English (Précis & Composition) Direct & Indirect Speech Agha Zohaib Khan Introduction There two ways to convey a message of a person, or the words spoken by a person to other person. Direct speech We may quote the actual words of the speaker. This method is called Direct Speech. Indirect speech We may report what he said without quoting his exact words. This method is called Indirect Speech or Reported Speech. For Example: They said, “we are going to cinema” (Direct speech) They said that they were going to cinema. (Indirect speech) 2 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.css.theazkp.com com . In Indirect Speech. (ii) The wordy quoted have been put within Quotation Marks or Inverted Commas. the speech that is reported is not put within inverted commas and does not begin with a capital letter That has been placed before the Indirect Speech. (I) The exact words of the speaker have been used.css. (iv) There is always a comma of a colon after 'said' that introduces the spoken words. Structure It will be seen that in Direct Speech. 3 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.theazkp. (iii) The first letter of the quotation begins with a capital letter. Rule For The Change of Pronouns Pronouns of the First Person in the Reported Speech are changed in indirect Speech to the same person as the subject of the Reporting Verb. Direct-.He told me that he was faithful 4 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. “I am tired. Indirect-.com .He says to me.He said to me." Indirect-.He tells me that he is tired.theazkp. “I am faithful.css. Examples Direct-. Examples Direct speech: She said to him. the sense of the Pronoun to be used should be carefully determined.theazkp. Direct speech: He said to me. Rule For The Change of Pronouns Pronouns of the Second Person in the reported speech are changed in Indirect to the same person as the noun or pronoun coming after the Reporting Verb. 5 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. “you are intelligent” Indirect speech: She said to him that he was intelligent. If the object of the reporting verb is not given.css. “you are late for the party” Indirect speech: He said to me that I was late for the party.com . Direct speech: They said. “They are waiting for the bus” Indirect speech: You said that they were waiting for the bus.com .css. “He will come” Indirect speech: They said that he would come. Direct speech: You said. 6 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.theazkp. Examples. Rule For The Change of Pronouns Pronouns of the Third Person in the Reported Speech remain unchanged in Indirect Speech. css. Rule of Changing the Tense PRESENT TENSE PRESENT SIMPLE changes into PAST SIMPLE He said. She said. “He does not like computer” He said that he did not like computer. 7 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. They said. “I write a letter” He said that he wrote a letter. “He goes to school daily” He said that she went to school daily.com . “We love our country” They said that they loved their country He said.theazkp. “He is listening to the music” He said that he was listening to the music. She said.theazkp. She said.css. They said. “I am not laughing” She said that she was not laughing. “I am washing my clothes” She said that she was washing her clothes. “We are enjoying the weather” They said that they were enjoying the weather.com . Rule of Changing the Tense PRESENT CONTINUOUS changes into PAST CONTINUOUS He said. 8 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. “We have not gone to New They said that they had not gone to New York. York.com . “She have eaten the meal” I said that she had eaten the meal. 9 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. He said. I said.css. “I have started a job” He said that he had started a job. “He has finished his work” She said that he had finished his work. They said. Rule of Changing the Tense PRESENT PERFECT changes into PAST PERFECT She said.theazkp. I said. “I have been studying since 3 O’clock” O’clock.com . 10 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.css. “It has been raining for three days. “She has been working in this office since 2007” I said that she had been working in this office since 2007. Rule of Changing the Tense PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS changes into PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS He said that he had been studying since 3 He said.theazkp. She said.” She said that it had been raining for three days. John said. She said. “They went to cinema” John said that they had gone to cinema. He said. “I made a table” He said that he had made a table. 