictionary defines reported speech as “speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, reported speech is defined as “the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.” The Macmillan Dictionary defines reported speech as “the words that you use to report what someone else has said.”

Reported speech is a little different from direct speech . As it has been discussed already, reported speech is used to tell what someone said and does not use the exact words of the speaker. Take a look at the following rules so that you can make use of reported speech effectively.

The first thing you have to keep in mind is that you need not use any quotation marks as you are not using the exact words of the speaker.
You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech.

Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)

You can use verbs like said, asked, requested, ordered, complained, exclaimed, screamed, told, etc. If you are just reporting a declarative sentence , you can use verbs like told, said, etc. followed by ‘that’ and end the sentence with a full stop . When you are reporting interrogative sentences, you can use the verbs – enquired, inquired, asked, etc. and remove the question mark . In case you are reporting imperative sentences , you can use verbs like requested, commanded, pleaded, ordered, etc. If you are reporting exclamatory sentences , you can use the verb exclaimed and remove the exclamation mark . Remember that the structure of the sentences also changes accordingly.
Furthermore, keep in mind that the sentence structure , tense , pronouns , modal verbs , some specific adverbs of place and adverbs of time change when a sentence is transformed into indirect/reported speech.

Transforming Direct Speech into Reported Speech

As discussed earlier, when transforming a sentence from direct speech into reported speech, you will have to change the pronouns, tense and adverbs of time and place used by the speaker. Let us look at the following tables to see how they work.


I	He, she
Me	Him, her
We	They
Us	Them
You	He, she, they
You	Him, her, them
My	His, her
Mine	His, hers
Our	Their
Ours	Theirs
Your	His, her, their
Yours	His, hers, theirs


This	That
These	Those

Here	There

Now	Then
Today	That day
Tomorrow	The next day / The following day
Yesterday	The previous day
Tonight	That night
Last week	The week before
Next week	The week after
Last month	The previous month
Next month	The following month
Last year	The previous year
Next year	The following year
Ago	Before
Thus	So

Simple Present

Example: Preethi said, “I cook pasta.”

Simple Past

Example: Preethi said that she cooked pasta.

Present Continuous

Example: Preethi said, “I am cooking pasta.”

Past Continuous

Example: Preethi said that she was cooking pasta.

Present Perfect

Example: Preethi said, “I have cooked pasta.”

Past Perfect

Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta.

Present Perfect

Example: Preethi said, “I have been cooking pasta.”

Past Perfect Continuous

Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta.

Simple Past

Example: Preethi said, “I cooked pasta.”

Past Perfect

Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta.

Past Continuous

Example: Preethi said, “I was cooking pasta.”

Past Perfect Continuous

Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta.

Past Perfect

Example: Preethi said, “I had cooked pasta.”

Past Perfect (No change)

Example: Preethi said that she had cooked pasta.

Past Perfect Continuous

Example: Preethi said, “I had been cooking pasta.”

Past Perfect Continuous (No change)

Example: Preethi said that she had been cooking pasta.


Will	Would
May	Might
Can	Could
Shall	Should
Has/Have	Had

Here are some tips you can follow to become a pro in using reported speech.

Select a play, a drama or a short story with dialogues and try transforming the sentences in direct speech into reported speech.
Write about an incident or speak about a day in your life using reported speech.
Develop a story by following prompts or on your own using reported speech.

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written. Check them out.

Santana said that she would be auditioning for the lead role in Funny Girl.
Blaine requested us to help him with the algebraic equations.
Karishma asked me if I knew where her car keys were.
The judges announced that the Warblers were the winners of the annual acapella competition.
Binsha assured that she would reach Bangalore by 8 p.m.
Kumar said that he had gone to the doctor the previous day.
Lakshmi asked Teena if she would accompany her to the railway station.
Jibin told me that he would help me out after lunch.
The police ordered everyone to leave from the bus stop immediately.
Rahul said that he was drawing a caricature.

Transform the following sentences into reported speech by making the necessary changes.

1. Rachel said, “I have an interview tomorrow.”

2. Mahesh said, “What is he doing?”

3. Sherly said, “My daughter is playing the lead role in the skit.”

4. Dinesh said, “It is a wonderful movie!”

5. Suresh said, “My son is getting married next month.”

6. Preetha said, “Can you please help me with the invitations?”

7. Anna said, “I look forward to meeting you.”

8. The teacher said, “Make sure you complete the homework before tomorrow.”

9. Sylvester said, “I am not going to cry anymore.”

10. Jade said, “My sister is moving to Los Angeles.”

Now, find out if you have answered all of them correctly.

1. Rachel said that she had an interview the next day.

2. Mahesh asked what he was doing.

3. Sherly said that her daughter was playing the lead role in the skit.

4. Dinesh exclaimed that it was a wonderful movie.

5. Suresh said that his son was getting married the following month.

6. Preetha asked if I could help her with the invitations.

7. Anna said that she looked forward to meeting me.

8. The teacher told us to make sure we completed the homework before the next day.

9. Sylvester said that he was not going to cry anymore.

10. Jade said that his sister was moving to Los Angeles.

What is reported speech?

What is the definition of reported speech.

What is the formula of reported speech?

You can use the following formula to construct a sentence in the reported speech. Subject said that (report whatever the speaker said)

Give some examples of reported speech.

Given below are a few examples to show you how reported speech can be written.

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Direct and Indirect Speech

Ai generator.

Direct and Indirect Speech: Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, using quotation marks, while indirect speech paraphrases the spoken words without quotes, often changing tenses and pronouns. Both forms are essential for effective communication, emphasizing clarity and context in reporting speech.

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech refers to the exact words spoken by someone, presented within quotation marks and often accompanied by a speech tag that attributes the statement to the speaker. This method of reporting speech is used to convey the original words and the tone in which they were spoken, preserving the personal touch and specific expressions of the speaker.

For example , if John says, “I am going to the store,” the direct speech presentation would be:

John said, “I am going to the store.”

What is Indirect Speech?

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a method of conveying what someone said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using direct quotations, indirect speech summarizes or paraphrases the original statement. It often involves changes in verbs tenses, pronouns, and other elements to fit the grammatical context of the reporting sentence.

For example , consider the direct speech statement:

Tom said, “I am going to the gym now.” When converted into indirect speech, it becomes:

Tom said that he was going to the gym then.

Indirect speech does not use quotation marks and typically introduces the reported clause with conjunctions like “that,” although “that” can be omitted in informal contexts.

Rules of Direct and Indirect Speech

Rules for converting direct into indirect speech.

Example : Direct: He said, “I am tired.”
Indirect: He said that he was tired.
Example : Direct: She says, “I am reading a book.”
Indirect: She says that she is reading a book. (Note: When reporting in the present tense, as with ‘says’, the tense may not always change.)
Example : Direct: “I will go there tomorrow,” John said.
Indirect: John said that he would go there the next day.
Example : Direct: She said, “I can solve the problem.”
Indirect: She said that she could solve the problem.
Example : Direct: He asked, “Are you coming?”
Indirect: He asked if I was coming.
Example : Direct: He said, “Close the door.”
Indirect: He asked me to close the door.
Example : Direct: She said, “What a beautiful day!”
Indirect: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.

Rules for converting Indirect Speech into Direct Speech

Example : Indirect: He said that he was tired.
Direct: He said, “I am tired.”
Example : Indirect: She says that she is reading a book.
Direct: She says, “I am reading a book.” (Note: Sometimes the tense doesn’t need to change if the reporting verb is in the present tense.)
Example : Indirect: John said that he would go there the next day.
Direct: John said, “I will go there tomorrow.”
Example : Indirect: She said that she could solve the problem.
Direct: She said, “I can solve the problem.”
Example : Indirect: He asked if I was coming.
Direct: He asked, “Are you coming?”
Example : Indirect: He asked me to close the door.
Direct: He said, “Close the door.”
Example : Indirect: She exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
Direct: She said, “What a beautiful day!”

Difference Between Direct and Indirect Speech

Feature	Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
	Uses quotation marks to enclose exact words.	Does not use quotation marks.
	Uses the tense as spoken originally.	Often shifts tense back to reflect past narration.
	Uses pronouns as originally spoken.	Adjusts pronouns to match the speaker’s perspective.
	The syntax mirrors the original spoken form.	Syntax may change to fit indirect reporting (e.g., question forms are changed).
	Specific to the moment of speaking.	Adjusted to the time and place from the speaker’s perspective.
	Simple reporting verb (“he said,” “she said”).	May include that-clauses or question words (if, whether).
	Directly quotes exclamations and commands.	Transforms exclamations into statements; commands into requests with infinitive verbs.

This table should help you clearly see how the format, verbs, pronouns, and other elements differ between direct and indirect speech.

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

1. Direct : “I love reading books,” Jane said. Indirect : Jane said that she loved reading books. 2. Direct : “We will go to the park,” they announced. Indirect : They announced that they would go to the park. 3. Direct : “I have finished my homework,” he told his mother. Indirect: He told his mother that he had finished his homework. 4. Direct : “Can you help me with this?” she asked. Indirect: She asked if I could help her with that. 5. Direct : “I am feeling sick today,” he whispered. Indirect: He whispered that he was feeling sick that day. 6. Direct : “I won’t be able to attend the meeting,” Laura said. Indirect: Laura said that she would not be able to attend the meeting. 7. Direct : “Please open the window,” she requested. Indirect: She requested him to open the window. 8. Direct : “Do not touch my phone,” he warned. Indirect: He warned not to touch his phone. 9. Direct : “I’ll call you tomorrow,” she promised. Indirect: She promised that she would call me the next day. 10. Direct : “What time does the concert start?” he asked. Indirect: He asked what time the concert started.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

Direct to indirect speech exercises.

Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech:

Exercise 1 : “I am learning to play the piano,” she said. Answer 1 : How did she say she was learning to play the piano?

Exercise 2 : “Will you be attending the meeting?” he asked me. Answer 2 : How did he ask if I would be attending the meeting?

Exercise 3 : “I have seen that movie three times,” Alex told her. Answer 3 : How did Alex tell her that he had seen that movie three times?

Exercise 4 : “You should try the new Italian restaurant,” he recommended. Answer 4 : How did he recommend trying the new Italian restaurant?

Exercise 5 : “Please pass the salt,” she requested. Answer 5 : How did she request to pass the salt?

Exercise 6 : “I cannot come to your party,” Jane apologized. Answer 6 : How did Jane apologize that she could not come to the party?

Exercise 7 “Let’s meet at the mall,” they suggested. Answer 7 : How did they suggest meeting at the mall?

Exercise 8 : “Do you know where the station is?” he inquired. Answer 8 : How did he inquire if I knew where the station was?

Exercise 9 : “I must finish this book tonight,” she declared. Answer 9 : How did she declare that she must finish the book that night?

Exercise 10 : “I didn’t take your notebook,” he denied. Answer 10 : How did he deny taking my notebook?

Indirect to Direct Speech Exercises

Convert the following sentences from indirect to direct speech:

Exercise 11 : She said that she was learning to play the piano. Answer 11 : What did she say about learning to play the piano in direct speech?

Exercise 12 : He asked if I would be attending the meeting. Answer 12 : How did he ask about my attendance at the meeting in direct speech?

Exercise 13 : Alex told her that he had seen that movie three times. Answer 13 : What did Alex tell her about how many times he had seen the movie in direct speech?

Exercise 14 : He recommended trying the new Italian restaurant. Answer 14 : What did he say about trying the new Italian restaurant in direct speech?

Exercise 15 : She requested to pass the salt. Answer 15 : What did she request about the salt in direct speech?

Exercise 16 : Jane apologized that she could not come to the party. Answer 16 : What did Jane say when she apologized for not coming to the party in direct speech?

Exercise 17 : They suggested meeting at the mall. Answer 17 : What did they suggest about meeting in direct speech?

Exercise 18 : He inquired if I knew where the station was. Answer 18 : How did he inquire about the location of the station in direct speech?

Exercise 19 : She declared that she must finish the book that night. Answer 19 : What did she declare about finishing the book in direct speech?

Exercise 20 : He denied taking my notebook. Answer 20 : What did he say when he denied taking the notebook in direct speech?

FAQ’s

How do tenses change in indirect speech.

Tenses in indirect speech usually shift back (e.g., present to past) to reflect that the speaking occurred in the past.

Do pronouns always change in indirect speech?

Pronouns change in indirect speech to match the perspective of the speaker reporting the speech, ensuring clarity and coherence.

How do you convert a question from direct to indirect speech?

Questions in direct speech are converted by introducing a clause with ‘if’ or ‘whether’, and rearranging the syntax to statement form.

What happens to modal verbs in indirect speech?

Modal verbs often change in indirect speech, with ‘will’ becoming ‘would’ and ‘can’ changing to ‘could’, for example.

Can the verb tense remain the same in indirect speech?

Yes, if the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense within the reported clause might not change.

What are the typical introductory verbs used in indirect speech?

Common verbs include ‘said’, ‘told’, ‘asked’, ‘replied’, ‘exclaimed’, and ‘advised’, depending on the nature of the speech.

How do you handle imperatives in indirect speech?

Imperatives are converted into infinitive structures, such as changing “Close the door” to “He asked her to close the door.”

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Home » Blog » General » Direct vs. Indirect Speech Examples: Unveiling the Variances and Usage

Direct vs. Indirect Speech Examples: Unveiling the Variances and Usage

I. introduction.

Welcome to my blog on Social Emotional Learning (SEL)! In today’s post, we will explore the difference between direct and indirect speech examples. But first, let’s briefly understand what SEL is and why it is important in our personal and professional lives.

A. Brief explanation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process of acquiring and applying the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

B. Importance of SEL in personal and professional life

SEL plays a crucial role in our personal and professional lives. It helps us develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making abilities. These skills are essential for building healthy relationships, managing conflicts, and succeeding in various aspects of life.

C. Purpose of the blog post – exploring the difference between direct and indirect speech examples

In this blog post, we will focus on the difference between direct and indirect speech examples. Understanding and effectively using both forms of speech is vital for effective communication and enhancing our social and emotional skills.

II. Understanding Direct Speech

Direct speech is a form of speech where the exact words spoken by a person are quoted and presented within quotation marks. Let’s delve deeper into its definition, characteristics, and examples.

A. Definition of direct speech

Direct speech refers to the exact words spoken by someone, presented within quotation marks. It allows us to directly quote what someone said, capturing their tone, emotions, and intentions.

B. Characteristics and features of direct speech

Direct speech has the following characteristics:

Quotation marks are used to indicate the exact words spoken.
The verb tense and pronouns are used as per the original speaker.
The sentence structure is preserved.

C. Examples of direct speech in everyday conversations

Direct speech can be observed in various types of conversations. Let’s explore some examples:

1. Simple statements

“I love ice cream,” said Sarah.

“I can’t wait for the weekend,” exclaimed John.

2. Questions

“Are you coming to the party?” asked Lisa.

“What time does the movie start?” inquired Tom.

3. Commands

“Please clean your room,” instructed the mother.

“Don’t forget to bring your umbrella,” reminded the teacher.

D. Importance of using direct speech in effective communication

Direct speech allows us to accurately convey the speaker’s words, emotions, and intentions. It adds authenticity and clarity to our communication, fostering better understanding and connection with others.

III. Unveiling Indirect Speech

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a form of speech where the speaker’s words are paraphrased or reported without using quotation marks. Let’s explore its definition, differences from direct speech, and examples.

A. Definition of indirect speech

Indirect speech refers to reporting or paraphrasing someone’s words without using quotation marks. It involves transforming the original speaker’s words into our own words while maintaining the meaning and essence of the message.

B. Key differences between direct and indirect speech

The key differences between direct and indirect speech are:

Direct speech uses quotation marks, while indirect speech does not.
Direct speech preserves the original speaker’s words, while indirect speech paraphrases or reports them.
Direct speech maintains the original sentence structure, while indirect speech may require changes in tense, pronouns, and word order.

C. Examples of indirect speech in various contexts

Indirect speech can be observed in different contexts. Let’s explore some examples:

1. Reporting statements

Sarah said that she loved ice cream.

John exclaimed that he couldn’t wait for the weekend.

2. Reporting questions

Lisa asked if you were coming to the party.

Tom inquired about the movie’s starting time.

3. Reporting commands

The mother instructed to clean your room.

The teacher reminded not to forget to bring your umbrella.

D. Advantages and challenges of using indirect speech

Indirect speech offers certain advantages, such as allowing us to summarize or report longer conversations concisely. However, it can also pose challenges in accurately conveying the speaker’s tone, emotions, and intentions.

IV. Variances in Usage

Several factors influence the choice between direct and indirect speech. Let’s explore these factors and understand when to use each form of speech in different scenarios.

A. Factors influencing the choice between direct and indirect speech

The choice between direct and indirect speech is influenced by:

Formality of the situation: Direct speech is often used in informal conversations, while indirect speech is more common in formal settings.
Cultural norms and expectations: Different cultures have varying preferences for direct or indirect communication styles.
Emotional impact and empathy: Direct speech may be more appropriate when conveying strong emotions, while indirect speech can be used to soften the impact or show empathy.

B. Appropriate usage of direct and indirect speech in different scenarios

Let’s explore the appropriate usage of direct and indirect speech in various scenarios:

1. Personal conversations

In personal conversations with friends and family, direct speech is often preferred as it allows for a more authentic and immediate exchange of thoughts and emotions.

2. Professional settings

In professional settings, indirect speech is commonly used to report conversations, summarize meetings, or convey information in a more formal and concise manner.

3. Educational contexts

In educational contexts, both direct and indirect speech can be used depending on the purpose and formality of the communication. Direct speech can be useful for role-playing or reenacting historical events, while indirect speech is often used in academic writing and research.

V. Enhancing Social Emotional Learning through Direct and Indirect Speech

Both direct and indirect speech play a significant role in developing social and emotional skills. Let’s explore the impact of these forms of speech on SEL and strategies for improving our communication skills.

A. Impact of direct and indirect speech on SEL skills

1. Active listening: Both direct and indirect speech require active listening skills to accurately understand and interpret the speaker’s words, emotions, and intentions.

2. Empathy and understanding: Indirect speech, in particular, allows us to show empathy and understanding by paraphrasing and summarizing the speaker’s words in a compassionate manner.

3. Conflict resolution: Both direct and indirect speech can be effective in resolving conflicts by promoting open and honest communication, understanding different perspectives, and finding common ground.

B. Strategies for developing effective direct and indirect speech skills

1. Active practice and role-playing: Engage in role-playing activities to practice both direct and indirect speech. This will help improve your listening, speaking, and paraphrasing skills.

2. Reflective listening exercises: Practice reflective listening by summarizing and paraphrasing what others say in your own words. This will enhance your understanding and empathy.

3. Mindful communication techniques: Develop mindfulness in your communication by being aware of your own words and their impact on others. Practice using direct and indirect speech consciously and purposefully.

VI. Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech examples is essential for effective communication and enhancing our social and emotional skills. Both forms of speech have their advantages and appropriate usage in different scenarios. By mastering both direct and indirect speech, we can improve our active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution skills. So, let’s continue exploring Social Emotional Learning and communication skills to foster better connections and understanding in our personal and professional lives.

C. Encouragement to continue exploring SEL and communication skills

Start your EverydaySpeech Free trial today and embark on a journey of enhancing your Social Emotional Learning and communication skills. Sign up now at https://everydayspeech.com/start-free-trial/ .

Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12

Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12 Key Takeaways Strong social communication skills are crucial for academic success and building meaningful relationships in Grade 12. Social communication includes verbal and non-verbal communication,...

Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12 Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12 As students enter Grade 12, they are on the cusp of adulthood and preparing for the next chapter of their lives. While academic success...

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Reported Speech: Important Grammar Rules and Examples

Reported speech is a very common aspect of the English language. You use it nearly every day, both in conversations and in writing. This reference covers key sections about reported speech, including what it is, examples, rules, and verb tense changes. You’ll also learn about modal verbs, changes in time and place, and different reporting verbs.

Reported Speech

What Is Reported Speech?

Reported speech is simply when you tell somebody what someone else said. You can do this in your writing, or in speech. Reported speech is very different from direct speech , which is when you show what somebody said in the exact way that they said it . In reported speech though, you do not need to quote somebody directly.

Instead, you use a reporting verb, such as ‘say’ or ‘ask’. These reporting verbs are used to report the speech to someone else. There are many different reporting verbs that can be used.

In short, reported speech is the linguistic technique that you use to tell somebody what someone else’s direct speech was. In reported speech though, you may need to make certain changes to the grammar to make the sentence make sense. Some examples below highlight what needs to be changed.

Reported Speech Examples

When using reported speech, you are usually talking about the past. The verbs, therefore, usually have to be in the past too.

For example :

Direct speech: I’ve lost my umbrella .
Reported speech: He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.

Another example :

Direct speech: She is doing her homework .
Reported speech: He said (that) she was doing her homework.

Table of Changes :

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
I am	He said he was
I have	She said she had
I will	They said they would

Reported Speech Rules

Verb tense changes in reported speech.

When the reporting verb is in the present tense, only small changes are needed.

Direct speech: I like dogs.
Reported speech: She says she likes dogs.

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, you need to change the tense of both the reporting verb and the main verb.

Reported speech: She said she liked dogs.

The tenses generally move backward as follows:

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
	Past Simple
Present Continuous	Past Continuous
	Past Perfect
Past Simple	Past Perfect
Past Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect	Past Perfect (remains unchanged)

For sentences about the future, you also need to change the future verbs.

