Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct Speech ► Direct speech uses the exact words of the speaker ► It is indicated by quotation marks: Eg: “I’m hungry!” exclaimed Sam. ► A new line is used for each change of speaker ► In cartoons or comics, the words spoken by the speaker are enclosed in a bubble
Direct speech consists of 2 parts: 1) A clause containing an introductory verb such as said or asked. This indicates the speaker. A comma always follows the introductory verb: Eg: Michael said, 2) The actual words that are spoken. These are enclosed in quotation marks The first word begins with a capital letter. Eg: Michael said, “Today is a great day!”
Formats of direct speech: 1) The introductory verb can come before the words that are spoken: Eg: The supporters shouted, “Come on, Chelsea!” 2) The spoken words can come first: Eg: “How long until half-time?” asked an excited spectator. 3) The introductory verb may be found in the middle of the sentence: Eg: “You guys are useless!” shouted the captain. “You’re going to cost us the trophy!”
Indirect Speech In indirect speech, the exact meaning of the speaker's words is given, but the exact words are not directly quoted. The actual words are altered to indicate that the speech is reported. NO quotation marks or contraction! Eg: Dean said that he was hungry as he had not eaten since the day before.
To change direct into indirect speech: The first words are introductory. They contain the person speaking and the introductory verb. For example: Mary shouted Introductory verb Subject The linking word ‘that’ will link the introductory verb to what is being reported (except in questions): Eg: Mary shouted that she hated Maths.
NOUNS are NOT changed.
For example: Mike said, “I agree with him.” PRONOUNS of the first (I, me, my, we, us) and second persons (you, your) are changed to third person (he, she, them, they): For example: Mike said, “I agree with him.” Changes to: Mike said that he agreed with him.
Present tense verbs are changed to PAST TENSE: Shall is changed to would Should would Will would Is was Was had been Has had May might Can could
Pronouns, adjectives and adverbs – those that express nearness in time or place are changed to those that express distance: this is changed to that Today that day Tomorrow the next day Now then Ago before (or previously) Here there Hither thither Hence thence Thus so Yesterday the day before These those Last night the night before Hereby thereby
Questions As was mentioned previously, the linking word ‘that’ will link the introductory verb to what is reported when the reported speech is a normal statement. But what happens when a question is asked? There are 2 ways to change a question to indirect speech: One can use either ‘if’ or ‘whether’ as the linking word: For example: “Can I use your pen please?" Owen asked. Owen asked if (or whether) he could use his pen. If the first word of a question is a question word (e.g.: who, what, when, where, why, how) use this word as the connecting word: “Why do we have homework tonight?” asked Jed. Jed asked why they had homework that night. NB: NO question mark is used in the indirect speech!
Exclamations ! ! The same rules apply for exclamation marks, except that the introductory verb will be qualified by some word or phrase that expresses emotion: with pleasure; with regret; in excitement. For example: Mary exclaimed, “It’s the weekend!” Mary exclaimed in excitement that it was the weekend. “I hate Tessa because she broke up with me!” shouted Tom. Tom shouted in anger that he hated Tessa because she had broken up with him. NB: NO exclamation mark is used in the indirect speech!