11 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.com .theazkp.css. Rule of Changing the Tense PAST SIMPLE changes into PAST PERFECT He said to me. “I didn’t buy a car” She said that she had not bought a car. “You answered correctly” He said to me that I had answered correctly. “It was raining” I said that it had been raining.com . “ I was waiting for you” He said to me that he had been waiting for me. Rule of Changing the Tense PAST CONTINUOUS changes into PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS They said that they had been enjoying the They said. I said.css. “We were enjoying the weather” weather He said to me.theazkp. She said. “I was not laughing” She said that she had not been laughing. 12 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. “She had eaten the meal” I said that she had eaten the meal. He said. Rule of Changing the Tense PAST PERFECT changes into PAST PERFECT (tense does not change) She said. They said. They said they had not gone to New York.com . I said. “We had not gone to New York. “She had visited a doctor” She said that she had visited a doctor. “I had started a business” He said that he had started a business.theazkp. 13 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.css. “We will send you gifts” They said to me that they would send me gifts. She said.theazkp. “I will study the book” He said that he would study the book.css. I said. Rule of Changing the Tense FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE WILL changes into WOULD He said.com . They said to me. 14 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. “I will not take the exam” I said that I would not take the exam. “I will buy a computer” She said that she would buy a computer. 15 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. He said.com . Rule of Changing the Tense FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE WILL BE changes into WOULD BE I said to him. He said.css.theazkp.” I will be shifting to new home” She said that she would be shifting to a new home. She said. “I will be working hard” He said that he would be working hard. “He will not be flying kite” He said that he would not be flying kites. “ I will be waiting for him” I said to him that I would be waiting for him. He said.com . 16 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. “I will have finished the work” He said that he would have finished the work. She said. “They will have passed the She said that they would have passed the examination” examination.css. “I will have gone” He said that he would have gone. Rule of Changing the Tense FUTURE PERFECT TENSE WILL HAVE changes into WOULD HAVE He said.theazkp. com . Direct speech: He said. (Tense didn’t change because reported speech is a universal truth thought its reporting verb belongs to past tense) 17 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. Rule of Changing the Tense The tense of reported speech may not change if reported speech is a universal truth though its reporting verb belongs to past tense. “Sun rises in east” Indirect Speech: He said that sun rises in east.css. Examples. Direct speech: He said.theazkp. “Mathematics is a science” Indirect Speech: He said that mathematics is a science. css.theazkp. • Now becomes then • Here becomes there • Ago becomes before • Thus becomes so • Today becomes that day • Tomorrow becomes the next day • Yesterday becomes the day before • Last night becomes the night before • This becomes that • These becomes those • Hence becomes thence.com . Change of Words Words indicating nearness of time or place in the Direct Speech are changed into those indicating distance when converted into Indirect Speech. • Hither becomes thither 18 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. css. "Brother. The Reporting verb in this forms is generally a verb of saying and is changed into tell (told) in the indirect speech. declare. remark. answer.com .theazkp. remind. 19 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. Nelson said to his Granny. Assertive Form Statements or Assertive sentences are also known as indicative or Declarative Sentences." Indirect. Direct. I am going. state. Direct. etc. Sometimes the following words are used to give clearness of meaning--inform. Jamila told her brother that she was going.“ Indirect. Nelson told his Granny that he had never seen fear anywhere here. "I have never seen fear anywhere here. Jamila said. reply. assure. css.com . • Learn your lesson. request. To change such sentences into indirect speech. • Open the door. advice or suggestion is called imperative sentence. the word “ordered” or “requested” or “advised” or “suggested” or “forbade” or “not to do” is added to reporting verb depending upon nature of imperative sentence in reported speech. No conjunction is to be used. 20 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.theazkp. • Please help me. For example. Change the verb of the reported speech into an infinitive by placing before it the preposition to. The Imperative Form A sentence which expresses command. The Imperative Form Examples Direct.css.theazkp. Indirect. sit still. The mother implored her husband to forgive the boy his first mistake." Indirect. "Forgive the boy his first mistake. "Manzur. Direct.com ." said the mother to her husband. The gentleman ordered his