Direct indirect Speech-Alfea Academy English Course

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Direct-Indirect SpeechDirect-Indirect Speech
I n English GrammarI n 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) SpeechIndirect (Reported) Speech

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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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 Mary and Joseph were arguing. Tom heard MaryMary 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 t o us)(Tom said t o 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 say toMary and Joseph were arguing. Tom heard Mary say to
Joseph “I will kill you.”, and then he (Tom) told us whatJoseph “I will kill you.”, and then he (Tom) told us what
Mary said –Mary said – notnot in her own words but in an indirect way,in her own words but in an indirect way,
i.e. he reported Mary’s words. This speech is mostlyi.e. he reported Mary’s words. This speech is mostly
used in conversation.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 theTo understand the difference between the
direct speech sentence and the indirectdirect 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 verbthe changes that take place – changes in verb
tense, in punctuation marks and in personaltense, in punctuation marks and in personal
pronouns.pronouns.
 The changes we see are applied only when theThe changes we see are applied only when the
main verb in themain verb in the introductory clauseintroductory clause of theof 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
 SueSue said tosaid to Peter, “Peter, “II understandunderstand the problemthe problem.”.”
‘‘understand’ – main verb – simple present tenseunderstand’ – main verb – simple present tense
Sue told Peter that sheSue 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 4Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes 4
TenseTense
 She said to him, “TheyShe 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 theyShe 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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• She said to me, “HeShe 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 heShe told me that he had givenhad given her some medicine.her some medicine.
‘‘had given’ – main verb – PAST perfect tensehad given’ – main verb – PAST perfect tense

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Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes 6Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes 6
TenseTense
Kate said, “IKate said, “I have been waitinghave been waiting here for an hour.”here for an hour.”
‘‘have been waiting’ - main verb - present perfect continueshave been waiting’ - main verb - present perfect continues
Kate said that sheKate said that she had been waitinghad been waiting there for an hour.there for an hour.
‘‘had been waiting’ - main verb - PASThad been waiting’ - main verb - PAST perfect continuesperfect continues

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 He said, “SheHe said, “She playedplayed golf in the morning.”golf in the morning.”
‘‘played’ -- main verb -- simple past tenseplayed’ -- main verb -- simple past tense
He said that sheHe 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 -- not e
• 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 – not e
(cont inued)
• 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 8Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes 8
TenseTense
She said to me, “HeShe said to me, “He was swimmingwas swimming in the pool.”in the pool.”
‘‘was swimming’ -- main verb -- past continues tensewas swimming’ -- main verb -- past continues tense
She told me that heShe told me that he had been swimminghad been swimming in the pool.in the pool.
‘‘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 areThe 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
mine
Our
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
singularsingular
common gender (male or female)common gender (male or female)
subjective casesubjective case
Personal Pronoun –Personal Pronoun – himhim ==
third personthird person
singularsingular
masculine gender (male)masculine gender (male)
objective caseobjective case

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes –Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Personal PronounsPersonal Pronouns
 HeHe said tosaid to herher, “, “II lovelove 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 “you” –Her – third person, singular, female, is related to “you” –
second person, singular, female: so in indirect speechsecond person, singular, female: so in indirect speech
‘you’ becomes “HER”.‘you’ becomes “HER”.
He told her thatHe told her that hehe lovedloved 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 tosaid to PaulPaul, “, “II can’t helpcan’t help youyou.”.” Direct SpeechDirect Speech
Jane told Paul thatJane told Paul that sheshe couldn’t helpcouldn’t help himhim..

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Direct-Indirect Speech – changes – personal PronounsDirect-Indirect Speech – changes – personal Pronouns
 The boyThe boy said tosaid to meme, “, “YouYou aren’taren’t mymy friend.”friend.” DirectDirect
 The boy told me thatThe boy told me that II wasn’twasn’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 SentenceWhile changing a Direct Speech Sentence
into an Indirect Speech Sentence, we useinto an Indirect Speech Sentence, we use
aa conjunctionconjunction to join both the clauses --to join both the clauses --
the introductory clause and the ‘actualthe introductory clause and the ‘actual
spoken words’, subordinate clause.spoken words’, subordinate clause.
 To join the two clauses in aTo 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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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 – Conjunctions 2Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – Conjunctions 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 meA woman asked me ifif she was really driving.she was really driving.

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Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes – not e 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 – second
Is he a boy? Interrogative (question) sentence
‘Is’ – verb – first; ‘he’ – subject – second.

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Direct-Indirect Speech – Changes – not e 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?” Directhas he done?” Direct
‘‘wh’ question – direct speechwh’ question – direct speech
He asked herHe asked her whatwhat he had done. Indirecthe had done. Indirect
For ‘wh’ questions, no conjunction is used; the ‘wh’ wordFor ‘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 -- Conjunction 5Direct-Indirect Speech -- Changes -- Conjunction 5
 She said to them, “She said to them, “WhoWho wants to help me?”wants to help me?”
DirectDirect
SpeechSpeech
 She asked themShe asked them whowho wanted to help her.wanted to help her.

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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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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 studentsShe asked the students whowho knew the answer.knew the answer.

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conjunctions 9conjunctions 9
 While changing the Imperative SentencesWhile changing the Imperative Sentences
from direct to indirect, we do not use anyfrom direct to indirect, we do not use any
conjunctions at all; we change the verb ofconjunctions at all; we change the verb of
the subordinate clause (actual spokenthe subordinate clause (actual spoken
words) to its ‘to infinitive’ form, and thewords) to its ‘to infinitive’ form, and the
main verb in the introductory clause ismain 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 driversThe policeman shouted at the drivers to stopto stop..
‘‘to stop’ – “to infinitive” form of the main verb ‘stop’to stop’ – “to infinitive” form of the main verb ‘stop’

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 He said to the visitors, “He said to the visitors, “Keep quietKeep quiet,, pleaseplease.”.”
HeHe requestedrequested the visitorsthe 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 13conjunction 13
The mother said, “The mother said, “Don’tDon’t crycry, baby…, baby… Don’t cryDon’t cry.”.”
The mother told the babyThe mother told the baby repeatedlyrepeatedly not tonot to crycry..

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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 – changes –Direct-Indirect Speech – changes –
She said to her friends, “She said to her friends, “LetLet’s’s gogo for a picnic.” -- Directfor a picnic.” -- Direct
‘‘Let’ – suggestionLet’ – suggestion
SheShe suggestedsuggested to her friends that theyto her friends that they should goshould go for a picnic.for a picnic.
IndirectIndirect

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Exclamatory SentenceExclamatory Sentence
• While changing an exclamatory sentence from direct toWhile changing an exclamatory sentence from direct to
indirect, we have to rewrite the entire sentenceindirect, we have to rewrite the entire sentence
(expression) in order to give the desired emotion!(expression) in order to give the desired emotion!
• Therefore, you’ve got to wait until you have masteredTherefore, you’ve got to wait until you have mastered
the other kinds of sentences!!the other kinds of sentences!!
• Best of Luck!!!Best of Luck!!!

Direct indirect Speech-Alfea Academy English Course

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