direct & indirect (reported) speech direct speech b actual words that people have said b the...

DIRECT & DIRECT &

INDIRECT (REPORTED) INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECHSPEECH

DIRECT SPEECHDIRECT SPEECH

actual words that people have saidactual words that people have said

the actual words are placed within the actual words are placed within quotation marksquotation marks

Hurry up, pal!

DIRECT SPEECH

DIRECT SPEECHDIRECT SPEECH

“Hurry up, pal!” the rabbit told the turtle.


Writing down what somebody has said Writing down what somebody has said without using their exact wordswithout using their exact words


The rabbit told the turtle to hurry up.

DIRECT VS INDIRECT DIRECT VS INDIRECT SPEECHSPEECH

An example:An example:

Direct:Direct: “Can you fly?” we asked “Can you fly?” we asked Batman. Batman.

Indirect:Indirect: We asked Batman if he could We asked Batman if he could fly. fly.


Another example:Another example:

Direct:Direct: “I’m hoping to do a tour of “I’m hoping to do a tour of Southeast Asia very soon,” said Southeast Asia very soon,” said Coco Lee. Coco Lee.

Indirect:Indirect: Coco Lee said that she was Coco Lee said that she was hoping to do a tour of hoping to do a tour of Southeast Asia very soon. Southeast Asia very soon.


1.1. In general:In general:

verbs in the present tense in directverbs in the present tense in direct

speech speech

the past tense in reported speechthe past tense in reported speech

Direct:Direct: “I feel exhausted,” Sue said. “I feel exhausted,” Sue said.

Indirect:Indirect: Sue said she felt exhausted. Sue said she felt exhausted.


2.2. In general:In general:

verbs in the past tense in direct verbs in the past tense in direct speechspeech

the past perfect tense in reported the past perfect tense in reported speechspeech


Example:Example:

Direct:Direct: “I called earlier, but there was “I called earlier, but there was no reply,” said the electrician. no reply,” said the electrician.

Indirect:Indirect: The electrician said that he The electrician said that he had called earlier but had called earlier but

there had there had been no reply. been no reply.


3.3. Yes-No questions begin with “if” inYes-No questions begin with “if” in

reported speech. Example:reported speech. Example:

Direct:Direct: “Can you speak French?” “Can you speak French?” Brandon asked. Brandon asked.

Indirect:Indirect: Brandon asked if I could Brandon asked if I could speak speak French. French.


4.4. WH-questions. Example:WH-questions. Example:

Direct:Direct: “Where do you boys live?” the “Where do you boys live?” the police officer asked. police officer asked.

Indirect:Indirect: The police officer asked us The police officer asked us where we lived. where we lived.


Another example:Another example:

Direct:Direct: “Where are you going?” Daniel “Where are you going?” Daniel asked. asked.

Indirect:Indirect: Daniel asked me where I was Daniel asked me where I was going. going.


5.5. The verb in commands and warnings The verb in commands and warnings changes to “to” in reported speech. changes to “to” in reported speech.

Example:Example:

Direct:Direct: “Be careful, Eric,” said Daryl. “Be careful, Eric,” said Daryl.

Indirect:Indirect: Daryl told Eric to be careful. Daryl told Eric to be careful.


6.6. Other words that may change in Other words that may change in the the transfer from direct to reported transfer from direct to reported

speech. speech.


here - therehere - there next week/year - the following next week/year - the following

week/year week/year last week/year - the previous last week/year - the previous

week/year week/year now - thennow - then

direct & indirect (reported) speech direct speech b actual words that people have said b the...

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