Direct speech in English ( Direct speech) literally quoting a statement. The replica is enclosed in quotation marks on both sides, and you add the author’s words to it, for example, He says: “I swim well”.
Indirect speech in English ( Reported Speech / Indirect Speech), transmitting the content of the conversation from a third party. In this case, the accuracy of the statement is violated: you change the temporary forms and order of words in the sentence.
let's consider reported Speech Rule and we will learn how to correctly express the opinion of the interlocutor, without having tied anything.
Indirect speech in English always depends on what time is used in the words of the author. If there is real, then you can breathe out and relax: almost nothing will have to be changed. The time in the subordinate clause will remain the same, just watch the verb form and capricious pronouns:
Melissa says: “I am a good cook. ” - Melissa says thatshe is a good cook.
Jack said: ”Ilike cats. ”(Present Simple) - Jack said that heliked cats.(Past Simple)
In more detail we will consider the coordination of times ( Sequence of tenses) separately.
Check out the Reported Speech chart. With it you can express yourself grammatically correctly. And one more tip - always try translate sentences into Russian, he will tell you which words will have to be replaced.
|
Direct speech |
Reported Speech |
|
Affirmative sentences turn into complex sentences with the That union (what). Please note if we know whom we are contacting. If yes, then the verb to say should be changed to to tell. |
|
|
They say: "Annie, we read a lot of books." |
They tell Annie that they read a lot of books. |
|
When you translate negative sentences into indirect speech in English, pay special attention to the form of the verb and do not lose the not. |
|
|
Mark says: "I don’t like computer games." |
Mark says that he doesn’t like computer games. |
|
Imperative sentences, namely, orders and requests, become infinitive. In this case, in the main sentence, use the verbs to ask - ask, to tell - say, order, to order - order, etc. and specify the person to whom they are contacting. |
|
|
Mother said: ”Open the window.” |
Mother asked me to open the window. |
|
Questions become subordinate sentences with direct word order. a) General questions are introduced by the subordinate clause using the unions if and whether |
|
|
Jim asks me: ”Do you watch TV?” |
Jim asks me if I watch TV. |
|
b) Special questions are added to the main sentence by the interrogative words used in them. |
|
|
Tony wonders: ”What is your favorite food?” |
Tony wonders what my favorite food is. |
If the sentence that you translate into indirect speech in English contains demonstrative pronouns or adverbs of time and place, then our table will help to replace them correctly:
|
Direct speech |
Reported Speech |
|
This - this |
That - that |
|
Here - here |
There is there |
|
Now - Now |
Then - then |
|
Today - today |
That day - that day |
|
Tomorrow - tomorrow |
The next day - the next day |
|
Yesterday - Yesterday |
The day before |
|
The day after tomorrow - the day after tomorrow |
Two days later - two days later |
|
The day before yesterday - the day before yesterday |
Two days before - two days before |
|
Ago - ago |
Before - before |
|
Next month - next month |
The next month, the following month - a month later |
|
Last week - last week |
The previous week - the week before |
Direct Speech Suggestions do not represent any difficulty.We simply translate them using the times that we consider necessary.
For example:
Cinderella said: "I will marry this prince."
Cinderella said: "I will marry this prince.”
The director said: “Yesterday you did a very good job.”
Director said: "Yesterday you worked very well.”
The writer says: “I write a new book every year.”
A writer says: "I write a new book every year.”
This really is nothing complicated.
A bit more complicated with the sentences in which we pass other people's words. Here, first of all, you need to pay attention to the words of the author, such as "She says", "He asked", “The director will say” etc. If these words are in the present tense ( "she says" - now or usually), then when changing direct speech into indirect, we do not change the time.
For example:
Mom often says that we are not very careful.
Mother often says that we are not very careful.
The doctor says many people get sick at this time of year.
Doctor says that many people get ill in this season.
She says he hasn't called her yet.
She says that he hasn’t called her yet.
But it’s possible that the words that we want to convey through indirect speech have been spoken before. And the author’s words relate to the past ( "we said", "They asked", "He adviced" etc.).
For example:
A shop assistant said yesterday: “This bread is fresh.”