Direct speech: I shall leave in a moment.
Reported speech: She said that she would leave in a moment.

Here are the changes for future tenses:

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Will	Would
Will be	Would be
Will have	Would have
Will have been	Would have been

Modal Verbs and Reported Speech

Modal verbs also change when used in reported speech.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Can	Could
Could	Could (unchanged)
Have to	Had to
Must	Must/Had to
May	Might
Might	Might (unchanged)
Should	Should (unchanged)

Direct speech: Will I see you later?
Reported speech: He asked if he would see me later.

Some modal verbs do not need to change tense because they fit naturally.

Direct speech: I should go to the park.
Reported speech: He told me he should go to the park.

Here are both correct and incorrect examples of reported speech for clarity:

Reported speech: He told me he should go to the park.
Reported speech: He said he should go to the park.
Incorrect reported speech: He told he should go to the park.
Incorrect reported speech: He said me he should go to the park.

To correct these:

Add ‘me’: He told me he should go to the park.
Remove ‘me’ or add ‘to’: He said he should go to the park or He said to me he should go to the park.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Changes in time and place in reported speech.

References to time and place often need to change when you use indirect speech. Here is a useful guide to these changes:

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Now	Then
Today	That day
Here	There
This	That
Tomorrow	The following day/ The next day
Next week	The following week/ The week after
Yesterday	The previous day/ The day before
Last week	The previous week/ The week before
Ago	Previously/ Before
Tonight	That night

No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

In some cases, verb tenses do not change when you report speech indirectly. Here are the key instances:

When the introductory verb is in the present , present perfect , or future .
When the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth .
When the reported sentence contains a time clause .
If the verb of the sentence is in the unreal past (the second or the third conditional ).
The subjunctive stays unchanged in the subordinate clause .
Had better , could , would , used to , should , might , ought to , and mustn’t remain unchanged.
If the speaker reports something immediately or soon after it was said .

Reporting Verbs in Indirect Speech

Reporting verbs are crucial in indirect speech. Here is a list categorized by their usage:

Basic Verbs : Tell, say, ask
Verb + that + clause : Complain, deny, explain, exclaim, remark, promise, boast, inform somebody, claim, agree, suggest
Verb + to + infinitive : Agree, offer, refuse, demand, threaten, promise, claim
Verb + indirect object + to + infinitive : Advise, allow, beg, command, encourage, forbid, invite, want, instruct, permit, urge, order, remind, warn
Verb + “ing” form : Admit (to), accuse somebody of, apologize for, boast about/of, complain to somebody of, deny, insist on, suggest
Verb + how : Explain to somebody

Reported Questions

When converting questions from direct to indirect speech, you follow rules similar to those for statements. Verbs used include inquire, wonder, want to know, ask.

Reported Commands and Requests

Commands and requests in Indirect Speech are formed using the to-infinitive and not to-infinitive . Common reporting verbs include order, shout, demand, warn, beg, command, tell, insist, beseech , threaten, implore, ask, propose, forbid.

Pronoun and tense changes are needed when shifting from direct to indirect speech.

Reported Speech Video

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Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct : Mary said, “I am going to the US next month.” Indirect : Mary said that she was going to the US the following month.
Direct : The sports teacher said, “Run fast, boys.” Indirect : The sports teacher asked the boys to run fast.

In these two examples, you might have observed that when we use direct speech, we use quotations to outline the real words of the speaker. As against, in an indirect speech, there is no such thing, as the listener narrates the same in his/her own words.

Content: Direct Speech Vs Indirect Speech

Comparison chart.

Rules with Examples

How to remember the difference

Basis for Comparison	Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Meaning	Direct speech implies a direct discourse, that uses the actual words of the speaker to report it.	Indirect speech refers to indirect discourse that delineates what a person said, in own words.
Alternative Name	Quoted speech	Reported speech
Point of view	Speaker	Listener
Usage	When we repeat the original words of a person.	When we use our own words for reporting what other person says.
Quotation Marks	It uses quotation marks.	It does not use quotation marks.

Definition of Direct Speech

When a person gives a written or spoken account of the speech, by repeating the exact words of the speaker, then this is known as Direct Speech. It uses inverted commas to highlight the original statement of the speaker, which is supported by a signal phrase or say dialogue guide.

Alex said, “I will be there in five minutes.”
The teacher said to Peter, “If you don’t complete your homework, I will make a call to your parents.”
Paul said to me, “What are you looking at?”
Joseph said, “You should give him a second chance.”

Sometimes, reporting verb appears in the mid of the sentence:

Is that so, she asked, You don’t want to come with us?

Adverbs can be used with the reporting verb, to delineate the manner in which something is spoken.

“I won’t come to your party,” Kate said angrily.
“I will always be there to help you”, he said sympathetically.

Definition of Indirect Speech

Indirect Speech or otherwise called as reported speech is one in which a person reports on what someone else said or wrote to him, not using the actual words. The indirect speech stresses on the content, i.e. what someone stated, instead of the words that are used for stating it.

The formation of the reported clause in an indirect speech is mainly based on whether the speaker is just reporting something, or ordering, commanding, requesting, etc.

Alex said that he would be here in five minutes.
The teacher scolded Peter that if he does not complete his homework, she would call his parents.
Paul asked me what am I looking at.
Joseph advised that I should give him a second chance.

Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech

The difference between direct and indirect speech are discussed as under:

Direct Speech refers to the literal repetition of the words spoken by someone, using a quotative frame. On the other hand, indirect speech is one that reports something said or written by another person, without making the use of exact words.
Direct Speech is also called a quoted speech, as it uses the exact words of the speaker. As against, the indirect speech is termed as reported speech, as it narrates what is said by the speaker.
Direct Speech is from the speaker’s standpoint, whereas indirect speech is from the listener’s standpoint.
Direct speech is when we use the exact rendition of the words of the speaker. Conversely, in an indirect speech own words are used to report the speaker’s statement.
The inverted comma is used in direct speech, but not in indirect speech.

Rules for changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

There are certain rules which need to be followed while changing from direct to indirect speech or vice versa:

Rule 1 : Backshift changes

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
: He said, "I feel great."	: He said that he felt great.
: The teacher said, "I have written the example on the board."	: The teacher said that she had written the example on the board."
: Rahul said, "I am going to the gym."	: Rahul said that he was going to the gym.
: She said, "I have been living here for five years."	: She said that she had been living there for five years.
: My mother said to me, "You watched YouTube all night."	: My mom said to me that you had watched YouTube all night.

Exception : When the direct speech consists of a universal fact or truth, then the tense of the sentence remains the same.

Direct : The teacher said, “Human Rights day is celebrated on 10th December.” Indirect : The teacher said that Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10th December.

Rule 2 : For change in adverbs, pronouns, demonstratives and auxiliary verbs

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech

Must	Had to
Will	Would
Can	Could
Shall	Should
May	Might
Do/Does	Did
Did	Had done

Now	Then
Here	There
Thus	So
Ago	Before
This	That
These	Those
Hence	Thence
Today	That day
Tonight	That night
Yesterday	The day before
Tomorrow	The next day
Last week	The previous week
Next week	The following week

Rule 3 : For Interrogative Sentences

Questions may be of two types: Objective questions whose answer can be given in yes or no which starts with an auxiliary verb.

On the other hand, Subjective questions whose answers can be given in detail. Here subjective question refers to the questions that begin with wh-word, i.e. when, how, who, what, which, where, why and so forth. Here, the reporting verb is changed from said to ask in the reporting speech.

Direct : She said, “Are you going to the party?” Indirect : She asked if I was going to the party.
Direct : Joe said to me, What is the time by your watch? Indirect : Joe asked me what was the time by my watch.

Rule 4 : When the direct speech contains orders, request, advise, suggestions command etc. then the reporting verb is changed to tell, request, command, instruct, order, advise, suggestion etc.

Direct : “Don’t make noise”, said the librarian. Indirect : The librarian told me to stop making noise.

Rule 5 : When something is said repeatedly by a person, or it is said by many people we use says/say instead of said in the direct speech. Says when it is said by only one person and say when it is said by many people. Further, in indirect speech, it is replaced by tell/tells accordingly.

Direct : My father says to me, “You are very naughty.” Indirect : My father tells me that I am very naughty.

The reporting verb remains in simple present tense also when the actual words are still true when it is reported.

Rule 6 : When there is an exclamatory sentence in the direct speech, first of all, the exclamatory sentence is changed into an assertive sentence. The inverted commas, interjections like oh, hurray, bravo etc. and the exclamatory mark is removed. The reporting verb, i.e. said is changed into exclaimed, and we use the conjunction that to add the clause.

Direct : “Oh wow! it’s beautiful” she said. Indirect : She exclaimed that it was very beautiful.

The basic tip to recognize the difference between direct and indirect speech is that in case of direct speech we use inverted commas which are not used in case of indirect speech. Further, we use the word ‘that’ in general, in indirect speech.

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josophina emvula says

July 15, 2019 at 2:37 pm

what are the rules that I must know to make the different of this direct and indirect speech?

January 26, 2024 at 2:36 am

Direct speech uses the exact words while indirect speech report what someone said without using the exact word

Ritupallab Bora says

January 4, 2021 at 6:56 pm

So good. Earlier I didn’t understand the difference between direct and indirect speech but now I got the whole concept

Arma Farooqui says

May 18, 2022 at 8:35 pm

It’s really really helpful. I understood everything very well. Thanks a lot…

Garang Chiman says

July 5, 2022 at 10:37 pm

Well illustrated. Thank you so much.

Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech: Definitions, Examples, and Rules

Direct and indirect speech are ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, while indirect speech paraphrases or summarises them. Knowing how to use both helps you accurately convey conversations and dialogue in writing. This guide covers the basics of direct and indirect speech, provides examples, and explains the rules for converting between them.

Some Interesting Facts about Direct and Indirect Speech

Aspect

Interesting Facts

Direct Speech

1. Historical Use: Direct speech has been used in literature for centuries to bring characters to life and make dialogues vivid.

2. Literary Techniques: Authors often use direct speech to reveal character traits and emotions through their exact words.

3. Quotes: Famous quotes are often preserved in direct speech to maintain their original impact and meaning.

Indirect Speech

1. Flexibility: Indirect speech allows for more flexibility in integrating quotes into narratives or discussions without disrupting the flow.

2. Reporting Variations: Indirect speech can vary in how it reports statements, allowing for summarisation and interpretation.

3. Cultural Differences: Different languages and cultures have varying rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech, reflecting diverse approaches to communication.

What is Direct and Indirect Speech?

The distinction between Direct and Indirect Speech may be confusing for some students. Often when we need to explain an incident or action, it involves quoting what someone said. A social situation, as well as a work email or presentation, are examples of such instances. There are two forms of Speech used to explain what other people say: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech (or reported Speech).

Direct Speech

The same words spoken are quoted indirect Speech. If we use Direct Speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We may be reporting something that is being said (for example, a phone conversation) or asking someone about a previous conversation later.

Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."

Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"

Supriya said, "I don't know!"

Indirect Speech

When we use reported or Indirect Speech to speak about the past, we generally change the tense of the words we say. We use reporting verbs like 'say,' 'tell,' and 'ask,' and we can introduce the reported words with the word 'that.' There are no inverted commas in this sentence.

For Example,

Mahima said that she had seen him.

Nirmal said he was looking forward to playing in the match on Saturday.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Children often mix up Direct and Indirect Speech. We need a way to say the difference between what someone is claimed to have said and what they said when we're writing. What did she say if you asked her? You may respond in one of two ways:

“I don’t like pizza,” Siddi said. (Direct Speech)

Siddi says she doesn’t like pizza. (Indirect Speech)

Note how Speech marks (“...”) are used in Direct Speech to indicate precisely what was said. Speech labels are located at the beginning and end of the actual words spoken. The words 'Siddi said' are not in Speech marks because they were not spoken aloud; rather, they are a way for the writer to express who was speaking to the reader.

The past tense is often used in reported Speech. This is because the words have already been spoken, and the writer is simply reporting on what has already been saying. It's critical to think about what was said and convert it to the past tense.

Direct and Indirect Narration Rules

Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let’s discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail.

Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense.

Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location and time.

Step 3: For both the object and the subject, use the correct pronoun.

Step 4: Make sure the sentence has the correct structure and word order.

Now we'll go through each of these measures in greater depth.

Step 1: Choosing the Verb's Tense and Conversion

Case 1: Nirmal said, ‘I go to the gym every day.

Case 2: Nirmal says, ‘I go to the gym every day.’

The verb ‘say' is used in both of the instances above to express the action of speaking. In addition, the reporting verb say is used in the past tense in the first case – said. In case 2, however, the reporting verb is in the present tense.

As a consequence, all verbs must be in the relevant past tense here. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, this is often followed. Thus, Nirmal said, ‘I go to the class every day will change to Nirmal said that he went to the gym every day.

The second rule is that the tense is not changed whether the reporting verb is in the future or present tense. So, Nirmal says, ‘I go to the class every day will be changed to Nirmal says that he goes to the class every day.

Step 2: Changes are Made to the Word That Communicates Place, Time, and Connection.

The time or place specified in the sentence should be changed to match the current time or position.

On 21st, May 2015: ‘I will come tomorrow,’ Sriram said.

On 21st, May 2015, Sriram said that he would come the next day.

Step 3: The Subject and Object Pronouns are Chosen Separately.

Case 1: Saurav will say to his friends, “I have started learning psychology” will change to Saurav will tell his friends that he has started learning psychology.

In this case, the speaker and the reporter are the same people. As a consequence, the pronoun should be the first person pronoun.

Case 2: Ma’am said to me, “I hope you will bring the geometry to my next class” will changed to Ma’am hoped that I would bring the geometry to her next class.

The speaker is ma'am, and the reporter is the student. As a consequence, the ma'am pronoun should be in the third person. The reporter's pronoun should also be in the first person.

Remember that we do not change the tense of the reporting verb within the quotation marks when it is in the present or future tense.

Direct Indirect Speech Exercises with Answers

Here are some exercises on Direct and Indirect Speech along with their answers:

Exercise 1: Convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech

Direct: She said, "I am going to the market."

Direct: He asked, "Do you want some coffee?"

Direct: "I have finished my assignment," John said.

Direct: The teacher said, "Please submit your homework by tomorrow."

Direct: "Where did you go last weekend?" she asked.

Indirect: She said that she was going to the market.

Indirect: He asked if I wanted some coffee.

Indirect: John said that he had finished his assignment.

Indirect: The teacher requested that we submit our homework by the next day.

Indirect: She asked where I had gone the previous weekend.

Exercise 2: Convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech

Indirect: He said that he would join us for dinner.

Indirect: She asked if I could help her with the project.

Indirect: They mentioned that they had seen the movie already.

Indirect: The doctor advised that I should take some rest.

Indirect: She inquired where the nearest station was.

Direct: He said, "I will join you for dinner."

Direct: She asked, "Can you help me with the project?"

Direct: They mentioned, "We have seen the movie already."

Direct: The doctor advised, "You should take some rest."

Direct: She inquired, "Where is the nearest station?"

These exercises and answers should help you practice converting between Direct and Indirect Speech effectively.

Narration Exercise with Answers

Here are some narration change exercises from Direct to Indirect Speech and vice versa. Each exercise includes sentences to be converted between the two forms.

Exercise 1: Direct to Indirect Speech

Direct: She said, "I am studying for my exams."

Direct: He said, "I will call you tomorrow."

Direct: "Where have you been?" she asked him.

Direct: They said, "We have finished our homework."

Direct: The teacher asked, "Have you completed your project?"

Indirect: She said that she was studying for her exams.

Indirect: He said that he would call me the next day.

Indirect: She asked him where he had been.

Indirect: They said that they had finished their homework.

Indirect: The teacher asked if I had completed my project.

Exercise 2: Indirect to Direct Speech

Indirect: She said that she was going to the library.

Indirect: He mentioned that he would be late for the meeting.

Indirect: They said that they had already completed their homework.

Indirect: The teacher inquired if the students had finished their project.

Direct: She said, "I am going to the library."

Direct: He said, "I will be late for the meeting."

Direct: She asked, "Where have you been?"

Direct: They said, "We have already completed our homework."

Direct: The teacher asked, "Have you finished your project?"

Some More Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises:

Direct: She said, "I cannot attend the meeting today."

Direct: "Will you be available for a call later?" he asked.

Direct: "I need to finish my report by this evening," Alice said.

Direct: The coach said, "Run five laps around the field."

Direct: "Did you see the new movie?" he asked her.

Direct: Jessica said, "I am excited about the concert next month."

Direct: "Please remember to lock the door when you leave," he said.

Direct: The manager said, "Submit your expense reports by Friday."

Direct: "What time does the train arrive?" she asked.

Direct: "I will help you with your project," he promised.

Indirect: She said that she could not attend the meeting that day.

Indirect: He asked if I would be available for a call later.

Indirect: Alice said that she needed to finish her report by that evening.

Indirect: The coach instructed us to run five laps around the field.

Indirect: He asked her if she had seen the new movie.

Indirect: Jessica said that she was excited about the concert the following month.

Indirect: He requested that I remember to lock the door when I left.

Indirect: The manager said to submit our expense reports by Friday.

Indirect: She asked what time the train arrived.

Indirect: He promised that he would help me with my project.

Indirect: She mentioned that she was planning a surprise party.

Indirect: He asked whether I had completed the assignment.

Indirect: They said they would visit us during the summer.

Indirect: The professor explained that the test would cover three chapters.

Indirect: She said that she had been studying all night.

Indirect: The waiter asked if we were ready to order.

Indirect: He said that he was feeling much better.

Indirect: They inquired if I wanted to join them for lunch.

Indirect: The child said that he had lost his toy.

Indirect: She suggested that we should meet for coffee next week.

Direct: She said, "I am planning a surprise party."

Direct: He asked, "Have you completed the assignment?"

Direct: They said, "We will visit you during the summer."

Direct: The professor explained, "The test will cover three chapters."

Direct: She said, "I have been studying all night."

Direct: The waiter asked, "Are you ready to order?"

Direct: He said, "I am feeling much better."

Direct: They asked, "Do you want to join us for lunch?"

Direct: The child said, "I have lost my toy."

Direct: She suggested, "We should meet for coffee next week."

These exercises offer further practice in converting between Direct and Indirect Speech.

Check your Knowledge of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct: "I will finish the project by Friday," he said.

Direct: She asked, "Have you completed your preparations?"

Direct: "You should see a doctor," he advised.

Direct: "Why are you late?" she inquired.

Direct: "We are going to the beach tomorrow," they said.

Direct: "Can you help me with this task?" he asked.

Direct: "I haven't seen that film yet," she said.

Direct: "Please close the window," he requested.

Direct: "Where will you be next week?" she asked.

Direct: "I am taking a break," he said.

Indirect: He said that he would finish the project by Friday.

Indirect: She asked if I had completed my preparations.

Indirect: He advised that I should see a doctor.

Indirect: She inquired why I was late.

Indirect: They said that they were going to the beach the next day.

Indirect: He asked if I could help him with that task.

Indirect: She said that she had not seen that film yet.

Indirect: He requested that I close the window.

Indirect: She asked where I would be the following week.

Indirect: He said that he was taking a break.

Takeaways from the Page

Direct Speech quotes exactly what someone said, using quotation marks around their words. Tenses and punctuation stay the same as in the original speech.

Indirect Speech reports what someone said without quoting their exact words. It doesn’t use quotation marks and often changes pronouns and tenses to fit the context.

Changing Direct to Indirect : Replace the quotation marks with reporting verbs like "said" or "asked," adjust tenses, and modify pronouns.

Changing Indirect to Direct : Use quotation marks and restore the exact wording and punctuation. Adjust pronouns and tenses to reflect the original speech.

When to Use : Use Direct Speech to quote exactly or show dialogue. Use Indirect Speech to summarize or integrate what was said into your text.

Practice : Regularly converting between Direct and Indirect Speech helps you get better at reporting speech accurately.

FAQs on Direct and Indirect Speech - Explanation, Examples and Narration Rules

1. What are Direct and Indirect Speech exercises?

Direct and Indirect Speech exercises involve converting sentences from one form to another. These exercises help practice how to report speech accurately by changing the format while preserving the meaning.

2. Why are Direct and Indirect Speech exercises important?

These exercises are important for mastering how to quote someone's words exactly or report what was said without quoting directly. They help in improving clarity and accuracy in communication.

3. How do you convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech?

To convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech, replace quotation marks with reporting verbs, adjust tenses and pronouns, and remove the quotation marks.

4. How do you convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech?

To convert Indirect Speech to Direct Speech, restore the exact wording within quotation marks, adjust pronouns and tenses to match the original context, and include appropriate punctuation.

5. Can you provide an example of a Direct to Indirect Speech exercise?

Direct to Indirect Speech example.

Convert: "I am going to the market," she said.

She said that she was going to the market.

6. Can you provide an example of an Indirect to Direct Speech exercise?

Indirect to Direct Speech example.

Convert: She said that she was going to the market.

"I am going to the market," she said.

7. What is a narration change exercise?

A narration change exercise involves converting sentences between Direct and Indirect Speech to practice reporting and quoting speech accurately.

8. How can I practice narration exercises effectively?

To practice effectively, regularly complete exercises, check your answers against correct conversions, and understand the rules for changing between Direct and Indirect Speech.

