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Direct AND Indirect Speech

The document discusses the differences between direct and indirect speech. Direct speech uses exact words from the speaker enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech reports the speaker's words without quotation marks. When changing direct speech to indirect speech, punctuation, pronouns, verbs, and other elements change to reflect the new grammatical structure. Tenses may also need to shift depending on the tense of the introductory verb.

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Huda Munir
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514 views12 pages

Direct AND Indirect Speech

The document discusses the differences between direct and indirect speech. Direct speech uses exact words from the speaker enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech reports the speaker's words without quotation marks. When changing direct speech to indirect speech, punctuation, pronouns, verbs, and other elements change to reflect the new grammatical structure. Tenses may also need to shift depending on the tense of the introductory verb.

Uploaded by

Huda Munir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DIRECT

AND
INDIRECT SPEECH
DIRECT SPEECH
 Uses the exact words of the speaker.
 It is indicated by the use of inverted commas.
 A new paragraph or line is used for each new
speaker.
In cartoons or comics,
these words are
enclosed in a speech
bubble.

2
DIRECT SPEECH
CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS
1. A clause containing an INTRODUCTORY VERB such as
said or asked.
 This indicates the speaker.
 The introductory verb is followed by a comma.

2. The ACTUAL WORDS that are spoken.

 These are enclosed in inverted commas – including the


end punctuation mark.
 The first word begins with a capital letter.

e.g.: Lucy says, “She is eating my cookies.”


3
FORMATS OF DIRECT SPEECH
a) The INTRODUCTORY VERB comes before the spoken words.
e.g. The teacher shouted, ”You are making noise!”

b) The INTRODUCTORY VERB comes after the spoken words


e.g.: “You are making noise,” shouted the teacher.

c) The INTRODUCTORY VERB may be in the middle of the


sentence.
e.g.: “You are making a terrible noise,” shouted the teacher,
“and are acting like Grade 1 kids!”

FOLLOW-ON SENTENCE
4
INDIRECT SPEECH
Many changes occur when a sentence is
converted from DIRECT to INDIRECT speech.
Indirect speech is also called REPORTED
speech.

Lucy says, “She is eating my cookies.”


vs
Lucy says that she is eating her cookies.
a) Punctuation
 Remove all inverted commas, question marks, exclamation marks
and capital letters.
b) Pronouns
 They change but must still retain their meaning.

c) Introductory verb + THAT


 Insert the word THAT to link the introductory verb to the spoken
words.
 If a question is asked use IF / WHETHER / any appropriate
question verbs instead of THAT.
d) Tenses
 If the intro verb is in the present tense then the tense of the speech
does NOT change.
 If the intro verb is in the past tense then the tense of the speech
must move back one stage in terms of tense AND adverbs of time
and place change too. 6
Possible adverbs of time and place
Here = there
This = that
Now = then
Today = that day
Yesterday = previous day / day before
Day before yesterday = two days ago
Tomorrow = next / following day
Day after tomorrow = in two days’ time

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e) Commands
 Commands must be implied with a correct linking verb in the place
of THAT.
 Also include verbs like “shall” and “must”.
e.g.: The teacher orders, “Children, be quiet!”
Becomes: The teacher orders the children to keep quiet.
OR: The teacher orders that the children must be quiet.

f) Exclamations
 Exclamatory words (hooray, ouch, wow, good heavens) may NOT
be used in reported speech.
 However, they should still be expressed.
 To do so they must be described.
e.g.: “Ouch! I’ve stumped my toe!” screams the girl.
Becomes: The girl screams in pain that she has stumped her toe. 8
Examples Examples Examples
DS: Calvin asks, “Where is my mother?”
intro verb present comma capital end punctuation inverted commas
RS: Calvin asks where his mother is.
NO comma question verb NO capital end punctuation NO inverted
iso THAT & pronoun commas
changes

DS: Thandi said, “I am ill today.”


intro verb past comma capital adv of time end punct inverted commas

RS: Thandi said that she was ill that day.


NO comma link with NO cap verb one adv of time end punctuation
THAT & pronoun step back changes NO inverted commas
changes
9
Let’s recap the changes!
• If intro verb is PRESENT • If intro verb is in PAST
tense change the tense change the
following: following:
1. punctuation 1. punctuation
2. pronouns 2. pronouns
3. link with that / question 3. link with that /
verb question verb
4. tense of speech moves
one step into past
5. adverbs of time and
place change to past

10
Exercises
Change the following sentences into INDIRECT speech:
1. Phuti asked Calvin, “Do you believe in ghosts?”
2. “Michael has a doctor’s appointment today,” said Thandi.
3. “We had practice yesterday,” said Margot, “in the rain.”
4. “Amy, where were you yesterday?” asked Alex.
5. Mangi said, “Tomorrow I shall explore the wilderness.”

Change the following sentences into DIRECT speech:


1. He said that he had to wash the dog the following day.
2. Ntombi asked her mother what they would have for supper that
evening.
3. Grace said that Marco was a clown that day.
4. Musa asked if they had homework for the following day.
5. She asked when they would have time to study for that test.
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Answers
1. Phuti asked Calvin if / he / believed / in ghosts.
2. Thandi said that / Michael had / a doctor’s appointment / that
day /.
3. Margo said that / they / had had / practice the previous day / in
the rain.
4. Alex asked Amy / where she / had been / the day before /.
5. Mangi said that / he / would / explore the wilderness.

1. He said, "I have to wash the dog tomorrow.”


2. Ntombi asked, ”Mom, what will we have for supper tonight?”
3. Grace said, “Marco is a clown today.”
4. Musa asked, “Do we have homework for tomorrow?”
5. She asked, “When will we have time to study for this test?

NB: Check for commas, inverted commas, capital letters and end
punctuation!
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