DIRECT AND INDIRECT DISCOURSE
DIRECT SPEECH gives exact words of the speaker. Quotation marks used to indicate what is exactly said. A comma separates the quoted part from the introductory part (which tells who said it)
Example: “Welcome to SPA Department!” Mrs. Ramos said.
Quoted part Introductory Part
INDIRECT SPEECH states the ideas but not necessarily the exact words of the speaker. No comma or quotation marks are used. The connector “that” may or may not be used.
Example: Gary says that he enjoys reading newspaper.
Rules on Changing the Direct Speech to Indirect Speech/Discourse
1. If the verb in the introductory part is in the present, future, present perfect tense, the tense of the verb in the quoted part is not changed.
Example:
Direct: Gary has just told us, “I enjoy reading newspaper.”
Indirect: Gary has just told us that he enjoys reading newspaper.
2. If the verb in the introductory part is in the past tense:
a. The present tense become past in the indirect discourse.
Example:
Direct: “I am tired,” Gary said.
Indirect: Gary said that he was tired.
b. The present continues or progressive tense becomes past continues in the indirect discourse.
Example:
Direct: “I am enjoying my time,” Gary said.
Indirect: Gary said he was enjoying his time.
c. The past tense becomes past perfect tense
Example:
Direct: “I made this beautiful diorama,” Gary said.
Indirect: Gary said he had made this beautiful diorama.
d. The future tense becomes conditional.
Example:
Direct: “I will visit you again” he promised.
Indirect: He promised that he would visit me again.
e. The present perfect tense becomes past perfect
Example:
Direct: “I have come” he said.
Indirect: He said that he had come.
3. General truths or obvious natural laws are expressed in the present tense in both direct and indirect discourse.
Example:
Direct: Gary said “The earth moves around the sun.”
Indirect: Gary said that the earth moves around the sun.
4. Changes in pronouns also take place
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
I | She, he |
We | They (or we depending on the context |
You | Me or we, I, us, they, them |
Me | Him, her |
My | His, hers |
Us | Them |
Our/Ours | Their/Theirs |
Your/s | Their/s |
5. Certain words expressing nearness in place, time or manner used by the original speakers are often changed into words expressing remoteness:
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
This, these | That, those |
Here | There |
Hence | Thence |
Now | Then |
Today | That day |
Yesterday | The day before |
Tomorrow | The next day |
Last night | The night before |
Ago | Before |
6. Changes in modals also take place
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
May | Might (possibility) |
Could (permission) | |
Can | Could |
Would (future) | |
Should (advice) | |
Will | Would |
Must | Had to |
7. In reporting questions, the indirect Speech is introduced by such verbs as asked, inquired etc…
Example:
Direct: A stranger asked me, “Where do you live?”
Indirect: A stranger enquired where I lived.
Indirect: A stranger enquired where I lived.
8. In reporting commands and requests, the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing commands and requests, and the Imperative Mood is changed into Infinitive Mood.
Example:
Direct: He said to Mary, “Please wait here till I return.”
Indirect: he requested Mary to wait there till he returned.
Indirect: he requested Mary to wait there till he returned.
Direct: He said, “Be quite and listen to my words”.
Indirect: He urged them to be quite and listen to his words.
Indirect: He urged them to be quite and listen to his words.
9. In reporting exclamation and wishes, the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb expressing Exclamation and Wishes.
Example:
Direct: “So help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again”.
Indirect: He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to resolve.
Indirect: He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to resolve.
Direct: Alice said, “How clever I am?”
Indirect: Alice exclaimed that he was very clever.
Indirect: Alice exclaimed that he was very clever.
Activity 1: Complete the reported speech.
1. “I do not know, Ben” answered his father.
2. Dr. Lee said, “My studies show that boys have less stable friendships.
3. “Eddie, I am still looking for a true friend,” said Mina.
4. “I found the answer!” said Julie.
5. “I know what to do with my friend” he said.
6. “I wrote to a girl in India,” said Mina.
7. “I get the girl’s name from the paper,” Mina said.
8. “The weather is erratic” says Dino.
9. “Graduation makes me feel sad,” says Larry.
10. “Many nurses are in demand abroad,” says the teachers
Activity 2 Change the following to indirect discourse.
1. “The earth collapsed in a village in a Cebu town,” the authorities said yesterday.
2. “Any hasty move might just cause a major flashflood,” he said.
3. He remarked, “It may be better to first pump out water before removing the oil to avoid a sudden rush.”
4. He said, “I must be present on my classes.”
5. “I learned new English words yesterday,” Connie said.
6. Ruben claimed, “We won!”
7. She explained, “The sun is the center of the solar system.
8. Gammy said, “I am busy now.”
9. “Turn left,” he commanded further.
10. “Who is our visitor?” mother asked.
11. “Have you done your assignments?” she inquired.
12. “Let me carry that for you,” he offered.
13. “Avoid coming home late,” mother told us.
14. “Where have you been?” the teacher asked.
15. “Do you really mean what you say?” she asked.
by:
GRACE MANALO-ECHECHE
gmecheche.blogspot.com
“Knowledge is Power”
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