ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Grammar Section

PrePared by : Jalal “faizy”

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
Direct speech: the message of the speaker is conveyed or reported in
his own actual words without any change.
Indirect speech: the message of the speaker is conveyed or reported
in our own words.
There are two ways of saying what someone else said in the past
Direct speech : Ahmad said ,”I have an appointment this evening .”
Indirect speech : Ahmad said that he had an appointment that evening.
Reporting speech:
The first part in the direct speech is called REPORTING SPEECH.
Reported speech:
The second part of the sentence, which is closed in inverted
commas, is called REPORTED SPEECH.
Reporting verb:
Verb of the reporting speech is called REPORTING VERB.
Reported verb:
Verb of the reported speech is called REPORTED VERB.
RULES:
1. Quotation marks are not used in indirect /reported speech.
2. Comma is not used before or after (that ,what where and etc.)In
indirect /reported speech.
3. Backshift the tenses or Verb tenses are changed.
4. Pronouns are changed .( not third person )
5. Possessive adjectives are changed .
6. Some adverbs of time and place expressions are changed .
 DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
Change of place and time expressions :Words expressing nearness in time or
place in direct speech are generally changed into words expressing distance in
indirect speech.
Now – then, sir  respectfully
Here – there today  that day
Ago -- before tonight  that night
Thus – so good morning  greeted
Today -- that day Come -- go
Tomorrow -- the next day Hither-- thither
This -- that These -- those
Yesterday -- the day before/previous day hence – thence
 CHANGES IN MODALS
CAN changes into COULD
A) direct: he said, "I can swim."
B) indirect: he said that he could swim.
May changes into might
A) direct: he said, "I may buy a house.”
B) indirect: he said that he might buy a house.
Must changes into had to/would have to
A) direct: he said, "I must work hard.”
B) indirect: he said that he had to work hard.
Modals that do not change: would, could, might, should, ought to.
A) direct: he said, “I should face the challenge.”
B) indirect: he said that he should face the challenge.
BACK SHIFTING EXCEPTION :
Recent conversation or news
1. Frishta says ,”I cant help you ,sorry . I have a lot of work to do.”
Freshta says she cant help me because she has a lot of work to do.
Notice : the helping verb is in present tense and the other verbs in the
sentence also stays in the present .this is because we are reporting her
words immediately. There is not much time delay , so back shifting is
not all that important .
CONVERSION OF INTERROGATIVES
1.Reporting verb like ‘said/ said to’ changes to asked, enquired or
demanded
2. Changes the pronouns, backshift the tense ,change the time and
place expressions.
3. Use statement word order .
Example:
Direct speech: she said to me , “what are you doing”?
Indirect speech : she asked me what I was doing .
Ex : she asked ,” where did salman go yesterday “?
2. If sentence begins with auxiliary verb, the joining clause should be
if or whether.
A) direct: he said, “will you come for the meeting?”
B) indirect: he asked them whether they would come for the
meeting.
Ex : Direct : Do you like coffee ?” she asked .
Indirect : She asked if I liked coffee.
If sentence begins with ‘wh’ questions then no conjunction is used as
the "question-word" itself act as joining clause.
A) direct: “where do you live?” Asked the girl.
B) indirect: the girl enquired where i lived.
REPORTING REQUESTS ,ADVICE, INSTRUCTIONS
AND COMMANDS
Indirect speech is introduced by some verbs like ordered, requested, advised
and suggested. Forbid(s)/ forbade is used for the negative sentences. The
imperative mood is changed into the infinitive.
1.Request : ask + object + to –infinitive verbs
Example :
Direct: he said to her, “please wait.”
Indirect: he requested her to wait.
2. Instruction : tell + object +to infinitive verb
Example :
Direct : he told him ,” go straight and turn left “
Indirect : he told him to go straight and turn left .
3.Advice :advise +object + to infinitive
Direct : His father said .” you should study hard .”
Indirect : His father advised that he should study hard .
4. Order : order +object + to infinitive verb .
A) direct: Ali said to ahmad, “go away.”
B) indirect: Ali ordered ahmad to go away.
Note : for negative form just put not after the object
and before
direct: Ali said to ahmad, “go away.”
indirect: Ali ordered ahmad not to go away.
preposition to .
 FINAL QUIZ
Direct :1 ahmad said .” I have a terrible headache today!”
2.” it rained here last night ,”Ali told us .
3.Will Nabi be in his office tomorrow ?” he asked .
4. “ please turn off your cell phones, "the librarian said to the visitors .
I said ,” I am going to California on a business trip next week .”
Indirect: 1. Ahmad said that he had terrible headache that day .
2. Ali told us that it had rained there the previous night
3. He asked if Nabi would be in his office the next day .
4. The ;librarian told the visitors to turn off their cell phones.
5.I said that I was going to California on a business trip the following week .
6. “I would not eat that pizza if I were you .” her friend
said to her .
6. Her friend advised her not to eat the pizza .
The End