Direct & Indirect Speech

Direct speech tells the exact words a speaker said. We usually write it in quotation marks. Indirect speech, also called reported speech, tells the meaning of the words without using the exact words. • Direct speech: She said, "I am tired." • Indirect speech: She said that she was tired. In direct speech, the speaker's words are repeated exactly. In indirect speech, we often change the tense, pronouns, and time words. This helps us report what someone said in a natural way. Use say, tell, or ask to introduce reported speech. We usually say say when the listener is not mentioned, and tell when we mention who received the message. • He said, "I like music." • He said that he liked music. • She told me that she liked music. Quotation marks are important in direct speech. In indirect speech, quotation marks are not used. Remember that the sentence structure changes, but the meaning stays the same.

When we change direct speech into indirect speech, we often move the tense one step back. This is called backshift. • am or is changes to was • are changes to were • present simple changes to past simple • present continuous changes to past continuous • will changes to would For example: • He said, "I am happy." -> He said that he was happy. • She said, "I will help." -> She said that she would help. Pronouns also change to fit the new speaker. I may become he or she. We change pronouns so the sentence makes sense. • John said, "I am tired." -> John said that he was tired. Time and place words often change too: • now -> then • today -> that day • yesterday -> the day before • tomorrow -> the next day • here -> there These changes help the listener know when and where the action happened.

We use different patterns for different kinds of sentences in reported speech. Statements: Use say or tell. • He said that he was late. • She told me that she was happy. Yes or no questions: Use ask and add if or whether. • He asked if I was ready. • She asked whether he liked tea. Wh questions: Keep the question word, but change the word order to a statement. • She asked where I lived. • He asked what time it was. Commands and requests: Use tell or ask + object + to + verb. • The teacher told us to open our books. • My mother asked me to be quiet. In reported speech, do not keep the question form. Do not use quotation marks. Use normal statement order and choose the right reporting verb.