Direct –Indirect speech Act : Important part in basic English Grammar

 

 

Direct –Indirect speech

Important part  in basic English Grammar

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction
What is direct speech? ; Its examples.
What is indirect speech? ; Its examples.
Helpful tips about direct speech to indirect speech

 

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 In any language and literature the speech is not at all missing. It is not hidden that describing any event or occasion need the dialogues. Sometimes the dialogue is in direct speakers words or indirect words.

 

In Basic English Grammar, direct- indirect speech is very important part for English language learners or students.

Are worried about how to convert the direct speech into indirect speech in English Grammar?

Do you want more information about the changes in tenses in direct –indirect speech?

No need to worry; go on reading you will get more clear information about direct- indirect speech.

Read below to know more about this direct and indirect speech.

 

1. What is Direct speech

When one is repeating exactly the same word of speaker is called as direct speech.

Now look at the following examples.

1. My mother said, “I will bake a cake”.

2. Raj said, “I am tired”.

In the above two sentences the words in the double inverted commas are actual word of mother and Raj respectively. These words are not conveyed by third person. We use indirect speech when we simply repeat what someone says and put the words in double inverted comma.

We mostly see these examples in news paper or our language text books.

For example,

1. The collector said, “We plan to make our city clean and safe place” [example of newspaper]

 

2. What is Indirect Speech

When the thought of the original speaker is conveyed without quoting the actual words of the speaker, it is known as indirect speech.

Means one is conveying someone’s actual thought or sentence without double inverted commas and not using exactly the same words as the third person then that speech is identified as indirect speech act .

Now we’ll see the sentence in direct speech act and the same sentence we will convert into indirect speech act .

Ram Said, “I have a headache” the above sentence is in direct speech.

Now let’s change it into indirect speech.

Ram said that he had a headache.

The above sentence is in indirect speech because one is reporting what did Ram say? Both the sentences convey the same meaning. But the way of conveying the message is totally different.

The following points are important while changing the direct speech act into indirect speech act.

1. There is no comma after said.

2. The inverted commas are removed.

3. The verbs have to change according to the tense.

4. Change in pronoun.

5. Use ‘that’ after said.

Now read more to get more information about,

How to convert direct speech act into indirect speech act 

Direct speech	Indirect speech
Simple present tense Do/does V1	Past simple tense did +V1/ V2
Present continuous / progressive tense Is/am/are +(V1 + ing)	Past continuous / progressive tense was/were+ (v1+ing)
Present perfect tense Has/have +V3	Past perfect tense Had +V3
Present perfect continuous / progressive tense Has/have +been + (V1+ing)	Past perfect continuous / progressive tense Had+been + (V1+ing)
Past simple tense did +V1/ V2	Past perfect tense Had +V3
Past perfect tense Had +V3	Past perfect tense Had +V3
Past continuous / progressive tense was/were+ (v1+ing)	Past continuous / progressive tense was/were+ (v1+ing)
Simple future tense Will+V1	Would +V1
Future continuous /progressive tense Will be +(V1+ing)	Would be +(V1+ing)
Future perfect tense Will have +V3	Would have +V3
Future perfect progressive Will have been +(V1 +ing)	Would have been+(V1+ing)

 

Changes in pronoun

I – he /she

You – he/she/they and in object place him/her

We – they

My – his/her

Me – him/her

Our – their

Your – his /her/their

Us – them

Myself – himself/herself

Ourselves – themselves

Changes in time and place adverbials

This –that

These- those

Here- there

Now- then

Just – then

Ago – before

It – it come – go

Yet – till then

Today- that day

Tomorrow – the next day

Yesterday – the previous day

Tonight – that night

Next day – the following day

Next week – the following week

Last week – the previous week

Last night – the previous night

Changes in modal auxiliaries

Can – could

May- might

Must- must/had to

Ought to- ought to / had to

Will- would

Shall – should

How to convert questions in direct speech to indirect speech?

Look at the following sentence in direct speech

1. He said to me, “what are you writing?”

In the above direct speech question is asked by the subject. Now we have converted the sentence into indirect speech.

 

In reporting questions means indirect speech the question should be introduced by verbs like asked, enquired etc.

So let us see what is the indirect speech of sentence 1?

Indirect speech: He asked me that what I was writing?

Now let us see some more sentences

1. Direct: “Where do you live?” asked my friend.

Indirect: my friend enquired where I lived.

2. Direct: He said, “Will you listen to the music?”

Indirect: He asked would he listen to the music.

3. Direct: Sam asked, “Where are you going?”

Indirect speech: Sam enquired where I was going.

4. Direct: The policeman asked,” Why are they fighting?”

Indirect Speech:  The policeman asked why they were fighting.

5. Suma asked, “Can you call him?”

Indirect: Suma enquire could I call him.

How to convert commands and requests in direct speech to indirect speech

Look at the following sentences

1. Ram said, “Stop chatting”. Now the above sentence is in Direct speech. The words in double inverted comma are direct words by speaker, Ram.

Now we have to convert it into indirect speech.

The commands and request in indirect speech should be introduced by verb expressing command or request, and the imperative mood is changed into the infinitive. Let us see indirect speech of sentence 1.

Ram ordered to stop chatting.

Now let us see some more examples

1. Direct: Alice said,” go away”

Indirect: Alice ordered to go away.

2. Direct: The teacher said to the students, “Write fast.”

Indirect: The teacher told to children to write fast.

3 Direct: Jack said to him, “Please come soon.”

Indirect: Jack requested him to come soon

4 Direct: Judge said, “Call the second witness.”

Indirect: Judge commanded to call the second witness.

5 Direct: Governor shouted, “Get out”

Indirect: Governor shouted to them to get out.

How to convert exclamations and wishes in direct speech to indirect speech?

In reporting exclamation and wishes, the indirect speech is introduced by some expressing exclamations or wish.

See the following sentences

1. Direct: He said,” Bravo I have done.”

Indirect: He exclaimed that he had done.

2. Direct: Allen said, “How stupid he is!”

Indirect: Allen exclaimed that he was very stupid.

3. Direct: She said, “Hurray! We won”

Indirect: She yelled that they won.

4. Direct: The king said, “Help him!”

Indirect: The king called upon to help him.

5. Direct: Teacher said him, “Wow! You scored well.”

Indirect: Teacher exclaimed that he scored well.

This is all about the direct – indirect speech. Hope this information is enough to clear all about direct – indirect speech. Keep on reading and don’t forget to leave a comment in comment box. Thank you visit again.