• by repeating the words spoken (direct speech)
• by reporting the words spoken (indirect or reported speech).
Direct Speech
Direct speech repeats, or quotes, the exact words spoken. When we use direct speech in writing, we place the words spoken between inverted commas ("....") and there is no change in these words. We may be reporting something that's being said NOW (for example a telephone conversation), or telling someone later about a previous conversation
Examples:
She says "What time will you be home?"
She said "What time will you be home?"
and I said "I don't know! "
"There's a fly in my soup!" screamed Simone.
John said, "There's an elephant outside the window."
Reported Speech
Reported speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we normally change the tense of the words spoken. We use reporting verbs like 'say', 'tell', 'ask', and we may use the word 'that' to introduce the reported words. Inverted commas are not used.She said, "I saw him." She said that she had seen him.
a. 'That' may be omitted:
She told him that she was happy.
She told him she was happy.
b. 'Say' and 'tell':
Use 'say' when there is no indirect object:
He said that he was tired.
Always use 'tell' when you say who was being spoken to (i.e. with an indirect object):
He told me that he was tired.
'Talk' and 'speak' are used:
- to describe the action of communicating:
He talked to us.
She was speaking on the telephone.
- with 'about' to refer to what was said:
He talked (to us) about his parents.
REPORTED SPEECH
HOPES, INTENTIONS, PROMISES
When we report an intention, hope or promise, we use an appropriate reporting verb followed by a that-clause or a to-infinitive:"I'll pay you the money tomorrow."
He promised to pay me the money the next day.
He promised that he would pay me the money the next day.
Other verbs used in this pattern include:
hope, propose, threaten, guarantee, swear.
Examples:
a. "I'll be back by lunchtime."
He promised to be back by lunchtime.
He promised that he would be back by lunchtime.
REPORTED SPEECH
ORDERS, REQUESTS, SUGGESTIONS
1. When we want to report an order or request, we can use a verb like 'tell' with a to-clause.
Examples:
He told me to go away.
The pattern is verb + indirect object + to-clause.
(The indirect object is the person spoken to.)
Other verbs used to report orders and requests in this way are: command, order, warn, ask, advise, invite, beg, teach, forbid.
Examples:
a. The doctor said to me, "Stop smoking!".
The doctor told me to stop smoking.
b. "Get out of the car!" said the policeman.
The policeman ordered him to get out of the car.
(See also section on Verbs followed by infinitive and Verbs followed by gerund)
2. Requests for objects are reported using the pattern
ask + for + object: Examples:
a. "Can I have an apple?", she asked. She asked for an apple.
b. "Can I have the newspaper, please?"
He asked for the newspaper.
3. Suggestions are usually reported with a that-clause. 'That' and 'should' are optional in these clauses:
She said: "Why don't you get a mechanic to look at the car?" She suggested that I should get a mechanic to look at the car. OR She suggested I get a mechanic to look at the car.
Other reporting verbs used in this way are: insist, recommend, demand, request, propose.
Examples:
a. "It would be a good idea to see the dentist", said my mother. My mother suggested I see the dentist.
REPORTED SPEECH
QUESTIONS
1. Normal word order is used in reported questions, that is, the subject comes before the verb, and it is not necessary to use 'do' or 'did':"Where does Peter live?" She asked him where Peter lived.
2. Yes / no questions: This type of question is reported by using 'ask' + 'if / whether + clause:
a. "Do you speak English?" He asked me if I spoke English.
b. "Are you British or American?" He asked me whether I was British or American.
c. "Is it raining?" She asked if it was raining.
3. Question words:
This type of question is reported by using 'ask' (or another verb like 'ask') + question word + clause. The clause contains the question, in normal word order and with the necessary tense change.
Examples:
a. "What is your name?" he asked me. He asked me what my name was.
b. "How old is your mother?", he asked. He asked how old her mother was.
c. The mouse said to the elephant, "Where do you live?" The mouse asked the elephant where she lived.
REPORTED SPEECH
SUMMARY OF REPORTING VERBS
Note that some reporting verbs may appear in more than one of the following groups.1. Verbs followed by 'if' or 'whether' + clause:
2. Verbs followed by a that-clause
3. Verbs followed by either a that-clause or a to-infinitive:
4. Verbs followed by a that-clause containing should
(but note that it may be omitted, leaving a subject + zero-infinitive):
5. Verbs followed by a clause starting with a question word:
6. Verbs followed by object + to-infinitive
REPORTED SPEECH
TENSE CHANGES
Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech:She said, "I am tired." She said that she was tired.
The changes are shown below:
Simple present Simple past
"I always drink coffee", she said She said that she always drank coffee.
Present continuous Past continuous
"I am reading a book", he explained. He explained that he was reading a book
Simple past Past perfect
"Bill arrived on Saturday", he said. He said that Bill had arrived on Saturday
Present perfect Past perfect
"I have been to Spain", he told me. He told me that he had been to Spain
Past perfect Past perfect
"I had just turned out the light," he explained. He explained that he had just turned out the light.
Present perfect continuous Past perfect continuous
They complained, "We have been waiting for hours". They complained that they had been waiting for hours.
Past continuous Past perfect continuous
"We were living in Paris", they told me. They told me that they had been living in Paris.
Future Present conditional
"I will be in Geneva on Monday", he said He said that he would be in Geneva on Monday.
Future continuous Conditional continuous
She said, "I'll be using the car next Friday". She said that she would be using the car next Friday.
Sumber : http://www.hulya.cankaya.edu.tr/ingilizce4.htm