The seller said yesterday that this bread is fresh.
The teacher said last week: “Tomorrow we will write a test.”
The teacher said last week that tomorrow we will write a test.
And in this case "in Game" is entering RULE OF AGREEMENT OF TIMES.
Since information about fresh bread and test work was given in the past, there is a need to slightly change the times in the part that begins with the word "WHAT".
for exampleif in a sentence with direct speech used time Present Simple, then, having converted the sentence into indirect speech, we will use Past simple.
He said: " I LIKE to read newspapers in the morning. ”- He said that he LIKED to read newspapers in the morning. *
*Please note that when a sentence is changed into indirect speech, the subject is changed! He says:“I'm coming.” - He says he's coming.
The whole sequence of time changes according to this principle is given in the table below:
Sequence of Tenses
|
LIVE SPEECH OFFER |
TIME IN AN INDIRECT SPEECH OFFER |
|
Present continuous |
Past continuous |
|
Present perfect | |
|
Past continuous |
Past perfect continuous |
|
All future tenses |
All Future-in the Past tenses * |
* Future- in the Past tenses are formed using the auxiliary verb WOULDwhich we just use instead of the auxiliary verb "Will".
For example, “will go” (Future Simple) - “would go” (Future Simple - in the Past).
for example:
He said: "My friends usually come at 5.”
He said that his friends usually came at 5.
She told her sister: "I am reading a very interesting book.”
She told her sister that she was reading a very interesting book.
Mary said to the man: "I have not decided anything yet.”
Mary said to the man that she had not decided anything yet.
I told them: "I will do this job in two days.”
I told them that I would do this job in two days.
In speech, we often use time markers ( yesterday, today, two days later, tomorrow) or words like “Here”, “there”, “this”, “that” etc.
In English, when translating a sentence from direct speech to indirectif the author’s words are in the past time, such words should be replaced as follows:
for example:
He said: "I will not begin now.”
He said he would not begin then.
The President said: "I didn’t know about it last week.”
The President said he hadn’t known about it the week before.
She said: "My husband will be here tomorrow.”
She said her husband would be there the next day.
Words in direct speech and in indirect speech
Yesterday The day before
Tomorrow (the) next day / the following day
Last week / year
The week / year before
The previous week / year
Next week / year
The following week / year
The next week / year
This / these That / those
In indirect speech, we can transmit orders, commands or requests. In order to understand how to do this in English, we will see how we do it in Russian.
She told us: “Don't stand here!”
She told us not to stand here.
The director ordered the employee: “Do it immediately!”
The director ordered the employee to do this immediately.
We asked the teacher: “Explain this rule to us again, please!”
We asked the teacher to explain this rule to us again.
As you noticed, when we “translate” a command, request or order into indirect speech, instead of the “Do it!” Form, the “do” form is used, i.e. infinitive (indefinite form of the verb). In English, this situation is repeated.
So, when transmitting a command, request or order in indirect speech in English, we will use the infinitive of the verb with the particle “to” - “to go”, “to stand”, “to read”, “to do”, etc.
For example:
She told us: "Stand there!”
She told usto stand there.
He asked his friend: "Bring me, please, that book!”
He asked his friendto bring him that book.
Teacher said to the students: "Rewrite this exercise!”
Teacher told students to rewrite that exercise. Sometimes a command, request or order is negative. Those. we tell someone not to do something. Then, when “translating” such a command into indirect speech, we put the negative particle NOT immediately before the infinitive.
For example:
He told her: “Don’t go there anymore!”
He told her NOT TO GO there anymore.
The teacher told the student: "Don’t be late for the next lesson!”
The teacher told the student NOT TO BE late for the next lesson.
She told her boyfriend: “Leave! And don’t come again!”
She told her boyfriend to leave and NOT TO COME again.
And in order not to repeat “he told” or “she asked” all the time, use other words.
Hint:
To order
To offer Suggest
To suggest Suggest
To demand
To warn Warn
To advise advise
LITTLE SECRETS OF INDIRECT SPEECH. \u003d))
Sometimes it is difficult to figure out how to convey some sentences in indirect speech. For example, how in an indirect speech to say the sentence "He said:" Hello! ", Or" She said: "No!"?
