Reported Speech for Dummies: Affirmations. Indirect speech in English. Indirect speech or reported speech What is direct speech

There are such concepts as "direct speech" And "indirect speech". Most likely, everyone knows about direct speech; this is the so-called speech in quotation marks. Indirect speech in English used when we want to communicate what another person said, then indirect speech is used. For example:

“I want a cup of coffee.”(direct speech)

She said that she wanted a cup of coffee.(indirect speech)

Depending on the type of sentence being transformed (affirmative, interrogative or request), its structure will change.

Please note, which when transforming into indirect speech, very often needs to be changed:

• • pronouns
  • time (backshift)
  • time and place indicators

Affirmative sentences

1. If the introductory sentence in direct speech is in the Present Simple, then in indirect speech there is no shift (replacement) of tenses:

She says, “I like ice cream” ? She says that she likes ice cream.

As can be seen from the example, the pronoun has changed from I on she, therefore the verb from like on likes, but remained at the same time.

2. If the introductory sentence is in the past tense, then we change the main one to the past tense (backshift):

She said, “I like ice cream” ? She said that she liked the ice cream.
My sister said, “I have just come back from the park” ? My sister told me that she had just come from the park.
Kate said “I am going to buy a new car” ? Kate said that she was going to buy a new car.
“I will be 30 next summer,” said Tom. ? Tom said that he would be 30 the following summer.

Table of tense changes in indirect speech

As mentioned above, not only time changes, but also indicators of time and place.

She said “This is the best summer” ? She said that that was the best summer.
My mother said “I found your book several days ago” ? My mother said that she had found my book several days before.
I called my friend and she said “I am watching TV now” ? I called my friend and she said that she was watching TV then.

Interrogative sentences

Direct questions are transformed into indirect questions, question words or introductory words are used if/whether.

“How old are you?” ? He asked me how old I was.
Tom asked Jane “Where do you live?” ? Tom asked Jane where she lived.
She asked “Do you know this man?” ? She asked if I knew that man.
My friend asks “Are you going with us?” ? My friend asks whether I am going with them.

Requests, wishes, advice

For requests, wishes and advice, times do not matter, since the form is used to+infinitive:

He said “Bring me the book” ? He asked to bring him the book.
She said “Come to me tomorrow” ? She asked to come to her place the next day.
My mother said “Don’t eat the cake before dinner” ? My mother asked me not to eat the cake before dinner.

If you need to convey what someone has said, you can do this using direct speech (Direct Speech) or indirect speech (Indirect Speech).
In direct speech, what someone said is conveyed exactly, without changes, and is written in quotation marks. In indirect speech, some of the speaker's words may be changed, and quotation marks are not used.

Examples:Direct Speech: Bob said, “Paris is great.” Bob said: “Paris is beautiful.”
Indirect Speech: Bob said (that) Paris was great. Bob said Paris was beautiful.

Rules for converting direct speech into indirect speech

There are simple rules for transmitting direct speech by indirect speech:

1. Verbs in direct speech in the Present Tense form are used in indirect speech in the Past Tense form. More about .
Present Simple → Past Simple
Present Continuous → Past Continuous
Present Perfect → Past Perfect

2. Verbs in direct speech in the Past Tense form are used in indirect speech in the Past Perfect form (or may not be used). More about .
Past Simple → Past Perfect
Present Perfect → Past Perfect

3. Verbs in direct speech do not change in form.
Past Perfect → Past Perfect

4. Verbs in direct speech in any future tense pass into the corresponding future in the past in indirect speech. More about .
Future Simple → Future Simple in the Past
Future Continuous → Future Continuous in the Past
Future Perfect → Future Perfect in the Past

5. Forms in direct speech in the Past Tense form change in indirect speech as follows.
can → could
will → would
shall → should
may → might
But Past Tense forms from modal verbs could, would, should, might in indirect speech are preserved.

6. Modal verb must in indirect speech may not change, or may take the form of the past tense from the construction have to = had to.

