DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
A. Introduction
B. Direct Vs Indirect Speech
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
(a) “I watch TV every She said she watched TV every day. Indirect speech
day.” She said she was watching TV . refers to using a
(b) “I am watching TV.” She said she had watched TV . noun clause to
(c) “I have watched TV.” She said she had watched TV . report what
(d) “I watched TV.” She said she had watched TV . someone has said.
(e) “I had watched TV.” She said she would watch TV . No quotation
(f) “I will watch TV.” She said she was ging to watch TV . marks are used.
(g) “I am going to watch
TV.” She said she could watch TV . If the indirect verb
(h) “I can watch TV.” She said she might watch TV . (the main verb of
(i) “I may watch TV.” She said she had to watch TV . the sentence, e.g.,
(j) “I must watch TV.” She said she had to watch TV . said) is simple past,
(k) “I have to watch TV.” the verb in the
noun clause will
usually also be in a
past form, as in
these examples.
(l) “I should watch TV.” She said she should watch TV . In (l): should,
“I ought to watch TV.” She said she ought to watch TV . ought to, and
“I might watch TV.” She said she might watch TV . might do not
change.
(m) Immediate reporting: Changing verbs to
- What did the teacher just say? I didn’t hear him. past forms in
- He said he wants us to read Chapter 6. indirect speech is
common in both
(n) Later reporting: speaking and
- I didn’t go to class yesterday. Did Mr.Jones give any writing.
assignments?
- Yes, He said he wanted us to read Chapter 6. However,
sometimes in
spoken English no
change is made in
the noun clause
verb, especially if
the speaker is
reporting
something
immediately or
soon after it was
said.
(o) “The world is round.” She said the world is round . Also, sometimes
the present tense is
retained even in
formal English
when the indirect
sentence deals
with a general
truth, as in (o).
(p) “ I watch TV every She says she watches TV every day When the indirect
day.” . verb is simple
(q) “ I watch TV every present, present
day.” She has said that she watches TV perfect or future,
(r) “ I watch TV every every day . the noun clause
day.” She will say that she watches TV verb is not
every day. changed.
(s) “Watch TV.” She told me to watch TV.* In indirect speech,
an imperative
sentence is
changed to an
infinitive. Tell is
used instead of say
as the indirect
verb.
*NOTE: Tell is immediately followed by a (pro)noun object, but say is not: He told me would
be late. He said he would be late. Also possible: He said to me he would be late.
Exercise 1. Looking at grammar.
Complete the sentence by reporting (indirectly) the speaker’s words. Use noun
clause. Use past verb forms in noun clauses if appropriate.
1. Pedro said, “ I will help you.” Pedro said ....
Pedro said (that) he would help me.
2. “Do you need a pen?” Elena asked. Elena asked me ....
3. Jennifer asked, “What do you want?” Jennifer asked me ....
4. Talal asked,”Are you hungry?” Talal wanted to know ....
5. “I want a sandwich,” Elena said. Elena said ....
6. “I’m going to move to Oiho,” said Bruce. Bruce informed me ....
7. “Did you enjoy your trip?” asked Kim. Kim asked me ....
8. Oscar asked, “What are you talking about?” Oscar ask me ....
9. Maria asked, “Have you seen my grammar book?” Maria wanted to know ....
10. Amy said, “I don’t want to go.” Amy said ....
11. “Can you help me with my report?” asked David. David ask me ....
12. “I may be late,” said Mitch. Mitch told me ....
13. Felix said, “You should work harder.” Felix told me ....
14. Nadia said, “ I have to go downtown.” Nadia said ....
15. “Why is the sky blue?” my young daughter often asks. My young daughter
often ask me ....
16. My mother asked, “Where ia everyone?” My mother wondered ....
17. “I will come to the meeting,” said Pavel. Pavel told me ....
18. Ms. Adams just asked Ms. Chang, “Will you be in the class tommorow?” Ms.
Adams wanted to know ....
19. “I think I’ll go to the library to study.” Joe said ....
20. “ Does Omar know what he’s doing?” I wondered ....
