Using direct and indirect speech to inform | Year 7 English (Cambridge) PDF Download

Introduction

In this chapter, we will learn about direct and reported speech. We will also explore different ways to convert direct speech to reported speech and vice versa.

Direct Speech

Direct speech conveys the exact words spoken by the speaker. These words are enclosed in quotation marks.
Example:

• The boy said, "I ate pancakes."

In this example:

• The boy said is the reporting clause.
• Said is the reporting verb.
• "I ate pancakes" is the reported clause.
• Ate is the reported verb.

Reported Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, involves reporting what someone else said without using their exact words. Quotation marks are not used in reported speech.
Example:

• Direct speech: The boy said, "I ate pancakes."
• Reported speech: The boy said that he had eaten pancakes.

Converting Direct Speech to Reported Speech

Changes in Pronouns

When converting direct speech to reported speech, pronouns often change based on the point of view:

First Person:

• Direct speech: Anna said, "I am happy."
• Reported speech: Anna said that she was happy.

Second Person:

• Direct speech: Joy said to Paul, "You passed the exam."
• Reported speech: Joy told Paul that he had passed the exam.

Third Person:

• Direct speech: Joanna said, "She looked sad."
• Reported speech: Joanna said that she looked sad.

Changes in Verbs

Verbs in the reported clause change depending on the tense of the reporting verb:
Present Tense Reporting Verb:

• Direct speech: He says, "I am going to the library."
• Reported speech: He says that he is going to the library.

Past Tense Reporting Verb

• Simple Present to Simple Past:
  • Direct speech: The man said, "I join the club."
  • Reported speech: The man said that he joined the club.
• Present Progressive to Past Progressive:
  • Direct speech: She said, "The cat is sleeping."
  • Reported speech: She said that the cat was sleeping.
• Present Perfect to Past Perfect:
  • Direct speech: They said, "We have prepared snacks."
  • Reported speech: They said that they had prepared snacks.
• Simple Past to Past Perfect:
  • Direct speech: My friend announced, "The meeting started."
  • Reported speech: My friend announced that the meeting had started.
• Past Progressive to Past Perfect Progressive:
  • Direct speech: Shane said, "The children were laughing."
  • Reported speech: Shane said that the children had been laughing.
• Past Perfect remains Past Perfect:
  • Direct speech: The boy said, "I had studied abroad."
  • Reported speech: The boy said that he had studied abroad.

Changes in Modal Verbs

Modal verbs also change in reported speech:

• Will/Shall to Would/Should:
  • Direct speech: Brian said, "I will try to finish my report."
  • Reported speech: Brian said that he would try to finish his report.
• Can to Could:
  • Direct speech: My father said, "I can pick you up."
  • Reported speech: My father told me that he could pick me up.
• May to Might:
  • Direct speech: Troy said, "I may invite them."
  • Reported speech: Troy said that he might invite them.
• Must to Must/Had to:
  • Direct speech: Jane said, "I must stop smoking."
  • Reported speech: Jane said that she must stop smoking or Jane said that she had to stop smoking.

Other Significant Word Changes

Some other words also change in reported speech:

• Now to Then:
  • Direct speech: Alexis stated, "I am at home now."
  • Reported speech: Alexis stated that she was at home then.
• Here to There:
  • Direct speech: He said, "I am here."
  • Reported speech: He said that he was there.
• Today to That Day:
  • Direct speech: She said, "I will finish it today."
  • Reported speech: She said that she would finish it that day.
• Tomorrow to The Next Day:
  • Direct speech: He said, "I will go there tomorrow."
  • Reported speech: He said that he would go there the next day.
• Yesterday to The Day Before:
  • Direct speech: She said, "I visited yesterday."
  • Reported speech: She said that she had visited the day before.
• Tonight to That Night:
  • Direct speech: He said, "I will leave tonight."
  • Reported speech: He said that he would leave that night.
• This to That:
  • Direct speech: She said, "I like this book."
  • Reported speech: She said that she liked that book.
• These to Those:
  • Direct speech: He said, "I want these apples."
  • Reported speech: He said that he wanted those apples.

Interrogative Speech

When converting questions from direct to reported speech, the reporting verb changes:

• Yes/No Questions:
  • Direct speech: Joseph said to Janna, "Will you attend the party?"
  • Reported speech: Joseph asked Janna if she would attend the party.
• Wh-Questions:
  • Direct speech: My brother said to my sister, "What are you doing?"
  • Reported speech: My brother asked my sister what she was doing.

Imperative Speech

For commands and requests, the reporting verb also changes:

• Commands:
  • Direct speech: The librarian said to me, "Keep quiet."
  • Reported speech: The librarian ordered me to keep quiet.
• Requests:
  • Direct speech: He told me, "Please call me."
  • Reported speech: He requested me to call him.

Solved Examples

Convert the following direct speech into reported speech:

Example 1: Direct speech: My brother said, "I love to sing."
Sol: Reported speech: My brother said that he loved to sing.

Example 2: Direct speech: The teacher said to her, "Will you join the contest?"
Sol: Reported speech: The teacher asked her if she would join the contest.

Example 3: Direct speech: They said, "We are veterans."
Sol: Reported speech: They said that they were veterans.

Example 4: Direct speech: Shayla said, "They came here yesterday."
Sol: Reported speech: Shayla said that they had come there the day before.

Example 5: Direct speech: She said to me, "Are you sure?"
Sol: Reported speech: She asked me if I was sure.