9. What are some common mistakes in narration exercises?

Common mistakes include incorrect tense shifts, wrong pronoun changes, and improper use of punctuation. Make sure to follow the rules for each form to avoid these errors.

10. How do narration exercises improve language skills?

Narration exercises enhance language skills by helping you understand how to report and quote speech accurately, improving both writing and comprehension abilities.

Reported Speech

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An Introduction to Punctuation
Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
B.A., English, State University of New York

Reported speech is the report of one speaker or writer on the words spoken, written, or thought by someone else. Also called reported discourse .

Traditionally, two broad categories of reported speech have been recognized: direct speech (in which the original speaker's words are quoted word for word) and indirect speech (in which the original speaker's thoughts are conveyed without using the speaker's exact words). However, a number of linguists have challenged this distinction, noting (among other things) that there's significant overlap between the two categories. Deborah Tannen, for instance, has argued that "[w] hat is commonly referred to as reported speech or direct quotation in conversation is constructed dialogue ."

Observations

" Reported speech is not just a particular grammatical form or transformation , as some grammar books might suggest. We have to realize that reported speech represents, in fact, a kind of translation , a transposition that necessarily takes into account two different cognitive perspectives: the point of view of the person whose utterance is being reported, and that of a speaker who is actually reporting that utterance." (Teresa Dobrzyńska, "Rendering Metaphor in Reported Speech," in Relative Points of View: Linguistic Representation of Culture , ed. by Magda Stroińska. Berghahn Books, 2001)

Tannen on the Creation of Dialogue

"I wish to question the conventional American literal conception of ' reported speech ' and claim instead that uttering dialogue in conversation is as much a creative act as is the creation of dialogue in fiction and drama.
"The casting of thoughts and speech in dialogue creates particular scenes and characters--and . . . it is the particular that moves readers by establishing and building on a sense of identification between speaker or writer and hearer or reader. As teachers of creative writing exhort neophyte writers, the accurate representation of the particular communicates universality, whereas direct attempts to represent universality often communicate nothing." (Deborah Tannen, Talking Voices: Repetition, Dialogue, and Imagery in Conversational Discourse , 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2007)

Goffman on Reported Speech

"[Erving] Goffman's work has proven foundational in the investigation of reported speech itself. While Goffman is not in his own work concerned with the analysis of actual instances of interaction (for a critique, see Schlegoff, 1988), it provides a framework for researchers concerned with investigating reported speech in its most basic environment of occurrence: ordinary conversation. . . .
"Goffman . . . proposed that reported speech is a natural upshot of a more general phenomenon in interaction: shifts of 'footing,' defined as 'the alignment of an individual to a particular utterance . . .' ([ Forms of Talk ,] 1981: 227). Goffman is concerned to break down the roles of speaker and hearer into their constituent parts. . . . [O]ur ability to use reported speech stems from the fact that we can adopt different roles within the 'production format,' and it is one of the many ways in which we constantly change footing as we interact . . .."(Rebecca Clift and Elizabeth Holt, Introduction. Reporting Talk: Reported Speech in Interaction . Cambridge University Press, 2007)

Reported Speech in Legal Contexts

" [R]eported speech occupies a prominent position in our use of language in the context of the law. Much of what is said in this context has to do with rendering people's sayings: we report the words that accompany other people's doings in order to put the latter in the correct perspective. As a consequence, much of our judiciary system, both in the theory and in the practice of law, turns around the ability to prove or disprove the correctness of a verbal account of a situation. The problem is how to summarize that account, from the initial police report to the final imposed sentence, in legally binding terms, so that it can go 'on the record,' that is to say, be reported in its definitive, forever immutable form as part of a 'case' in the books." (Jacob Mey, When Voices Clash: A Study in Literary Pragmatics . Walter de Gruyter, 1998)
Topic In Composition and Speech
Direct Speech Definition and Examples
Dialogue Guide Definition and Examples
Thesis: Definition and Examples in Composition
Definition and Examples of Transitional Paragraphs
Indirect Speech Definition and Examples
What Is Attribution in Writing?
Definition and Examples of Body Paragraphs in Composition
How to Use Indirect Quotations in Writing for Complete Clarity
Definition and Examples of Hypocrisis in Rhetoric
Division: Outlining the Parts of a Speech
drawl (speech)
agrammatism
Definition and Examples of Anti-Language
Performative Verbs
Constructed Dialogue in Storytelling and Conversation

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Proposed Rule

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Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Cedar Key Mole Skink and Designation of Critical Habitat

A Proposed Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 08/08/2024

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Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Agency/Docket Numbers Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053 FXES1111090FEDR-245-FF09E21000 CFR 50 CFR 17 Document Citation 89 FR 65124 Document Number 2024-17271 Document Type Proposed Rule Pages 65124-65160 (37 pages) Publication Date 08/08/2024 RIN 1018-BH41 Published Content - Document Details
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Document Dates Published Content - Document Dates Comments Close 10/07/2024 Dates Text We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before October 7, 2024. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the closing date. We must receive requests for a public hearing, in writing, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by September 23, 2024. Published Content - Document Dates

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Supplementary information:, executive summary, information requested, public hearing, previous federal actions, peer review, summary of peer reviewer comments, i. proposed listing determination, regulatory and analytical framework, regulatory framework, analytical framework, summary of biological status and threats, subspecies needs, climate change, conservation efforts and regulatory mechanisms, cumulative effects, current condition, representation, determination of cedar key mole skink's status, status throughout all of its range, status throughout a significant portion of its range, determination of status, available conservation measures, ii. critical habitat, physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species, summary of essential physical or biological features, special management considerations or protection, criteria used to identify critical habitat, proposed critical habitat designation, unit 1: live oak key, unit 2: cedar point, unit 3: scale key, unit 4: dog island, unit 5: atsena otie key, unit 6: snake key, unit 7: seahorse key, unit 8: north key, unit 9: airstrip island, unit 10: way key south, unit 11: way key north, unit 12: richards island, unit 13: seabreeze island, unit 14: shell mound, unit 15: raleigh and horse islands, unit 16: deer island, unit 17: clark islands, effects of critical habitat designation, section 7 consultation, destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat, application of section 4(a)(3) of the act, consideration of impacts under section 4(b)(2) of the act, consideration of economic impacts, consideration of national security impacts, consideration of other relevant impacts, summary of exclusions considered under 4(b)(2) of the act, required determinations, clarity of the rule, regulatory planning and review (executive orders 12866, 13563, and 14094), regulatory flexibility act ( 5 u.s.c. 601 et seq.), energy supply, distribution, or use— executive order 13211, unfunded mandates reform act ( 2 u.s.c. 1501 et seq.), takings— executive order 12630, federalism— executive order 13132, civil justice reform— executive order 12988, paperwork reduction act of 1995 ( 44 u.s.c. 3501 et seq.), national environmental policy act ( 42 u.s.c. 4321 et seq.), government-to-government relationship with tribes, references cited, list of subjects in 50 cfr part 17, signing authority, proposed regulation promulgation, part 17—endangered and threatened wildlife and plants.

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Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Endangered status and Critical Habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink

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Department of the Interior

Fish and wildlife service.

50 CFR Part 17
[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053; FXES1111090FEDR-245-FF09E21000]
RIN 1018-BH41

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

Proposed rule.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Cedar Key mole skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ), a lizard subspecies from the Cedar Keys, Florida, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing this subspecies is warranted. We also propose to designate critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink under the Act. In total, approximately 2,713 acres (1,098 hectares) in Levy County, Cedar Keys, Florida, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. In addition, we announce the availability of an economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this subspecies and its designated critical habitat.

We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before October 7, 2024. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES , below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the closing date. We must receive requests for a public hearing, in writing, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by September 23, 2024.

You may submit comments by one of the following methods:

(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov . In the Search box, enter FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click on the Search button. On the resulting page, in the panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment.”

(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

We request that you send comments only by the methods described above. We will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov . This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see Information Requested, below, for more information).

Availability of supporting materials: Supporting materials, such as the species status assessment report, are available on the Service's website at https://www.fws.gov/office/florida-ecological-services/library and at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053. For the proposed critical habitat designation, the coordinates or plot points or both from which the maps are generated are included in the decision file for this critical habitat designation and are available at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053 and on the Service's website at https://www.fws.gov/office/florida-ecological-services/library .

Lourdes Mena, Division Manager, Classification and Recovery, Florida Ecological Services Field Office, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256-7517; [email protected] ; telephone 352-749-2462. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. Please see Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053 on https://www.regulations.gov for a document that summarizes this proposed rule.

Why we need to publish a rule. Under the Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ), a species warrants listing if it meets the definition of an endangered species (in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range) or a threatened species (likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range). If we determine that a species warrants listing, we must list the species promptly and designate the species' critical habitat to the maximum extent prudent and determinable. We have determined that the Cedar Key mole skink meets the Act's definition of an endangered species; therefore, we are proposing to list it as endangered and proposing a designation of its critical habitat. Both listing a species as an endangered or threatened species and making a critical habitat designation can be completed only by issuing a rule through the Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking process ( 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq. ).

What this document does. We propose to list the Cedar Key mole skink as an endangered species under the Act, and we propose the designation of critical habitat for the subspecies.

The basis for our action. Under the Act, we may determine that a species is an endangered or threatened species because of any of five factors: (A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; (B) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. We have determined that the Cedar Key mole skink is endangered due to threats associated with climate change, specifically sea level rise, increased high tide flooding, and increased intensity of storm events (Factor E).

Section 4(a)(3) of the Act requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), to the maximum extent prudent and determinable, concurrently with listing designate critical habitat for the species. Section 3(5)(A) of the Act defines critical habitat as (i) the specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the species, at the time it is listed, on which are found those physical or biological features (I) essential to the conservation of the species and (II) which may require special management considerations or protections; and (ii) specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed, upon a determination by the Secretary that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species. Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary must make the designation on the basis of the best scientific data available and after taking into consideration the economic impact, the impact on national security, and any other relevant impacts of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. ( print page 65125)

We intend that any final action resulting from this proposed rule will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we request comments or information from other governmental agencies, Native American Tribes, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties concerning this proposed rule. We particularly seek comments concerning:

(1) The subspecies' biology, range, and population trends, including:

(a) Biological or ecological requirements of the subspecies, including habitat requirements for feeding, breeding, and sheltering;

(b) Genetics and taxonomy;

(c) Historical and current range, including distribution patterns and the locations of any additional populations of this subspecies;

(d) Historical and current population levels, and current and projected trends; and

(e) Past and ongoing conservation measures for the subspecies, its habitat, or both.

(2) Threats and conservation actions affecting the subspecies, including:

(a) Factors that may be affecting the continued existence of the subspecies, which may include habitat modification or destruction, overutilization, disease, predation, the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms, or other natural or humanmade factors;

(b) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning any threats (or lack thereof) to this subspecies; and

(3) Additional information concerning the historical and current status of this subspecies.

(4) Specific information on:

(a) The amount and distribution of Cedar Key mole skink habitat;

(b) Any additional areas occurring within the range of the subspecies, the Cedar Keys in Levy County, Florida, that should be included in the critical habitat designation because they (i) are occupied at the time of listing and contain the physical or biological feature that is essential to the conservation of the subspecies and that may require special management considerations or protection, or (ii) are unoccupied at the time of listing and are essential for the conservation of the subspecies;

(c) Special management considerations or protection that may be needed in the critical habitat areas we are proposing, including managing for the potential effects of climate change; and

(d) Whether areas not occupied at the time of listing qualify as habitat for the species and are essential for the conservation of the species.

(5) Land use designations and current or planned activities and their possible impacts on proposed critical habitat.

(6) Any probable economic, national security, or other relevant impacts of designating any area that may be included in the final designation, and the related benefits of including or excluding specific areas.

(7) Information on the extent to which the description of probable economic impacts in the economic analysis is a reasonable estimate of the likely economic impacts and any additional information regarding probable economic impacts that we should consider.

(8) Whether any specific areas we are proposing for critical habitat designation should be considered for exclusion under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, and whether the benefits of potentially excluding any specific area outweigh the benefits of including that area under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. If you think we should exclude any additional areas, please provide information supporting a benefit of exclusion.

(9) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and comments.

Please include sufficient information with your submission (such as scientific journal articles or other publications) to allow us to verify any scientific or commercial information you include.

Please note that submissions merely stating support for, or opposition to, the action under consideration without providing supporting information, although noted, do not provide substantial information necessary to support a determination. Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act directs that determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or a threatened species must be made solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available, and section 4(b)(2) of the Act directs that the Secretary shall designate critical habitat on the basis of the best scientific data available.

You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES . We request that you send comments only by the methods described in ADDRESSES .

If you submit information via https://www.regulations.gov , your entire submission—including any personal identifying information—will be posted on the website. If your submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy submissions on https://www.regulations.gov .

Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov .

Our final determination may differ from this proposal because we will consider all comments we receive during the comment period as well as any information that may become available after the publication of this proposal. Based on the new information we receive (and, if relevant, any comments on that new information), we may conclude that the subspecies is threatened instead of endangered, or we may conclude that the subspecies does not warrant listing as either an endangered species or a threatened species. For critical habitat, our final designation may not include all areas proposed, may include some additional areas that meet the definition of critical habitat, or may exclude some areas if we find the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion and exclusion will not result in the extinction of the subspecies. In our final rule, we will clearly explain our rationale and the basis for our final decision, including why we made changes, if any, that differ from this proposal.

Section 4(b)(5) of the Act provides for a public hearing on this proposal, if requested. Requests must be received by the date specified in DATES . Such requests must be sent to the address shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . We will schedule a public hearing on this proposal, if requested, and announce the date, time, and place of the hearing, as well as how to obtain reasonable accommodations, in the Federal Register and local newspapers at least 15 days before the hearing. We may hold the public hearing in person or virtually via webinar. We will announce any public hearing on our website, in addition to the Federal Register . The use of virtual public ( print page 65126) hearings is consistent with our regulations at 50 CFR 424.16(c)(3) .

On July 11, 2012, we received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity to list the Cedar Key mole skink as an endangered or threatened species under the Act. On July 1, 2015, we published in the Federal Register ( 80 FR 37568 ) a 90-day finding that the petition provided substantial information indicating that listing the Cedar Key mole skink may be warranted. On December 19, 2018, we published in the Federal Register ( 83 FR 65127 ) a 12-month finding that the Cedar Key mole skink did not warrant listing under the Act. On January 26, 2022, the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit against the Service, alleging the Service did not use the best available scientific data regarding sea level rise and its impacts to Cedar Key mole skink habitat in its 12-month finding. In May 2022, the Service agreed to submit a new finding to the Federal Register by July 31, 2024. This finding and proposed rule reflect the updated assessment of the status of the Cedar Key mole skink based on the best available science, including an updated species status assessment for the subspecies (Service 2023, entire).

A species status assessment (SSA) team prepared an SSA report for the Cedar Key mole skink. The SSA team was composed of Service biologists, in consultation with other species experts. The SSA report represents a compilation of the best scientific and commercial data available concerning the status of the subspecies, including the impacts of past, present, and future factors (both negative and beneficial) affecting the subspecies.

In accordance with our joint policy on peer review published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 ( 59 FR 34270 ), and our August 22, 2016, memorandum updating and clarifying the role of peer review in listing and recovery actions under the Act, we solicited independent scientific review of the information contained in the Cedar Key mole skink SSA report. We sent the SSA report to six independent peer reviewers and received one response. Results of this structured peer review process can be found at https://www.regulations.gov and https://www.fws.gov/office/florida-ecological-services . In preparing this proposed rule, we incorporated the results of this review, as appropriate, into the SSA report, which is the foundation for this proposed rule.

As discussed in Peer Review above, we received comments from one peer reviewer on the draft SSA report. We reviewed the comments for substantive issues and new information regarding the contents of the SSA report. The peer reviewer generally concurred with our methods and conclusions, and provided additional information, clarifications, and suggestions, including clarifications in terminology and other editorial suggestions.

The peer reviewer suggested that our statement that “rafting is rare, but does occur” was inappropriate. The peer reviewer noted that there is no evidence that rafting occurs in the Cedar Key mole skink (or any mole skink subspecies) and that, in fact, genetic evidence suggests the opposite (that there is no movement of mole skinks among islands). We updated the SSA report to indicate that rafting is unlikely.

The peer reviewer also commented that our analysis of “potential habitat” on the two developed islands, Way Key and Airstrip Island, was an overrepresentation of the amount of habitat truly available to the Cedar Key mole skink. In our initial analysis, we included high intensity and low intensity urban data layers for these islands as part of our calculation of potential habitat available because skinks have been found in backyards, in parking lots, along roadsides, and in other disturbed or developed areas. However, these data layers also included roads, buildings, and other developed areas, which are not considered habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink. As a result, our use of these data layers increased what we had identified as potential habitat on Airport Island from 1.00 acre (0.40 hectares) to 52.43 acres (21.0 hectares), and on Way Key from 2.65 acres (1.07 hectares) to 266.14 acres (107.70 hectares). We agree with the peer reviewer that the use of the urban areas in our analysis overestimated the amount of habitat truly available to the Cedar Key mole skink. Thus, we restricted our analysis of these two islands to only include the preferred habitat data layers that included beaches, dunes, and coastal hammock. We included the additional analysis focused on high-intensity and low-intensity urban areas on Way Key and Airport Island as part of appendix A in the SSA report.

A thorough review of the taxonomy, life history, and ecology of the Cedar Key mole skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) is presented in the SSA report (Service 2023, pp. 2-16). The Cedar Key mole skink is one of five distinct subspecies of mole skinks in Florida, all in the genus Plestiodon (previously Eumeces ) (Brandley et al. 2005, pp. 387-388), and is endemic to the Cedar Keys, Florida. This subspecies represents a unique genetic lineage that is distinct from the other four mole skink subspecies (Brandley et al. 2005, pp. 387-388; Parkinson et al. 2016, entire). The Cedar Key mole skink is the largest of the five subspecies, approaching 15 centimeters (5.9 inches), with the tail accounting for two-thirds of the length.

The Cedar Key mole skink is semi-fossorial (adapted to digging, burrowing, and living underground) and cryptic in nature. The Cedar Key mole skink is a cold-blooded reptile and therefore highly dependent air and soil temperature to thermoregulate (maintain body core temperature) (Mount 1963, p. 362). Ground cover moderates soil temperatures and provides shade to assist in the skinks' thermoregulation in hot climate. The optimum temperature range for the mole skink species ( Plestiodon egregius ) is 26 to 34 degrees Celsius (C) (78.8 to 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit (F)) with a mean of 29.5 C (85.1 F) (Mount 1963, p. 363). Mole skinks are considered thermoconformers, lacking the capacity to adjust or regulate to changes in temperature outside of this stable and relatively narrow thermal range in which it occurs (Gallagher et al 2015, p. 62).

The specific diet of Cedar Key mole skink is unknown, but in general, skinks in the genus Plestiodon are known to eat ants, spiders, crickets, beetles, termites, small bugs, mites, and butterfly larva (Hamilton and Pollack 1958, p, 26). Native snakes are considered natural predators of mole skinks (Hamilton and Pollack 1958, p. 28, Mount 1963, p. 356) and domestic and feral cats on some islands in the Cedar Keys are known to prey on skink populations (Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) 2013, p.5). The Cedar Key mole skink relies on dry, unconsolidated soils for movement, cover, and nesting, and it needs detritus, leaves, wrack, and other ground cover for shelter, temperature regulation, and food (insects and arthropods found in ground cover).

The Cedar Keys are a coastal complex of islands, tidal creeks, bays, and salt marsh, located along 10 miles (16 kilometers) of Florida's central Gulf of Mexico coast in Levy County. The Cedar Key mole skink has been found in small numbers on 10 islands of the Cedar ( print page 65127) Keys archipelago (see figure 1, below). Eight of these islands are currently considered occupied (skink detections documented between 2000 to 2022), and two of these islands are considered to have uncertain status (skink detections documented prior to 1999, but not resurveyed) (Mount 1963, entire; Mount 1965 entire; FWC 2023, entire). In total, 215 Cedar Key mole skinks have been detected, with 62 individuals documented since 2000. Within this limited range, the Cedar Key mole skink is found most frequently in sand beach and coastal dune habitats. The estimated home range of a Cedar Key mole skink is approximately a 328-ft (100-meter) radius (Service 2023, p. 12).

The Cedar Keys archipelago is a relatively small coastal ecosystem of 30 or more, mostly undeveloped islands of varying size and elevations. Of the eight current islands with known Cedar Key mole skink occurrence, only one island, Airstrip Island, is developed. Deer Island, also occupied by the Cedar Key mole skink, is privately owned with one dwelling and could be further developed with a small number of (off-the-grid) dwellings. Way Key, the largest island within the Cedar Keys, where the City of Cedar Key is located, is mostly developed, but the Cedar Key mole skink population status there is uncertain. The remaining islands with known populations of the Cedar Key mole skink are undeveloped and largely protected as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. There are other islands of the Cedar Keys archipelago that contain suitable habitat and soils for the Cedar Key mole skink, but they have unknown occupancy due to lack of survey efforts. Many of these islands are also protected as conservation lands, and some are privately owned (all or in part) but remain undeveloped.