We give a little hint:
He said: “Hello, everybody!” - He greeted everybody.
She said to him: "No, I will not go with you!” - She refused to go with him.
They said: "Yes!” - They agreed.
Indirect Speech Questions in English they convey only the content of the question of direct speech, but they themselves are not questions as such. Based on this, the word order in indirect questions is the same as in affirmative sentences, that is, the subject follows before the predicate, auxiliary verbs ( do, did) are not used, and also at the end of such questions a question mark is not put.
For example: He said, "When are you leaving? "- He asked me when I was leaving. (NOT WHEN I was leaving?) He asked, “When are you leaving?” - He asked me when I was leaving. I said, "Where are you staying? "- I asked her where she was staying. I asked: “Where did you stay?” - I asked her where she was staying. "Where does John live? "she asked me. - She asked me where John lived. “Where does John live?” She asked me. - She asked me where John lives. John asked, "Where did you go last weekend? "- John asked where I had gone the previous weekend. John asked, “Where did you go last weekend?” John asked where I went last weekend. He asked, "Why are you staring at me? "- He asked me why I was staring at him. He asked: “Why are you looking at me?” - He asked me why I was looking at him.
General and alternative questions are introduced into the proposal by unions if / whether:
"Do you speak English?" she asked him. - She asked him if he spoke English “Do you speak English?” She asked him. - She asked him if he speaks English. "Are you British or French?" they asked me. - They asked me whether I was British or French. “Are you from Britain or France?” They asked me. “They asked me if I was from Britain, or France.” "Did you come by train?" she required. - She required if I had come by train. “Did you come by train?” She asked. “She asked if I arrived by train.”
Special questions are introduced by the interrogative word ( when, where, why, and etc.):
"What is your name?" he asked me. - He asked what my name was. “What's your name?” He asked me. - He asked what my name is. "How old is your mother?" he asked her. - He asked her how old her mother was. “How old is your mother?” He asked her. - He asked her how old her mother was.
What is an indirect question?
To begin, let's compare direct and indirect questions. If you want to literally reflect someone’s statement, to quote, then it is better to use ordinary questions with direct speech (for more information, “Types of Questions in English”). But, to convey other people's words, you can use Inderect questions, which consist of two parts: the main one, where it says "who asked, asked" and the secondary - "what exactly, the question itself", and they are connected by a union or a pronoun. But that's not all. You need to catch the essence of just two rules:
Is acting time alignment rule (the whole scheme can be found in the article "The table of the coordination of times") In other words, the time used in the main part of the sentence must be sent back one time. This way we remove the quotes, and the logical chain of events is not interrupted. Please note that neither do nor does in this case can be used. For example: in the main, in quotation marks, we have the verb “speak” - Present Simple. According to the passage of time, Present Simple changes to Past Simple: spoke.
I would also like to recall pronouns which change from direct speech to indirect according to the same principle as in Russian.
He said: "Have you translated this article? "-is he said: « You transferred article? "(Present Perfectgoes over according to the rule in Past Perfect).
He asked if I had translated that article.“He asked if I translated the article.”
Although we call such sentences questions, we don’t see a familiar violation of the word order. Namely: the structure of the affirmative sentence is maintained: subject + predicate + addition + etc.
She said: "Where didshe ski in summer? "- She said:" Where did she ski in the summer? "
She asked where she had skied in summer. - She asked where she was skiing in the summer.
Two models of indirect questions in English
So, we know that there are several types of questions: general, special, alternative, dividing and the subject question. In indirect speech, we can construct only some of them.
