REPORTED SPEECH
Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer. It is also called as reporting
speech. It is usually placed in between quotation marks and
accompanied by a reporting verbs, phrases
and other punctuation marks.
Indirect speechis a
statement/comment of a third person, who has not involved in the conversation.
It is also called as reported speech. It omits quotation
marks and other punctuation marks but includes conjunctions
required.
4.12.2
Changes during conversion from
direct to indirect speech Tense
Change
|
S.No |
Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech |
|
1. |
Simple present e.g. write/ writes |
Simple past e.g. wrote |
|
2. |
Present Continuous e.g. is/are writing |
Past Continuous e.g. was/were writing |
|
3. |
Present Perfect e.g. has/have written |
Past Perfect e.g. had written |
|
4. |
Present Perfect Continuous e.g. has/have been writing |
Past Perfect Continuous e.g. had been writing |
|
5. |
Past Tense e.g. wrote |
Past Perfect e.g. had written |
|
6. |
Past Continuous e.g. was/were writing |
Past Perfect Continuous e.g. had been writing |
|
7. |
Past Perfect e.g. had written |
No Change e.g. had written |
|
8. |
Will/shall/can/may/must |
Would/should/could/might/must |
Time Change
|
Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech |
|
this |
that |
|
these |
those |
|
now |
then |
|
ago |
before/earlier |
|
today |
yesterday/ that day |
|
tonight |
that night |
|
tomorrow |
the next day/ the following day |
|
this week |
that week/last week |
|
last year |
the day before/ the previous
year |
|
next month |
the month after/the following month |
|
an hour ago |
an hour before/an hour earlier |
|
Direct
Speech |
Indirect
Speech |
|
I |
He/she |
|
my |
his/her |
|
myself |
himself/herself |
|
me |
him/her |
|
we |
they |
|
mine |
his/hers |
|
us |
them |
|
our |
their |
|
ourselves |
themselves |
Changes in Verbs
|
Direct
Speech |
Indirect
Speech |
|
am |
was |
|
is |
was |
|
are |
were |
|
has/have |
had |
|
do/does |
did |
|
go |
went |
4.12.3.
Kinds of
Sentences that can be converted into Indirect
Speech.
1. Statement
The statement is a sentence which does not need an answer from the
listener. It is up to the receiver / listener whether to reply or not.
Direct Speech: "I have to talk to you
about something," said David. Indirect Speech: David said that he had to
talk to me about something.
a)
Verbal Questions/ Yes Or No Questions
Questions that start with verbs such as am,
is, was, are, were, has,
have, had, do, did, does, will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might etc.
Conjunction if/whether is used as
a connective.
Direct Speech: Kathy said to Judy “Have you
bought your ticket?” Indirect Speech: Kathy asked Judy if/whether Judy has
bought her ticket.
b)
Nonverbal Questions/ WH Questions
Questions that start with “WH” such as what, when, where, why, who, whom,
whose, how, how long, how much etc.
No conjunction is used for
nonverbal questions.
Direct
Speech: I said to Helen “Where did you have lunch?”
Indirect
Speech:I asked Helen where she had lunch.
3. Imperatives
a)
Commands/ Orders
Sentences that express a sense
of command or order.
Direct
Speech: The teacher shouted at the students, “Wait outside”.
Indirect
Speech:The teacher ordered the students to wait outside.
b)
Requests
Sentences that express a sense of
request.
Direct Speech: We asked the
strangers, “Please help us to search this address”
Indirect Speech:We requested
the strangers to help us to search that address.
c)
Negatives
Sentences that
express negative ideas. Don’t is
converted into “not to”
Direct Speech: Don’t worry
about the exams” my mother said.
Indirect
Speech: My mother comforted me not to worry about the exams.
4.12.3.1.
Exercises
Change the following direct speech into reported speech
1.
‘That’s correct. The new ring road
will be built through the wood.’
Ans: The government official confirmed
that the new ring road would be built through the wood.
2.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll repair the back
door this weekend.’
Ans: Colin
3.
‘Alright, it’s true. It was me who
scratched the car.’
Ans: Karen
4.
‘You
must come to Dave’s party with
me on Saturday.’
Ans: Hilary
5.
‘If you don’t give me $5000, I’m
going to tell the police all about it.’
Ans: Maurice
6.
‘Oh,
I’m the best tennis player at the college.’
Ans: Jemima
7.
‘Would you mind repeating the question, Dr. Mc Bianchi?’
Ans: Dr. Jackson
8.
‘The service in this restaurant is incredibly slow.’
Ans: George
9.
“Honest to God, I’ve never seen
this money before in my life” said Mr. Penfold.
Ans: Mr. Penfold
10.
‘I think it might be better to
wait until the manager gets here.’
Ans: The shop assistant
