1. Definition of Direct and Indirect Speech
1.1. Direct Speech
Direct speech is a report of the exact words by a speaker or writer. These
words are quoted or written exactly as the words were originally spoken and
repeated to another. There is no interpretation or explanation. Direct speech
also known as quoted speech.
1.2. Indirect Speech
Indirect speech is a report of a
words said in another words. The original words are interpreted or modified as
opposed of being quoted. Indirect speech used words that refer to something
that has already happened. Indirect speech also known as reported speech.
2. Characteristic of Direct and Indirect Speech
2.1. Direct Speech
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Can be used in virtually every tense in English.
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To express something in present tense like it is
happening right now.
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Place the words spoken between quotation mark (“
”).
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Accompanied by a reporting verb, signal phrase,
or quotation form.
2.2. Indirect Speech
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Used to report what someone may have said.
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Always used in past tense.
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Not using inverted commas.
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‘That’ may be omitted.
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Use ‘say’ when there is no indirect object.
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Always use ‘tell’ when you say who was being
spoken to with an indirect object.
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Use verbs to describe the action of
communicating.
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Use ‘about’ to refer what was said.
3. Pattern of Direct and Indirect Speech
3.1. In Present Tense
3.1.1.
Present
simple changes into Past Simple
o
Direct
He said, “I live in Singapore”.
She said, “I ran out
the battery”.
o
Indirect
He said that he
lived in Singapore.
She said that she
ran out the battery.
3.1.2.
In
present progressive changes into past progressive
o
Direct
He said, “He is
looking for new shoes” .
She said, “She is
waiting for her friend”.
o
Indirect
He said that he is
looking for new shoes.
She said that she is
waiting for her friend.
3.1.3.
Present
perfect changes into Past Perfect
o
Direct
She said, “I have wrote the letter”.
He said, “I have not met her”.
o
Indirect
She said that she had wrote the
letter.
He said that he had not met her.
3.1.4.
Present
Perfect Progressive changes into Past Perfect Progressive
o
Direct
She said, “I have
been living in Sydney for 3 years”.
He said, “I have
been doing his homework for an hour”.
o
Indirect
She said that she
had been living in Sydney for 3 years.
He said that he had
been doing his homework for an hour.
3.2. In Past Tense
3.2.1.
Past
Simple changes into Past Perfect
o
Direct
He said, “I started
a job”.
They said, “We went to the beach”.
o
Indirect
He said that he had
started a job.
They said that they
had gone to the beach.
3.2.2.
Past
Progressive changes into Past Perfect Progressive
o
Direct
They said, “We were
sitting in the park”.
He said, “I was
playing football”.
o
Indirect
They said that they
had been sitting in the park.
He said that he had
been playing football.
3.2.3.
Past
perfect changes into Past Perfect (no change in tense)
o
Direct
He said, “He had won
the game”.
She said, “I have not had a breakfast”.
o
Indirect
He said that he had
won the game.
She said that she had not had a
breakfast.
3.3. In Future Tense
3.3.1.
Simple
Future (will changes into would)
o
Direct
She said, “I will
leave tomorrow”.
He said, “I will buy
a new car”.
o
Indirect
She said that she
would leave tomorrow.
He said that he
would buy a new car.
3.3.2.
Future
Continuous (will be changes into would be)
o
Direct
He said, “I will
taking care of you”.
She said, “I will be making meals for
you”.
o
Indirect
He said that he
would be taking care of me.
She said that she
would be making meals for me.
3.3.3.
Future
Perfect (will have changes into would have)
o
Direct
She said, “I will
have cooked the rice”.
He said, “I will
have brushed my teeth”.
o
Indirect
She said that she
would have cooked the food.
He said that he would
have brushed his teeth.
Source :
http://www.studyandexam.com/indirect-speech-for-tense.html
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