1. General and alternative indirect question It is built with the help of unions if or whether, which in Russian sound like a piece of “whether”. Thus, preserving the direct word order, we can derive the following scheme:
Subject + predicate + if (whether) + subject + predicate + secondary members
|
Direct Speech - Direct Speech | |
|
"Is anybody at home?" He asked. “Is anyone home?” He asked. |
He asked if anybody was at home. - He asked if there is whether is anybody home. |
|
Past Simple - Past Perfect |
|
|
She asked: “Were she at school yesterday?” - She asked: “Was she at school yesterday?” |
She asked if she had been at school the day before. - She asked, was whether she is at school yesterday. |
|
Future Simple - Future in the Past |
|
|
He said: “Will you go to the theater tomorrow?” - He asked: “Will you go to the theater tomorrow?” |
He asked if I would go to the theater the next day. - He asked, I’ll go whether I'm going to the theater tomorrow. |
|
My mother said: “Are you laughing at me?” - Mom said: “Are you laughing at me?” |
My mother asked if I was laughing at her. - Mom asked, laugh whether I am above her. |
|
He said: “Have you heard about the latest events?” - He asked: “Have you heard about the latest events?” |
He asked if I had heard about the latest events. - He asked, heard whether I am about the latest developments. |
|
Present Perfect Continuous - Past Perfect Continuous |
|
|
My friends asked: "Have you been living in this old house for a year?" - My friends asked: "Have you lived in this old house for a year?" |
My friends asked if I had been living in that old house for a year. My friends asked, lived whether I have been in that old house for a year. |
|
Can -could |
|
|
He asked: “Can you play tennis?” - He asked: “Can I play tennis?” |
He asked if I could play tennis. - He asked, I can whether i play tennis. |
|
Must - had to |
|
|
She said: “Must I write it today?” - She said: “Should I write it today?” |
She asked if she had to write it that day. - She asked, should whether she write it today. |
2. In special indirect issue the two parts are connected by interrogative words: what, why, where, which, whose (in the article “Interrogative words” you will find complete information about usage and meaning). And everything else, as in the previous model.
Subject + predicate + interrogative + subject + predicate + minor members
|
Direct Speech - Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech - Inderect Speech |
|
Present Simple - Past Simple |
|
|
He asked: “Where is the underground?” - He asked: “Where is the metro?” |
He asked where the underground was. -He asked where the subway is. |
|
Present Continuous - Past Continuous |
|
|
Mary said: “What are you playing now?” - Mary said: “What are you playing now?” |
Mary asked what I was playing than. - Mary asked what I play. |
|
Present Perfect - Past Perfect |
|
|
She asked: "Where has he been?" - She asked: "Where was he?" |
She wanted to know where he had been. She wanted to know where he was. |
|
Past Simple - Past Perfect |
|
|
His parents asked: "Whose hat have you been wearing?" - His parents asked: "Whose hat did you wear?" |
His parents asked whose hat I had been wearing. - His parents asked whose hat I wore. |
A few more secrets! \u003d)))) (what jokers)
must be distinguished if in the clause and if in indirect matters. So, in the first case, we translate with the value “if”, and in the second - with a particle of “whether”.
If you come home late, we will have to punish you. “If you come home late, we will be forced to punish you.”
She asked me if I would come home late the next day. -She asked, i will come whether i late tomorrow.
short answers indirect questions in English are given with the help of auxiliary or modal verbs, as in direct speech, but taking into account the rules of the coordination of tenses. And the connection of two parts in this model is due to the union “that,” and yes / no are omitted.
“Does she live in the hostel?” - she asked. -Yes, she does (No, she doesn’t).
She asked if she lived in the hostel. -I answered that she did (she didn’t).
Direct and indirect speech - Direct and indirect speech in English
Alternative name for indirect speech in English:
Reported speech
Direct speech
expresses someone’s speech, as it was delivered, without any changes. Direct speech in English is enclosed in quotation marks, which in English are on both sides in superscript form.
Indirect speech
It does not transmit someone’s speech verbatim, but expresses the content of this speech in the form of a relative clause.
Rules for changing direct speech to indirect in narrative sentences
1. The quotation marks and the comma after the words that introduce direct speech are omitted. In indirect speech, the union that can be used, but it can also be omitted.He said, "I know you from somewhere". - He said (that) he knew me from somewhere. He said, "I know you from somewhere." - He said (that) he knows me somewhere.
Note: If in verbal speech the verb say (speak) is used with the addition (1) and the preposition to (2) indicating the person to be addressed, then say will change to the verb tell without the preposition to. In other cases, no changes are made.
