ENGLISH 7

DIRECT AND
INDIRECT SPEECH
 DIRECT SPEECH

The speaker’s exact words are enclosed in

quotation marks.

A comma is used to separate the direct speech

from the rest of the sentence.
 Reporting Reported
Verb Speech

She said, “ I am listening to music”.

He says, “You are an intelligent student”.

You will say, “I need your help”.

 INDIRECT SPEECH

The actual words of the speaker are not enclosed in

quotation marks.

The actual words of the speaker are CHANGED.

It requires change in the tense of the actual words.

Pronouns are also changed accordingly.

RULES
If the reporting verb of the direct speech belongs
to the present tense, no change will be made in the
reported speech.
Direct Speech: She says, “I like ice cream.”
Indirect Speech: She says that she likes ice cream.
There is also no change in verb tenses in indirect
speech when the sentence expresses a general
truth:
Direct Speech: Copernicus stated, “The planets
revolve around the sun.”
Indirect Speech: Copernicus stated that the
planets revolve around the sun.
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

used to convey
used to ask used to issue used to make
information or
orders or exclamations
make questions directives
statements
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

REPORTING
STATEMENTS
Maria whispered, Maria whispered
“You are the best that he was the
father in the best father in the
world.” world.
 Rule #1
Words of the speaker are not
enclosed in quotation marks in
indirect speech
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION
MARKS
Maria whispered, Maria whispered
“You are the best that he was the
father in the best father in the
world.” world.
 Rule #2
Usage of the introductory
word “THAT”
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION
MARKS

THAT
REPORTING
QUESTIONS
He said, “Where He asked where
is the station?” the station was.
 Rule #1
Change the reporting verb
(ask, wonder etc.)
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION REPORTING
MARKS VERBS

THAT
He said, “Where He asked where
is the station?” the station was.
 Rule #2
For Wh-Questions, the
question word is retained in
the indirect question
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION REPORTING
MARKS VERBS

THAT WH-
QUESTIONS
RETAIN
“Is anyone
He asked if
there?”
anyone was there.
he asked.
 Rule #3
For Yes/No Questions, if or
whether must be used.
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION REPORTING
MARKS VERBS

THAT WH-
WH-
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
RETAIN

IF/WHETHER
(YES OR NO
QUESTIONS)
 REPORTING
COMMANDS,
REQUESTS AND
ADVICE
 He said, “Get He told Tom to
your coat, Tom!” get his coat.
 Rule #1
Change the reporting verb
(advise, ask, beg, command, order,
remind, tell, warn etc.)
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION REPORTING REPORTING

MARKS VERBS VERBS

THAT WH-
WH-
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
RETAIN

IF/WHETHER
(YES OR NO
QUESTIONS)
 He said, “Get He told Tom
your coat, Tom!” to get his coat.
 Rule #2
Expressed by a verb of
command/request/advice +
object + infinitive
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION REPORTING REPORTING

MARKS VERBS VERBS

THAT WH-
WH-
QUESTIONS VERB+OBJECT
QUESTIONS
RETAIN +INFINITIVE

IF/WHETHER
(YES OR NO
QUESTIONS)
“Don’t swim out I warned the boys
too far, boys,” I not to swim out
said. too far.
 Rule #3
Negative commands, requests
etc. are usually reported by
not + infinitive
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION REPORTING REPORTING

MARKS VERBS VERBS

THAT WH-
WH-
QUESTIONS VERB+OBJECT
QUESTIONS
RETAIN +INFINITIVE

IF/WHETHER
(YES OR NO
QUESTIONS, NOT+
INFINITIVE
2 OPTIONS)
 REPORTING
EXCLAMATIONS
The boy said, The boy
exclaimed with
“Hurrah! We
joy
have won the that they had
match.” won the match.
 The girl
The girl said, exclaimed with
‘How beautiful delight that the
the girl is!’ rainbow was
very beautiful.
 Rule #1
In indirect speech, the exclamatory phrase or
word (interjection) is replaced by ‘exclaimed
with joy, sorrow, regret, surprise, contempt
etc.’
The connective that has to be supplied in the
indirect speech.
 TYPESOF SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO FUNCTION

DECLARATIVE INTERROGATIVE IMPERATIVE EXCLAMATORY

QUOTATION REPORTING REPORTING EXCLAIMED

MARKS VERBS VERBS WITH +
EMOTION

THAT WH-
WH-
QUESTIONS VERB+OBJECT
QUESTIONS
RETAIN +INFINITIVE THAT

IF/WHETHER
(YES OR NO
QUESTIONS, NOT+
INFINITIVE
2 OPTIONS)
Tell whether the indirect/reported speech is correct or
not. Consider the introductory words used.
1. MJ told me that be quiet because the baby was
sleeping.
2. The manager asked if I had any experience working
with people.
3. The students promised that they would tell the truth.
4. Lily asked her who that man was.
5. He told me that he had just heard the news.
6. Gino asked whether what I was doing.
7. She requested me to come early the next
day.
8. Christopher said that he was already happy.
9. Dory said if she would tell him.
10. He asked me how much that dress had
cost.