Section 4 of the Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1533 ) and the implementing regulations in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations set forth the procedures for determining whether a species is an endangered species or a threatened species, issuing protective regulations for threatened species, and designating critical habitat for endangered and threatened species. On April 5, 2024, jointly with the National Marine Fisheries Service, we issued a final rule that revised the regulations in 50 CFR part 424 regarding how we add, remove, and reclassify endangered and threatened species and what criteria we apply when designating listed species' critical habitat ( 89 FR 24300 ). On the same day, we published a final rule revising our protections for endangered species and threatened species at 50 CFR 17 ( 89 FR 23919 ). These final rules are now in effect and are incorporated into the current regulations.

The Act defines a “species” as including any subspecies of fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife which interbreeds when mature. The Act defines an “endangered species” as a species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, and a “threatened species” as a species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The Act requires that we determine whether any species is an endangered species or a threatened species because of any of the following factors:

(A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range;

(B) Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes;

(D) The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or

(E) Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence.

These factors represent broad categories of natural or human-caused actions or conditions that could have an effect on a species' continued existence. In evaluating these actions and conditions, we look for those that may have a negative effect on individuals of the species, as well as other actions or conditions that may ameliorate any negative effects or may have positive effects.

We use the term “threat” to refer in general to actions or conditions that are known to or are reasonably likely to negatively affect individuals of a species. The term “threat” includes actions or conditions that have a direct impact on individuals (direct impacts), as well as those that affect individuals through alteration of their habitat or required resources (stressors). The term “threat” may encompass—either together or separately—the source of the action or condition or the action or condition itself.

However, the mere identification of any threat(s) does not necessarily mean that the species meets the statutory definition of an “endangered species” or a “threatened species.” In determining whether a species meets either definition, we must evaluate all identified threats by considering the species' expected response and the effects of the threats—in light of those actions and conditions that will ameliorate the threats—on an individual, population, and species level. We evaluate each threat and its expected effects on the species, then analyze the cumulative effect of all of the threats on the species as a whole. We also consider the cumulative effect of the threats in light of those actions and conditions that will have positive effects on the species, such as any existing regulatory mechanisms or conservation efforts. The Secretary determines whether the species meets the definition of an “endangered species” or a “threatened species” only after conducting this cumulative analysis and describing the expected effect on the species.

The Act does not define the term “foreseeable future,” which appears in the statutory definition of “threatened species.” Our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.11(d) set forth a framework for evaluating the foreseeable future on a case-by-case basis, which is further described in the 2009 Memorandum Opinion on the foreseeable future from the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor (M-37021, January 16, 2009; “M-Opinion,” available online at https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.opengov.ibmcloud.com/files/uploads/M-37021.pdf ). The foreseeable future extends as far into the future as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (hereafter, the Services) can make reasonably reliable predictions about the threats to the species and the species' responses to those threats. We need not identify the foreseeable future in terms of a specific period of time. We will describe the foreseeable future on a case-by-case basis, using the best available data and taking into account considerations such as the species' life-history characteristics, threat projection timeframes, and environmental variability. In other words, the foreseeable future is the period of time over which we can make reasonably reliable predictions. “Reliable” does not mean “certain”; it means sufficient to provide a reasonable degree of confidence in the prediction, in light of the conservation purposes of the Act.

The SSA report documents the results of our comprehensive biological review of the best scientific and commercial data regarding the status of the species, including an assessment of the potential threats to the species. The SSA report does not represent our decision on whether the species should be proposed for listing as an endangered or threatened species under the Act. However, it does provide the scientific basis that informs our regulatory decisions, which involve the further application of standards within the Act and its implementing regulations and policies.

To assess the Cedar Key mole skink's viability, we used the three conservation biology principles of resiliency, redundancy, and representation (Shaffer and Stein 2000, pp. 306-310). Briefly, resiliency is the ability of the subspecies to withstand environmental and demographic stochasticity (for example, wet or dry, warm or cold years); ( print page 65129) redundancy is the ability of the subspecies to withstand catastrophic events (for example, droughts, large pollution events); and representation is the ability of the subspecies to adapt to both near-term and long-term changes in its physical and biological environment (for example, climate conditions, pathogens). In general, the subspecies' viability will increase with increases in resiliency, redundancy, and representation. Using these principles, we identified the subspecies' ecological requirements for survival and reproduction at the individual, population, and subspecies levels, and described the beneficial and risk factors influencing the subspecies' viability.

The SSA process can be categorized into three sequential stages. During the first stage, we evaluated the subspecies' individual and population life-history needs. The next stage involved an assessment of the historical and current condition of the subspecies' demographics and habitat characteristics, including an explanation of how the subspecies arrived at its current condition. The final stage of the SSA involved making predictions about the subspecies' responses to positive and negative environmental and anthropogenic influences. Throughout all of these stages, we used the best available information to characterize viability as the ability of the subspecies to sustain populations in the wild over time, which we then used to inform our regulatory decision.

The following is a summary of the key results and conclusions from the SSA report; the full SSA report can be found at Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053 on https://www.regulations.gov and at https://www.fws.gov/office/florida-ecological-services/library .

In this discussion, we review the biological condition of the subspecies and its resources, and the threats that influence the subspecies' current and future condition, in order to assess the subspecies' overall viability and the risks to that viability.

The SSA report contains a detailed discussion of the Cedar Key mole skink's individual and population requirements (Service 2023, pp. 2-16); we provide a summary here. Based upon the best available scientific and commercial information, and acknowledging existing ecological uncertainties, the resource and demographic needs for breeding, feeding, sheltering, and dispersal of the Cedar Key mole skink are characterized as:

Beaches, dunes, and coastal hammock habitats that provide ground cover in the form of leaf litter and wrack material, that the Cedar Key mole skink needs for nesting, arthropod and insect food sources, and cover; and
Dry, loose, sandy, permeable, or friable (crumbly in texture) soils for digging of nest cavities and movement, as all portions of the Cedar Key mole skink's life cycle occur within or on the surface of the soil.

The Cedar Key mole skink's abundance, distribution, and life-history behaviors ( e.g., nesting, breeding) are limited to, and defined by, the availability of these resources in the areas of beach, dune, and coastal hammock habitats.

The main threats affecting the Cedar Key mole skink are related to shifts in climate as a result of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Sea level rise, more frequent tidal flooding (increase of tides above the mean high tide), and increasing intensity of storm events (such as hurricanes) are the predominant threats to the Cedar Key mole skink and its habitat. We also evaluated existing regulatory mechanisms and ongoing conservation measures. In the SSA report, we considered additional threats: habitat loss and degradation that result from development and habitat disturbance; overutilization due to recreational, educational, and scientific use; disease; oil spills; and nonnative species. We concluded that, as indicated by the best available scientific and commercial information, these additional threats are currently having little to no impact on the Cedar Key mole skink, and thus their overall effect now and into the future is expected to be minimal. For full descriptions of all threats and how they impact the Cedar Key mole skink, please see the SSA report (Service 2023, pp. 16-31).

The predominant threats currently affecting the Cedar Key mole skink and its habitat are the rapid and intense shifts in climate occurring as a result of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The entire Cedar Key archipelago is being affected by sea level rise, more frequent high tide flooding, and increased intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes. In the SSA report and this proposed rule, we discuss the effects of climate change on the Cedar Key mole skink in terms of increasing sea level rise, more frequent tidal flooding, and increased intensity of storm events.

Sea level rise —Within Florida, sea level rise is increasing at a faster rate than globally, making this subspecies especially vulnerable to impacts from sea level rise across its entire range (Carter et al. 2014, pp. 401-403; Park and Sweet 2015, entire; Sweet et al. 2017, p. 25). Accelerated sea level rise in Florida is attributed to shifts in the Florida Current due to added ocean mass brought on by the melting Antarctic and Greenland ice packs and thermal expansion from warming oceans (Park and Sweet 2015, entire; Rahmstorf et al. 2015, entire; Deconto and Pollard 2016, p. 596; Sweet et al. 2017, p. 14). Tidal gauges around Florida have shown approximately 25 centimeters (10 inches) of sea level rise since 1920. However, from 2006 to 2016 alone, there was a 12-centimeter (5-inch) sea level rise in southeast Florida (Sweet et al. 2017, p. 41; SeaLevelRise.org 2023, p. 1).

The majority of the Cedar Keys are low-lying sandy islands (see table 1, below), making them highly susceptible to erosion and flooding, and at risk of inundation and saltwater intrusion (Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) 2012, p. 12; U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 2017, unpaginated). As sea level rises, Cedar Key mole skink habitat becomes inundated and unusable due to saturation of the soils or direct loss of habitat. The Cedar Key mole skink utilizes coastal beach habitat and coastal maritime hammock habitat during all of its life stages, making it especially vulnerable to current and projected sea level rise across its entire range. The effects of rising sea levels (loss of beach habitat, coastal flooding, and saltwater intrusion) are currently being experienced along Florida's Gulf Coast, including the Cedar Keys, and these effects are projected to continue (see table 1, below; Carter et al. 2014, pp. 398-400, 403; Wadlow 2016, entire; SeaLevelRise.org 2023, p. 1).

High tide flooding —One of the most noticeable impacts from sea level rise is the increased frequency of high tide flooding (Sweet et al. 2020, p. v). High tide flooding begins when coastal water levels exceed the mean higher high-water level (increase of tides above the mean high tide) (Sweet et al. 2014, entire). Frequent flooding above the high tide line causes flooded areas to become unusable to the Cedar Key mole skink (individuals cannot easily move through wet sand; individuals or nests will be washed away). High tide flooding can result in beach erosion and ( print page 65130) salinization of soils, even if high tide flooding is infrequent (Saha et al. 2011a, pp. 181-182; Saha et al. 2011b, pp. 82-84; Sweet et al. 2020, pp. 1-4). Over time, habitat that is frequently impacted by high tide flooding is degraded as it becomes more intertidal, even prior to sea level rise inundation. Thus, high tide flooding is likely to result in removal of habitat, displacement of individuals landward to less suitable habitat, and potential loss of individual Cedar Key mole skinks due to drowning. Cedar Key mole skink populations are especially vulnerable when these impacts occur repeatedly without time to recover. Currently, the national high tide flooding frequency is estimated at 5 days per year and is projected to increase to 7 to 15 days by 2030, and to 25 to 75 days by 2050, in much of coastal Florida and the Cedar Keys (Sweet et al. 2021, pp. 9-10).

Storm events —Habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink can be degraded or removed by extreme storm events such as hurricanes, storm surges, and floods. Storm events are a natural part of the Cedar Keys ecosystem and can provide indirect benefits to Cedar Key mole skink habitat. Storms can deposit wrack and other debris that provide habitat for the subspecies' prey and shelter for Cedar Key mole skinks. However, hurricane activity has increased since the Atlantic Multi-Decadal Oscillation (the natural variability of the sea surface temperature in the Atlantic Ocean) went into its warm phase around 1992 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2019, p. 1), and the increased intensity of storms over the last several decades has likely had negative impacts on the Cedar Key mole skink's resiliency, representation, and redundancy.

Information on direct impacts of hurricanes to the Cedar Key mole skink are lacking. However, there is information on impacts to habitat from recent hurricanes and other strong storms that have occurred in the region. Hurricane Hermine (Category 1) passed by the Cedar Keys in September 2016, causing widespread overwash and erosion to beach and coastal hammock habitats. Vegetation became buried, and the ground cover was greatly reduced from the resulting storm surge (Enge et al. 2017, entire). As a result of Hurricane Hermine, the beachfront of North Key lost most of the vegetative cover required for the Cedar Key mole skink (Enge et al. 2017, entire). In August 2023, Hurricane Idalia (Category 3) made landfall in the Cedar Keys and caused a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2.1 meters), causing complete overwash of many islands. For example, Seahorse Key lost 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) of beach and the remaining sand was left compacted (Thomas 2023, pers. comm.). Overtime, the vegetative cover will likely return to beach and coastal hammock habitats, but when these storm impacts occur repeatedly, there is less time for Cedar Key mole skink populations to recover from any single event ( e.g., temporary inundation of soils, loss of shelter and food resource, drowning), thus reducing overall resiliency when impacts by extreme and repetitive storm events occur (Service 2017, p. 7).

The severity and duration of hurricane impacts to the Cedar Key mole skink and its habitat vary based on the intensity and scale of storm events. Localized impacts can vary greatly depending upon not only the strength of the storm but the direction of its approach and how quickly it moves through the area. Storm surges and their intensity can also vary depending on location. The increased intensity of storm events over the last several decades has likely led to a reduction in Cedar Key mole skink populations, thereby reducing overall population resiliency and the subspecies' redundancy.

In summary, impacts from climate change have the potential to reduce survival of the Cedar Key mole skink at the individual, population, and subspecies level. Sea level rise can degrade existing habitat that supports the Cedar Key mole skink, reducing the habitat features that the subspecies needs and thus reducing population resiliency. Increased high tide flooding and increased intensity of storm events have the potential to further degrade Cedar Key mole skink habitat. Increased high tide flooding and storm events also have the potential to kill skinks directly or to reduce individual survival, which could then lead to a reduction in population resiliency and the subspecies' redundancy. An increase in the intensity of storms or a direct hit from a strong hurricane could significantly reduce subspecies abundance (reducing population resiliency) and potentially extirpate populations (limiting redundancy). There are no regulatory mechanisms or conservation measures that address the impacts of sea level rise, high tide flooding, or increased intensity of storm events.

Several local, State, and Federal government plans provide conservation actions that directly or indirectly benefit the Cedar Key mole skink and its habitat. Levy County has several plans for coastal management, emergency management, and land use management, including their Comprehensive Plan (Frank et al. 2014, entire; Levy County 2017, entire). Levy County has policies to limit incompatible future growth and development in coastal areas subject to flooding (Frank et al. 2014, p. 69), which are areas where the Cedar Key mole skink's habitat occurs. The Comprehensive Plan also contains coastal setback guidelines, standards for construction near or on the shoreline, and policies for protecting environmentally sensitive land (Frank et al. 2014, p. 69; Levy County 2017, p. 13). The Levy County Code of Ordinances (Levy County 2023, pp. 6-12) requires the protection of environmentally sensitive lands and coordination with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Service regarding potential impacts to endangered or threatened species or their habitats.

The City of Cedar Key has a variety of land uses: residential, conservation, recreation, marsh, mixed use, commercial, and public (City of Cedar Key 2018, p. 145). City Code 4-3.2 states that “the City shall protect native vegetation, including but not limited to trees, mangroves, and marsh grasses, and cooperate with Levy County in identifying, conserving, protecting or preserving unique vegetative communities in contiguous areas to assure that development does not degrade the environment, impair aesthetics, damage coastal resources or deny reasonable property rights and uses” (City of Cedar Key 2018, p. 169). City Code 4-8.1 states, “a minimum coastal construction setback line of 50 feet (15 meters) from the mean high-water line will be maintained on any land adjoining all surface waters. In addition to the 50 feet (15 meters) setback line, an additional setback may be required to protect water-dependent vegetation located landward of the coastal construction setback line” (City of Cedar Key 2018, p. 172). These setbacks from beach habitat allow Cedar Keys mole skink habitat along the shoreline to remain intact. The city also has plans to manage and protect all ecological and wildlife communities (City of Cedar Key 2018, pp. 271-273).

The Florida Gulf Coast Mitigation Bank (Mitigation Bank) consists of approximately 1,587 acres (642 hectares) of habitat in Levy County owned and managed by the Mitigation Banking Group, Incorporated. The Mitigation Bank is characterized by coastal habitats, including maritime hammocks, coastal scrub, and both ( print page 65131) freshwater and saltwater wetlands. The entire property is covered by a conservation easement. Habitat for several federally listed species (Florida salt marsh vole ( Microtus pennsylvanicus, listed as Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli ), Florida scrub-jay ( Aphelocoma coerulescens ), and wood stork ( Mycteria americana )) is protected by the Mitigation Bank. Restoration and management activities include mechanical treatment, prescribed fire, and road removal to improve natural hydroperiods. Three of the proposed critical habitat units (see II. Critical Habitat, below) for the Cedar Key mole skink are located on Mitigation Bank property, and the protection and management of these areas will provide benefits to the Cedar Key mole skink.

Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy (Conservancy) is a nonprofit land trust dedicated to acquiring land for preservation, conservation, and/or public recreation. The Conservancy has protected at least 11 properties throughout the Cedar Keys and ensures sustainable land management protocols are in place for each. Two of the proposed critical habitat units (see II. Critical Habitat, below) for the Cedar Key mole skink are within the Conservancy's properties, and the protection and management of these areas will provide benefits to the Cedar Key mole skink.

The Cedar Key mole skink also occurs within three State Parks, including Cedar Key Museum State Park, Cedar Key Scrub Wildlife Management Area, and Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve. Active management of these parks provides indirect benefits to the Cedar Key mole skink by protecting and providing habitat through beach restoration and nourishment and nonnative plant and animal control. Part of the active management of these parks includes the Florida Parks Service conducting nonnative plant and animal control that benefits Cedar Key mole skinks.

The Cedar Key mole skink occurs within two National Wildlife Refuges: the Lower Suwanee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges. Specific management or conservation objectives for the Cedar Key mole skink are not identified in the management plans for these National Wildlife Refuges lands; however, ongoing management activities, including habitat restoration and nonnative species control, provide benefits to the Cedar Key mole skink and its habitat.

We note that, by using the SSA framework to guide our analysis of the scientific information documented in the SSA report, we have analyzed the cumulative effects of identified threats and conservation actions on the subspecies. To assess the current and future condition of the subspecies, we evaluate the effects of all the relevant factors that may be influencing the subspecies, including threats and conservation efforts. Because the SSA framework not only considers the presence of the factors, but to what degree they collectively influence risk to the entire subspecies, our assessment integrates the cumulative effects of the factors and replaces a standalone cumulative-effects analysis.

Due to the semi-fossorial and cryptic nature of the Cedar Key mole skink, abundance data are lacking, and no population trend data exist for this subspecies. There are also no data available regarding the population structure or demographics of the Cedar Key mole skink. There have been 215 detections of Cedar Key mole skinks on 10 islands, with 62 individuals documented on 8 islands since 2000. Two of these island populations are considered to have uncertain status given the last detections were in 1988 and 1993. In total, 191 acres (77 hectares) of preferred habitats (this includes sand, beach, and coastal dune habitats) are currently estimated on all ten islands where Cedar Key mole skinks have been detected.

Table 1, below, provides a summary of the projected magnitude of change in resiliency for populations of the Cedar Key mole skink for the 3-foot (ft) (0.9-meter) sea level rise scenario in 2040. In the “Population status” column of table 1, “current” means occupied in 2000-2022, and “uncertain” means occupied prior to 1999. In the “Year 2040 (3-ft sea level rise)” column, we use symbols as follows:

↓ means a slight decrease in population resiliency (more than 10 percent but less than or equal to 50 percent);
↓↓ means a moderate decrease in population resiliency (more than 50 percent but less than or equal to 75 percent);
↓↓↓ means a large decrease in population resiliency (more than 75 percent but less than or equal to 90 percent); and
X means extirpated, based on more than 90 percent of the potential habitat being impacted regardless of population resiliency.

Table 1—Projected Magnitude of Change in Resiliency for Populations of the Cedar Key Mole Skink for the 3-Ft Sea Level Rise Scenario in the Near Future

[Year 2040]
Island group	Current habitat (acres) *	Island elevation (feet)	Population status	Number of skinks	Year 2040 (3-ft sea level rise)
Airstrip Island	1	15	current	15	↓
Atsena Otie Key	26	20	current	2	X
Cedar Point	8	10	current	2	↓↓
Deer Island	9	10	current	2	X
Dog Island	2	10	uncertain	0	X
North Key	49	15	current	22	X
Scale Key	24	5	current	1	↓
Seahorse Key	55	50	current	17	↓↓↓
Snake Key	14	5	current	1	X
Way Key	3	35	uncertain	0	↓
Total	191			62
* Totals may not sum due to rounding.

To date, sea level rise has resulted in the direct loss of habitat, as beaches have become inundated for long periods of time. Repeated high tide flooding has resulted in additional loss of habitat as frequently flooded areas become unusable to the Cedar Key mole skink (individuals cannot easily move through wet sand; individuals or nests are washed away). Within the near term (by 2040 or sooner), five of the eight current populations are projected to lose 75 to 90 percent or more of preferred habitat due to continued increases in sea level rise and high tide flooding (table 1). In addition, recent hurricanes (Hurricane Hermine in 2016 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023) have resulted in direct loss of habitat as well as higher storm surge and coastal flooding that has further reduced availability and quality of Cedar Key mole skink habitat. Future projections indicate an increase in the severity of these storms.

Given the current impacts of sea level rise, high tide flooding, and hurricanes, and given the limited available habitat, the relatively low number of individuals documented, and the potential for repeated catastrophic storm events, the overall resiliency of the Cedar Key mole skink is considered low.

Redundancy is the ability of a species to withstand catastrophic events. In the Cedar Keys, tropical storms and hurricanes are regular and common events. However, catastrophic events may include particularly strong or intense hurricanes or storms and the resulting winds, waves, and storm surges associated with these events. Increased intensity of such storms associated with climate change could further reduce the ability of Cedar Key mole skink populations to recover and could cause catastrophic impacts to the subspecies.

Land mass in the Cedar Keys in general is limited, thus providing less redundancy or “backup” for the available habitat such that natural expansion of the subspecies is not possible. Given its small geographic range (eight islands within a length of 10 miles (16 kilometers)), the entire subspecies is vulnerable to potential catastrophic events such as a storm or hurricane that would likely impact all islands.

