direct-indirect speech

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Direct-Indirect Direct-Indirect SpeechSpeech

In English GrammarIn English Grammar

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Direct-Indirect (or Reported) SpeechDirect-Indirect (or Reported) Speech

He said to me, “John is a good boy.”He said to me, “John is a good boy.”

Direct SpeechDirect Speech

He told me that John was a good boy.He told me that John was a good boy.

Indirect (Reported) Indirect (Reported) SpeechSpeech

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Direct-Indirect Speech

Direct Speech sentences are mostly used in writing; the actual spoken words by somebody else are written as they are, and are placed within a pair of quotation marks “…”.

Mary said, “John is a good boy.”‘John is a good boy’ – actual spoken words

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Direct-Indirect SpeechDirect-Indirect Speech

Mary and Joseph were arguing. Tom heard Mary Mary and Joseph were arguing. Tom heard Mary say to Joseph “I will kill you.”, and then he (Tom) say to Joseph “I will kill you.”, and then he (Tom) told us what Mary said, in her own words.told us what Mary said, in her own words.

(Tom said to us)(Tom said to us)

Mary said to Joseph, “Mary said to Joseph, “I will kill youI will kill you.”.”

– – Direct SpeechDirect Speech

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• Mary and Joseph were arguing. Tom heard Mary Mary and Joseph were arguing. Tom heard Mary say to Joseph “I will kill you.”, and then he (Tom) say to Joseph “I will kill you.”, and then he (Tom) told us what Mary said – told us what Mary said – notnot in her own words but in her own words but in an indirect way, i.e. he reported Mary’s words. in an indirect way, i.e. he reported Mary’s words. This speech is mostly used in conversation.This speech is mostly used in conversation.(Tom told us)(Tom told us)Mary told Joseph that she would kill him. Mary told Joseph that she would kill him.

-- Indirect Speech -- Indirect Speech

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To understand the difference between the To understand the difference between the direct speech sentence and the indirect direct speech sentence and the indirect (reported) speech sentence, we need to learn (reported) speech sentence, we need to learn the changes that take place – changes in verb the changes that take place – changes in verb tense, in punctuation marks and in personal tense, in punctuation marks and in personal pronouns. pronouns.

The changes we see are applied only when the The changes we see are applied only when the main verb in the main verb in the introductory clauseintroductory clause of the of the Direct Speech sentence is in Past Tense! Direct Speech sentence is in Past Tense!

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Direct-Indirect Speech

• John said to Mary, “I am your friend.”

Direct Speech

introductory clause

actual spoken words

‘said’ = main verb in introductory clause

simple past tense

‘said to’ in direct speech changes to ‘told’ in indirect speech

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes 1 TenseDirect-Indirect Speech – Changes 1 Tense

Sue Sue said tosaid to Peter, “ Peter, “I I understandunderstand the problem the problem.”.”Direct SpeechDirect Speech

‘‘understand’ – main verb – simple present tenseunderstand’ – main verb – simple present tense

Sue told Peter that she Sue told Peter that she understoodunderstood the problem. the problem.Indirect SpeechIndirect Speech

‘‘understood’ – main verb – simple PAST tenseunderstood’ – main verb – simple PAST tense

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Direct-Indirect Speech –Changes 2 the other changes – punctuation

Sue said to Peter,

“I understand the problem.

“

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Direct-Indirect Speech – changes 3 Other changes

Sue said to Peter, “I understand the problem.”Direct Speech

Sue told Peter that she understood the problem.Indirect Speech

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Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes 44

TenseTense

She said to him, “They She said to him, “They are boxingare boxing.” Direct.” Direct

‘‘are boxing’ – main verb – present continues tenseare boxing’ – main verb – present continues tense

She told him that they She told him that they were boxingwere boxing. Indirect. Indirect

‘‘were boxing’ – main verb – PAST continues tensewere boxing’ – main verb – PAST continues tense

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes 5 Tense5 Tense

• She said to me, “He She said to me, “He has givenhas given me some medicine.” me some medicine.”


