direct and indirect speech by eguriase s. m. okaka

Direct and indirect speech By Eguriase S. M. Okaka Remember that if you have to report what someone said by using the exact words of the speaker, those words have to be enclosed in quotation marks (inverted commas) and the enclosed material is referred to a direct speech. Very often, however, whenever you report what someone has said, you do not use the exact words of the original speaker. When you do this, you are using indirect speech.

There are different reporting verbs to assist you in conveying the main ideas of the original speaker. There are also rules that guide you in changing direct speech (what is reported). You might have forgotten some of the verbs and rules. If so, here is your chance to refresh your memory. Below is a list of common reporting verbs which are usually used in the simple past tense.  Reporting verb + that: admit, deny, request, suggest, warn, argue, say, state, think, announce, explain, etc. Examples The man explained that he had a flat tire.  Reporting verb + someone + that: assure, persuade, remind, tell, inform, etc. Example The foreman assured him that the workers would work hard.  Reporting verb + to – infinitive: agree, ask, offer, purpose, refuse, claim, promise, etc. Example He offered to buy the books.  Reporting verb + someone + to – infinitive: advise, encourage, urge, remind, warn, invite, tell, persuade, etc. Example He reminded the children to do their homework.  Reporting verb + preposition + -ing / noun: complain about, argue about, insist on, complain to, apologies for, etc. Example The workers complained about closing late.  Reporting verb + -ing / noun: suggest, admit, deny, accept, etc. Example The woman suggested visiting the museum.  Reporting verb + someone + noun: offer, refuse, promise Example The man offered her a ride. Note that in reported statements, conjunctions are usually used to join the reported speech to the rest of the sentence. Example He said that he was hungry. However, in reported questions, if, whether, what, where, how, are used. Example • Direct speech: ‘Did you finish your lunch? She asked him. • Indirect speech: she asked if he had finished his lunch. To change direct speech to indirect speech you have to remember the following rules.  If the verb in the direct speech is in the present tense, change it to past in the indirect speech. Examples • Direct: ‘I am hungry’, he said. • Indirect: He said he was hungry. • Direct: ‘Are you all right?’ she asked him. • Indirect: She asked him if he was all right.  If the verb is in the direct speech is in the past, change it to past perfect in the indirect speech. Examples • Direct: ‘I went home, ‘he told her. • Indirect: He told her that he had gone home. • Direct: ‘The food has finished,’ he complained. • Indirect: He complained that the food had finished.  Change first- and second- person pronouns into third person pronoun. Examples • Direct: ‘I am going home’, the woman said. • Indirect: The woman said that she was going home. • Direct: ‘Do you have some honey?’ she asked. • Indirect: She asked whether he had some honey.  If you are reporting what is said about you to someone, change the second person to the first person. Examples • Direct: ‘Do you have some honey,’ he asked. • Indirect: He asked me whether I had some honey. • Direct: ‘I will pay your school fees tomorrow’, Dad promised. • Indirect: My dad promised that he would pay my school fee the next day.  The following word should be changed as indicated.

Exceptions to the general rules  Do not change past perfect tense in indirect speech. Examples • Direct: ‘I had slept before my parents returned,’ he explained. • Indirect: He explained that he had slept before his parents returned.  Do not change modal auxiliaries such as must, ought to, and should in indirect speech. Examples • Direct: ‘You must leave now’, he said. • Indirect: He said that they must leave then. Note, however, that ‘You must leave now’ could also be rendered as ‘He said that they had to leave then.’  Do not change the tense when the idea expressed in the reported speech is a statement of general truth which still holds at the time of reporting. Examples • Direct: ‘There are seven days in a week,’ she said. • Indirect: She said that there are seven days jn a week. • Direct: ‘My eyes are brown, she said. • Indirect: She said that her eyes are brown. Exercise 1 Read the following passage and answer the questions below: Mrs. Abe, a banker was late in picking up her son, Lana, from school yesterday afternoon. When she got to the school compound, she found Lana playing with his friend Gbolahan. ‘Lana, I’m here. Then she apologized, ‘I am so sorry for coming late. I had a flat tire and the traffic was unusually heavy. Have you had lunch? I’ll buy you lunch at KFC. Lana told her that he had not had lunch and she apologized again. She offered to buy him lunch from KFC. She always buys him lunch any time she’s late in picking him up. She promised not to be late again. The passage above contains direct and indirect speech. List all the direct speech and the indirect speech from the passage. Exercise 2 Using the examples provided as a guide, report the following as direct speech. Remember to use the appropriate reporting verbs. Example: Lana, I’m here. Answer: Mrs. Abe said ’Lana I’m here. • I’m so sorry for coming late. • I had a flat tire and the traffic was unusually heavy. • Have you had lunch? • Why is your shirt so dirty? • Were you given any homework? • I have some juice for you. • Your sister is in the car. • We will visit your grandma this week. • I’ll buy you lunch at KFC. Exercise 3 Change the following direct state to reported speech. Use the reporting verb in brackets after each statement. You can use any noun / pronoun you find suitable. One has been done for you. 1. ‘I don’t have any money.’ (admit) Answer: She admitted that she did not have any money. 2. ‘Why are you late?’ teacher to student (ask) 3. ‘We will not fail you.’ Workers to manager (assure) 4. ‘You should sleep early’. Mother to children (advise) 5. ‘I will pay you tomorrow.’ Employer to staff (promise) 6. ‘She stole the money.’ Rasheed to Kola (tell) 7. ‘We should buy some tomatoes.’ Wife to husband (suggest) 8. ‘The attendant is rude.’ customer to store manager (complain) 9. ‘It is better to travel during the day.’ Rayo to Jones (persuade) 10. ‘They are around.’ Mr. Lati to friends.’ (announced) Eguria.blogspot.com