DIRECT OR INDIRECT (= REPORTED) SPEECH

DIRECT OR INDIRECT (= REPORTED) SPEECH

1. The indirect (reported) speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc.

2. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, we change the following:

   • verb tenses and verb forms
     • present simple
       • past simple
       • "I never understand you," she told me
         • She told me she never understood me
     • present continuous
       • past continuous
       • "We are exercising," he explained
         • - He explained that they were exercising.
     • present perfect simple
       • past perfect simple
       • "I have broken the window," he admitted.
         • He admitted that he had broken the window
     • present perfect continuous
       • past perfect continuous
       • "I have been waiting since the morning," he complained
         • He complained that he had been waiting since the morning.
     • past simple
       • past perfect simple
       • "She went to Rome," I thought.
         • - I thought that she had gone to Rome.
     • past continuous
       • past perfect continuous.
       • "He was thinking of buying a new car," she said.
         • She said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
     • WILL
       • WOULD
     • MAY
       • MIGHT
   • pronouns
     • to keep the same meaning of a sentence.
       • "They called us," he said
         • He said they had called them
     • use a noun instead of a pronoun
       • "He killed them," Kevin said
         • Kevin said that the man had killed them
     • This and these are usually substituted
       • "I brought you this book," she said.
         • She said she had brought me the book
   • the adverbs of time and place
     • TODAY
       • that day
     • TOMORROW
       • the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow, in two days time
     • YESTERDAY
       • the day before
     • THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY
       • TWO DAYS BEFORE YESTERDAY
     • next week/month
       • - the following week/month
     • last week/month
       • the previous week/month
     • a year ago
       • a year before/the previous year

3. NO CHANGE

   • If the reporting verb is in the present tense
     • Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday."
       • Bill says he is enjoying his holiday.
   • When we report something that is still true
     • Dan: "Asia is the largest continent."
       • Dan said Asia is the largest continent.
   • When the speech is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true.
     • Michael: "I am thirsty."
       • Michael said he is thirsty
   • With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought to, used to
     • Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed."
       • Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed
   • After wish, would rather, had better, it is time
     • Paul: "It is time I got up."
       • Paul said it was time he got up.
   • In if-clauses.
     • Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy."
       • Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would be happy.
   • In time-clauses
     • Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend."
       • He said that when he was staying in Madrid he met his best friend.