‘‘has given’ – main verb – present perfect tensehas given’ – main verb – present perfect tense

She told me that he She told me that he had givenhad given her some medicine. her some medicine.

Indirect SpeechIndirect Speech

‘‘had given’ – main verb – PAST perfect tensehad given’ – main verb – PAST perfect tense

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Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes 6 Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes 6 TenseTense

Kate said, “I Kate said, “I have been waitinghave been waiting here for an hour.” here for an hour.”

Direct SpeechDirect Speech‘‘have been waiting’ - main verb - present perfect continueshave been waiting’ - main verb - present perfect continues

Kate said that she Kate said that she had been waitinghad been waiting there for an hour. there for an hour.


‘‘had been waiting’ - main verb - PAST had been waiting’ - main verb - PAST perfect continuesperfect continues

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He said, “She He said, “She playedplayed golf in the morning.” golf in the morning.” Direct SpeechDirect Speech

‘‘played’ -- main verb -- simple past tenseplayed’ -- main verb -- simple past tense

He said that she He said that she had playedhad played golf in the morning. golf in the morning.Indirect speechIndirect speech

‘‘had played’ -- main verb -- past perfect tensehad played’ -- main verb -- past perfect tense

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Direct-Indirect Speech -- note

• The simple past tense in the subordinate clause (actual spoken words) in the direct speech sentence, when changed into indirect speech, sometimes changes into past perfect tense and sometimes remains unchanged.

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Direct-indirect Speech – note (continued)

• He said, “I bought a house.” Direct Speech

‘bought’ – main verb – simple past tense(A) He said that he had bought a house. Indirect

‘had bought’ – main verb – past perfect tense – changed

(B) He said, “I had a dream last night.” Direct Speech‘had’ – main verb – simple past tense He said that he had a dream last night. Indirect Speech‘had’ – main verb -- simple past tense -- unchanged

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes 8 Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes 8 Tense Tense

She said to me, “He She said to me, “He was swimmingwas swimming in the pool.” in the pool.”

Direct SpeechDirect Speech‘‘was swimming’ -- main verb -- past continues tensewas swimming’ -- main verb -- past continues tense

She told me that he She told me that he had been swimminghad been swimming in the pool. in the pool.Indirect SpeechIndirect Speech

‘‘had been swimming’ -- main verb -- past perfect continues tensehad been swimming’ -- main verb -- past perfect continues tense

Past continues tense becomes PAST PERFECT CONTINUES TENSEPast continues tense becomes PAST PERFECT CONTINUES TENSE

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The Modal Auxiliary (helping) Verbs are The Modal Auxiliary (helping) Verbs are changed into their past forms:changed into their past forms:

can could; may might; will would;can could; may might; will would;

shall shouldshall should

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes 10 Tense

• She said to me, “They will take their test tomorrow.”

Direct speech

She told me that they would take their test the next day.

Indirect Speech

‘will’ becomes ‘would’!

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Personal Pronouns

person 1st 2nd 3rd

number singular plural singular plural singular plural

gender common common common common Male female Neuter Male female Neuter

Nominative (subjective) case

I We you you He she it

They they they

Objective(accusative)

case

me us you you Him her it Them them them

Possessive(genitive)

case

My

mineOur

ours

Your

yours

Your

yours

His her its

His hers its

Their their their

Theirs theirs theirs

Reflexive myself ourselves yourself yourselves Himself herself

itself themselves

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Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – personal pronounspersonal pronouns

Personal Pronoun – Personal Pronoun – II = = first personfirst person

singular singular common gender (male or female)common gender (male or female)subjective casesubjective case

Personal Pronoun – Personal Pronoun – himhim = = third personthird personsingularsingularmasculine gender (male)masculine gender (male)objective caseobjective case

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Personal Personal PronounsPronouns

HeHe said to said to herher, “, “II love love youyou.” Direct Speech.” Direct Speech

He – third person, singular, male, is related to “I” –He – third person, singular, male, is related to “I” –first person, singular, male: so, in indirect speech ‘I’ first person, singular, male: so, in indirect speech ‘I’ becomes “HE”. becomes “HE”. Her – third person, singular, female, is related to Her – third person, singular, female, is related to “you” – second person, singular, female: so in “you” – second person, singular, female: so in indirect speech ‘you’ becomes “HER”.indirect speech ‘you’ becomes “HER”.He told her that He told her that hehe loved loved herher. Indirect Speech. Indirect Speech

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Direct-Indirect Speech -- changes -- Personal Pronouns

The girl said to the spider, “You have eaten my pie.” Direct Speech

The girl told the spider that it had eaten her pie.

