Indirect Speech

Understanding Indirect Speech

In indirect speech, the speaker's original words are paraphrased, often involving changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions. It doesn't use quotation marks like direct speech.

Using Indirect Speech

• Structure: Reporting Verb (say, tell, ask, etc.) + That + Clause (changes in tense/pronouns)
• Example: She said that she would be late.

Role in Conversation

• Reporting Speech: Summarizes what someone else said.
  • "He mentioned that he was moving to New York." 🏙️
• Conveying Information: Useful for relaying messages or instructions.
  • "She asked me to close the window." 🪟
• Creating Narratives: Helps in storytelling without direct quotes.
  • "John admitted that he had forgotten the meeting." 📅
• Avoiding Repetition: Prevents the need to repeat exact words.
  • "They explained that the show had been canceled." 🚫🎭

Common Mistakes and Corrections

• ✅ Correct: "She said that she was feeling tired." 😴
• ❌ Incorrect (Direct Speech): "She said, 'I am feeling tired.'"
• ✅ Correct: "He told me that he had finished the project." 📝
• ❌ Incorrect (Tense not changed): "He told me that he finished the project."
• ✅ Correct: "They asked if I could join them later." 👥
• ❌ Incorrect (Question form): "They asked, 'Can you join us later?'"