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Direct and indirect speech

A direct quotation gives the words of a speaker exactly as spoken
Ex : Tammy said, I am leaving tomorrow
An indirect quotation reports on someones words indirectly. The pronouns used in an indirect
quotation are different from those in a direct quotation.
Ex: Tammy said that she was leaving tomorrow
When an indirect object is used in a sentence being changed from direct to indirect speech, say to is
often changed to tell
Direct :

Barbara said to Phyllis, I have a cold.

Indirect::

Barbara told Phyllis that she had a cold

Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech

Note : when changing from direct to indirect speech
If you have a present in the direct speech ,it becomes past
If you have a future it becomes a conditional (would, could, or should)
If you have a past or a present perfect it becomes a past perfect(had + past participle)
1. Carolyn said, I will be here at noon answer :Carolyn said (that) she would be here at noon
2. David said, the plane will probably get in late
3. The boss said, I have to finish this report by tonight
4. I said ,I cant understand those lessons at all.
5. Catherine said: I know those two girls quite well.
6. George remarked, I cant possibly finish the work by that time
7. Charles said to me ,I have to leave the office before 3:00 p.m.
8. Mary said to John, I cant go to the movie with you.
9. John said , I certainly hope it wont rain tomorrow.
10. Henry said , I can meet them later.
11. He said , I will never speak to her again.
12. the man said , the telephone is out of order.
13. The teacher said, Everyone has to write a composition.
14. William said , I am leaving in the morning.

In questions ,
The indirect speech follows the same rules except that the question pattern disappears.
Example: She asked me ,Where are you going? becomes: She asked me where I was going(not was I)
Example :He asked him , What time is it? becomes He asked him what time it was. ( and not was it)
If there are no question words, then, you must introduce the words if or whether in the indirect
speech
Example: He asked her, Do you speak English ?becomes He asked her if (or whether)she spoke
English

Remember
1st that the question structure disappears(no more do, does ,did etcused before the
subject)
2nd you have to introduce the word if or whether like in the French language if
there are no question words
3rd all the rules of the sequence of tenses apply
4th look out for the time expressions. You must sometimes change them according to
the meaning of the sentence
5th make sure you use the correct pronouns (according to the meaning of the sentence)
Example : Mary asked me ,Where will you go tomorrow?
Answer : Mary asked me where I would go the next day.(tomorrow)
Example : The teacher asked the students , Did you study your lessons for the test?
Answer : The teacher asked the students if they had studied their lessons for the test.
Note The that in the indirect speech can be omitted when the meaning is clear

Direct vs indirect speech

1. Charles said to me ,I have to leave the office before 3:00 p.m.
2. Martha asked me , Where did you put my hat and gloves?
3. Mr Roosevelt said , the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
4. I said, He can come .
5. Mary remarked to John, I like you.(look out for the pronouns)
6. Denis said, Dont wait for me (like in French)
7. the director announced, The class will go to the museum next Thursday if it doesnt rain.
8. ***difficult one . the answer is: The director announced that the class would go to the museum the
following Thursday if it didnt rain.
Note : If you understand that one , you understand the indirect speech very well
9. Last week Mary asked John , Are you going tomorrow?
10. John exclaimed , I have to go right now! (note: now will have to change to then)
11. Mr Dunn said to Helen , Give me that book
12. The teacher asked ,How well does Miss Wang speak English?
13. The treasurer asked the boss , When must I turn in this report?
14. Fred asked me , How much will you offer me for this camera?
15. Roger asked us , Have you seen that movie yet?
16. I asked her, Do you understand that lesson?
17. My friend asked me , Do you enjoy your English class?
18. Doris asked her friend , Do you like my new summer dress?
19. The clerk said to us , Dont come back before one oclock
20. The man directed , turn left at the corner and drive two blocks.
21. Mr Lanes wife said to him , Dont leave your coat on the chair.
22. The teacher said , No one has finished that part yet.
23. Tom asked the men , Who is going to help me with the work?
24. The student asked , When should John come to your office?

More practice with Direct vs Indirect speech

Change the questions given below to indirect form. Begin each sentence with the words given after it in
parentheses.

Very important Note

If the verb that introduces the indirect speech is in the present tense form , there are no changes for the verb
tense in the indirect speech i.e the tense stays the same . If it is present it stays present or future or whatever..
But if the verb that introduces the indirect speech is in the past , then there are changes like we saw in page 2
(see the note)
1.

Where is the directors office ? ( I dont know..)

Answer : I dont know ..where the directors office is. (no change because the introducing verb
know is present

2.

Where did Miss Smith go? ( He wants to know.where Miss Smith went)

3.

What time is it ? (I wonder)

4.

In which file is the letter? ( Mr Jones wants to know.)

5.

How is he getting along ? (The director wants to know ..)

6.

What is the price of this book? ( She said she didnt know .)

7.

What does it mean ? ( I asked him.)

8.

What time is he coming back ? (He didnt tell me ..)

9.

Did she take it with her? (I really dont know.)

10. Where is he going ? ( He didnt tell anyone .)

Choose the right answer.

1.

She asked me where ( was I , I was ) going

2.

Ask him what time ( is it , it is)

3.

He wants to know where (she lives, does she live)

4.

Ask him how old (is he , he is)

5.

He didnt say where ( he was , was he ) going.

6.

He asked me when (I would , would I) return.

7.

I asked him what time ( could he, he could ) meet us

8.

He wants to know where ( do we have , we have ) our English lesson.

9.

He asked me how old ( was I , I was)

Commands
Orders or commands are expressed in indirect speech by use of an infinitiveas shown in the
following examples.
(Direct) He said to me , Come back later.
(Indirect ) He told me to come back later
(Direct ) She said to me, Dont wait for me .
(Indirect ) She told me not to wait for her
Practice
1. John said to me , Wait five minutes for me .
2. He asked me , Try to come on time.
3. She said to me, Dont forget what I have told you.
4. He said to me angrily , Dont make the same mistakes again.
5. He asked us , Please sit down for a few minutes.

Express in indirect speech what The Teacher told you to do

1. Wait outside in the hall
Example : the teacher told me to wait outside in the hall
2. Stay after class
3. Dont make so much noise
4. Look out the window but dont open it.
5. Stop talking to Anna
6. Sit down straight in your seat
7. Be quiet while I am talking.
8. Pay more attention to what i say

Express the following in indirect speech form

1. He said ,
the students need more practice in speaking.
These exercises are difficult for me.
I dont feel well.
Nobody can do that work as well as Mary.
I have already seen that movie.
2. He asked me,
Where does that girl live?
How old are you?
What time is it?
Where are you going?
Do you like to study English?
3. I said to him,
Wait outside for me .
Come back in an hour.
Dont mention this to anyone.
4. I dont know,
Where does she live?
What time is it?
How long have you studied English?
What is her first name?