servant not to stay there 21 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. Indirect. He said. He told Manzur to sit still. "Do not stay here. The gentleman said to his servant. Direct. “do not waste time” Indirect Speech: __________________________________ Direct speech: He said.com .theazkp. Class Exercise Direct speech: He said to me.css. “Get out” Indirect Speech: __________________________________ 22 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. “Do not smoke” Indirect Speech: __________________________________ Direct speech: The teacher said to him. “please give me glass of water” Indirect Speech: __________________________________ Direct speech: Doctor said to me. “you should work hard for exam” Indirect Speech: __________________________________ Direct speech: They said to him. “do not tell a lie” Indirect Speech: __________________________________ Direct speech: He said. “open the door” Indirect Speech: __________________________________ Direct speech: The teacher said to student. “please help me” Indirect Speech: __________________________________ Direct speech: She said to him. e. 23 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.theazkp. or query or some such verb. bring. The Interrogative Form In reporting questions in the Indirect way the reporting verb is changed into ask. demand.css. The conjunction 'that' is not used after the Reporting Verb. the subject before the verb). Question mark (?) gives place to full stop. Rewrite the Reported Speech in the Assertive form (i.com . enquire (inquire). Enquire and demand take of before the personal object while ask may be followed by such an object. “who are you?" Indirect. how.' 24 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. Direct. why.com . such as what. whom. such as when. I said to him. The master enquired of the servant where he came from. who. which. ”Why do you not go home?" Indirect. Ajmal said to me. whose. Direct. where. Ajmal asked me why I did not go home. or with an Interrogative adverb. I enquired of him who he was.theazkp. The Interrogative Form When the question begins with an Interrogative Pronoun. Examples Direct. I asked him who he was. The master said to the servant. the same word is used to introduce the Indirect Speech. "Where do you come from?" Indirect.css. (or. or no for an answer. Mr. Direct. etc. yes. Jones inquired if Mr. "Do you know where Salim is?" Indirect. may.theazkp. The teacher asked the boy whether he had done his home work. The teacher said to the boy. Examples Direct. are. in other words. "Have you done your home work?" Indirect. Mr. can.css. Direct. The mother said to the young girl."Is Mr. Smith was at home. if or whether is used to introduce Indirect Speech. shall. whenever the question may have. will. was. do. Smith at home?" Indirect. Jones said. have. has. 25 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. The Interrogative Form When the question begins with the auxiliary of the finite verb is. did. The mother asked the young girl whether she knew where Salim was. am.com . com . • Alas! I failed the test. • Hurrah! We won the match. For example. • Wow! What a nice shirt it is. To change such sentences. the words “exclaimed with joy” or “exclaimed with sorrow” or “exclaimed with wonder” is added in the reporting verb depending upon the nature of exclamatory sentence in indirect speech.theazkp.css. The Exclamatory Form Sentence which expresses state of joy or sorrow or wonder is called exclamatory sentence. 26 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. Direct speech: He said. “Wow! What a pleasant weather it is” Indirect Speech: They exclaimed with wonder that it was a pleasant weather. Direct speech: She said.theazkp.css. 27 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. “Oh no! I missed the train” Indirect Speech: He exclaimed with sorrow that he had missed the train. Direct speech: She said.com . “Alas! I failed in exam” Indirect Speech: She exclaimed with sorrow that she failed in the exam. “Hurrah! I am selected for the job” Indirect Speech: She exclaimed with joy that she was selected for the job. “Hurrah! I won a prize” Indirect Speech: He exclaimed with joy that he had won a prize. The Exclamatory Form Direct speech: He said. “Wow! What a nice shirt it is” Indirect Speech: John exclaimed with wonder that it was a nice shirt. Direct speech: John said. Direct speech: They said. bless. with joy or delight. confound it. alas. The sense of feeling of the Exclamations may be indicated in the principal clause by means of adverbial phrases such as with regret. with sorrow. are used in place of the reporting verb.css. 28 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www. Suitable verbs such as wish. and Exclamations as Ah me. exclaim.theazkp. etc. cry out. declare. hurrah. pray. etc. The Exclamatory Form Omit Interjections such as (Oh. etc. with fear. confers. where necessary. bravo.com . hush.. Questions? 29 Agha Zohaib Khan ::: www.css.theazkp.com .