He said to (2) me (1), "I know you from somewhere". - He told me (that) he knew me from somewhere. He told me: "I know you from somewhere." “He told me (that) he knows me from somewhere.”
2. Personal and possessive pronouns change in meaning, depending on the context.
He said, " I (1) can bring you (2) a cup of tea ". - Not said (that) he (1) could bring me (2) a cup of tea. He said, "I can bring you a cup of tea." “He said he could bring me a cup of tea.”
3. If a verb that introduces indirect speech (1) is in the present or future tense, then the verb in indirect speech (2) is stored in the same tense as it was in direct speech.
He says (1), "I visit Lily every Saturday." - He says (2) (that) he visits Lily every Saturday. He says, "I visit Lily every Saturday." “He says he visits Lily every Saturday.”
4. If the verb, which introduces indirect speech, is in the past tense, then the coordination of tenses is observed.
Note: For a more informed understanding of this rule, it is recommended that you read the material "".
but. If in the direct speech there was the present (1), then in the indirect it will be the past (2).
He said, "I go (1) to driving lessons every day ". - He said (that) he went (2) to driving lessons every day. He said: "I go to driving lessons every day." - He said that he goes to driving lessons every day.
b. If in direct speech there was a past simple (Past Simple) (1.1) or a past long time (Past Continuous) (1.2), then in an indirect speech it will change to the past perfect (2.1) or the past perfect long (Past Perfect Continuous) ) (2.2), respectively.
He said, "I did (1.1) my best ". - He said (that) he had done (2.1) his best. He said: "I have done my best." - He said that he did everything possible.
He said, "I was trying (1.2) to help you ". - He said (that) he had been trying (2.2) to help me. He said, "I tried to help you." “He said he was trying to help me.”
Note: If in direct speech there is a pointer to the time of the action, then the time in indirect speech does not change, except for such pointers as:
the day before the day before
two months before five months ago
etc. when used, time in indirect speech changes to a perfect form (Perfect).
He said, "I bought this car in 2004". He said (that) he bought this car in 2004 . He said: "I bought this car in 2004." - He said that he bought this car in 2004.
the day before ". He said (that) he had bought this car the day before. He said: "I bought this car the day before." “He said he bought this car the day before.”
in. If in direct speech there was the past perfect tense (Past Perfect) (1.1) or the past perfect long tense (Past Perfect Continuous) (1.2), then in indirect speech it will remain so.
He said, "I had read (1.1) this book by ten o "clock in the evening". - He said (that) he had read (1.1) that book by ten o "clock in the evening. He said:" I read this book at ten in the evening. "- He said that he had read this book at ten in the evening.
d. If in direct speech there was one of the forms of the future tense (1), then in indirect speech it will change to the corresponding form of the future in the past (2).
He said, "I will have done (1) all work by Wednesday ". - He said (that) he would have done (2) all work by Wednesday. He said: "I will finish all the work by Wednesday." - He said that he would finish all the work by Wednesday.
e. If modal verbs were used in direct speech, then those that have past forms will change and take the past form, while those that don't have them will remain unchanged in indirect speech.
He said, "I can show you out the Jungle ". - He said (that) he could show us out the Jungle. He said, "I can get you out of the jungle." “He said he could lead us out of the jungle.”
He said, "I should attend her more ". - He said (that) he should attend her more. He said: "I have to pay more attention to her." - He said that he should pay more attention to her.
5. If in direct speech there were adverbs of place and time, as well as demonstrative pronouns, then in indirect speech they will change to suitable ones in meaning.
this - that this one
these - those these - those
here - there here - there
now - then now - then
ago - before ago - earlier
today - that day today - that day
tomorrow - the next day tomorrow - the next day
yesterday - the day before yesterday - the day before
the day after tomorrow - two days later the day after tomorrow - two days later
the day before tomorrow - two days before the day before yesterday - two days ago
last morning - the previous morning yesterday morning - last morning
etc.
He said, "I will do it the day after tomorrow". - He (that) he would do it two days later. He said: "I will do it the day after tomorrow." “He said he would do it in two days.”
