Topic 1- Rules for converting between direct and indirect speech
Rules for Converting Between Direct and Indirect Speech
When we talk about direct and indirect speech, we are talking about how we say what someone else has said. Here’s how to understand and change between them in simple words!
1. Direct Speech
Direct speech is when we quote someone’s exact words. You use quotation marks (” “) to show what they said.
- Example (Direct Speech):
- He said, “I am going to the store.”
2. Indirect Speech
Indirect speech is when we report what someone said, but we don’t use their exact words. Instead, we tell the meaning of what they said.
- Example (Indirect Speech):
- He said that he was going to the store.
How to Change from Direct to Indirect Speech:
Here are some simple rules to change direct speech into indirect speech:
1. Change the Pronouns
In direct speech, the pronouns (like I, you, he, she) are the speaker’s. In indirect speech, we need to change them to fit the new speaker.
- Direct: She said, “I am happy.”
- Indirect: She said that she was happy.
(Here, “I” changes to “she” because we are reporting what she said.)
- Indirect: She said that she was happy.
2. Change the Tense
In indirect speech, we usually need to shift the tense of the verb one step back. This is called backshifting.
- Present Simple → Past Simple
- Direct: She says, “I play soccer.”
- Indirect: She says that she plays soccer.
(No change for present.)
- Present Continuous → Past Continuous
- Direct: He said, “I am eating lunch.”
- Indirect: He said that he was eating lunch.
- Past Simple → Past Perfect
- Direct: They said, “We saw the movie.”
- Indirect: They said that they had seen the movie.
3. Remove the Quotation Marks
In indirect speech, we don’t need quotation marks because we’re reporting the words, not quoting them.
- Direct: “I love ice cream,” she said.
- Indirect: She said that she loved ice cream.
4. Add “That” (Optional)
We often use “that” to connect the two parts of the sentence (the part where we report what someone said). You can add “that” after the reporting verb like said or asked, but sometimes it’s not needed.
- Direct: He said, “I am coming tomorrow.”
- Indirect: He said that he was coming tomorrow.
(Or you can say: He said he was coming tomorrow.)
- Indirect: He said that he was coming tomorrow.
5. Change the Question Words (for Questions)
For questions, you also need to change the word order and remove the question mark. Use words like if or whether for yes/no questions.
- Yes/No Question:
- Direct: She asked, “Are you coming to the party?”
- Indirect: She asked if I was coming to the party.
- Wh- Question (who, what, where, etc.):
- Direct: He asked, “Where are you going?”
- Indirect: He asked where I was going.
6. Change the Time Expressions
In indirect speech, we often change time expressions to make sense of when the speech happened.
- Today → that day
- Direct: She said, “I will go today.”
- Indirect: She said that she would go that day.
- Tomorrow → the next day
- Direct: He said, “I will come tomorrow.”
- Indirect: He said that he would come the next day.
- Now → then
- Direct: She said, “I am doing my homework now.”
- Indirect: She said that she was doing her homework then.
Quick Review
- Direct Speech: Quoting exactly what someone said, using quotation marks.
- Example: She said, “I love chocolate.”
- Indirect Speech: Reporting what someone said, but not using their exact words.
- Example: She said that she loved chocolate.
Remember:
- Change pronouns (I, he, she, etc.)
- Change the tense (Present becomes Past, etc.)
- Remove quotation marks.
- Use “that” to connect the sentence (optional).
- Change questions (yes/no and Wh-questions).
- Change time expressions (today → that day, tomorrow → next day).
Topic 2- Reporting verbs
Reporting Verbs
Reporting verbs are special verbs we use to talk about what someone said or asked. They help us explain how someone spoke or what kind of thing they said. When we report what someone has said, we use these verbs to tell the story.
1. What are Reporting Verbs?
A reporting verb is a word that helps us report or say what someone else has said or done. Instead of just using “said”, we can use different verbs to make our sentence more interesting or to show how the person was speaking.
- Example:
- She said, “I am hungry.”
- Here, “said” is the reporting verb.
- She said, “I am hungry.”
2. Types of Reporting Verbs
Here are some common reporting verbs and what they mean:
a) Say, Tell, Ask
- Say: Used when someone speaks something.
- Example: He said, “I’m going home.”
- Tell: Used when someone gives information to another person.
- Example: She told me, “You are my best friend.”
- Ask: Used when someone asks a question.
- Example: She asked, “What time is it?”
b) Other Reporting Verbs
These verbs tell us more about how someone spoke or what they meant:
- Explain: To give more details about something.
- Example: He explained, “This is how you solve the problem.”
- Warn: To tell someone about a danger or something they should be careful about.
- Example: She warned, “Don’t touch that hot stove!”
- Suggest: To tell someone an idea or plan.
- Example: He suggested, “Let’s go to the park.”
- Promise: When someone says they will do something.
- Example: She promised, “I will help you tomorrow.”
- Admit: To say something that is true, even if it is hard to say.
- Example: He admitted, “I forgot your birthday.”
- Agree: When someone says they think the same thing as you.
- Example: She agreed, “Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”
- Refuse: When someone says they won’t do something.
- Example: He refused, “I won’t go to the party.”
- Exclaim: To say something with surprise or strong feelings.
- Example: She exclaimed, “Wow, this is amazing!”
3. How to Use Reporting Verbs
- Use the correct reporting verb: Choose a verb that fits how the person spoke.
- If the person asked a question, use ask.
- If they made a promise, use promise.
- If they were excited, use exclaim.
- No quotation marks in indirect speech: When using reporting verbs, we don’t need quotation marks. Instead, we use that or sometimes just the reporting verb.
- Example (Direct Speech): He said, “I will help you.”
- Example (Indirect Speech): He promised that he would help me.
Quick Review
- Reporting Verbs are words we use to report what someone said, asked, or did.
- Some common reporting verbs: say, tell, ask, explain, warn, suggest, promise, admit, agree, refuse, exclaim.
- Reporting verbs make our sentences more interesting and help us explain how someone said something.
PLEASE GO AND READ CHAPTER 9. *#THANKS FOR VISITING, VISIT AGAIN#* 😊
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