Direct and indirect speech

Direct speech 

The exact words that someone says are direct speech. Quotation marks are used to set off direct

• Mom said, "where are my keys?"
• "This ice cream is delicious" , said Thomas.
• "Have you boys washed your hands?" . Asked dad.
• "Please get out of the car" , the police officer ordered.
• "What a beautiful dress" , said Sara.

Indirect speech 

You can report what someone says without using their exact words. To do this, use a verb like say, ask, tell, followed by that. This is called indirect speech. There are several differentces between a sentences with direct speech and a sentence with indirect speech.

You don't use quotation marks with indirect speech. 

You change the tense of the verb. 

You change the pronouns and determiners. 

Here are some examples. The verb tenses that change are printed in bold and the pronouns and determiners that change are printed in color. Remember that the past tense of can is could and the past tense of will is would. 

Direct speech:

Maggie said, "I feel ill." 

Sumiko said, "it's time to leave."

"I can't find my book," said Alice. 

"John is hitting me," said Peter. 

Dad said, "I haven't had my breakfast yet."

My car won't start,"said mom. 

Indirect speech:

Maggie said that she felt ill. 

Sumiko said that it was time to leave. 

Alice said that she couldn't find her book. 

Peter said that he hadn't had his breakfast yet. 

Mom said that her car wouldn't start. 

In indirect speech people often leave out the conjunction that. 

Maggie said that she felt ill. 

Sumiko said that it was time to leave. 

Alice said that she couldn't find her book. 

Peter said that John hitting him. 

Dad said that he hadn't had his breakfast.

When you are using indirect speech to report a statement that is still true now, you don't change the tense of the verb. 

Direct speech:

John said, "My mom doesn't like fish."

"I live in a house by the sea," said Anna. 

Dad said, "Paris is a beautiful city."

Indirect speech:

John said that his mom doesn't like fish. 

Anna said that she lives in a house by the sea. 

Dad said Paris is a beautiful city. 

Indirect commands

Use verb like order, tell, and warn to report orders and instructions. The construction to + verb or not to + verb may also be used. 

Direct speech:

The teacher said, "stop running in the corridor!" 

"Put your books away, children", said Mr. Park. 

Dad said to David, "please help me by washing the dishes."

Jack said to Maggie, "please don't tell anyone my secret!" 

Miss Lee said to Alan, "Don't be late again tomorrow." 

Indirect speech:

The teacher ordered us to stop running in the corridor. 

Mr. Park told the children to put their books away. 

Dad asked David to help him by washing the dishes. 

Jack begged Maggie not to tell anyone his secreto. 

Miss Lee warned Alan not to be late again the next day. 

Indirect questions

The verb ask is usually used to report questions. 

Direct speech:

Sally said, "where is my backpack?" 

Peter said, "have you finished your homework?" 

Indirect speech:

Sally asked where her backpack was. 

Peter asked if I had finished my homework. 

To report a question, put the subject before the verb or helping verb. Remember that the subject comes after the helping when you ask a question. Here are some examples. 

Asking a question

"Where are they going?" (they) subj. (going, are) verb.

"Can Jack ride his bike?" (Jack) subj. (can, ride) verb. 

"Did Miss Lee sing a song?" (Miss Lee) subj. (did, sing) verb. 

"Has she finished her homework?" (she) subj. (has, finished) verb

Reporting a question 

I asked where they were going. (they) subj. (were, going) verb. 

I asked if Jack could ride his bike. (Jack) subj. (could, ride) verb. 

I asked whether Miss Lee sang a song. (Miss, Lee) subj. (sang) verb. 

I asked if she had finished her homework. (she) subj. (had finished) verb. 

To report a Question-word question, use the same question word in direct speech. 

Direct speech:

Mom said, "where are your shoes?" 

Maggie said, "who has taken may Pen?" 

What time does the show start? Asked Sue. 

Peter said, "why did you leave before the end of the movie? "

Indirect speech:

Mom asked where my shoes were. 

Maggie asked who had taken her pen. 

Sue asked what time the show started. 

Peter asked why I left before the end of the movie. 

When you are reporting yes or no questions, use if or whether after the verb. 

Direct speech:

Is it raining? Asked Thomas

Alice said, "Can you help us?"

Dad said, "Is the train on time?"

Indirect speech:

Thomas asked if it was raining. 

Alice asked whether I could help them. 

Dad asked if the train was on time.