7. and adverbs of time and place in direct speech are replaced in indirect speech by meaning with other words, as in the Russian language.

Examples: He said, “I shall do it tomorrow" - He said he would do it tomorrow.
He said that he would do it the next day. - He said he would do it the next day.

8. and direct speech are replaced by meaning, as in the Russian language.

Examples: He says, “I have your T-shirt.” - He says: “I have your T-shirt.”
He says that he has my T-shirt. - He says he has my T-shirt.

Reported speech– this is the transmission of someone’s words without quoting them exactly, in contrast to (direct speech). Indirect speech is often simply called indirect speech and much less often when indirect discourse. It is worth noting that indirect speech is usually used, and direct speech is much less common. Compare (note that in indirect speech the tense of the main verb changes):

He said, “I am going to watch TV.”- transmission of direct speech.
He said (that) he was going to watch TV. – changing direct speech into indirect speech.

She said, “I want to buy a car.”- direct speech
She said (that) she wanted to buy a car.– indirect speech

Anna said, “I don’t like shopping.”- direct speech
Anna said (that) she didn’t like shopping.– indirect speech

Union that you can “omit”, that is, you can say:

Steve said that he felt ill. or so Steve said he felt ill.

In any case, always pay attention to the structure and sound of the sentence; for example, you should not use two that in one sentence, and also if you feel that you may not be understood. Also, if you are not sure whether you can insert a conjunction that in this sentence, then it is better not to use it. However, in official speech it is more appropriate to use the conjunction that.

But let’s move on to how to correctly change the tense form of verbs in indirect speech.

Present and future tense

“I played football.” →He said he played football or He said he had played football.

“She watched football.” →He said she watched football or He said she had watched football.

“I saw her in the street.” →He said he saw her in the street or He said he saw her...

“I didn't go to work.” →He said he didn't go to work or He said he had not gone to work

This rule is inappropriate if direct speech has already been in the past perfect:

“I had played football.” →He said she had played football

“They had broken down a car.” → She said they had broken down a car

When can you leave the present and future tenses unchanged?

Sometimes present or future The tense of verbs in indirect speech need not be changed. If situation at the time of speech transmission hasn't changed, then you can leave the tense of the verbs as they were. Note that say And tell in this case it can be put in the present or past tense.

“My new job is boring.” → Michael said (says) that his new job is boring.
(The situation has not changed, Mikhail still has a boring job)

“I speak English fluently.” → Sonia says (said) that she speaks English fluently.
(Sonia still speaks English fluently)

“I want to go to Canada again.” → David tells (told) me he wants to go to Canada again.
(David still wants to go to Canada again)

“I will go home tomorrow.” → She said (says) she will go home tomorrow.
(She's still planning to go home tomorrow)

And, of course, it won’t be a mistake if you say, for example, Sonia said she spoke English fluently. But if situation at the time of transmission of indirect speech changed, then it is necessary to put the verb as usual in the past tense form. For example, you met Tatyana. She said “Anna is in hospital.” Later that day you meet Anna on the street and say: Hi, Anna. I didn't expect to see you here. Tatyana said you were in hospital (it would be wrong to say: “Tatyana said you are in hospital", since this is not true, at the moment Anna Not in the hospital)

Changing an Interrogative Sentence

IN Indirect Questions The same rules for changing tense apply as in affirmative and negative. But they are divided into two types: general questions- Yes/No Questions, which can be answered yes or no and special– Information (or Wh-) Questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. For example:

Do you like music? (this question can be answered yes or no).

How are you? (here it is no longer possible to answer simply yes or no, it is appropriate - I am fine).

GENERAL QUESTIONS

As a rule, difficulties with understanding arise precisely with general questions. They are often also called “ Yes/No questions”, because direct questions that can be translated into indirect ones can be answered in one word - yes or no. Indirect questions are formed using the words “ if" or " whether”, which are placed at the very beginning of the question being translated into indirect speech. The rules for agreeing tenses in sentences are the same as in simple indirect sentences, but they do not begin with (will, have, do...), instead the words “ if" And " whether”, which are translated into Russian as “ whether”: in this case there is no difference between them. Use the conjunction “ that” in indirect questions is grammatically incorrect. Study the examples.

