DIRECT AND INDIRECT Arranged by: Aswarini S.

SPEECH
THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO REPORT WHAT SOMEONE SAYS OR
THINKS:

1. directly

2. indirectly
DIRECT SPEECH
Direct speech shows a person’s exact words. To write direct speech, use
quotation marks (“…”)

Examples:

a. Maria asked, “Where are you going?”

b. John replied, “I’m going home.”

INDIRECT SPEECH
Indirect speech (reported speech) does not use the exact words of the
speaker. Instead we report what was said by changing some of the words
said, but retaining the same meaning.
INDIRECT SPEECH
Examples:

a. Amy said, “I love chocolate.” (direct)

b. Amy said she loved chocolate. (indirect)

c. Amy said that she loved chocolate. (indirect)

Note: Use of the word “that” is optional in indirect speech.

VERB TENSES (DIRECT INDIRECT)

Simple Present (Direct) → Simple Past (Indirect)

Examples:
a. Beth said, “Ned is a good boy.” Beth said that Ned was a good
boy.

b. Tommy said, “I don’t want it.” Tommy said he didn’t want that.
VERB TENSES (DIRECT INDIRECT)

Simple Past (Direct) → Past Perfect (Indirect)

Examples:

a. Mary said, “I came to the party.” Mary said she had come to the
party.

b. Mom said, “I cooked you noodle.” Mom said that she had cooked
me noodle.
VERB TENSES (DIRECT INDIRECT)

Present Perfect (Direct) → Past Perfect (Indirect)

Examples:
a. Jane said, “I have seen this movie.” Jane said that she had seen
that movie.”

b. Dad said, “Your brother have left home.” Dad said that my brother
had left home.
VERB TENSES (DIRECT INDIRECT)

Will → Would / Can → Could

Examples:
a. Bill said, “I will tell you the truth.” Bill said that he would tell me the
truth.

b. She said, “I can sing better than he can.” She said that she could
sing better that he could.
EXERCISE

1. Mr. West said, "I am very tired".

2. George said, "I have lived in this village all my life"  

3. Helen said to me, "I hope you have enjoyed yourself"

4. Jane said, "I want to study medicine, father".

5. Her friend said, "You are wrong, Mary".

 
INDIRECT WH QUESTIONS

Word order: The word order in an indirect question is the same as in a

statement.

Examples:

Ted asked me, “What do you think about the book?” Ted asked me what
I thought about the book.
INDIRECT YES NO QUESTIONS

To change a yes/no question in indirect speech, use if or whether.

Examples:

a. Brad asked, “Are you ready, Katy?” Brad asked Katy if she was
ready.

b. Eli asked me, “Will you be at the party?” Eli asked whether I
would be at the party or not.
EXERCISE

1. The nurse asked him, "How are you feeling".

2. The teacher asked "Have you written your homework?"

3. She asked me "Where are you from?"

4. She asked him "When will you meet your friends?"

5. I ask you, “What are you doing?”

INDIRECT REQUEST, COMMAND AND ADVICE

When we report request, command and advice, we can use the structure:

Reporting verb + to-infinitive

Example:

The girl said, “Please help me, John!” The girl asked John to help her.
INDIRECT NEGATIVE REQUEST, COMMAND AND
ADVICE
In negative orders, promises, requests,etc, we use the structure:

Reporting verb + not + to-infinitive

Example:

The dentist told me, “Don’t eat too much sweet.” The dentist asked me
not to eat too much sweet.
EXERCISE

1. The teacher said to me, "write your name on this paper."

2. He said to me, "Wait for me here". 

3. He said to them "Don't go out alone".

4. He said to me, "Type this letter immediately."

5. Peter said to Tom, "Don't do it again".

THE END