The Cedar Key mole skink has limited representation. There is no evidence of morphological or behavioral differences (or “types”) among populations. The Cedar Key mole skink occurs across a narrow geographic and ecological range; there is no variation in habitat types across distance or elevations. Furthermore, dispersal of individuals across islands is considered very rare, and genetic evidence shows little to no sign of interbreeding between the identified island populations (Parkinson et al. 2016, entire).

As part of the SSA, we also developed sea level rise and high tide flooding future condition scenarios projected out until the year 2100. Our scenarios included intermediate, intermediate-high, and high scenarios, which are aligned with emissions-based, conditional probabilistic and global model projections of global mean sea level rise (Service 2023, p. 42). Because we determined that the current condition of the Cedar Key mole skink is consistent with an endangered species (see Determination of Cedar Key Mole Skink's Status, below), we are not presenting the detailed results of the future scenarios in this proposed rule. Please refer to the SSA report (Service 2023, pp. 41-50) for the full analysis of future scenarios.

Section 4 of the Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1533 ) and its implementing regulations ( 50 CFR part 424 ) set forth the procedures for determining whether a species meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species. The Act defines an “endangered species” as a species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, and a “threatened species” as a species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The Act requires that we determine whether a species meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species because of any of the following factors: (A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; (B) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence.

We presented summary evaluations of the primary threats analyzed in the SSA report including climate change, specifically sea level rise, increased high tide flooding, and increased intensity of storm events (Factor E). We also evaluated existing regulatory mechanisms (Factor D) and ongoing conservation measures. In the SSA report, we also considered additional threats: habitat loss and degradation that results from development (Factor A); overutilization due to recreational, educational, and scientific use (Factor B); disease (Factor C); oil spills (Factor E); and nonnative species (Factor E). We concluded that, as indicated by the best available scientific and commercial information, these additional threats currently have little to no impact on the Cedar Key mole skink and its habitat such that the overall effect now and into the future is expected to be minimal. However, we consider each of these threats in the determination for the subspecies, because although they may have low impacts on their own, combined with impacts of other threats, they could further reduce the already low number of Cedar Key mole skinks.

After evaluating threats to the subspecies and assessing the cumulative effect of the threats under the Act's section 4(a)(1) factors, we have determined that the Cedar Key mole skink has limited resiliency, redundancy, and representation to maintain viability over time. Only 62 skinks have been documented on eight islands in the last 20 years. Given the historical and current impacts from sea level rise, high tide flooding, and hurricanes, habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink is limited. In total, approximately 191 acres (77 hectares) of preferred habitat are currently estimated on islands where the Cedar Key mole skink has been detected. Because the subspecies is limited to a relatively small area (eight islands within a length of 10 miles (16 kilometers)), the subspecies is considered to have little redundancy. A single catastrophic event, such as a severe storm or hurricane, could result in the extinction of the subspecies. Additionally, given the subspecies' narrow range and limited-to-no island dispersal capabilities, we consider the subspecies to have low representation. The current and future projected increase in sea level rise, high tide flooding, and storm events exacerbates the current condition for the Cedar Key mole skink. We do not find that the Cedar Key mole skink meets the Act's definition of a threatened species because it already has shown declines in available habitat, has limited abundance, and its population's exhibit low resiliency. Because of the Cedar Key mole skink's low redundancy and limited representation, the subspecies is vulnerable to catastrophic storm events. Thus, after assessing the best available information, we conclude that the Cedar Key mole skink is in danger of extinction throughout all of its range. ( print page 65133)

Under the Act and our implementing regulations, a species may warrant listing if it is in danger of extinction or likely to become so within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. We have determined that the Cedar Key mole skink is in danger of extinction throughout all of its range and accordingly did not undertake an analysis of any significant portion of its range. Because the Cedar Key mole skink warrants listing as endangered throughout all of its range, our determination does not conflict with the decision in Center for Biological Diversity v. Everson, 435 F. Supp. 3d 69 (D.D.C. 2020), because that decision related to significant portion of the range analyses for species that warrant listing as threatened, not endangered, throughout all of their range.

Our review of the best available scientific and commercial information indicates that the Cedar Key mole skink meets the Act's definition of an endangered species. Therefore, we propose to list the Cedar Key mole skink as an endangered species in accordance with sections 3(6) and 4(a)(1) of the Act.

Conservation measures provided to species listed as endangered or threatened species under the Act include recognition as a listed species, planning and implementation of recovery actions, requirements for Federal protection, and prohibitions against certain practices. Recognition through listing results in public awareness, and conservation by Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, foreign governments, private organizations, and individuals. The Act encourages cooperation with the States and other countries and calls for recovery actions to be carried out for listed species. The protection required by Federal agencies, including the Service, and the prohibitions against certain activities are discussed, in part, below.

The primary purpose of the Act is the conservation of endangered and threatened species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The ultimate goal of such conservation efforts is the recovery of these listed species, so that they no longer need the protective measures of the Act. Section 4(f) of the Act calls for the Service to develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. The goal of this process is to restore listed species to a point where they are secure, self-sustaining, and functioning components of their ecosystems.

The recovery planning process begins with development of a recovery outline made available to the public soon after a final listing determination. The recovery outline guides the immediate implementation of urgent recovery actions while a recovery plan is being developed. Recovery teams (composed of species experts, Federal and State agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and stakeholders) may be established to develop and implement recovery plans. The recovery planning process involves the identification of actions that are necessary to halt and reverse the species' decline by addressing the threats to its survival and recovery. The recovery plan identifies recovery criteria for review of when a species may be ready for reclassification from endangered to threatened (“downlisting”) or removal from protected status (“delisting”), and methods for monitoring recovery progress. Recovery plans also establish a framework for agencies to coordinate their recovery efforts and provide estimates of the cost of implementing recovery tasks. Revisions of the plan may be done to address continuing or new threats to the species, as new substantive information becomes available. The recovery outline, draft recovery plan, final recovery plan, and any revisions will be available on our website as they are completed ( https://www.fws.gov/program/endangered-species ), or from our Florida Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ).

Implementation of recovery actions generally requires the participation of a broad range of partners, including other Federal agencies, States, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and private landowners. Examples of recovery actions include habitat restoration ( e.g., restoration of native vegetation), research, captive propagation and reintroduction, and outreach and education. The recovery of many listed species cannot be accomplished solely on Federal lands because their ranges may occur primarily or solely on non-Federal lands. To achieve recovery of these species requires cooperative conservation efforts on private, State, and Tribal lands.

If this subspecies is listed, funding for recovery actions will be available from a variety of sources, including Federal budgets, State programs, and cost-share grants for non-Federal landowners, the academic community, and nongovernmental organizations. In addition, pursuant to section 6 of the Act, the State of Florida would be eligible for Federal funds to implement management actions that promote the protection or recovery of the Cedar Key mole skink. Information on our grant programs that are available to aid species recovery can be found at: https://www.fws.gov/service/financial-assistance .

Although the Cedar Key mole skink is only proposed for listing under the Act at this time, please let us know if you are interested in participating in recovery efforts for this subspecies. Additionally, we invite you to submit any new information on this subspecies whenever it becomes available and any information you may have for recovery planning purposes (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ).

Section 7 of the Act is titled, “Interagency Cooperation,” and it mandates all Federal action agencies to use their existing authorities to further the conservation purposes of the Act and to ensure that their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or adversely modify critical habitat. Regulations implementing section 7 are codified at 50 CFR part 402 .

Section 7(a)(2) states that each Federal action agency shall, in consultation with the Secretary, ensure that any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. Each Federal agency shall review its action at the earliest possible time to determine whether it may affect listed species or critical habitat. If a determination is made that the action may affect listed species or critical habitat, formal consultation is required ( 50 CFR 402.14(a) ), unless the Service concurs in writing that the action is not likely to adversely affect listed species or critical habitat. At the end of a formal consultation, the Service issues a biological opinion, containing its determination of whether the Federal action is likely to result in jeopardy or adverse modification.

In contrast, section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires Federal agencies to confer with the Service on any action which is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species proposed to be listed under the Act or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat proposed to be designated for such species. Although the conference procedures are required only when an action is likely to result in jeopardy or adverse modification, ( print page 65134) action agencies may voluntarily confer with the Service on actions that may affect species proposed for listing or critical habitat proposed to be designated. In the event that the subject species is listed or the relevant critical habitat is designated, a conference opinion may be adopted as a biological opinion and serve as compliance with section 7(a)(2) of the Act.

Examples of discretionary actions for the Cedar Key mole skink that may be subject to conference and consultation procedures under section 7 are land management or other landscape-altering activities on Federal lands administered by the Service as well as actions on State, Tribal, local, or private lands that require a Federal permit (such as a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under section 404 of the Clean Water Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. ) or a permit from the Service under section 10 of the Act) or that involve some other Federal action (such as funding from the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency). Federal actions not affecting listed species or critical habitat—and actions on State, Tribal, local, or private lands that are not federally funded, authorized, or carried out by a Federal agency—do not require section 7 consultation. Federal agencies should coordinate with the local Service Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ) with any specific questions on section 7 consultation and conference requirements.

The Act and its implementing regulations set forth a series of general prohibitions and exceptions that apply to endangered wildlife. The prohibitions of section 9(a)(1) of the Act, and the Service's implementing regulations codified at 50 CFR 17.21 , make it illegal for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to commit, to attempt to commit, to solicit another to commit, or to cause to be committed any of the following acts with regard to endangered wildlife: (1) import into, or export from, the United States; (2) take (which includes harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct) within the United States, within the territorial sea of the United States, or on the high seas; (3) possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship, by any means whatsoever, any such wildlife that has been taken illegally; (4) deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce in the course of commercial activity; or (5) sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce. Certain exceptions to these prohibitions apply to employees or agents of the Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, other Federal land management agencies, and State conservation agencies.

We may issue permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities involving endangered wildlife under certain circumstances. Regulations governing permits for endangered wildlife are codified at 50 CFR 17.22 , and general Service permitting regulations are codified at 50 CFR part 13 . With regard to endangered wildlife, a permit may be issued: for scientific purposes, for enhancing the propagation or survival of the species, or for take incidental to otherwise lawful activities. The statute also contains certain exemptions from the prohibitions, which are found in sections 9 and 10 of the Act.

Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as:

(1) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which are found those physical or biological features

(a) Essential to the conservation of the species, and

(b) Which may require special management considerations or protection; and

(2) Specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species.

Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.02 define the geographical area occupied by the species as an area that may generally be delineated around species' occurrences, as determined by the Secretary ( i.e., range). Such areas may include those areas used throughout all or part of the species' life cycle, even if not used on a regular basis ( e.g., migratory corridors, seasonal habitats, and habitats used periodically, but not solely by vagrant individuals).

Conservation, as defined under section 3 of the Act, means to use and the use of all methods and procedures that are necessary to bring an endangered or threatened species to the point at which the measures provided pursuant to the Act are no longer necessary. Such methods and procedures include, but are not limited to, all activities associated with scientific resources management such as research, census, law enforcement, habitat acquisition and maintenance, propagation, live trapping, and transplantation, and, in the extraordinary case where population pressures within a given ecosystem cannot be otherwise relieved, may include regulated taking.

Critical habitat receives protection under section 7 of the Act through the requirement that each Federal action agency ensure, in consultation with the Service, that any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. The designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or other conservation area. Such designation also does not allow the government or public to access private lands. Such designation does not require implementation of restoration, recovery, or enhancement measures by non-Federal landowners. Rather, designation requires that, where a landowner requests Federal agency funding or authorization for an action that may affect an area designated as critical habitat, the Federal agency consult with the Service under section 7(a)(2) of the Act. If the action may affect the listed species itself (such as for occupied critical habitat), the Federal agency would have already been required to consult with the Service even absent the designation because of the requirement to ensure that the action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the species. Even if the Service were to conclude after consultation that the proposed activity is likely to result in destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat, the Federal action agency and the landowner are not required to abandon the proposed activity, or to restore or recover the species; instead, they must implement “reasonable and prudent alternatives” to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.

Under the first prong of the Act's definition of critical habitat, areas within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time it was listed are included in a critical habitat designation if they contain physical or biological features (1) which are essential to the conservation of the species and (2) which may require special management considerations or protection. For these areas, critical habitat designations identify, to the extent known using the best scientific data available, those physical or biological features that are essential to the conservation of the species (such as ( print page 65135) space, food, cover, and protected habitat).

Under the second prong of the Act's definition of critical habitat, we can designate critical habitat in areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species.

Section 4 of the Act requires that we designate critical habitat on the basis of the best scientific data available. Further, our Policy on Information Standards Under the Endangered Species Act (published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 ( 59 FR 34271 )), the Information Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 ( Pub. L. 106-554 ; H.R. 5658)), and our associated Information Quality Guidelines provide criteria, establish procedures, and provide guidance to ensure that our decisions are based on the best scientific data available. They require our biologists, to the extent consistent with the Act and with the use of the best scientific data available, to use primary and original sources of information as the basis for recommendations to designate critical habitat.

When we are determining which areas should be designated as critical habitat, our primary source of information is generally the information from the SSA report and information developed during the listing process for the species. Additional information sources may include any generalized conservation strategy, criteria, or outline that may have been developed for the species; the recovery plan for the species; articles in peer-reviewed journals; conservation plans developed by States and counties; scientific status surveys and studies; biological assessments; other unpublished materials; or experts' opinions or personal knowledge.

Habitat is dynamic, and species may move from one area to another over time. We recognize that critical habitat designated at a particular point in time may not include all of the habitat areas that we may later determine are necessary for the recovery of the species. For these reasons, a critical habitat designation does not signal that habitat outside the designated area is unimportant or may not be needed for recovery of the species. Areas that are important to the conservation of the species, both inside and outside the critical habitat designation, will continue to be subject to: (1) Conservation actions implemented under section 7(a)(1) of the Act; (2) regulatory protections afforded by the requirement in section 7(a)(2) of the Act for Federal agencies to ensure their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species; and (3) the prohibitions found in section 9 of the Act. Federally funded or permitted projects affecting listed species outside their designated critical habitat areas may still result in jeopardy findings in some cases. These protections and conservation tools will continue to contribute to recovery of the species. Similarly, critical habitat designations made on the basis of the best available information at the time of designation will not control the direction and substance of future recovery plans, habitat conservation plans (HCPs), or other species conservation planning efforts if new information available at the time of those planning efforts calls for a different outcome.

In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) of the Act and regulations at 50 CFR 424.12(b) , in determining which areas we will designate as critical habitat from within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing, we consider the physical or biological features that are essential to the conservation of the species and which may require special management considerations or protection. The regulations at 50 CFR 424.02 define “physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species” as the features that occur in specific areas and that are essential to support the life-history needs of the species, including, but not limited to, water characteristics, soil type, geological features, sites, prey, vegetation, symbiotic species, or other features. A feature may be a single habitat characteristic or a more complex combination of habitat characteristics. Features may include habitat characteristics that support ephemeral or dynamic habitat conditions. Features may also be expressed in terms relating to principles of conservation biology, such as patch size, distribution distances, and connectivity. For example, physical features essential to the conservation of the species might include gravel of a particular size required for spawning, alkaline soil for seed germination, protective cover for migration, or susceptibility to flooding or fire that maintains necessary early-successional habitat characteristics. Biological features might include prey species, forage grasses, specific kinds or ages of trees for roosting or nesting, symbiotic fungi, or absence of a particular level of nonnative species consistent with conservation needs of the listed species. The features may also be combinations of habitat characteristics and may encompass the relationship between characteristics or the necessary amount of a characteristic essential to support the life history of the species.

In considering whether features are essential to the conservation of the species, we may consider an appropriate quality, quantity, and spatial and temporal arrangement of habitat characteristics in the context of the life-history needs, condition, and status of the species. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, space for individual and population growth and for normal behavior; food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or physiological requirements; cover or shelter; sites for breeding, reproduction, or rearing (or development) of offspring; and habitats that are protected from disturbance.

We derive the specific physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the Cedar Key mole skink from studies of the subspecies' habitat, ecology, and life history as described above. Additional information can be found in the SSA report (Service 2023, entire; available on https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053). We have determined that the following physical or biological feature is essential to the conservation of the Cedar Key mole skink: Natural habitats (including, but not limited to, beaches, dunes, and coastal hammocks) along the coast or within the interior of the Cedar Keys that contain:

(a) Suitable soils (dry, loose, sandy, permeable, or friable soils) for movement and nesting; and

(b) Sufficient, appropriate ground cover (including, but not limited to, tidal wrack deposited above the mean high-water line, leaf litter, and vegetative debris) for protection from predators and temperature extremes, sources of food ( e.g., insects and arthropods), and areas for reproduction.

When designating critical habitat, we assess whether the specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the subspecies at the time of listing contain features which are essential to the conservation of the subspecies and which may require special management ( print page 65136) considerations or protection. The feature essential to the conservation of the Cedar Key mole skink may require special management considerations or protection to reduce threats posed by climate change (sea level rise, more frequent tidal flooding, and increasing intensity of storm events); recreational activities (beach cleaning to remove wrack and other vegetative material); and human-caused disasters and response activities. For an in-depth discussion of threats, see Summary of Biological Status and Threats, above, and the SSA report (Service 2023, pp. 16-31).

Management activities that could ameliorate these threats include (but are not limited to): maintaining and protecting suitable habitat within occupied areas; identifying areas where beach erosion is occurring or habitat is succeeding to mangrove swamp or other coastal wetlands due to sea level rise and implementing nourishment or restoration/protection activities; conducting restoration and debris cleanup after storms, while concurrently minimizing disturbance to Cedar Key mole skinks and their habitat; establishing protocols and agreements to allow storm-enhanced habitats (storms can create berms and dunes and can redeposit sand and wrack, which are all beneficial to the Cedar Key mole skink) to persist; coordinating with landowners and local managers to implement best management practices during regular beach cleaning activities; conducting public outreach and education at all occupied areas; and preparing disaster response plans and conducting trainings that consider Cedar Key mole skinks and their habitat.

As required by section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we use the best scientific data available to designate critical habitat. In accordance with the Act and our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.12(b) , we review available information pertaining to the habitat requirements of the species and identify specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing and any specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species to be considered for designation as critical habitat.

We are proposing to designate critical habitat in areas within the geographical area occupied by the subspecies at the time of listing. We also are proposing to designate specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the subspecies because we have determined that those areas are essential for the conservation of the subspecies. By the year 2040, five out of eight islands currently occupied by the Cedar Key mole skink are projected to lose 75 to 90 percent or more of their preferred habitat under the lowest projected sea level rise scenario of 3.0 feet (0.9 meters) (see table 1, above). We identified suitable habitat on islands within the Cedar Keys that meet the definition of critical habitat and are considered essential to provide for subspecies redundancy into the future. These islands are considered areas with high resiliency to sea level rise ( i.e., islands with higher elevation that are projected to have habitat remaining at 5.0 feet (1.5 meters) of sea level rise)). These unoccupied islands contain the physical and biological feature essential to the subspecies and are, therefore, considered habitat for the subspecies. All units (both occupied and unoccupied) are within the range of the subspecies and contain the physical and biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies.

We developed the following criteria for determining the specific areas that contain the physical and biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies:

(1) Genetic differentiation and geographic extent—To maintain viability in populations of Cedar Key mole skink that represent and conserve any genetic variation that may exist and habitat on each of the eight islands that has current populations (see Current Condition, above), critical habitat units should encompass all current populations ensuring that the entire range of the Cedar Key mole skink is represented.

(2) Climate change resilience—To provide sufficient amounts of suitable habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink predicted to be less affected by sea level rise (Service 2023, pp. 41-50), critical habitat should include islands that are less vulnerable to sea level rise within the Cedar Keys.

(3) Structural connectivity—To maintain, enhance, and establish connectivity within Cedar Key mole skink populations (see Summary of Biological Status and Threats, above), critical habitat units should incorporate corridors for connectivity, dispersal, and refuge areas during high tide flooding and storm events.

Sources of data used for the delineation of critical habitat units included:

(1) Confirmed presence data compiled in our Geographic Information System database from 1951 through 2022, and provided by multiple databases maintained by museums, universities, and State agencies in Florida; State agency reports; and numerous survey reports for projects throughout the subspecies' range.

(2) Habitat and land use cover types from the Cooperative Land Cover map (version 3.5) developed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FWC and FNAI 2021, entire) determined to be suitable for the subspecies based on peer-reviewed articles on this subspecies or similar subspecies, and gray literature by researchers involved in wildlife biology and conservation activities.

(3) Levy County soil data layers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey (USDA 2022, entire) determined to be suitable for the subspecies based on their official soil series descriptions.

(4) Shoreline data representing the mean high-water line from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Coastal Management ( https://shoreline.noaa.gov/data/index.html ).

(5) Global and regional sea level rise scenarios for the United States from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Ocean Service Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (Sweet et al. 2022, entire).

(6) Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI's) Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographical Information System (ArcPro) online basemap aerial imagery (2018 to 2020) to cross-check Cooperative Land Cover data and ensure the presence of the physical or biological feature.