SPECIAL ISSUES

These questions are formed without “ if" And " whether" In their place are interrogatives: where, why, which, who... The rest of the rules of formation are the same as in ordinary indirect sentences.

Test yourself, take the test.

Indirect Speech Comprehension Test

We can finish here. Having carefully studied the article above, you now know what indirect speech is and how it is constructed. If you want to completely master indirect speech, then further, additional part articles for you.

Modal verbs

When changing direct speech into indirect speech, you must also pay attention to whether there are modal verbs in the sentence. Like main verbs, they must be inflected in indirect speech, but not all modal verbs can be inflected. Study the tables below.

Time and adverbs

Tense and adverbs in indirect speech also change. Examples:

“I will buy a book tomorrow” → She said that she would buy a book the next day.

“I am happy now” → He said that he was happy then.

“I like this book” → He said that he liked that book.

Imperative and exclamatory sentences

In indirect imperative and exclamatory sentences, most often there is no coordination of tenses. Depending on the context, the verbs said, told, advised, etc. can be replaced.

Imperative sentences

Imperative sentences are sentences of order, demand, proposal, advice, etc. For example: “open the doors”, “help me”, “learn your lessons”. Words such as requested, ordered, advised, suggested, forbade and not to do something are often used.

“Please help me” → He asked me to help him.

“You should work hard for the exam” → He suggested him to work hard for exam.

“Don't tell a lie” → They said to him not to tell a lie.

“Open the door” → He ordered to open the door.

“Don't waste your time” → The teacher advised the students not to waste their time.

“Don't smoke” → Doctor advised I don't smoke.

Exclamatory sentences

Exclamatory sentences are an expression of joy, sadness, surprise, etc. For example: “Hurray! We won”, “Alas! You're late" or "Wow! You look cool.” Words such as exclaimed with joy, exclaimed with sorrow, exclaimed with wonder, etc. are often used.

“Alas! I failed in exam” → She exclaimed with sorrow that she failed in the exam.

“Wow! What a nice shirt it is” → Michel exclaimed with wonder that it was a nice shirt.

“Hurrah! I am selected for the job” → She exclaimed with joy that she was selected for the job.

“Wow! What a pleasant weather it is” → They exclaimed with wonder that it was a pleasant weather.

As in the Russian language, in the English language there are two types of speech - direct and indirect. Direct speech, as a rule, is highlighted in quotation marks and conveys speech without changes:

“How old are you?”, Ben asked me. – « How old are you?“Ben asked me.

Indirect speech is the transfer of another person’s words or repetition of one’s own in another situation:

Ben asked me how old I was. – Ben asked me how old am I.

There are several rules for translating direct speech into indirect speech. The first is a change in time (the so-called tense shift). The second is changing certain words and expressions. All this is shown in the table below:

Please note that the verbs would, could, might, should, ought to in indirect speech they do not change.

Indirect speech in affirmative and negative sentences

The main words that introduce indirect speech are the words say And tell. The word “what” in Russian corresponds to the word that. Its use is optional. They are used in the following designs:

Alan said that he was ill. – Alan said that he is sick.

Alan told me that he was ill. – Alan told me that he is sick.

As we see, the word tell requires an addition after itself (to whom?). You can also use this option:

Alan said to me that he was ill. – Alan told me that he is sick.

Here we introduce a preposition to. However, this option is less common.

So, we look at what tense is in the sentence with direct speech, and also whether there are other words in it that require changes, and we rebuild the sentence according to the table.

“I am listening to music now", Peter said. – “I’m listening to music now,” Peter said.

Peter said that he was listening to music then. – Peter said that he listens to music.

In addition to the words say and tell, you can use others, for example:

admit - admit
advise - advise
agree - agree
claim - to declare