DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
DIRECT Speech
When we use Direct Speech, we quote the exact words spoken by other people. In writing, we place those words between quotation marks (" ") and we don't change any word. For example…
Tim said, "I saw Alex yesterday".
INDIRECT Speech
We use Indirect or Reported Speech when we want to repeat what someone has previously said, so we generally talk about the past and we need to change the tense of the spoken words.
In other words, the present in Direct Speech, in general, changes to the past in Reported Speech, for example…
Do/does > did
Have/has > had
Is/am > was
Are > were
Can > could
Also Modal verbs change…
Will > would
Can > could
Must > had to
Shall > should
May > Might
For example…
Direct Speech
Mum said, "you must tidy up your room".
Reported Speech
Mum said I had to tidy up my room.
We use reporting verbs like "say", "tell", "ask", "explain", etc and the word "that" to introduce the reported words (but sometimes you can leave out "that").
If you say who someone is talking to, use "tell" (with an indirect object), for example…
Reported Speech
He told me that he was happy.
Reported Speech
Sam told her that she had done well.
Use "say" when there is no indirect object, for example…
Reported Speech
He said that you were coming.
Reported Speech
My doctor said I should drink more water.
Examples
Direct Speech
Where are you going?
Reported Speech
She asked me where I was going.
British
American
Reported Speech
Claire told me that she needed a new cell phone.
Claire told me she needed a new cell phone .
British
American
Reported Speech
The teacher explained that it was important.
The Past Simple can stay the same in Reported Speech or you can change it to the Past Perfect, for example:
Direct Speech
She said, "I lost my car keys so I went to the office by bike."
Reported Speech
She said that she lost her car keys so she went to the office by bike.
Reported Speech
She said that she had lost her car keys so she had gone to the office by bike.
Examples
Direct Speech
I've lost my keys.
Reported Speech
Eve said that she had lost her keys.
British
American
Direct Speech
I don't have my notes
Reported Speech
Mike said he didn't have his notes.
British
American
Direct Speech
I can come to the party on Sunday.
Reported Speech
She said that she could come to the party on Sunday.
Direct Speech
My sister is doing well.
Reported Speech
He told me that his sister was doing well.
PRESENT TO PAST
As we said in "Lesson 1", we don't always have to change the Tense of the Verb. Pay attention to the example…
Direct Speech
I'm always late to work.
Reported Speech
Max said that he is always late to work.
The Verb Tense is the same both in Direct and Reported Speech (Simple Present) because the situation is still the same, Max is always late to work. We can change the Verb to the Past too, for example…
Reported Speech
Max said that he was always late to work.
If the situation has changed or finished we must change the Verb Tense and use the Past, also when what was said is different from what is really true, for example…
Direct Speech
We arrived and the officer said, "you have to leave the room".
Reported Speech
The officer said we had to leave the room.
(we are not in that room any more)
Examples
Situation 1:
You met Kathy in the street and she said...
Direct Speech
Anne is feeling ill today.
...Later that day, you met Anne at the park.
Reported Speech
Kathy said that you were feeling ill.
Situation 2:
You arrive home and your brother says...
Direct Speech
I ate the whole pizza.
...Minutes later, you find pizza in the fridge.
Reported Speech
You said that you had eaten the whole pizza.
When we use Reported Speech (or we backshift) the Tenses change in this way...
Simple Present > Past Simple.
Present Continuous > Past Continuous.
Present Perfect > Past Perfect.
Simple Past > Past Perfect.
Past Continuous > Past Perfect Continuous.
The Past Perfect doesn't change.
Examples
Direct Speech
I am fixing the windows.
Reported Speech
Bob said that he was fixing the windows.British
American
Direct Speech
I was preparing dinner.
Reported Speech
She explained that she had been preparing dinner.British
American
Direct Speech
Greg hasn't finished his homework.
Reported Speech
My mum said that Greg hadn't finished his homework.British
American
Direct Speech
You are not exercising enough.
Reported Speech
The doctor told me that I was not exercising enough.PRONOUNS AND ADVERBS
PRONOUNS
In general, we need to change the Pronoun when we use Reported Speech because there is a change in speaker.
Direct speech
Kim said, "I am driving home".
Reported speech
Kim said that she was driving home.
When the speaker reports his own words, we don't need to change the Pronoun.
Direct speech
I have seen that movie.
Reported speech
I said that I had seen that movie.
Examples
Direct Speech
I will arrive at 9 am.
Reported Speech
Sam said that he would arrive at 9 am.
British
American
Direct Speech
You passed your exams.
Reported Speech
She told us that we had passed our exams.
British
American
Direct Speech
Tom said, "I've lost your bag".
Reported Speech
Tom said that he had lost my bag.
ADVERBS OF TIME
Adverbs of time also change, generally from Present to Past.
Tomorrow > the next day.
Next week/month > the following week/month.
Today > that day.
Tonight > that night.
Yesterday > the previous day.
Now > at that moment.
Here > there.
Examples
Direct Speech
I left my car here.
Reported Speech
She said she had left her car there.
British
American
Direct Speech
Sophy is coming today.
Reported Speech
He said that Sophy was coming that day.
British
American
Direct Speech
I went to the park yesterday.
Reported Speech
He said that he had gone to the park the previous day.
Direct Speech
I am having a great time now.
Reported Speech
She said that she was having a great time at that moment.
1 We use Reported Speech when we want to tell someone what another person said.
2 We use quotation marks in Reported Speech.
3 When we use Reported Speech, we use backshift.
4 Direct or Indirect Speech?
Mum said, "I bought bread this morning".
5 In Reported Speech, we never have to change the tense of the spoken words.
6 Choose the Reported Speech:
Dad said, "you must fasten your seatbelts".
7 In Reported Speech, we use reporting verbs like "tell", "say" and "ask".
8 We use "say" when…
9 The Past Simple can stay the same in Reported Speech.
10 Choose the Reported Speech:
Max said, "I'm always tired on Mondays".
11 In Reported Speech, the Past Perfect always changes.
12 Choose the Reported Speech:
He said, "I'm cooking dinner".
13 In general, we need to change the pronoun when we use Reported Speech.
14 Adverbs of time do not change in Reported Speech.
15 Direct or Indirect Speech?
Claire asked where I had left the keys.