The rule for changing direct speech to indirect in incentive sentences
The imperative action (1), expressed by the infinitive without the particle to in direct speech, will change to the infinitive with the particle to (2) in the indirect. That in such sentences is not added.Note: In negative form, the particle not is used before the particle to.
He asked me, " Close the window (1) ". - He asked me to close the window (2). He will ask me: "Close the window." - He asked me to close the window.
or without a face
He asked, " Close the window (1) ". - He asked to close the window (2). He asked: "Close the window." - He asked to close the window.
Rules for changing direct speech to indirect in interrogative sentences
Interrogative sentences in indirect speech are called indirect issues . The question mark in such sentences is not used except in cases where the main part is interrogative in the indirect sentence.1. Special question (1) (about special and other types of questions - in the material ") in direct speech, when changing to indirect, they become an additional subordinate clause (2), which is connected to the main part by interrogative words from the question directly.
He asked me, " Who (1) has brought the letter? "- He asked me who had brought the letter (2). He asked me: "Who brought the letter?" - He asked me who brought the letter.
2. The general question (1) in direct speech is changed to a subordinate clause (2) in an indirect one and is connected with the main part by the if / whether unions (2), while the comma is not used.
He asked, " Do (1) you know her? "- He asked me if / whether (3) I knew her (2). He asked: "Do you know her?" - He asked if I knew her.
3. Brief answers in indirect speech are expressed by an auxiliary (1) or modal verb (2), and the tense of these verbs changes according to the time matching rule (3).
Do (1) do you know her? Do you know her?
No I don "t (one). - I answered, I didn "t (3). No, I do not know. - I replied that I did not know.
Can (2) you repair it? Can you fix it?
No I can "t (2). - I answered, I couldn "t (3). No I can not. - I replied that I can’t.
Note: In official speech, short answers are used:
I answered in the affirmative. I answered in the affirmative.
I answered in the negative. I answered in the negative.
How often do we pass on to others the words of others? Everyday!
For example: “She told you to call her. He said he would be late. They ask if we will go with them. ”
In all these sentences, we retell the words of other people, that is, we use indirect speech.
In English, such sentences are formed according to certain rules. Understanding and remembering them is easy.
In the article I will tell you how to correctly translate direct speech into indirect in the English language.
From the article you will learn:
- 4 steps to translate direct to indirect speech in English
What is direct and indirect speech?
Direct speech (Direct speech) - literal statement of another person.
Such a speech, that in Russian, that in English, in a letter it stands out with quotes. For example:
“I can't come,” she said.
He replied: "I do not understand."
Indirect speech is the transmission of the words of another person.
That is, we retell to someone what someone said.
For example:
She said she couldn’t come.
He said he did not understand.
English has its own rules and features of translating direct speech into indirect.
Let's look at the main ones.
Attention: Confused by the English rules? Learn in a free lesson in Moscow how to speak English.
4 steps to translate direct to indirect speech in English
In order to translate direct speech into indirect, you need to do certain actions. To make it easier for you to remember them, I divided these steps into 4 steps.
So, to convey someone’s words in English (that is, translate direct speech into indirect), we:
1. Remove the quotation marks and put the word that
For example, we have a sentence:
To convey these words to someone, just like in Russian, we remove the quotation marks and put the word that - “what”.
She said that ... ..
She said that….
Note that that can often be omitted, especially in colloquial speech.
2. Change the character
In direct speech, a person usually speaks on his own behalf. But in indirect speech we cannot speak on behalf of this person. Therefore, we change the "I" to another character.
Let's get back to our proposal:
She said, “I will buy a dress”.
She said: "I will buy a dress."
Since we convey the words of the girl, instead of “I” we put “she”:
She said that she ... ..
She said that she ...
3. We agree on the time
In English, we cannot use the past tense with the present or future in the same sentence.
Therefore, if we say “said” (that is, we use the past tense), then the next part of the sentence must be coordinated with this past tense.
Take our suggestion:
She said, “I will buy a dress”.
She said: "I will buy a dress."
To agree on the first and second parts of the sentence, we will change it to would.
She said that she would buy a dress.
She said she would buy a dress.
Let's look at the table of coordination of the main times when translating direct speech into indirect.
