This document provides information about direct and indirect (reported) speech. It discusses the rules for changing direct speech into indirect speech, such as changing verb tenses and pronouns. Examples are provided to illustrate these rules for statements, questions, exclamations, and changes in time, pronouns and mood. The key aspects covered are the differences between direct and indirect speech, and the transformations required to change from direct to indirect speech based on set rules.
2. Reported Speech
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Say it in your own
words:
1. What did the
monkey ask the lion?
2. What did the lion tell
the monkey?
3. What did the mouse
request the lion?
4. Reported Speech
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Direct Speech
When we use direct speech in our writing:
The exact words spoken must be put inside
speech marks. .
The first spoken word must begin with a
capital letter.
When a new speaker begins, we must start a
new line.
5. Reported Speech
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Here are some examples of direct speech.
Ive hurt
my leg!
Ive hurt my leg! moaned the boy.
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8. Reported Speech
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Indirect Speech
This is sometimes called reported speech.
When we use indirect speech in our
writing:
We dont use speech marks.
We usually have to change pronouns and
verb tenses.
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9. Reported Speech
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Here are some examples of indirect speech.
Ive hurt
my leg!9
The boy moaned that he had hurt his leg.
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10. Reported Speech
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The doctor asked the boy if he could take a
deep breath.
Can you take a
deep breath?
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12. Reported Speech
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Transformation
Types of changes:
Verb Tenses
Time and place
Logical change of pronouns
Types of sentences
EXAMPLE
DIRECT: Mary said, They are meeting me tomorrow.
REPORTED: Mary said that they were meeting her the
following day.
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13. Reported Speech
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Verb Changes
TENSE DIRECT SPEECH REPORTED SPEECH
PRESENT SIMPLE
She said, I play tennis with
my friends.
She said that she played tennis with
her friends.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I am playing tennis with my
friends.
She said that she was playing tennis
with her friends.
PRESENT PERFECT
I have played tennis with my
friends.
She said that she had played tennis
with her friends.
PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
I have been playing tennis
with my friends.
She said that she had been playing
tennis with her friends.
PAST SIMPLE
I played tennis with my
friends.
She said that she had played tennis
with her friends.
PAST CONTINUOUS
I was playing tennis with my
friends.
She said that she had been playing
tennis with her friends.
PAST PERFECT
I had played tennis with my
friends.
She said that she had played tennis
with her friends.
PAST PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
I had been playing tennis
with my friends.
She said that she had been playing
tennis with her friends.
FUTURE SIMPLE
I will play tennis with my
friends
She said that she would play tennis
with her friends.
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14. Reported Speech
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The change of time expression
The time expression in direct speech should be changed in indirect speech.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
now then
today that day
this morning that morning
yesterday the day before / the previous day
yesterday morning the morning before / the previous morning
last night the night before / the previous night
last Monday the Monday before / the previous Monday
ago before
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15. Reported Speech
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Personal Pronouns change according to:
SON formula
If subject of the quoted words is in 1st person then it will change according
to the subject of the reported verb
e.g. - He said to me, I like coffee.
He told me that he liked coffee.
If subject of the quoted words is in 2nd person then it will change according
to the object of reporting verb
e.g. - He said to me, You look happy.
He told me that I looked happy.
If the subject of the quoted words is in 3rd person then there will be no
change.
e.g. - He said to me, She has already left.
He told me that she had already left.
1st person = Subject
2nd person= Object
3rd person= No change
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16. Reported Speech
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Subject= 1st Person
I said, I want to consult my parents.
I said that I wanted to consult my parents.
You said, I want to consult my parents.
You said that you wanted to consult your parents.
She said, I want to consult my parents.
She said that she wanted to consult her parents.
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17. Reported Speech
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Anil said to me, Your parents are waiting for you.
Anil told me that my parents were waiting for me.
Anil said , Your parents are waiting for you.
Anil told you that your parents were waiting for you.
Anil said to him, Your parents are waiting for you.
Anil told him that his parents were waiting for him.
Object = 2nd Person
3rd person= No Change
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18. Reported Speech
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Interrogative sentences are of two types:
Interrogative with auxiliaries at the beginning
Interrogatives with wh questions
( who, where, what, when, how)
Changes in Interrogative Sentences
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19. Reported Speech
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Changes Direct Speech Condition Indirect Speech Condition
Reporting
Verb
said/ said to Asked, enquired or demanded.
Joining
Clause
If sentence begins with
auxiliary verb
joining clause should be if or
whether.
If sentence begins with "wh"
questions
then no conjunction is used as
question-word itself act as
joining clause.
Punctuation Question Mark Full Stop
Helping
Verbs
sentences expresses positive
feeling
do/does is removed from
sentence.
if 'No' is used in interrogative
sentences
do/does is changed into did.
Did or has/have Had
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20. Reported Speech
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Mood of Sentence in Direct
Speech
Reporting verb in indirect speech
order ordered
request requested / entreated
advice advised / urged
direction directed
suggestion suggested to
warning warn
(if a person is addressed directly) called
21. Reported Speech
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Changes for Exclamatory Sentence
Exclamatory sentences express emotions. Interjections such as
Hurrah, wow, alas, oh, ah are used to express emotions.
Rules for conversion of Exclamatory Direct Speech Sentences
into Indirect Speech Sentences.
Exclamatory sentence changes into assertive sentence.
Interjections are removed.
Exclamation mark changes into full stop.
WH words like , what and how are removed and before the adjective
in the reported speech the word very is used.
Changes of tenses , pronouns and adjectives according to the
previous rules.
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22. Reported Speech
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Mood of Sentence in Direct
Speech
Reporting verb in indirect speech
sorrow in reported speech Exclaimed with sorrow/ grief/ exclaimed
sorrowfully or cried out
happiness in reported speech exclaimed with joy/ delight/ exclaimed
joyfully
surprise in reported speech exclaimed with surprise/ wonder/
astonishment
appreciation and it is being
expressed strongly
applauded