Indirect Speech

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Direct-Indirect speech – changes – Personal PronounsDirect-Indirect speech – changes – Personal Pronouns

JaneJane said to said to PaulPaul, “, “II can’t help can’t help youyou.” .” Direct SpeechDirect Speech

Jane told Paul that Jane told Paul that sheshe couldn’t help couldn’t help himhim. .

Indirect Indirect SpeechSpeech

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Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – personal Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – personal PronounsPronouns

The boyThe boy said to said to meme, “, “You You aren’t aren’t mymy friend.” friend.” DirectDirect

The boy told me that The boy told me that II wasn’t wasn’t hishis friend. friend. IndirectIndirect

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes –Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Conjunctions 1Conjunctions 1

While changing a Direct Speech Sentence While changing a Direct Speech Sentence into an Indirect Speech Sentence, we use a into an Indirect Speech Sentence, we use a conjunctionconjunction to join both the clauses -- the to join both the clauses -- the introductory clause and the ‘actual spoken introductory clause and the ‘actual spoken words’, subordinate clause. words’, subordinate clause.

To join the two clauses in a To join the two clauses in a statementstatement sentence, we use the conjunction ‘that’. sentence, we use the conjunction ‘that’.

(The conjunction ‘that’ is normally not (The conjunction ‘that’ is normally not mentioned as it is understood.)mentioned as it is understood.)

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Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – Personal Pronouns

The mouse said, “Mother, I am hungry.” Direct

The mouse told its mother that it was hungry. Indirect

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes -- Conjunction 2

There are two types of questions: ‘wh’ questions, i.e. questions beginning with any of the wh words, such as ‘who’, ‘which’, ‘what’, ‘how’, etc.

And ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, i.e. questions beginning with any of the auxiliary (helping) verbs, such as ‘are’, ‘is’, ‘can’, ‘will’, ‘has’, etc.

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Conjunction 3Conjunction 3

• When we change an ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question sentence from direct into indirect, we use the conjunction ‘if ’ or ‘whether ’.

• Though there is some difference between the conjunctions ‘if’ and ‘whether’, at this basic level, using just ‘if’ for all the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions is justified.

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Conjunctions 2Conjunctions 2

• A woman said to me, “A woman said to me, “IsIs she really driving?” she really driving?”

Interrogative sentence – ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question – Interrogative sentence – ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question – Direct SpeechDirect Speech

A woman asked me A woman asked me ifif she was really driving. she was really driving.


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Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes – note 1

The word order of the question sentence is different from that of the statement sentence.

In a statement sentence the subject comes first and the verb comes second, but in interrogative (question) sentence, the verb comes first and the subject comes second:

He is a boy. Statement Sentence‘He’ – subject – first; ‘is’ – verb – secondIs he a boy? Interrogative (question) sentence

‘Is’ – verb – first; ‘he’ – subject – second.

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – note 2

While changing an interrogative sentence from direct to indirect, the main verb in the introductory clause, usually ‘said’, is changed into ‘asked’, ‘enquired’, ‘wanted to know’ etc.

And the word order is inversed: He said to her, “Is this bag yours?” – Direct

He asked her if that bag was hers. -- Indirect

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunction 4Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunction 4

He said to her, “He said to her, “WhatWhat has he done?” Direct has he done?” Direct‘‘wh’ question – direct speechwh’ question – direct speech

He asked her He asked her whatwhat he had done. Indirect he had done. Indirect

For ‘wh’ questions, no conjunction is used; the ‘wh’ word For ‘wh’ questions, no conjunction is used; the ‘wh’ word in the direct speech sentence is used as it is!in the direct speech sentence is used as it is!