In the left column is the time used in direct speech. On the right is the time to be used in indirect speech.
| Direct speech |
Indirect speech |
| Present Simple For example: He said, “I drive a car”. |
Past simple For example: He said that he drove a car. |
| Present continuous She said, “I am working”. |
Past continuous She said that she was working. |
| Present perfect They said, “We have cooked dinner”. |
Past perfect They said that they had cooked dinner. |
| Future tense - will She said, “I will read the book”. |
Future tense - would She said that she would read the book. |
| Past simple He said, “I called you”. |
Past perfect He said that he had called me. |
Note: If we convey the person’s words at the moment, that is, say “he / she speaks,” then it is not necessary to coordinate the times.
Direct speech:
She says, “I am studying”.
She says: "I am engaged."
Indirect speech:
She says that she is studying.
She says she is engaged.
4. Change some words
In some cases, we must coordinate not only times, but also individual words.
What are these words? Let's look at a small example.
She said, “I am driving now”.
She said, "I'm driving now."
That is, she is currently driving.
However, when we pass on her words, we will not talk about the moment (the one we are talking now), but about the moment in the past (the one when she was driving).
Therefore, we change now (now) to then (then).
She said that she was driving then.
She said that she was driving then.
Look at the label of such words, and you yourself will understand this logic.
| Direct speech |
Indirect speech |
| this, these this, these |
that, those one those |
| here here |
there there |
| now now |
then then |
| today today |
that day in that day |
| tomorrow tomorrow |
the next day the next day |
| yesterday yesterday |
the day before per day |
You should use this replacement logically.
For example:
The man told you this when you were in the building where he works. Already at home, you are telling someone about this:
If you are in the same building where he works, then you do not need to replace the word.
Now let's look at how to translate an interrogative sentence from direct speech to indirect.
Questions in indirect speech in English
Questions in indirect speech, in fact, are not questions, since the word order in them is the same as in the affirmative sentence. We do not use auxiliary verbs (do, does, did) in such sentences.
Let's look at the question in direct speech.
He asked, “Do you like this cafe?”
He asked: “Do you like this cafe?”
To ask a question in indirect speech, we remove the quotation marks and put if or whetherwhich translate as "li".
The coordination of times occurs in the same way as in ordinary sentences.
Our proposal will look like this:
He asked if I liked that cafe.
He asked if I liked that cafe.
She said, “Will he call back?”
She said: “Will he call you back?”
She said if he would call back.
She said if he would call back.
Special Issues in Indirect Speech
Special questions are asked with the following question words:
- what - what
- when - when
- how - how
- why - why
- where - where
- which - which
When translating such questions into indirect speech, we leave the direct word order (as in affirmative sentences), and instead of if we put the interrogative word.
For example, we have a question in direct speech:
She said, “When will you come?”.
She said, “When will you come?”
In an indirect speech, such a question would look like this:
She said when I would come.
She said when I come.
Let's look at another example:
So, we have examined the basic rules that you will need to translate direct speech into indirect. Now let's try to do this in practice.
Assignment task
Convert direct speech to indirect. Leave your answers in the comments.
1. She said, "I will come tomorrow".
2. He said, "I am working at my garden".
3. They said, "We play the piano ".
4. He said, "Do you like the house?"
5. She asked, "When will you go to this concert?"
Direct speech in English ( Direct speech) literally quoting a statement. The replica is enclosed in quotation marks on both sides, and you add the author’s words to it, for example, He says: “I swim well”.
Indirect speech in English ( Reported Speech / Indirect Speech), transmitting the content of the conversation from a third party. In this case, the accuracy of the statement is violated: you change the temporary forms and order of words in the sentence.
let's consider reported Speech Rule and we will learn how to correctly express the opinion of the interlocutor, without having tied anything.
Indirect speech in English always depends on what time is used in the words of the author. If there is real, then you can breathe out and relax: almost nothing will have to be changed. The time in the subordinate clause will remain the same, just watch the verb form and capricious pronouns:
Melissa says: “ I am a good cook. ” - Melissa says that she is a good cook.
Jack said: ”I like cats. ”(Present Simple) - Jack said that he liked cats. (Past Simple)
In more detail we will consider the coordination of times ( Sequence of tenses) separately.
