Direct and Indirect Speech
- Tense Changes
Direct speech and
indirect speech are ways people express how something was said. Direct speech
also called quoted speech is said exactly how the speaker initially spoke the
words. Indirect speech also called reported speech is reported back not using
the exact words as the original speaker.
Ø Direct Speech
Direct speech also called quoted speech is said exactly how the
speaker initially spoke the words. It is written with quotation marks to
indicate the exact words that were used by the original speaker. A comma is
used to separate the quoted speech and the speaker.
Example :
·
He said, "I am
not finished with the assignment."
·
"I want to break
up with you," she told me.
Ø Indirect Speech
Indirect speech also called reported speech is reported back not
using the exact words as the original speaker. It is written without quotation
marks because it is not directly quoting word for word. When using indirect
speech the verb tense changes because we are reporting things that have
happened in the past. A comma is not used.
·
He said he was not
finished with the assignment.
·
She told me that she wanted to break up with me.
Ø Tense Changes When Reporting Speech
The verb tense changes when reporting speech (indirect speech) from
a quoted speech (direct speech). When using indirect speech the verb tense
changes because we are reporting things that have happened in the past. You do
not have to use "that" when reporting speech. It is optional.
|
Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech |
|
She said, "I likecandy." |
She said she likedcandy. |
|
"I am playingbaseball,"
John said. |
John said he was playing baseball. |
|
Carol said, "I lived in
England." |
Carol said that she had
lived in England. |
|
"I will help them
tomorrow," she said. |
She said that she would help them
tomorrow. |
|
Mark said, "We were
studying all night." |
Mark said that they had
been studying all night." |
|
"It has been rainingall
day," he said. |
He said that it had been
raining all day. |
|
Bill told me, "I had
been waiting for three hours." |
Bill told me that he had
been waiting for three hours. |
|
Joe told me, "We will
be joining you on Saturday." |
Joe told me that they would
be joining us on Saturday. |
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