Direct and Indirect speech Lesson 34

1 the changing of verb: if the reporting verb is in the present tense, then the verb in the indirect speech has no change in tense and case. The changes from direct speech to indirect speech

2 If the reporting verb is in the past tense, then the verb in the indirect speech should be put to its past further. He said, “The committee are quarrelling among themselves.”  He said the committee were quarrelling among themselves. He said, “The secretary has turned down the proposal.”  He said the secretary had turned down the proposal.

3But in the following occasion, the verb in the indirect speech doesn’t change. a) The quotation is object fact, scientific truth, present habitual action and maxim,it doesn’t chang He said, “ The word ˋ laser ˊ is an acronym.  He said the word “laser” is an acronym.

b)The quotation is in subjunctive mood. “ I suggest the meeting be put off till next week,” he said.  He suggested the meeting be put off till the next week.

c) The state and action which is quotated is still going on. “ I’m forty,” he said.  He said he is forty.

d)The modal verb in the quotation doesn’t have past tense form. He said, “ It must be pretty late. I really must go.”  He said it must be pretty late, and he really must go.

4 Other changes 1)pronoun: the first person pronoun should be changed to the third person; the second person pronoun should be put to the first peron pronoun. He said, “ We love our country.”  He said they love their country.

Demostrative pronoun and determiner:  this  that/it these  those/ they/them

2) The changes of time adverbial 1. He said, “ It was completed a year ago.” 2.  He said it had been completed a year before. 3. Today  that day 4. This morning/ afternoon  that morning /afaternoon 5. Tomorrow  the folloing day

Yesterday  the day before, the previous day The day before yesterday  two days before Tomorrow  the following/ next day The day after tomorrow  two days after, in two days time.

Next week/ month, etc  the next week/ month, etc Last week/ month  the week/ month before Now  then

Exercise Put the following into indirect speech 1 “ In most countries red stands for danger,” said Mr Jackson. 2 “ I wish I had six weeks for a holiday,”said Mr Jones.

The indirect speech in interrogative sentences Direct speech Indirect speech “Whether”, “if’ In general question He said to me, “ May I go?” He asked me if he might go. Use the “Wh-” special question He asked me, “ What is your name?” He asked me what my name was.

1 Are you being attended to, sir ? 2 Why is your mother driving so fast? 3 Why not take more exercise? Exercise

 Ask, order, tell, beg, warn remind, advise should be used. “Leave the room quietly.”  He told me to leave the room quietly. “Be careful with the dog.” I warned you to be careful with the dog. Imperative sentence

Excercise Put the following into indirect speech, using the verb in the bracket: 1 Climb in through the window. (order) 2 Don’t let it boil over. (warn) 3 Wash it in lukewarm water. (recommend).

Exclamatory Sentence  1) Use “what”, “how”, “that”  “what a lovely house!”   He remarked what a lovely house it was.   he remared that it was a lovely house.  2) change it into a declarative sentence  “ What beautiful weather!”   He commented on the beautiful weather.