Check out the Reported Speech chart. With it you can express yourself grammatically correctly. And one more tip - always try translate sentences into Russian, he will tell you which words will have to be replaced.
| Direct speech | Reported Speech |
| Affirmative sentences turn into complex sentences with the That union (what). Please note if we know whom we are contacting. If yes, then the verb to say should be changed to to tell. | |
| They say: "Annie, we read a lot of books." | They tell Annie that they read a lot of books. |
| When you translate negative sentences into indirect speech in English, pay special attention to the form of the verb and do not lose the not. | |
| Mark says: "I don’t like computer games." | Mark says that he doesn’t like computer games. |
| Imperative sentences, namely, orders and requests, become infinitive. In this case, in the main sentence, use the verbs to ask - ask, to tell - say, order, to order - order, etc. and specify the person to whom they are contacting. | |
| Mother said: ”Open the window.” | Mother asked me to open the window. |
| Questions become subordinate sentences with direct word order. a) General questions are introduced by the subordinate clause using the unions if and whether |
|
| Jim asks me: ”Do you watch TV?” | Jim asks me if I watch TV. |
| b) Special questions are added to the main sentence by the interrogative words used in them. | |
| Tony wonders: ”What is your favorite food?” | Tony wonders what my favorite food is. |
If the sentence that you translate into indirect speech in English contains demonstrative pronouns or adverbs of time and place, then our table will help to replace them correctly:
To master this vast topic, you only need reported Speech table, adverbs list and your brain ready for work and defense. Keep in mind that exercises to translate direct speech into indirect (Reported Speech Exercises) are found in all kinds of papers and exams that you can imagine. Moreover, without this knowledge you will be stuck and will not advance in learning English.
Direct speech in English is made out in a slightly different way, and this should be remembered, since with a serious study of the subject you will have to do this in written exercises, letters or essays. At first glance, the differences are insignificant, but if you start to ignore them, it will immediately give you a foreigner.
Also, the transfer of the meaning of a statement from direct to indirect speech is quite different, and the resulting new English text obeys certain rules, which will be discussed in a separate section.
If you need a translation into direct speech in English, you will have to perform diametrically opposite actions. In this case, it is necessary to know the rules of the coordination of times well. For example, with such an action it will be necessary to change some pronouns, and move the temporal forms and circumstances of the place “one step back”. It will look something like this:
Pat said that she would be ready to pass her exam next day. Pat said she would be ready to take the exam the next day.
Pat said, “I will be ready to pass my exam tomorrow.” Pat said, "Tomorrow I will be ready to pass the exam."
Understand the rules of direct speech in English will help you tables. We suggest comparing the design of such proposals when transmitting colloquial statements in Russian and English:
If you look closely, you will notice that in Russian statements the dot and comma are behind quotation marks, and in English - vice versa. If the author’s words are moved forward, then a colon is placed on the left side of the table, and a comma is placed on the right side of the table. If the author’s words are embedded inside the statement, it is striking that both parts of English direct speech are separated by commas.
It should also be noted that native speakers use the so-called “inverted commas” - inverted commas before direct speech. Usually they are double, but sometimes they are single. Your keyboard has a special key for this.
It is very important to note that direct speech in English is transmitted literally, and examples will help you figure it out:
“I’ll start learning French soon,” said Steven. “I'll start learning French soon,” said Stephen.
Unlike indirect speech, a short form of the verb is used here “Will”, which in indirect speech is not recommended. When retelling this sentence will look like this:
Steven said that he would start learning French soon. Stephen said he will learn French soon.
According to the rule of coordination of times instead he will used here he wouldbut it cannot be reduced as he’d.
As an exercise in direct speech in English, you can use any of the tables presented. They will be of double benefit: you will remember how direct speech is made out in the native language, and also become experts in English written statements. There is a little trick - try to perform this exercise in the Word, which has the function of editing the text.
As a suggestion, we suggest using Word to write an essay and compose monologues. In most cases, the program will respond to errors and even correct some of them automatically. As for the design of direct speech, everything works flawlessly here.