Direct & Indirect Speech

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What is direct speech?

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Direct speech is the exact words spoken by a person, enclosed in quotation marks.

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What is indirect speech?

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Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, conveys what someone else has said without quoting their exact words.

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How do you change present tense to past tense in indirect speech?

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When converting from direct to indirect speech, present tense verbs typically change to past tense.

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What is the rule for changing pronouns in indirect speech?

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Pronouns in indirect speech must be changed to match the perspective of the speaker.

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What is the significance of time expressions when converting to indirect speech?

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Time expressions often change when converting to indirect speech (e.g., 'now' becomes 'then', 'today' becomes 'that day').

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How do you report a question in indirect speech?

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To report a question in indirect speech, use a statement format and change the question structure, often using 'if' or 'whether'.

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What is the structure of reporting verbs in indirect speech?

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Common reporting verbs include 'said', 'told', 'asked', and they often require a change in the sentence structure.

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How do you handle modal verbs in indirect speech?

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Modal verbs may change when converting to indirect speech (e.g., 'can' becomes 'could', 'will' becomes 'would').

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What is the difference between 'said' and 'told' in reported speech?

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'Said' is used without a direct object, while 'told' requires a direct object (e.g., 'He told me...').

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What is an example of changing a statement from direct to indirect speech?

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Direct: 'I am happy.' Indirect: He said that he was happy.