For areas within the geographical area occupied by the Cedar Key mole skink at the time of listing, we delineated critical habitat unit boundaries using the following criteria:

(1) We determined occupied areas for this subspecies by reviewing the best available scientific and commercial data on occurrence records. As discussed above under I. Proposed Listing Determination, Background, Cedar Key mole skinks are cryptic and adapted to living underground. Because of their cryptic nature, we determined that, if suitable habitat containing the physical and biological feature is still present in an area where a Cedar Key mole skink was detected between 2000 and 2022, there is a high likelihood that the subspecies is still present. Therefore, based on the best available information, we defined occupied areas as islands with at least one current occurrence record ranging from 2000 to 2022. ( print page 65137)

(2) We selected all suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature as determined using the data sources listed above on currently occupied islands. When the exact location of an occurrence record could not be determined for an island (a verified record, but only general location information, such as the name of the island, was provided), or the location was accurate but in unsuitable habitat (developed areas), all suitable habitat on the island was selected.

(3) We selected additional suitable habitat within a 328-ft (100-meter) radius (the estimated home range of Cedar Key mole skink; Service 2023, p. 12) on undeveloped islands to include corridors for greater dispersal due to population expansions, localized resource limitations, and sea level rise, storm surge, or tidal flooding refugia areas for the subspecies ( e.g., for undeveloped islands, the full island was included).

(4) On developed islands, we constrained the boundary of a critical habitat unit to areas of contiguous suitable habitat. Offshore boundaries of the critical habitat unit were delineated using a simplified buffered shoreline to include the full extent of each island complex, or to the farthest offshore feature ( i.e., habitat boundary, mean high-water line, or shoreline visible in aerial imagery).

For areas outside the geographical area currently occupied by the subspecies at the time of listing, we looked at islands considered recently occupied by, or that have an uncertain status (documented before 1999) for, the Cedar Key mole skink. We analyzed these uncertain status islands and all other islands within the Cedar Keys for those that contain suitable habitat and evaluated each site for its potential conservation contribution based on quality of habitat, vulnerability to climate change (specifically sea level rise and high tide flooding), and existing protections and management of the habitat and sites. Based on these criteria, we identified nine islands that contain appropriate habitat for the subspecies and are essential for the conservation of the subspecies but would be considered unoccupied at the time of listing. For areas outside the geographical area occupied by the Cedar Key mole skink at the time of listing, we delineated critical habitat unit boundaries using the following criteria:

(1) To ensure unoccupied areas would provide skink habitat into the future, we analyzed impacts to potential habitat on each island in the Cedar Keys and included only those that are projected to still have habitat remaining after 5.0 feet (1.5 meters) of sea level rise and high tide flooding by the year 2080 (Service 2023, p. 47).

(2) We selected all suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature as determined using Criteria (2)-(4) outlined above for occupied units.

When determining proposed critical habitat boundaries, we made every effort to avoid including developed areas such as lands covered by buildings, pavement, and other structures because such lands lack physical or biological features necessary for the Cedar Key mole skink. The scale of the maps we prepared under the parameters for publication within the Code of Federal Regulations may not reflect the exclusion of such developed lands. Any such lands inadvertently left inside critical habitat boundaries shown on the maps of this proposed rule have been excluded by text in the proposed rule and are not proposed for designation as critical habitat. Therefore, if the critical habitat is finalized as proposed, a Federal action involving these lands would not trigger section 7 consultation with respect to critical habitat and the requirement of no adverse modification unless the specific action would affect the physical or biological features in the adjacent critical habitat.

Seventeen units are proposed for designation based on the physical or biological feature being present to support the Cedar Key mole skink's life-history processes. All units contain the identified physical or biological feature and support multiple life-history processes.

The proposed critical habitat designation is defined by the maps, as modified by any accompanying regulatory text, presented at the end of this document under Proposed Regulation Promulgation. We include more detailed information on the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation in the preamble of this document. We will make the coordinates or plot points or both on which each map is based available to the public on https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053 and on our internet site at https://www.fws.gov/office/florida-ecological-services .

We are proposing to designate approximately 2,713 acres (1,098 hectares) in 17 units as critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink (see table 2, below). The critical habitat areas we describe below constitute our current best assessment of areas that meet the definition of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink. The 17 areas we propose as critical habitat are: (1) Live Oak Key, (2) Cedar Point, (3) Scale Key, (4) Dog Island, (5) Atsena Otie Key, (6) Snake Key, (7) Seahorse Key, (8) North Key, (9) Airstrip Island, (10) Way Key South, (11) Way Key North, (12) Richards Island, (13) Seabreeze Island, (14) Shell Mound, (15) Raleigh and Horse Islands, (16) Deer Island, and (17) Clark Islands. Most of the units contain highly dynamic barrier beaches and intertidal seashore. This area has the potential to vary year-to-year. In other words, the precise location of the physical and biological feature in some locations may shift over time somewhat because of the intrinsically dynamic nature of shorelines and due to sea level rise and high tide flooding. Table 2 shows the proposed critical habitat units and the approximate area of each unit.

Table 2—Proposed Critical Habitat Units for the Cedar Key Mole Skink

[Area estimates reflect all land within critical habitat unit boundaries]
Unit	Occupancy	Ownership * in acres [hectares]					Total area * in acres [hectares]
Unit	Occupancy	Federal	State	Local	Private	Other **	Total area * in acres [hectares]
1. Live Oak Key	No	46 [19]	0	0	49 [20]	14 [6]	109 [44]
2. Cedar Point	Yes	26 [11]	0	0	15 [6]	0	41 [17]
3. Scale Key	Yes	95 [38]	0	0	21 [8]	0	116 [47]
4. Dog Island	No	0	8 [3]	0	0	0	8 [3]
5. Atsena Otie Key	Yes	0	116 [47]	0	0	67 [27]	183 [74]
6. Snake Key	Yes	39 [16]	0	0	0	17 [7]	57 [23]
7. Seahorse Key	Yes	118 [48]	0	0	0	47 [19]	165 [67]
8. North Key	Yes	129 [52]	0	0	0	107 [43]	236 [95]
( print page 65138)
9. Airstrip Island	Yes	0	0	19 [8]	10 [4]	0	29 [12]
10. Way Key South	No	0	44 [18]	0	0	0	44 [18]
11. Way Key North	No	0	9 [4]	15 [6]	0	0	24 [10]
12. Richards Island	No	86 [35]	0	0	0	19 [8]	105 [42]
13. Seabreeze Island	No	111 [45]	0	0	0	25 [10]	136 [55]
14. Shell Mound	No	167 [68]	194 [79]	0	688 [278]	0	1,050 [425]
15. Raleigh and Horse Islands	No	171 [69]	0	0	5 [2]	0	176 [71]
16. Deer Island	Yes	8 [3]	0	0	69 [28]	36 [15]	113 [46]
17. Clark Islands	No	0	0	0	121 [49]	0	121 [49]
Total		996 [403]	371 [150]	34 [14]	978 [396]	332 [134]	2,713 [1,098]
* Totals may not sum due to rounding.
** Includes suitable habitat of unknown or undefined ownership.

We present brief descriptions of all proposed units, and reasons why they meet the definition of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink, below.

Unit 1 encompasses approximately 109 acres (44 hectares) of unoccupied habitat in Levy County and includes the entire island of Live Oak Key. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 46 acres (19 hectares) in Federal ownership, 49 acres (20 hectares) in private ownership, and 14 acres (6 hectares) in other ownership (undefined ownership). The entirety of Unit 1 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot ( Calidris canutus rufa ). Live Oak Key is approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) northeast of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The northern portion of the island is managed as the Florida Gulf Coast Mitigation Bank by a private entity and the southern portion is federally owned and managed by the Service as the part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

Although it is currently considered unoccupied, this unit constitutes habitat for the subspecies because it contains the physical or biological feature necessary for the life history of the subspecies. This unit is essential for the conservation of the subspecies because it will provide habitat for potential reintroductions in the case of sea level rise and high tide flooding (Service 2023, pp. 41-50) or stochastic events (such as hurricanes) should other areas of suitable habitat be destroyed or the Cedar Key mole skink be extirpated from one of its currently occupied locations.

Unit 2 encompasses approximately 41 acres (17 hectares) of occupied habitat in Levy County and includes the entire island of Cedar Point. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 26 acres (11 hectares) in Federal ownership and 15 acres (6 hectares) in private ownership. The entirety of Unit 2 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot. Cedar Point is approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) northeast of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The Service manages most of the island as the part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. The eastern portion is managed by a private entity as part of the Florida Gulf Coast Mitigation Bank.

The physical and biological feature in this unit may require special management considerations or protection to: identify areas where beach erosion is occurring or habitat is succeeding to mangrove swamp or other coastal wetlands due to sea level rise and implement renourishment or restoration/protection activities; conduct restoration and debris cleanup after storms while concurrently minimizing disturbance to Cedar Key mole skinks and their habitat; establish protocols and agreements to allow storm-enhanced habitats to persist; conduct public outreach and education; and prepare disaster response plans and conduct trainings that consider Cedar Key mole skinks and their habitat to address threats from climate change ( e.g., sea level rise, high tide flooding, and storm events) and human-caused disasters and response activities ( e.g., oil spills).

Unit 3 encompasses approximately 116 acres (47 hectares) of occupied habitat in Levy County and includes the entire island of Scale Key. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 95 acres (38 hectares) in Federal ownership and 21 acres (8 hectares) in private ownership. The entirety of Unit 3 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot. Scale Key is approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) northeast of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The Service manages most of the island as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. Approximately 14 acres (6 hectares) of the eastern portion are owned by Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy, and 5 acres (2 hectares) of the northern portion are managed by a private entity as part of the Florida Gulf Coast Mitigation Bank.

The physical and biological feature in this unit may require special management considerations or protection to: identify areas where beach erosion is occurring or habitat is succeeding to mangrove swamp or other coastal wetlands due to sea level rise and implement renourishment or restoration/protection activities; conduct restoration and debris cleanup after storms while concurrently minimizing disturbance to Cedar Key mole skinks and their habitat; establish protocols and agreements to allow ( print page 65139) storm-enhanced habitats to persist; conduct public outreach and education; and prepare disaster response plans and conduct trainings that consider Cedar Key mole skinks and their habitat to address threats from climate change ( e.g., sea level rise, high tide flooding, and storm events) and human-caused disasters and response activities ( e.g., oil spills).

Unit 4 encompasses approximately 8 acres (3 hectares) of unoccupied habitat in Levy County and includes the entire Dog Island. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Although Dog Island is currently considered unoccupied, Cedar Key mole skinks were documented here in the past (Enge 2023, pers. comm.; FWC 2023, entire), and it is possible that they are still present.

Dog Island is approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) to the east of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. Lands within this unit are entirely within State ownership. The entirety of Unit 4 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 5 encompasses approximately 183 acres (74 hectares) of occupied habitat in Levy County and includes the entire island of Atsena Otie Key. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 116 acres (47 hectares) in State ownership and 67 acres (27 hectares) in other ownership. Atsena Otie Key is approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) south of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is owned by the State of Florida and managed as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by the Service. The entirety of Unit 5 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 6 encompasses approximately 57 acres (23 hectares) of occupied habitat within Levy County and includes the entire island of Snake Key. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 39 acres (16 hectares) in Federal ownership and 17 acres (7 hectares) in other ownership. Snake Key is approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) south of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. The entirety of Unit 6 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 7 encompasses approximately 165 acres (67 hectares) of occupied habitat within Levy County and includes the entire island of Seahorse Key. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 118 acres (48 hectares) in Federal ownership and 47 acres (19 hectares) in other ownership. Seahorse Key is approximately 3 miles (5 kilometers) south and west of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. The entirety of Unit 7 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 8 encompasses approximately 236 acres (95 hectares) of occupied habitat within Levy County and includes the entire island of North Key. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 129 acres (52 hectares) in Federal ownership and 107 acres (43 hectares) in other ownership. North Key is approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) to the west of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is ( print page 65140) managed by the Service as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. The entirety of Unit 8 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 9 encompasses approximately 29 acres (12 hectares) of occupied habitat within Levy County on the island of Way Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 19 acres (8 hectares) in local government ownership and 10 acres (4 hectares) in private ownership. This unit is composed of the following five separate sections with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies: Airstrip Island Beach, Cedar Key Airport, Airport Island, Piney Point, and Robert Cull Nature Preserve. Airstrip Island Beach is 5 acres (2 hectares) of private shoreline along Daughtry Bayou, encompassing sandy beach from mean higher high-water inland to dense vegetation, hardened structures, or roads, extending from the southern side of the Airport Road bridge to the south for approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers). Cedar Key Airport includes 16 acres (6 hectares) of unvegetated and vegetated sandy soils on the George T. Lewis Airport (also known as the Cedar Key Airport) that are owned by Levy County. Airport Island is a 2-acre (0.8-hectare), unnamed island southwest of the airport, which is also owned by Levy County. Piney Point is a 3-acre (1-hectare), privately owned, undeveloped, vacant lot on the western side of Piney Point south of the airport. The fifth section is 2 acres (0.8 hectares) of protected land known as the Robert Cull Nature Preserve at the terminus of Piney Point that are owned and managed by Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy. Approximately 9 acres (4 hectares) of Unit 9 overlap with proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 10 encompasses approximately 44 acres (18 hectares) of unoccupied habitat within Levy County on Way Key. This unit is a series of undeveloped disconnected islands south of Way Key that contain the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. The largest island, located between the airport and the developed portion of Way Key, is projected to be more resilient to sea level rise (due to its relatively higher elevation) and is composed of coastal scrub habitat with a sandy shoreline fringe. Also included in this unit are several primarily sand islands that occur seaward of the main island. This unit is entirely in State ownership. Approximately 41 acres (17 hectares) of Unit 10 overlap with proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 11 encompasses approximately 24 acres (10 hectares) of unoccupied habitat within Levy County on Way Key. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 9 acres (4 hectares) in State ownership managed as the Cedar Key Museum State Park by the Florida Park Service, and 15 acres (6 hectares) in local government ownership managed as Cemetery Point Park by the City of Cedar Key. Although the unit is currently considered unoccupied, Cedar key mole skinks were documented here in the past (FWC 2023, entire), and it is possible that they are still present. Additionally, this unit constitutes habitat for the subspecies because it contains the physical or biological feature necessary for the life history of the subspecies. This unit is essential for the conservation of the subspecies because it will provide habitat for potential reintroductions in the case of sea level rise and high tide flooding (Service 2023, pp. 41-50) or stochastic events (such as hurricanes) should other areas of suitable habitat be destroyed or the Cedar Key mole skink be extirpated from one of its currently occupied locations.

Unit 12 encompasses approximately 105 acres (42 hectares) of unoccupied habitat within Levy County and includes the entirety of Richards Island. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Richards Island is undeveloped and projected to be more resilient to sea level rise due to higher elevation. Lands within this unit include approximately 86 acres (35 hectares) in Federal ownership and 19 acres (8 hectares) in other ownership. Richards Island is approximately 3.3 miles (5.3 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. Approximately 43 acres (17 hectares) of Unit 12 overlap with proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Although it is currently considered unoccupied, this unit constitutes habitat for the subspecies because it contains the physical or biological feature necessary for the life history of the ( print page 65141) subspecies. This unit is essential for the conservation of the subspecies because it will provide habitat for potential reintroductions in the case of sea level rise and high tide flooding (Service 2023, pp. 41-50) or stochastic events (such as hurricanes) should other areas of suitable habitat be destroyed or the Cedar Key mole skink be extirpated from one of its currently occupied locations.

Unit 13 encompasses approximately 136 acres (55 hectares) of unoccupied habitat within Levy County on Seabreeze Island. This unit is composed of protected lands with suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Seabreeze Island is undeveloped and projected to be more resilient to sea level rise. Lands within this unit include approximately 111 acres (45 hectares) in Federal ownership and 25 acres (10 hectares) in other ownership. Seabreeze Island is approximately 4 miles (6 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. Approximately 8 acres (3 hectares) of Unit 13 overlap with proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 14 encompasses approximately 1,050 ac (425 hectares) of unoccupied habitat within Levy County on Shell Mound. The unit contains higher elevation lands, is projected to be more resilient to sea level rise, and has suitable habitat containing the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. This unit extends from Dennis Creek north to Ericson Creek. Lands within this unit include approximately 167 acres (68 hectares) in Federal ownership, 194 acres (79 hectares) in State ownership, and 688 acres (278 hectares) in private ownership. The unit includes portions of the Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve managed by the Florida Park Service and the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge managed by the Service.

Unit 15 encompasses approximately 176 acres (71 hectares) of unoccupied habitat within Levy County on Raleigh and Horse Islands. The unit includes undeveloped islands projected to be more resilient to sea level rise and contains suitable habitat with the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within this unit include approximately 171 acres (69 hectares) in Federal ownership and 5 acres (2 hectares) in private ownership. The group of islands is approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The Service manages most of the islands as part of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge.

Unit 16 encompasses approximately 113 acres (46 hectares) of occupied habitat within Levy County and includes the entirety of Deer Island. The unit is composed of suitable habitat that contains the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Lands within the unit include approximately 8 acres (3 hectares) in Federal ownership, 69 acres (28 hectares) in private ownership, and 36 acres (15 hectares) in other ownership. Deer Island is approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The entirety of Unit 16 is included in, and thus overlaps with, proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot.

Unit 17 encompasses approximately 121 acres (49 hectares) of unoccupied habitat within Levy County on the Clark Islands complex. The unit includes undeveloped islands projected to be more resilient to sea level rise. The entirety of the unit is privately owned. The Clark Islands are approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers) north-northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico.

Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies, including the Service, to ensure that any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of ( print page 65142) any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat of such species. In addition, section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires Federal agencies to confer with the Service on any agency action which is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species proposed to be listed under the Act or result in the destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat.

Destruction or adverse modification means a direct or indirect alteration that appreciably diminishes the value of critical habitat as a whole for the conservation of a listed species.

Compliance with the requirements of section 7(a)(2) of the Act is documented through our issuance of:

(1) A concurrence letter for Federal actions that may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat; or

(2) A biological opinion for Federal actions that may affect, and are likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat.

When we issue a biological opinion concluding that a project is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species and/or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat, we provide reasonable and prudent alternatives to the project, if any are identifiable, that would avoid the likelihood of jeopardy and/or destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. We define “reasonable and prudent alternatives” (at 50 CFR 402.02 ) as alternative actions identified during formal consultation that:

(1) Can be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended purpose of the action,

(2) Can be implemented consistent with the scope of the Federal agency's legal authority and jurisdiction,

(3) Are economically and technologically feasible, and

(4) Would, in the Service Director's opinion, avoid the likelihood of jeopardizing the continued existence of the listed species or avoid the likelihood of destroying or adversely modifying critical habitat.

Reasonable and prudent alternatives can vary from slight project modifications to extensive redesign or relocation of the project. Costs associated with implementing a reasonable and prudent alternative are similarly variable.

Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 set forth requirements for Federal agencies to reinitiate consultation. Reinitiation of consultation is required and shall be requested by the Federal agency, where discretionary Federal involvement or control over the action has been retained or is authorized by law and: (1) If the amount or extent of taking specified in the incidental take statement is exceeded; (2) if new information reveals effects of the action that may affect listed species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not previously considered; (3) if the identified action is subsequently modified in a manner that causes an effect to the listed species or critical habitat that was not considered in the biological opinion or written concurrence; or (4) if a new species is listed or critical habitat designated that may be affected by the identified action. As provided in 50 CFR 402.16 , the requirement to reinitiate consultations for new species listings or critical habitat designation does not apply to certain agency actions ( e.g., land management plans issued by the Bureau of Land Management in certain circumstances).

The key factor related to the destruction or adverse modification determination is whether implementation of the proposed Federal action directly or indirectly alters the designated critical habitat in a way that appreciably diminishes the value of the critical habitat as a whole for the conservation of the listed species. As discussed above, the role of critical habitat is to support physical or biological features essential to the conservation of a listed species and provide for the conservation of the species.

Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires that our Federal Register notices “shall, to the maximum extent practicable also include a brief description and evaluation of those activities (whether public or private) which, in the opinion of the Secretary, if undertaken may adversely modify [critical] habitat, or may be affected by such designation.” Activities that may be affected by designation of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink include those that may affect the physical or biological features of the Cedar Key mole skink's critical habitat (see Physical or Biological Features Essential to the Conservation of the Species, above).

Section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)(B)(i) ) provides that the Secretary shall not designate as critical habitat any lands or other geographical areas owned or controlled by the Department of Defense (DoD), or designated for its use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management plan (INRMP) prepared under section 101 of the Sikes Act Improvement Act of 1997 ( 16 U.S.C. 670a ), if the Secretary determines in writing that such plan provides a benefit to the species for which critical habitat is proposed for designation. No DoD lands with a completed INRMP are within the proposed critical habitat designation.

Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary shall designate and make revisions to critical habitat on the basis of the best available scientific data after taking into consideration the economic impact, national security impact, and any other relevant impact of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary may exclude an area from designated critical habitat based on economic impacts, impacts on national security, or any other relevant impacts. Exclusion decisions are governed by the regulations at 50 CFR 424.19 and the Policy Regarding Implementation of Section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (hereafter, the “2016 Policy”; 81 FR 7226 , February 11, 2016), both of which were developed jointly with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). We also refer to a 2008 Department of the Interior Solicitor's opinion entitled, “The Secretary's Authority to Exclude Areas from a Critical Habitat Designation under Section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act” (M-37016).

