Direct and Indirect Speech

By the end of the lesson I will:• Understand the difference between direct

and indirect speech.• Be able to apply this knowledge in my

writing.• Accurately punctuate direct and indirect

speech• Know when and how to change pronouns

and verb tenses in indirect speech.

Direct speech

When we use direct speech in our writing:• The exact words spoken must be put inside

speech marks. “ ”• The first spoken word must have a capital

letter.• When a new speaker begins, we must start

a new line.

Займеники та прислівники часу і місця змінюються в такі :

This – that These – those Here – there Now – then

Today – on that today This week – that week

Yesterday – the day before Last week – the week before

Tomorrow - the next day Next week – the next week

Direct Speech Indirect Speechsimple presentHe said, “I go to school every day.”

simple pastHe said (that) he went to school every day.

simple past He said, “I went to school every day.”

past perfectHe said (that) he had gone to school every day.

present perfect He said, “I have gone to school every day.”

past perfect He said (that) he had gone to school every day.

present progressiveHe said, “I am going to school every day.”

past progressiveHe said (that) he was going to school every day.

past progressiveHe said, “I was going to school every day.”

perfect progressiveHe said (that) he had been going to school every day,

future (will)He said, “I will go to school every day.”

would + verb nameHe said (that) he would go to school every day.

future (going to)He said, “I am going to school every day.”

present progressiveHe said (that) he is going to school every day.

past progressiveHe said (that) he was going to school every day

Direct Speech Indirect Speechauxiliary + verb nameHe said, “Do you go to school every day?”He said, “Where do you go to school?”

simple pastHe asked me if I went to school every day.*He asked me where I went to school.

The situation changes if instead of the common said another part of the very to say is used. In that case the verb tenses usually remain the same. Some examples of this situation are given below.

Direct Speech Indirect Speechsimple present + simple presentHe says, “I go to school every day.”

simple present + simple presentHe says (that) he goes to school every day.

present perfect + simple presentHe has said, “I go to school every day.”

present perfect + simple presentHe has said (that) he goes to school every day.

past progressive + simple pastHe was saying, “I went to school every day.”

past progressive + simple pastHe was saying (that) he went to school every day.

past progressive + past perfectHe was saying (that) he had gone to school every day.

future + simple presentHe will say, “I go to school every day.”

future + simple presentHe will say (that) he goes to school every day.

Another situation is the one in which modal constructions are used. If the verb said is used, then the form of the modal, or another modal that

has a past meaning is used.

Direct Speech Indirect SpeechcanHe said, “I can go to school every day.”

couldHe said (that) he could go to school every day.

mayHe said, “I may go to school every day.”

mightHe said (that) he might go to school every day.

mightHe said, “I might go to school every day.”

mustHe said, “I must go to school every day.”

had toHe said (that) he had to go to school every day.

have toHe said, “I have to go to school every day.”

shouldHe said, “I should go to school every day.”

shouldHe said (that) he should go to school every day.

ought toHe said, “I ought to go to school every day.”

ought toHe said (that) he ought to go to school every day.

Questions

General questions Indirect Questions

“Are you watching TV?”“Do you play chess?”“Does she go to school?”“Are you listening to me?”“Have you done your homework?”“Did you skate last winter?”“Will you see your friend tomorrow?”

if, whether

…I was watching TV.…I played chess.…she went to school.…I was listening to him.…I had done my homework.…I had skated the winter before.…I should see my friend the next day.

Direct speech

Here are some examples

of direct speech.

Direct Speech

I’ve hurt my leg!

“I’ve hurt my leg!” moaned the boy.

Direct speechCan you take a deep breath?

“Can you take a deep breath?” asked the doctor.

Direct speech

I like this dress.

The woman said, “I like this dress.”

Use the correct punctuation to write what is being said.

I’ve caught three fish.

The train will leave in ten

minutes!

Do you know what

type of angle

this is?

I love ice cream.

I am a clever girl.

Direct Speech

Indirect speech

This is sometimes called REPORTED SPEECH.

When we use indirect speech in our writing:• We don’t use speech marks.• We usually have to change pronouns and verb

tenses.• We don’t have to start a new line when we

report a new speaker’s words.

Indirect speech

Here are some examples

of indirect speech.

Direct Speech

I’ve hurt my leg!

The boy moaned that he had hurt his leg.

Direct speechCan you take a deep

breath?

The doctor asked the boy if he could take a deep breath.

Direct speech

I like this dress.

The woman said that she liked the dress.

Use the correct punctuation to report what was said.

I’ve caught three fish.

The train will leave in ten

minutes!

Do you know what

type of angle

this is?

I love ice cream.

I am a clever girl.

Indirect Speech

He said he’d caught three fish.

Не shouted (that) the train would leave in ten minutes!

She said she was a clever girl.

He said he loved ice cream.

She asked if I knew what type of angle this was?

QUESTIONS

We asked the girl if her father was still in Moscow.

I wanted to know when he had fallen ill.

Is your father still in Moscow?

When did you fall ill?

By the end of the lesson I will look for evidence to show that you will:

• Understand the difference between direct and indirect speech.

• Be able to apply this knowledge in your writing.• Accurately punctuate direct and indirect speech• Know when and how to change pronouns and

verb tenses in indirect speech.