Grammar.
Direct
and Indirect Speech
a.
Direct Speech
To repeat a report of someone's speech.
or
OR
Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a
speaker or writer.
|
Reporting Speech. |
|
Reported Speech. |
Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words,
usually enclosed in quotation marks.
For example:
· Ali
said, "I will meet you at the cafe at 3 PM."
· "I
can’t believe how fast time flies," she remarked.
b. Indirect
Speech
To repeat a report,
speakers modified the wording.
OR
A report on what
someone else said or wrote without using that person’s exact words.
He
said that he took medicines then.
Changing:
He said, “I take medicine now”.
He
said that he took medicines then
In simple words, we can say that in indirect speech we
convey what someone has said but in our own words. No inverted commas will be
used in indirect speech. Instead of commas ‘that’ conjunction will be used.
1. Direct speech:
"I am going to the store," he said.
Indirect speech:
He said that he was going to the store.
2. Direct speech:
"I will finish the report by
tomorrow," she promised.
Indirect speech:
She promised that she would finish the report
by the following day.
3. Direct Speech:
She said, “I am watching a movie”.
Indirect Speech:
She said that she was
watching a movie
4. Direct Speech:
He says, “I am playing
cricket”.
Indirect Speech:
He says that he was
playing cricket.
Some
minor changes:
The Main Changes in Indirect Speech.
The main
changes usually involve:
|
1-
Shifting pronouns
|
2-
Changing verb tenses
|
3-
Adjusting time expressions
|
|
(e.g.,
"I" to "he/she").
|
(e.g.,
"am going" to "was going").
|
(e.g.,
"tomorrow" to "the following day").
|
Direct speech:
"I am going to the store," he said.
Indirect speech:
He said that he was going to the store.
Direct speech:
"I will finish the report by
tomorrow," she promised.
Indirect speech:
She promised that she would finish the report
by the following day.
BASIC RULES FOR
INDIRECT SPEECH.
Rule No. 1.
Words of the speaker (reported speech) are not
enclosed in Inverted Commas or Quotation Marks in Indirect Speech.
Rule No. 2.
Usage of the word “that”:
The conjunction “that” is always used between
reporting verbs and reported speech in indirect speech.
Example:
Direct
Speech:
He said, “I write a letter”.
Indirect Speech:
He said that he wrote a letter.
Rule No. 3.
Change in Tense of
the reported speech:
A change is made in the tenses of reported speech to change direct speech into indirect speech. Rules for tense change are given
below:
Change in Tenses:
click the link and go to Change in Tenses:
Or read more by clicking on the following link.
link: change-in-tense-of-reported-speech.
Rule No. 4.
Changes in Pronoun:
click the link and go to Changes in Pronoun:
Or read more by clicking on the following link.
link: changes-in-pronoun-of-reported-speech.
Rule No. 5.
Change in Place and Time:
click the link and go to Changes in Place and Time:
Or read more by clicking on the following link.
link: change-in-place-and-time-in-reported.
Rule No. 6.
RULES FOR INTERROGATIVE/ QUESTION SENTENCES:
For indirect speech for interrogative sentences
click the link and go to Rule No. 6.
link: Change Indirect speech for Interrogative sentences.
Rule No. 7.
INDIRECT SPEECH FOR IMPERATIVE SENTENCES.
For indirect speech changes in imperative sentences.
click the link and go to Rule No. 7.
link: Indirect speech changes in imperative sentences.
Rule No. 8.
INDIRECT SPEECH FOR EXULUMANTORY SENTENCES.
For indirect speech changes in exclamatory sentences.
click the link and go to Rule No. 8
Indirect Speech for Exculumantory Sentences.
Rule No. 9.
INDIRECT SPEECH FOR OPTATIVE SENTENCES.
click the link and go to Rule No. 9.
link: Change Indirect speech for Optative sentences.