In considering whether to exclude a particular area from the designation, we identify the benefits of including the area in the designation, identify the benefits of excluding the area from the designation, and evaluate whether the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion. If the analysis indicates that the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion, the Secretary may exercise discretion to exclude the area only if such exclusion would not result in the extinction of the species. In making the determination to exclude a particular area, the statute on its face, as well as the legislative history, are clear that the Secretary has broad discretion regarding which factor(s) to use and how much weight to give to any factor. In our final rules, we explain any decision to exclude areas, as well as decisions not to exclude, to make clear the rational basis for our decision. We describe below the process that we use for taking into consideration each ( print page 65143) category of impacts and any initial analyses of the relevant impacts.

Section 4(b)(2) of the Act and its implementing regulations require that we consider the economic impact that may result from a designation of critical habitat. To assess the probable economic impacts of a designation, we must first evaluate specific land uses or activities and projects that may occur in the area of the critical habitat. We then must evaluate the impacts that a specific critical habitat designation may have on restricting or modifying specific land uses or activities for the benefit of the species and its habitat within the areas proposed. We then identify which conservation efforts may be the result of the species being listed under the Act versus those attributed solely to the designation of critical habitat for this particular species. The probable economic impact of a proposed critical habitat designation is analyzed by comparing scenarios both “with critical habitat” and “without critical habitat.”

The “without critical habitat” scenario represents the baseline for the analysis, which includes the existing regulatory and socio-economic burden imposed on landowners, managers, or other resource users potentially affected by the designation of critical habitat ( e.g., under the Federal listing as well as other Federal, State, and local regulations). Therefore, the baseline represents the costs of all efforts attributable to the listing of the species under the Act ( i.e., conservation of the species and its habitat incurred regardless of whether critical habitat is designated). The “with critical habitat” scenario describes the incremental impacts associated specifically with the designation of critical habitat for the species. The incremental conservation efforts and associated impacts would not be expected without the designation of critical habitat for the species. In other words, the incremental costs are those attributable solely to the designation of critical habitat, above and beyond the baseline costs. These are the costs we use when evaluating the benefits of inclusion and exclusion of particular areas from the final designation of critical habitat should we choose to conduct a discretionary 4(b)(2) exclusion analysis.

Executive Order (E.O.) 14094 supplements and reaffirms E.O. 12866 and E.O. 13563 and directs Federal agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives in quantitative (to the extent feasible) and qualitative terms. Consistent with the E.O. regulatory analysis requirements, our effects analysis under the Act may take into consideration impacts to both directly and indirectly affected entities, where practicable and reasonable. If sufficient data are available, we assess to the extent practicable the probable impacts to both directly and indirectly affected entities. Section 3(f) of E.O. 12866 identifies four criteria when a regulation is considered a “significant regulatory action” and requires additional analysis, review, and approval if met. The criterion relevant here is whether the designation of critical habitat may have an economic effect of $200 million or more in any given year (section 3(f)(1) as amended by E.O. 14094 ). Therefore, our consideration of economic impacts uses a screening analysis to assess whether a designation of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink is likely to exceed the economically significant threshold.

For this particular designation, we developed an incremental effects memorandum (IEM) considering the probable incremental economic impacts that may result from this proposed designation of critical habitat. The information contained in our IEM was then used to develop a screening analysis of the probable effects of the designation of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink (IEc 2023, entire). We began by conducting a screening analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat in order to focus our analysis on the key factors that are likely to result in incremental economic impacts. The purpose of the screening analysis is to filter out particular geographical areas of critical habitat that are already subject to such protections and are, therefore, unlikely to incur incremental economic impacts. In particular, the screening analysis considers baseline costs ( i.e., absent critical habitat designation) and includes any probable incremental economic impacts where land and water use may already be subject to conservation plans, land management plans, best management practices, or regulations that protect the habitat area as a result of the Federal listing status of the species. Ultimately, the screening analysis allows us to focus our analysis on evaluating the specific areas or sectors that may incur probable incremental economic impacts as a result of the designation. The presence of the listed species in occupied areas of critical habitat means that any destruction or adverse modification of those areas is also likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the species. Therefore, designating occupied areas as critical habitat typically causes little if any incremental impacts above and beyond the impacts of listing the species. As a result, we generally focus the screening analysis on areas of unoccupied critical habitat (unoccupied units or unoccupied areas within occupied units). Overall, the screening analysis assesses whether the designation of critical habitat is likely to result in any additional management or conservation efforts that may incur incremental economic impacts. This screening analysis combined with the information contained in our IEM constitute what we consider to be our economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat designation for the Cedar Key mole skink and is summarized in the narrative below.

As part of our screening analysis, we considered the types of economic activities that are likely to occur within the areas likely affected by the critical habitat designation. In our evaluation of the probable incremental economic impacts that may result from the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink, first we identified, in the IEM dated August 22, 2023, probable incremental economic impacts associated with the following categories of activities: (1) residential and commercial development; (2) construction activities such as road and bridge construction and maintenance; (3) habitat management activities (such as beach nourishment, shoreline armoring, nonnative species control (including mechanical or herbicide applications), and prescribed fire); and (4) recreational activities and associated developments (such as campgrounds, trails, and visitor facilities), management activities (such as beach raking or other cleaning methods to remove wrack and debris), and airport management activities. We considered each industry or category individually. Additionally, we considered whether their activities have any Federal involvement. Critical habitat designation generally will not affect activities that do not have any Federal involvement; under the Act, designation of critical habitat only affects activities conducted, funded, permitted, or authorized by Federal agencies. If we list the subspecies, in areas where the Cedar key mole skink is present, Federal agencies would be required to consult with the Service under section 7 of the Act on activities they authorize, fund, or carry out that may affect the subspecies. If we list the subspecies and also finalize this proposed critical habitat designation, Federal agencies would be required to consider the effects of their actions on the designated habitat, and if ( print page 65144) the Federal action may affect critical habitat, our consultations would include an evaluation of measures to avoid the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.

In our IEM, we attempted to clarify the distinction between the effects that would result from the subspecies being listed and those attributable to the critical habitat designation ( i.e., difference between the jeopardy and adverse modification standards) for the Cedar Key mole skink's critical habitat. Because the designation of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink is being proposed concurrently with the listing, it has been our experience that it is more difficult to discern which conservation efforts are attributable to the subspecies being listed and those which will result solely from the designation of critical habitat. However, the following specific circumstances in this case help to inform our evaluation: (1) The essential physical or biological feature identified for critical habitat are the same features essential for the life requisites of the subspecies, and (2) any actions that would likely adversely affect the essential physical or biological feature of occupied critical habitat are also likely to adversely affect the subspecies itself. The IEM outlines our rationale concerning this limited distinction between baseline conservation efforts and incremental impacts of the designation of critical habitat for this subspecies. This evaluation of the incremental effects has been used as the basis to evaluate the probable incremental economic impacts of this proposed designation of critical habitat.

The proposed critical habitat designation for the Cedar Key mole skink totals approximately 2,713 acres (1,098 hectares) in 17 units in Levy County, Florida (see Proposed Critical Habitat Designation, above). Land ownership across the units includes Federal lands (37 percent), State lands (14 percent), local lands (1 percent), private lands (36 percent), and lands with unknown/undefined ownership (12 percent). Eight of the 17 units are currently occupied by the Cedar Key mole skink; the remaining 9 units are not known to be currently occupied. Approximately 42 percent of the proposed critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink overlaps with currently proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot. Further, 100 percent of the proposed critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink intersects with existing ranges for six federally listed species (IEc 2023, p. 8).

When an action is proposed in an area of designated critical habitat, and the proposed activity has a Federal nexus, the need for section 7 consultation is triggered. Any incremental costs associated with consideration of potential effects to the critical habitat are a result of this consultation process. For all occupied areas, the economic costs of critical habitat designations would most likely be limited to additional administrative efforts to consider adverse modification in section 7 consultations, as the listing of the subspecies is being proposed concurrently with critical habitat designation, and all occupied units would still need to undergo section 7 consultation due to listing regardless of critical habitat designation. While this additional analysis would require time and resources by both the Federal action agency and the Service, it is believed that, in most circumstances, these costs would predominantly be administrative in nature and would not be significant. For the unoccupied units, section 7 consultations would not occur if not for the presence of critical habitat, so additional costs would occur. In unoccupied habitat, the incremental cost associated with a new consultation considering only adverse modification during technical assistances, informal, formal, and programmatic consultations are estimated to be $1,300, $8,000, $17,000, and $31,000, respectively (IEc 2023, p. 18). These estimates assume that consultation would not occur in the absence of critical habitat designation. In total, the estimated annual, incremental administrative costs for a Cedar Key mole skink critical habitat designation are estimated at $9,000 annually (IEc 2023, p. 19). Overall, a critical habitat designation for the Cedar Key mole skink is unlikely to generate costs or benefits exceeding $200 million in a single year. Because of the relatively small size of the critical habitat designation, the landownership (Federal, State, county, or private) of the proposed critical habitat units, the amount of land that is already being managed for conservation, and the significant overlap with the rufa red knot's proposed critical habitat, the numbers of section 7 consultations expected annually are modest (approximately 1 formal, 12 informal, and 5 technical assistance efforts annually across the designation) (IEc 2023, p. 15).

Potential private property value effects are possible due to public perception of impacts to private lands. The designation of critical habitat may cause some developers or landowners to perceive that private lands will be subject to use restrictions or litigation from third parties, resulting in costs. However, due to the speculative nature of this perception, costs are not able to be quantified. Regardless, only 36 percent of the proposed critical habitat designation is privately owned land, leading to nominal incremental costs arising from changes in public perception of lands included in the designation.

Incremental costs may occur outside of the section 7 consultation process if the designation of critical habitat triggers additional requirements or project modifications under State or local laws, regulations, or management strategies. These types of costs typically occur if the designation increases awareness of the presence of the subspecies or the need for protection of its habitat. Given that the Cedar Key mole skink is covered by existing State protection plans, project proponents may already be aware of the presence of the subspecies. For example, the Cedar Key mole skink is included in the State of Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan as a species of greatest conservation need. The subspecies is further protected through habitat management and conservation under Florida State Park management plans. Therefore, designating critical habitat is unlikely to provide information to State or local agencies that would result in new regulations or actions (IEc 2023, p. 20).

We are soliciting data and comments from the public on the economic analysis discussed above (see Information Requested, above). During the development of a final designation, we will consider the information presented in the economic analysis and any additional information on economic impacts we receive during the public comment period to determine whether any specific areas should be excluded from the final critical habitat designation under authority of section 4(b)(2) of the Act, our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.19 , and the 2016 Policy. We may exclude an area from critical habitat if we determine that the benefits of excluding the area outweigh the benefits of including the area, provided the exclusion will not result in the extinction of this subspecies.

Section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Act may not cover all DoD lands or areas that pose potential national-security concerns ( e.g., a DoD installation that is in the process of revising its INRMP for a newly listed species or a species previously not covered). If a particular area is not covered under section ( print page 65145) 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Act, then national-security or homeland-security concerns are not a factor in the process of determining what areas meet the definition of “critical habitat.” However, we must still consider impacts on national security, including homeland security, on those lands or areas not covered by section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) because section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires us to consider those impacts whenever we designate critical habitat. Accordingly, if DoD, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or another Federal agency has requested exclusion based on an assertion of national-security or homeland-security concerns, or we have otherwise identified national-security or homeland-security impacts from designating particular areas as critical habitat, we generally have reason to consider excluding those areas.

However, we cannot automatically exclude requested areas. When DoD, DHS, or another Federal agency requests exclusion from critical habitat on the basis of national-security or homeland-security impacts, we must conduct an exclusion analysis if the Federal requester provides information, including a reasonably specific justification of an incremental impact on national security that would result from the designation of that specific area as critical habitat. That justification could include demonstration of probable impacts, such as impacts to ongoing border-security patrols and surveillance activities, or a delay in training or facility construction, as a result of compliance with section 7(a)(2) of the Act. If the agency requesting the exclusion does not provide us with a reasonably specific justification, we will contact the agency to recommend that it provide a specific justification or clarification of its concerns relative to the probable incremental impact that could result from the designation. If we conduct an exclusion analysis because the agency provides a reasonably specific justification or because we decide to exercise the discretion to conduct an exclusion analysis, we will defer to the expert judgment of DoD, DHS, or another Federal agency as to: (1) Whether activities on its lands or waters, or its activities on other lands or waters, have national-security or homeland-security implications; (2) the importance of those implications; and (3) the degree to which the cited implications would be adversely affected in the absence of an exclusion. In that circumstance, in conducting a discretionary section 4(b)(2) exclusion analysis, we will give great weight to national-security and homeland-security concerns in analyzing the benefits of exclusion.

In preparing this proposal, we have determined that the lands within the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink are not owned or managed by the DoD or DHS, and, therefore, we anticipate no impact on national security or homeland security.

Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we consider any other relevant impacts, in addition to economic impacts and impacts on national security discussed above. To identify other relevant impacts that may affect the exclusion analysis, we consider a number of factors, including whether there are permitted conservation plans covering the species in the area—such as safe harbor agreements (SHAs), candidate conservation agreements with assurances (CCAAs), or “conservation benefit agreements” or “conservation agreements” (CBAs) (CBAs are a new type of agreement replacing SHAs and CCAAs in use after April 2024 ( 89 FR 26070 ; April 12, 2024)) or HCPs—or whether there are non-permitted conservation agreements and partnerships that would be encouraged by designation of, or exclusion from, critical habitat. In addition, we look at whether Tribal conservation plans or partnerships, Tribal resources, or government-to-government relationships of the United States with Tribal entities may be affected by the designation. We also consider any State, local, social, or other impacts that might occur because of the designation.

In preparing this proposal, we have determined that no HCPs or other management plans for the Cedar Key mole skink currently exist, and the proposed designation does not include any Tribal lands or trust resources or any lands for which designation would have any economic or national security impacts. Therefore, we anticipate no impact on Tribal lands, partnerships, or HCPs from this proposed critical habitat designation, and, thus, as described above, we are not considering excluding any particular areas on the basis of the presence of conservation agreements or impacts to trust resources.

However, if through this proposed rule's public comment period (see DATES and Information Requested, above) we receive information that we determine indicates that there are potential economic, national security, or other relevant impacts from designating particular areas as critical habitat, then as part of developing the final designation of critical habitat, we will evaluate that information and may conduct a discretionary exclusion analysis to determine whether to exclude those areas under the authority of section 4(b)(2) of the Act and our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.19 . If we receive a request for exclusion of a particular area and after evaluation of supporting information we do not exclude, we will fully describe our decision in the final rule for this action.

We are required by E.O.s 12866 and 12988 and by the Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain language. This means that each rule we publish must:

(1) Be logically organized;

(2) Use the active voice to address readers directly;

(3) Use clear language rather than jargon;

(4) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and

(5) Use lists and tables wherever possible.

If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us comments by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES . To better help us revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as possible. For example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections or paragraphs that are unclearly written, which sections or sentences are too long, the sections where you feel lists or tables would be useful, etc.

Executive Order (E.O.) 14094 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 and E.O. 13563 and states that regulatory analysis should facilitate agency efforts to develop regulations that serve the public interest, advance statutory objectives, and are consistent with E.O. 12866 , E.O. 13563 , and the Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2021 (Modernizing Regulatory Review). Regulatory analysis, as practicable and appropriate, shall recognize distributive impacts and equity, to the extent permitted by law. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open ( print page 65146) exchange of ideas. We have developed this proposed rule in a manner consistent with these requirements.

E.O. 12866 , as reaffirmed by E.O. 13563 and E.O. 14094 , provides that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that this proposed rule is not significant.

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA; 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq. ), whenever an agency is required to publish a notice of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that describes the effects of the rule on small entities ( i.e., small businesses, small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). However, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of the agency certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The SBREFA amended the RFA to require Federal agencies to provide a certification statement of the factual basis for certifying that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

According to the Small Business Administration, small entities include small organizations such as independent nonprofit organizations; small governmental jurisdictions, including school boards and city and town governments that serve fewer than 50,000 residents; and small businesses ( 13 CFR 121.201 ). Small businesses include manufacturing and mining concerns with fewer than 500 employees, wholesale trade entities with fewer than 100 employees, retail and service businesses with less than $5 million in annual sales, general and heavy construction businesses with less than $27.5 million in annual business, special trade contractors doing less than $11.5 million in annual business, and agricultural businesses with annual sales less than $750,000. To determine whether potential economic impacts to these small entities are significant, we considered the types of activities that might trigger regulatory impacts under this designation as well as types of project modifications that may result. In general, the term “significant economic impact” is meant to apply to a typical small business firm's business operations.

Under the RFA, as amended, and as understood in light of recent court decisions, Federal agencies are required to evaluate the potential incremental impacts of rulemaking on those entities directly regulated by the rulemaking itself; in other words, the RFA does not require agencies to evaluate the potential impacts to indirectly regulated entities. The regulatory mechanism through which critical habitat protections are realized is section 7 of the Act, which requires Federal agencies, in consultation with the Service, to ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by the agency is not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Therefore, under section 7, only Federal action agencies are directly subject to the specific regulatory requirement (avoiding destruction and adverse modification) imposed by critical habitat designation. Consequently, it is our position that only Federal action agencies would be directly regulated if we adopt the proposed critical habitat designation. The RFA does not require evaluation of the potential impacts to entities not directly regulated. Moreover, Federal agencies are not small entities. Therefore, because no small entities would be directly regulated by this rulemaking, the Service certifies that, if made final as proposed, the proposed critical habitat designation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

In summary, we have considered whether the proposed designation would result in a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. For the above reasons and based on currently available information, we certify that, if made final, the proposed critical habitat designation would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities. Therefore, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.

Executive Order 13211 (Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use) requires agencies to prepare statements of energy effects “to the extent permitted by law” when undertaking actions identified as significant energy actions ( 66 FR 28355 ; May 22, 2001). E.O. 13211 defines a “significant energy action” as an action that (i) is a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866 or any successor order; and (ii) is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. This rule is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866 or E.O. 14094 ( 88 FR 21879 ; April 11, 2023). Therefore, this action is not a significant energy action, and there is no requirement to prepare a statement of energy effects for this action.

In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act ( 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. ), we make the following finding:

(1) This proposed rule would not produce a Federal mandate. In general, a Federal mandate is a provision in legislation, statute, or regulation that would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, or Tribal governments, or the private sector, and includes both “Federal intergovernmental mandates” and “Federal private sector mandates.” These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C. 658(5)-(7) . “Federal intergovernmental mandate” includes a regulation that “would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, or Tribal governments” with two exceptions. It excludes “a condition of Federal assistance.” It also excludes “a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal program,” unless the regulation “relates to a then-existing Federal program under which $500,000,000 or more is provided annually to State, local, and Tribal governments under entitlement authority,” if the provision would “increase the stringency of conditions of assistance” or “place caps upon, or otherwise decrease, the Federal Government's responsibility to provide funding,” and the State, local, or Tribal governments “lack authority” to adjust accordingly. At the time of enactment, these entitlement programs were: Medicaid; Aid to Families with Dependent Children work programs; Child Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social Services Block Grants; Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants; Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living; Family Support Welfare Services; and Child Support Enforcement. “Federal private sector mandate” includes a regulation that “would impose an enforceable duty upon the private sector, except (i) a condition of Federal assistance or (ii) a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal program.”

The designation of critical habitat does not impose a legally binding duty on non-Federal Government entities or private parties. Under the Act, the only regulatory effect is that Federal agencies must ensure that their actions are not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat under section 7. While ( print page 65147) non-Federal entities that receive Federal funding, assistance, or permits, or that otherwise require approval or authorization from a Federal agency for an action, may be indirectly impacted by the designation of critical habitat, the legally binding duty to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat rests squarely on the Federal agency. Furthermore, to the extent that non-Federal entities are indirectly impacted because they receive Federal assistance or participate in a voluntary Federal aid program, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act would not apply, nor would critical habitat shift the costs of the large entitlement programs listed above onto State governments.

(2) We do not believe that this proposed rule would significantly or uniquely affect small governments because it would not produce a Federal mandate of $100 million or greater in any year, that is, it is not a “significant regulatory action” under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. Therefore, a small government agency plan is not required.

In accordance with E.O. 12630 (Government Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Private Property Rights), we have analyzed the potential takings implications of designating critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink in a takings implications assessment. The Act does not authorize the Service to regulate private actions on private lands or confiscate private property as a result of critical habitat designation. Designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership, or establish any closures, or restrictions on use of or access to the designated areas. Furthermore, the designation of critical habitat does not affect landowner actions that do not require Federal funding or permits, nor does it preclude development of habitat conservation programs or issuance of incidental take permits to permit actions that do require Federal funding or permits to go forward. However, Federal agencies are prohibited from carrying out, funding, or authorizing actions that would destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. A takings implications assessment has been completed for the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink, and it concludes that, if adopted, this designation of critical habitat does not pose significant takings implications for lands within or affected by the designation.

In accordance with E.O. 13132 (Federalism), this proposed rule does not have significant Federalism effects. A federalism summary impact statement is not required. In keeping with Department of the Interior and Department of Commerce policy, we requested information from, and coordinated development of this proposed critical habitat designation with, appropriate State resource agencies. From a federalism perspective, the designation of critical habitat directly affects only the responsibilities of Federal agencies. The Act imposes no other duties with respect to critical habitat, either for States and local governments, or for anyone else. As a result, the proposed rule does not have substantial direct effects either on the States, or on the relationship between the Federal government and the States, or on the distribution of powers and responsibilities among the various levels of government. The proposed designation may have some benefit to these governments because the areas that contain the features essential to the conservation of the species are more clearly defined, and the physical or biological features of the habitat necessary for the conservation of the species are specifically identified. This information does not alter where and what federally sponsored activities may occur. However, it may assist State and local governments in long-range planning because they no longer have to wait for case-by-case section 7 consultations to occur.

