Indirect speech in English in practice
Indirect speech in English: rules and practice
Indirect or Reported Speech is an integral part of English grammar, utilized for conveying the words, questions, and thoughts of others without quoting them verbatim. This proves especially useful in everyday conversations, academic writing, and when narrating stories or anecdotes. In this article, we will delve into the fundamental rules of using indirect speech and provide insightful examples. Towards the end of the article, you’ll have the opportunity to test your knowledge with 20 practical quiz questions.
Basic Rules of Indirect Speech in English
Change of Tense
In indirect speech, the tense of the main verb typically shifts when the main verb is in the past. For instance:
- Direct Speech: “He says, ‘I eat apples.’
- Indirect Speech: He said he ate apples.
The choice of tense in reported speech depends on the context. For example, “I am” becomes “he/she/it was,” and “I will” becomes “he/she/it would.” When the original sentence uses Present Simple, use Past Simple in indirect speech.
Alteration of Pronouns
Personal pronouns change according to the subject or object of the direct speech. For example:
- Direct Speech: “She says to him, ‘I like your dress.'”
- Indirect Speech: She tells him that she likes his dress.
Personal pronouns may vary based on the situation. For instance, “I” becomes “he/she/it,” and “we” becomes “they.”
Modification of Demonstratives and Adverbs of Place and Time
Words indicating location or time need modification in indirect speech. For example:
- Direct Speech: “This will help us here.”
- Indirect Speech: That would help us there.
Demonstrative pronouns and adverbs of time may change: “this” becomes “that,” “here” becomes “there,” and “today” becomes “that day.”
Demonstrative pronouns and adverbs of place may change: “now” becomes “then,” “today” becomes “that day.”
Transformation of Questions
General questions can be connected using “if” or “whether,” while special questions maintain their structure without a question mark.
- Direct Speech: “Are you coming to the party?”
- Indirect Speech: She asked if I was coming to the party.
Handling Reporting Verbs
Change reporting verbs based on the situation. Use alternative verbs like “ask,” “inform,” or “promise” when necessary.
- Direct Speech: “He said, ‘I can help.'”
- Indirect Speech: He offered to help.
Examples of Transforming Direct Speech into Indirect Speech
Change of Time and Person:
- Direct Speech: “She said, ‘I will call you tomorrow.'”
- Indirect Speech: She said that she would call me tomorrow.
Transformation of Questions:
- Direct Speech: “Did he ask, ‘What time is it?'”
- Indirect Speech: He asked what time it was.
Conversion of Statements into Questions:
- Direct Speech: “He told me, ‘You are late.'”
- Indirect Speech: He asked me if I was late.
Conversion of Questions into Statements:
- Direct Speech: “Have they asked, ‘Can we come in?'”
- Indirect Speech: They asked if they could come in.
Handling Requests:
- Direct Speech: “She said, ‘Please help me.'”
- Indirect Speech: She asked me to help her.
Modification of Time and Pronouns:
- Direct Speech: “They said, ‘We will finish the project tomorrow.'”
- Indirect Speech: They said that they would finish the project the next day.
Translating Questions into Indirect Speech:
- Direct Speech: “John asked, ‘Are you coming to the party?'”
- Indirect Speech: John asked if I was coming to the party.
Changing Direct Speech to Indirect Speech:
- Direct Speech: “She said, ‘I love this place.'”
- Indirect Speech: She said that she loved that place.
Practice – indirect speech in English – Test
Having familiarized ourselves with the rules, let’s move on to practice. In everyday English, we often use indirect speech when we relay conversations or information to third parties.
Learning indirect speech is important for communicating in English at a high level. By applying these rules and exercises in practice, you will improve your skills and learn to effectively express other people’s words and thoughts.