Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech

by Keira Tran Nguyen

Direct Speech

We use direct speech when we simply repeat what someone says, putting the phrase between speech marks:

“Sit down”, Ms Brown asked Tom.

​"Don't talk", Ms. Brown told Tom.

​"Take a seat, please”, Ms Brown told Tom’s mom.

Indirect Speech

Report what someone said without speech marks and without necessarily using exactly the same words, (also called reported speech).

• Direct speech: “​ Sit down”, Ms Brown asked Tom."

• Indirect speech: Ms Brown asked Tom to sit down.

S + told / asked + O + to V ….​

S + told / asked + O + not to V ….​

​“Don’t talk”, Ms Brown told Tom.

=> Ms Brown told Tom not to talk.

“Take a seat, please”, Ms Brown told Tom’s mom.

=> Ms Brown told Tom’s mom to take a seat.

​command, request, and advice

in reported speech

Multiple Choice

He told me to open my books.

• "Open my books!" he shouted.

• "Open my books," he said.

• "Open your books!" he exclaimed.

• "Open your books," he said.

Multiple Choice

He told me that his friend gave him a bar of chocolate.

• "My friend gives me a bar of chocolate," he said.

• "My friend gave me a bar of chocolate," he said.

• "Give me a bar of chocolate," he said to his friend.

• "He gave me a bar of chocolate," he told his friend.

Multiple Choice

"Put on your new shirt", my mom said.

• My mother asked him to put on my new shirt.

• My mother told me put on my new shirt.

• My mother asked me to put on your shirt.

• My mother told me to put on my shirt.

Multiple Choice

"Do your homework!"

My mom told me _____.

• do your homework

• do my homework

• to do your homework

• to do my homework

Multiple Choice

"Put on your new shirt", my mom said.

• My mother asked him to put on my new shirt.

• My mother told me put on my new shirt.

• My mother asked me to put on your shirt.

• My mother told me to put on my shirt.

Multiple Choice

"Do your homework!"

My mom told me _____.

• do your homework

• do my homework

• to do your homework

• to do my homework

Multiple Choice

"Stop staring at me," she said.

She told him _______.

• stop staring at me

• Stop staring at you

• to stop staring at him

• to stop staring at her

Multiple Choice

"Leave me alone"

She told me _________.

• leave me alone

• leave her alone

• to leave her alone

• to leave me alone

Multiple Choice

"Meet me at the cinema"

He told me _______.

• to meet me at the cinema.

• to meet you at the cinema.

• to meet him at the cinema.

• to meet her at the cinema.

Multiple Choice

"Please come early."

She asked me ______.

• please come early

• come early

• to come early

• not to come early

Multiple Choice

"Don't make a mess!"

She told me ________.

• don't make a mess

• to make a mess

• not to make a mess

• to not a mess

Multiple Choice

"Tidy your room!"

Mom told us _______.

• tidy your room

• tidy my room

• to tidy our room

• to tidy his room

Multiple Choice

“Don't use the mobile in the classroom”

The teacher told the students ________ the mobile in the classroom.

• not to use

• to not use

• to use

Multiple Choice

“Students, pay attention please”

Mrs Smith asked the students ________ attention.

• not to pay

• pay to

• to pay

Multiple Choice

"Don’t forget to do your homework!"

The teacher told them __________ to do their homework.

• not to forget

• to not forget

• to forget

Multiple Choice

"Arrive on time!"

The teacher told the students ________ on time.

• to arrive

• not to arrive

• to not arrive

Multiple Choice

"Please, don’t use any electronic devices when taking off!"

The flight attendant asked them __________ any electronic devices when taking off

• to don't use

• to not use

• not to use

Multiple Choice

“Excuse, sir. Don’t record movies in theatres!"

The cinema attendant ________ movies in theatres.

• told him to not record

• told him not to record

• told him don't record