Where State and local governments require approval or authorization from a Federal agency for actions that may affect critical habitat, consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Act would be required. While non-Federal entities that receive Federal funding, assistance, or permits, or that otherwise require approval or authorization from a Federal agency for an action, may be indirectly impacted by the designation of critical habitat, the legally binding duty to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat rests squarely on the Federal agency.

In accordance with E.O. 12988 (Civil Justice Reform), the Office of the Solicitor has determined that this proposed rule would not unduly burden the judicial system and that it meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Order. We have proposed designating critical habitat in accordance with the provisions of the Act. To assist the public in understanding the habitat needs of the species, this proposed rule identifies the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species. The proposed areas of critical habitat are presented on maps, and the proposed rule provides several options for the interested public to obtain more detailed location information, if desired.

This rule does not contain information collection requirements, and a submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 ( 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ) is not required. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Regulations adopted pursuant to section 4(a) of the Act are exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ) and do not require an environmental analysis under NEPA. We published a notice outlining our reasons for this determination in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 ( 48 FR 49244 ). This includes listing, delisting, and reclassification rules, as well as critical habitat designations. In a line of cases starting with Douglas County v. Babbitt, 48 F.3d 1495 (9th Cir. 1995), the courts have upheld this position.

In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994 (Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments; 59 FR 22951 ), E.O. 13175 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments), the President's memorandum of November 30, 2022 (Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation; 87 FR 74479 , December 5, 2022), and the Department of the Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, we readily acknowledge our responsibility to communicate meaningfully with federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) on a government-to-government basis. In accordance with Secretaries' Order 3206 of June 5, 1997 (American Indian Tribal Rights, Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act), we readily acknowledge our responsibilities to work directly with Tribes in developing programs for ( print page 65148) healthy ecosystems, to acknowledge that Tribal lands are not subject to the same controls as Federal public lands, to remain sensitive to Indian culture, and to make information available to Tribes. We have determined that no Tribal lands fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink, so no Tribal lands would be affected by the proposed designation.

A complete list of references cited in this rulemaking is available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov and upon request from the Florida Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ).

The primary authors of this proposed rule are the staff members of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Species Assessment Team and the Florida Ecological Services Field Office.

Endangered and threatened species
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
Transportation

Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, approved this action on June 14, 2024, for publication. On July 31, 2024, Martha Williams authorized the undersigned to sign the document electronically and submit it to the Office of the Federal Register for publication as an official document of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Accordingly, we propose to amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations , as set forth below:

1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407 ; 1531-1544; and 4201-4245, unless otherwise noted.

2. In § 17.11, in paragraph (h), amend the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife by adding an entry for “Skink, Cedar Key mole” in alphabetical order under REPTILES to read as follows:

Common name	Where listed	Status	Listing citations and applicable rules

* * * * * * *


* * * * * * *
Skink, Cedar Key mole	Wherever found	E	[ citation when published as a final rule]; .

* * * * * * *

3. In § 17.95, amend paragraph (c) by adding an entry for “Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis )” following the entry for “Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS ( Caretta caretta )”, to read as follows:

Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis )

(1) Critical habitat units are depicted for Levy County, Florida, on the maps in this entry.

(2) Within these areas, the physical or biological feature essential to the conservation of the Cedar Key mole skink consists of natural habitats (including, but not limited to, beaches, dunes, and coastal hammocks) along the coast or within the interior of the Cedar Keys that contain:

(i) Suitable soils (dry, loose, sandy, permeable, or friable soils) for movement and nesting; and

(ii) Sufficient, appropriate ground cover (including, but not limited to, tidal wrack deposited above the mean high-water line, leaf litter, and vegetative debris) for protection from predators and temperature extremes, sources of food ( e.g., insects and arthropods), and areas for reproduction.

(3) Critical habitat does not include human-made structures (such as buildings, aqueducts, runways, roads, and other paved areas) and the land on which they are located existing within the legal boundaries on the effective date of the final rule.

(4) Data layers defining map units were created using Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI's) Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographical Information System (ArcPro) mapping software along with various spatial data layers. ArcPro was also used to calculate the size of habitat areas. The projection used in mapping and calculating distances and locations within the units was Albers Conical Equal Area (Florida Geographic Data Library), North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) High Accuracy Reference Network (HARN). The maps in this entry, as modified by any accompanying regulatory text, establish the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. The coordinates or plot points or both on which each map is based are available to the public at the Service's internet site at https://www.fws.gov/office/florida-ecological-services/library , at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053, and at the field office responsible for this designation. You may obtain field office location information by contacting one of the Service regional offices, the addresses of which are listed at 50 CFR 2.2 .

(5) Index map follows:

Figure 1 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (5)

(6) Unit 1: Live Oak Key; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 1 encompasses approximately 109 acres (44 hectares) and includes the entire island of Live Oak Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 46 acres (19 hectares) in Federal ownership, 49 acres (20 hectares) in private ownership, and 14 acres (6 hectares) in other ownership. Live Oak Key is approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) northeast of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The northern portion of the island is managed as the Florida Gulf Coast Mitigation Bank by a private entity and the southern portion is federally owned and managed by the Service as the part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

(ii) Map of Units 1 and 2 follow:

Figure 2 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (6)(ii)

(7) Unit 2: Cedar Point; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 2 encompasses approximately 41 acres (17 hectares) and includes the entire island of Cedar Point. Lands within this unit include approximately 26 acres (11 hectares) in Federal ownership and 15 acres (6 hectares) in private ownership. Cedar Point is approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) northeast of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The Service manages most of the island as the part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. The eastern portion is managed by a private entity as part of the Florida Gulf Coast Mitigation Bank.

(ii) Map of Unit 2 is provided at paragraph (6)(ii) of this entry.

(8) Unit 3: Scale Key; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 3 encompasses approximately 116 acres (47 hectares) and includes the entire island of Scale Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 95 acres (38 hectares) in Federal ownership and 21 acres (8 hectares) in private ownership. Scale Key is approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) northeast of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The Service manages most of the island as part of the Cedar Keys National ( print page 65151) Wildlife Refuge. Approximately 14 acres (6 hectares) of the eastern portion are owned by Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy, and 5 acres (2 hectares) of the northern portion are managed by a private entity as part of the Florida Gulf Coast Mitigation Bank.

(ii) Map of Units 3 and 4 follows:

Figure 3 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (8)(ii)

(9) Unit 4: Dog Island; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 4 encompasses approximately 8 acres (3 hectares) and includes the entirety of Dog Island. Dog Island is approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) to the east of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. Lands within this unit are entirely within State ownership.

(ii) Map of Unit 4 is provided at paragraph (8)(ii) of this entry.

(10) Unit 5: Atsena Otie Key; Levy County, Florida. ( print page 65152)

(i) Unit 5 encompasses approximately 183 acres (74 hectares) and includes the entire island of Atsena Otie Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 116 acres (47 hectares) in State ownership and 67 acres (27 hectares) in other ownership. Atsena Otie Key is approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) south of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is owned by the State of Florida and managed as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge through a memorandum of understanding by the Service.

(ii) Map of Units 5, 6, and 7 follows:

Figure 4 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (10)(ii)

(11) Unit 6: Snake Key; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 6 encompasses approximately 57 acres (23 hectares) and includes the ( print page 65153) entire island of Snake Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 39 acres (16 hectares) in Federal ownership and 17 acres (7 hectares) in other ownership. Snake Key is approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) south of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

(ii) Map of Unit 6 is provided at paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.

(12) Unit 7: Seahorse Key; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 7 encompasses approximately 165 acres (67 hectares) and includes the entire island of Seahorse Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 118 acres (48 hectares) in Federal ownership and 47 acres (19 hectares) in other ownership. Seahorse Key is approximately 3 miles (5 kilometers) south and west of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

(ii) Map of Unit 7 is provided at paragraph (10)(ii) of this entry.

(13) Unit 8: North Key; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 8 encompasses approximately 236 acres (95 hectares) and includes the entire island of North Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 129 acres (52 hectares) in Federal ownership and 107 acres (43 hectares) in other ownership. North Key is approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) to the west of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

(ii) Map of Unit 8 follows:

Figure 5 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (13)(ii)

(14) Unit 9: Airstrip Island; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 9 encompasses approximately 29 acres (12 hectares) on the island of Way Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 19 acres (8 hectares) in local government ownership and 10 acres (4 hectares) in private ownership. This unit is composed of five separate sections.

(A) Airstrip Island Beach is 5 acres (2 hectares) of private shoreline along Daughtry Bayou, encompassing sandy beach from mean higher high-water inland to dense vegetation, hardened structures, or roads, extending from the southern side of the Airport Road bridge to the south for approximately 0.5 mile (0.8 kilometer).

(B) Cedar Key Airport includes 16 acres (6.5 hectares) of unvegetated and vegetated sandy soils on the George T. Lewis Airport (also known as the Cedar Key Airport) that are owned by Levy County.

(C) Airport Island is a 2-acre (0.8-hectare), unnamed island southwest of the airport that is owned by Levy County. ( print page 65155)

(D) Piney Point is a 3-acre (1-hectare), privately owned, undeveloped, vacant lot on the western side of Piney Point south of the airport.

(E) The Robert Cull Nature Preserve is 2 acres (0.8 hectare) of protected land at the terminus of Piney Point that are owned and managed by Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy.

(ii) Map of Units 9 and 10 follows:

Figure 6 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (14)(ii)

(15) Unit 10: Way Key South; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 10 encompasses approximately 44 acres (18 hectares) on Way Key. This unit is a series of undeveloped, disconnected islands south of Way Key. The unit includes a large portion of the island located between the airport and the developed portion of Way Key and several ( print page 65156) primarily sand islands that occur seaward of the main island. This unit is entirely in State ownership.

(ii) Map of Unit 10 is provided at paragraph (14)(ii) of this entry.

(16) Unit 11: Way Key North; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 11 encompasses approximately 24 acres (10 hectares) on Way Key. Lands within this unit include approximately 9 acres (4 hectares) in State ownership, managed as the Cedar Key Museum State Park by the Florida Park Service, and 15 acres (6 hectares) in local government ownership, managed as Cemetery Point Park by the City of Cedar Key.

(ii) Map of Unit 11 follows:

Figure 7 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (16)(ii)

(17) Unit 12: Richards Island; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 12 encompasses approximately 105 acres (42 hectares) and includes the entirety of Richards Island. Lands within this unit include approximately 86 acres (35 hectares) in Federal ownership and 19 acres (8 hectares) in other ownership. Richards Island is approximately 3.3 miles (5.3 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

(ii) Map of Units 12 and 13 follows:

Figure 8 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (17)(ii)

(18) Unit 13: Seabreeze Island; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 13 encompasses approximately 136 acres (55 hectares) ( print page 65158) on Seabreeze Island. Lands within this unit include approximately 111 acres (45 hectares) in Federal ownership and 25 acres (10 hectares) in other ownership. Seabreeze Island is approximately 4 miles (6 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The island is managed by the Service as part of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge.

(ii) Map of Unit 13 is provided at paragraph (17)(ii) of this entry.

(19) Unit 14: Shell Mound; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 14 encompasses approximately 1,050 acres (425 hectares) on Shell Mound. This unit extends from Dennis Creek north to Ericson Creek. Lands within this unit include approximately 167 acres (68 hectares) in Federal ownership, 194 acres (79 hectares) in State ownership, and 688 acres (278 hectares) in private ownership. The unit includes portions of the Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve managed by the Florida Park Service and the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge managed by the Service.

(ii) Map of Units 14, 15, 16, and 17 follows:

Figure 9 to Cedar Key Mole Skink ( Plestiodon egregius insularis ) paragraph (19)(ii)

(20) Unit 15: Raleigh and Horse Islands; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 15 encompasses approximately 176 acres (71 hectares) on Raleigh and Horse Islands. Approximately 171 acres (69 hectares) are in Federal ownership and 5 acres (2 hectares) are in private ownership. The group of islands are approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico. The Service manages most of the islands as part of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge.

(ii) Map of Unit 15 is provided at paragraph (19)(ii) of this entry.

(21) Unit 16: Deer Island; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 16 encompasses approximately 113 acres (46 hectares) and includes the entirety of Deer Island. Lands within the unit include approximately 8 acres (3 hectares) in Federal ownership, 69 acres (28 hectares) in private ownership, and 36 acres (15 hectares) in other ownership. Deer Island is approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers) northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico.

(ii) Map of Unit 16 is provided at paragraph (19)(ii) of this entry. ( print page 65160)

(22) Unit 17: Clark Islands; Levy County, Florida.

(i) Unit 17 encompasses approximately 121 acres (49 hectares) in the Clark Islands complex. The entirety of the unit is privately owned. The Clark Islands are approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers) north-northwest of Cedar Key within the Gulf of Mexico.

(ii) Map of Unit 17 is provided at paragraph (19)(ii) of this entry.

Madonna Baucum,

Regulations and Policy Chief, Division of Policy, Economics, Risk Management, and Analytics of the Joint Administrative Operations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

BILLING CODE 4333-15-C

[ FR Doc. 2024-17271 Filed 8-7-24; 8:45 am]

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Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples
Direct Indirect speech with examples and rules pdf
Reported Speech (Indirect Speech): Definition, Useful Rules And
Direct and Indirect Speech Examples
100 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct & Indirect Speech, Tenses and Example Sentences

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50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech
Indirect: He inquired how I was. 9. Direct: "I will help you," she promised. Indirect: She promised that she would help me. 10. Direct: "I didn't see him yesterday," Tom confessed. Indirect: Tom confessed that he hadn't seen him the day before. 11. Direct: "I am going to the market," Alex said.
Indirect Speech Definition and Examples
In nonfiction writing or journalism, direct speech can emphasize a particular point, by using a source's exact words. Indirect speech is paraphrasing what someone said or wrote. In writing, it functions to move a piece along by boiling down points that an interview source made. Unlike direct speech, indirect speech is not usually placed inside ...
Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples
Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech. Change of Pronouns. Change of Tenses. Change of Time and Place References. Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech. Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks. Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker. Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb. Step 4: Change the Pronouns.
Reported speech: indirect speech
Reported speech: indirect speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Indirect Speech
Indirect Speech is a way of expressing the words or utterances of a speaker in a reported manner. In contrast to direct speech, where the original speaker's words are quoted verbatim, indirect speech is more about reporting the essence or meaning of what the speaker said rather than quoting them exactly. For example: Direct Speech: Lisa said ...
Reported Speech
For example: Direct speech: I dislike fried chicken. Reported speech: She said she disliked fried chicken. Note how the main verb in the reported statement is also in the past tense verb form. Use the simple present tense in your indirect speech if the initial words remain relevant at the time of reporting.
100 + Direct and Indirect Speech Examples and Answers (2025)
The speech which is quoted above in actual words ("I am tired" is called the Reported Speech and the verb ("says") that introduces speech is called the Reporting Verb.The above speech is called Direct Speech.. Indirect Speech Examples. On the other hand, when the speech is reported in the form of a narrative, without quoting the speaker's actual words, it is called Indirect speech or ...
Direct and Indirect Speech in English
Direct speech: Aslam said, "Do not beat him". Indirect speech: Aslam ordered to not beat him. The direct verb is changed according to indirect speech in case order the speaker gives a direct command. Then said will be changed into ordered For example: Direct Speech: The father said to me, "Sit down.".
The difference between direct and indirect speech
Direct speech is when we report what someone says by repeating the exact words. In writing, we use inverted commas: Michelle said, "I'll call them tomorrow." (direct speech) Indirect speech (also called reported speech) is when we give the same meaning of what someone says without repeating the exact words. In this case, we do not use inverted ...
What is Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples?
Here is an example: Direct speech: He said, "I am going to the store now.". Indirect speech: He said that he was going to the store then. Notice how "am" changed to "was" and "now" changed to "then". This is because the time and context have shifted from when the speaker originally spoke to when the speaker's words were ...
Indirect speech
Indirect speech. In linguistics, speech or indirect discourse is a grammatical mechanism for reporting the content of another utterance without directly quoting it. For example, the English sentence Jill said she was coming is indirect discourse while Jill said "I'm coming" would be direct discourse. In fiction, the "utterance" might amount to ...
Direct and Indirect Speech
Any word spoken by a speaker can be written in two different ways. Those two are direct and indirect speech. Direct Speech is when the speaker's actual words are quoted and these words are put in inverted commas ("…..") while Indirect Speech is when the speaker's words are said indirectly with the same meaning without repeating the exact words.
Reported Speech
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message. Q2.
Direct vs. Indirect Speech
Direct and Indirect Speech. When writers write about phrases or sentences a source has said, they can use either direct speech or indirect speech. Direct speech is used to repeat what someone else ...
INDIRECT SPEECH
INDIRECT SPEECH definition: 1. the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words 2. the act of…. Learn more.
Direct and Indirect Speech Made Easy: Learn With Real-life Examples and
In this article, I will provide examples of direct and indirect speech. Each type of speech has its own set of specific rules that need to be followed carefully. ... Quoting a person's words without using his own word and bringing about any change in the meaning of the statement is reported speech. Look at the following sentences:
Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct and Indirect Speech: Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, using quotation marks, while indirect speech paraphrases the spoken words without quotes, often changing tenses and pronouns. Both forms are essential for effective communication, emphasizing clarity and context in reporting speech.
What is Reported Speech and How to Use It? with Examples
Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then. In this example, the pronoun "I" is changed to "she" and the adverb "now" is changed to "then.". 2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here's an example:
Direct vs. Indirect Speech Examples: Unveiling the Variances and Usage
Let's explore its definition, differences from direct speech, and examples. A. Definition of indirect speech. Indirect speech refers to reporting or paraphrasing someone's words without using quotation marks. It involves transforming the original speaker's words into our own words while maintaining the meaning and essence of the message.
Reported Speech: Important Grammar Rules and Examples • 7ESL
Reported speech: She says she likes dogs. When the reporting verb is in the past tense, you need to change the tense of both the reporting verb and the main verb. Example: Direct speech: I like dogs. Reported speech: She said she liked dogs. The tenses generally move backward as follows: Direct Speech. Reported Speech.
Difference Between Direct and Indirect Speech (with Rules, Examples and
Direct: Mary said, "I am going to the US next month." Indirect: Mary said that she was going to the US the following month.; Direct: The sports teacher said, "Run fast, boys." Indirect: The sports teacher asked the boys to run fast.; In these two examples, you might have observed that when we use direct speech, we use quotations to outline the real words of the speaker.
Direct and Indirect Speech: Definition, Examples, and Rules
Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let's discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail. Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense. Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location and time.
Definition and Examples of Reported Speech
Also called reported discourse . Traditionally, two broad categories of reported speech have been recognized: direct speech (in which the original speaker's words are quoted word for word) and indirect speech (in which the original speaker's thoughts are conveyed without using the speaker's exact words). However, a number of linguists have ...
Federal Register :: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
Examples of discretionary actions for the Cedar Key mole skink that may be subject to conference and consultation procedures under section 7 are land management or other landscape-altering activities on Federal lands administered by the Service as well as actions on State, Tribal, local, or private lands that require a Federal permit (such as a ...

50 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Rules to Make Direct and Indirect Speech

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

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Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Direct and Indirect Speech

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

Change of Pronouns

Change of Tenses

Change of Time and Place References

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct Speech Examples

Indirect Speech Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

Indirect Speech

What is Indirect Speech?

Changes in Verb Tenses

Exceptions to Tense Shifts

Changes in Pronouns and Time Expressions

Time Expression Changes

Indirect Commands and Requests

Indirect Questions

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Reported Speech – Rules, Examples

What Does Reported Speech Mean?

Reported Speech Examples

Reported Speech Structure

What are the 4 Types of Reported Speech?

Reported Speech Rules

Choose Whether to Use That or If

Verb Tense Changes

Changes in Place and Time Reference

Using Modals

Imperative Sentences

Reported Questions

Wrapping Up Reported Speech

100 + Direct and Indirect Speech Examples and Answers (2025)

Direct Speech Examples

Indirect Speech Examples

Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples of Punctuation Marks

Direct Speech:

Indirect Speech:

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of All Tenses

1. Present Tense Examples

2. Past Tense Examples

3. Future Tense Examples:

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples in Sentences

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Modal Verbs

Direct to Indirect Speech Examples with Change of Pronouns

Change of Time & Place for Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Assertive Sentences

Direct Indirect Examples of Universal Truth or Habitual Truth, Historical Truth

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Interrogative Sentences

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of “Wh-word”

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Imperative Sentences

Direct Speech and Indirect Speech Examples with “Let”

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Optative Sentences

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of Exclamatory Sentences

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples of More than one sentence

Frequently Asked Questions Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Q: What is direct and indirect speech with examples for Class 5?

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Direct and Indirect Speech in English | A Complete Guide

Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

Basic Rules for Direct and Indirect Speeches

Changes in the Person of Pronouns

Changes in Verbs

How to Make Direct and Indirect Speeches in Different Tenses

Direct and Indirect Speech in Assertive Sentences

Direct and Indirect Speech in Imperative Sentences

Optative & Exclamatory Sentences