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Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes -- Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes -- Conjunction 5Conjunction 5

She said to them, “She said to them, “WhoWho wants to help wants to help me?” me?” Direct SpeechDirect Speech

She asked them She asked them whowho wanted to help her. wanted to help her.

Indirect Indirect SpeechSpeech

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunction 6

He said to her, “Do you like this frog?” Direct

‘Do’ – ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question

He asked her if she liked that frog. Indirect

conjunction ‘if’ for ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunction 7conjunction 7

• The man said to the boy, “Can you see those stars or not?” Direct Speech

‘can’ – ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question

The man enquired the boy whether he could see those stars or not.Indirect Speech

“whether… or not”

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunctions 8Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunctions 8

She said to the students, “She said to the students, “WhoWho knows the answer?” knows the answer?”


She asked the students She asked the students whowho knew the answer. knew the answer.


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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunctions 9conjunctions 9

While changing the Imperative Sentences While changing the Imperative Sentences from direct to indirect, we do not use any from direct to indirect, we do not use any conjunctions at all; we change the verb of conjunctions at all; we change the verb of the subordinate clause (actual spoken the subordinate clause (actual spoken words) to its ‘to infinitive’ form, and the words) to its ‘to infinitive’ form, and the main verb in the introductory clause is main verb in the introductory clause is changed into ‘requested’, ‘ordered’, changed into ‘requested’, ‘ordered’, ‘wanted to know’, ‘warned’, ‘shouted’, etc. ‘wanted to know’, ‘warned’, ‘shouted’, etc. depending on the context!depending on the context!

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunction 10Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunction 10

The policeman said to the drivers, “The policeman said to the drivers, “StopStop!” !” Direct SpeechDirect Speech

The policeman shouted at the drivers The policeman shouted at the drivers to stopto stop. . Indirect SpeechIndirect Speech

‘‘to stop’ – “to infinitive” form of the main verb ‘stop’to stop’ – “to infinitive” form of the main verb ‘stop’

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – conjunctions 11conjunctions 11

He said to the visitors, “He said to the visitors, “Keep quietKeep quiet, , pleaseplease.”.”


He He requestedrequested the visitors the visitors to keep quietto keep quiet..


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Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – conjunction 12

• The manager said to him, “Don’t postpone your work.” Direct Speech

‘Don’t’ = ‘do not’ – negative

The manager warned him not to postpone his work.Indirect Speech

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Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes -- conjunction 13-- conjunction 13

The mother said, “The mother said, “Don’tDon’t cry cry, baby… , baby… Don’t cryDon’t cry.”.”


The mother told the baby The mother told the baby repeatedlyrepeatedly not tonot to cry cry..


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Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – conjunctions 14

When the verb “let” in the subordinate clause (actual spoken words) of the direct speech sentence expresses a suggestion, we use the verb word ‘suggested’ in the introductory clause of the indirect speech sentence, and the word ‘let’ is not mentioned in the indirect speech sentence, instead we use the helping verb ‘should’ with the main verb!

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – conjunctions 15changes – conjunctions 15

She said to her friends, “She said to her friends, “LetLet’s ’s gogo for a picnic.” -- Direct for a picnic.” -- Direct‘‘Let’ – suggestionLet’ – suggestion

She She suggestedsuggested to her friends that they to her friends that they should goshould go for a for a picnic.picnic.

IndirectIndirect

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Exclamatory SentenceExclamatory Sentence

• While changing an exclamatory sentence from While changing an exclamatory sentence from direct to indirect, we have to rewrite the entire direct to indirect, we have to rewrite the entire sentence (expression) in order to give the sentence (expression) in order to give the desired emotion!desired emotion!

• Therefore, you’ve got to wait until you have Therefore, you’ve got to wait until you have mastered the other kinds of sentences!!mastered the other kinds of sentences!!

• Best of Luck!!!Best of Luck!!!

direct-indirect speech

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