DIRECT AND INDIRECT

SPEECH

Institut Teknologi Del

Jl. Sisingamangaraja, Sitoluama-Laguboti
Toba Samosir, 22381 Sumatera Utara
What is direct and indirect speech?
Direct speech repeats or quotes the exact words spoken.
In writing, we use inverted commas.
e.g.
“I have to tell you about the secret,” David said.

Indirect speech (also called reported speech) is when we

give the same meaning of what someone says without
repeating the exact words.
e.g.
David said he had to tell me about the secret.

The word “that” in indirect speech is optional.

How do we use reporting verbs?
1. The reporting verbs are: say, tell, ask
2. Rules for using reporting verbs:
a) Use “say” when there is no indirect object.
1) He said that he was tired.
2) “I am tired,” said Johan.
b) Always use “tell” when you say who was being spoken
to.
1) He told me that he was tired.
c) Use “ask” to report questions and to report imperatives
or requests.
1) Rani asked (me) where I lived.
2) The teacher asked me to speak louder.
Indirect statement
1. Do not change the Tense if the reporting verb is in
present tense.
a) Direct: “I am hungry,” Alan says.
b) Indirect: Alan says (that) he is hungry.
2. Change the Tense if the reporting verb is in the past
tense.
a) Direct: “I am hungry” Alan said.
b) Indirect: Alan said (that) he was hungry.
3. Do not change the Tense if the information in the direct
speech is still true (usually general facts)
a) Direct: “The sun rises in the East,” Jenny told the child.
b) Indirect: Jenny told the child (that) the sun rises in the East.
Tense changes from direct to indirect
speech when the reporting verb used is in past
tense.
Direct speech Indirect speech
Simple present Simple past
Present continuous Past continuous
Simple past Past perfect
Present perfect Past perfect
Past perfect Past perfect
Present perfect continuous Past perfect continuous
Past continuous Past perfect continuous
Simple future Past future
Indirect questions
1. With “Wh-question”
a) Direct: “Where do you live?” The man asked me.
b) Indirect: The man asked me where I lived.
c) Direct: “Where is your mother” My father asked me.
d) Indirect: My father asked me where my mother was.
2. With “Yes-No” question”
a) Direct: “Do you like your present?” Mom asked me.
b) Indirect: Mom asked me if I liked my present.
c) Direct: “Are you studying English?” Susan asked me.
d) Indirect: Susan asked me if I was studying English.
The use of ‘to-infinitive’ in indirect
speech
1. In reported order
a) Direct: “Sit down!” The man told the young boy.
b) Indirect: The man told the young boy to sit down.
2. In reported request
a) Direct: “Could you close the door, please,” the old
lady asked the policeman.
b) Indirect: The old lady asked the policeman to
close the door.
The changes of time expression in indirect
speech
Direct Indirect speech Direct Indirect speech
speech speech
Now Then Tomorrow The next day/the
Here There following day
Here after There after Last week The week before/ the
previous week
This That
Next week The week after/ the
These Those
following week
Ago Before
Last month The month before/ the
Thus So previous month
Today That day Next month A month later
Tonight That night
Last night The previous night
Yesterday The day before/the
following day
The changes of time expression in
indirect speech
e.g.
Direct speech: “I am studying English now,” John said.
Indirect speech: John said (that) he was studying English
then.
Now that you have learned the rules, make
your own sentences for direct and indirect
speech for:
1. Indirect statement using all 8 tenses
2. Indirect questions
3. Reported order
4. Reported request