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Direct speech repeats, or quotes, the exact words spoken. When we use direct speech in writing, we place the words
spoken between quotation marks (" ") and there is no change in these words.
She says, "What time will you be home?"
INDIRECT SPEECH
Reported or indirect speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we normally change the tense of the words spoken.
We use reporting verbs like 'say', 'tell', 'ask', and we may use the word 'that' to introduce the reported words.
She said, "I saw him." (direct speech) = She said that she had seen him. (indirect speech)
Modals
“I’ll see you later.” She said she would see me later.
“I can’t come to the meeting.” He said he couldn’t come to the meeting.
“I have to/must go to the doctor.” She said she had to go to the doctor.
“We may be late.” I said that we might be late.
REPORTING VERBS
Ask, say, add, admit, announce, answer, comment, complain, confirm, deny, estimate, explain, insist, mention, observe,
persuade, propose, remark, remember, repeat, reply, report, reveal, suggest, tell, think, understand, warn.
T. CARLOS 2018
CHANGING THE TIME AND PLACE REFERENCES
Time and place must often change when going from direct to reported speech.
The day after tomorrow in two days time/ two days later
"We'll come the day after tomorrow", they said. They said that they would come in two days time/
two days later.
ago before
"I saw her a week ago," he said. He said he had seen her a week before.
here there
He said, "I live here". He told me he lived there.
ACTIVITIES
A. Write the sentences in indirect speech. If a sentence can be written both with and without backshifting, write it both
ways.
1. Zachary mentioned, “I need a new suit, but I really want a new jacked.”
2. Kate just called. She asked, “Did you enjoy your vacation?”
3. In his lecture, Dr. Taylor stated, “The Earth rotates around the sun.”
4. Georgia says, “I’ve never seen such exciting painting before.”
5. The professor explained, “I wan you to finish your essays for the next class.”
D. Write the conversation in indirect speech. Begin like this: Harry asked me…
HARRY: Can I borrow your car on Saturday?
ME: Yes, you can. But you’ll have to return it to me by 7:00 pm.
HARRY: Do you really need your car by 7:00? Could I bring it back by 9:00 instead?
ME: I’m sorry, but I promised to take my nephew to the movies.
HARRY: Oh, I understand. I’ll return it to you by 7:00
E. Write each sentence in indirect speech
1. The patient asked the nurse, “Could you please bring me a funny movie?”
2. Dr. Baker advised, “Don’t let emotional tension make you sick.”
3. She told me, “Be a good sport and laugh about it.”
4. “Don’t laugh at that joke,” Fred instructed his son. “It’s disgusting,” he said.
5. Lucas told us, “Never touch the green button on the printer.”
6. “Take the penguin to the zoo tomorrow,” Mr. Franklin’s neighbor told him.
7. Nick said, “Please don’t ask how the meeting went.”
T. CARLOS 2018