REPORTED SPEECH (INDIRECT SPEECH)
Autor: Teacher Joseph | Publicado: 2006-12-04T22:55:00-02:00

DIRECT AND REPORTED SPEECHYou can answer the questions "What He/She say?" in to ways:by repeating the words spoken (direct speech)by reporting the words spoken (indirect or reported speech).Direct SpeechDirect speech repeats, or quotes, the exact words spoken.When we use direct speech in writing, we place the words spoken between inverted commas ("....") and there is no change in these words. We may be reporting something that's being said NOW (for example a telephone conversation), or telling someone later about a previous conversation.Examples:She says "What time will you be home?"She said "What time will you be home?" and I said "I don't know! ""There's a fly in my soup!" screamed Simone.John said, "There's an elephant outside the window."Reported Speech (indirect speech)Reported speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we normally change the tense of the words spoken.We use reporting verbs like: 'say', 'tell', 'ask', and we may use the word 'that' to introduce the reported words. Inverted commas are not used.She said, "I saw him." She said that she had seen him.'That' may be omitted:She told him that she was happy.She told him she was happy.'Say' and 'tell':Use 'say' when there is no indirect object:He said that he was tired.Always use 'tell' when you say who was being spoken to (i.e. with an indirect object):He told me that he was tired.'Talk' and 'speak' are used:- to describe the action of communicating:He talked to us.She was speaking on the telephone.- with 'about' to refer to what was said:He talked (to us) about his parents.Take a look: the tense used to express and idea is also an important factor. Take into consideration the following chart:Direct Speech -Reported SpeechPresent Tense- Simple PastFuture with "Going to"- Past with" going to"Present Perfect -Past PerfectSentences with "Can"- Sentences with "could"Future with "Will"asteis- Sentences with "would"Present Progressive- Past ProgressiveLook at the following examples:Direct Speech1.Julia:"I live in my own apartment".2.Nick:"I am going to visit my parents next weekend".3.Tom:"I have studied Italian for a year".4.Linda and John: "We can't come to the party next week".5.Terry: "I'll write as soon as I get there".6.Andrew:"I'm learning to cook Chinese food".Indirect Speech1.She said that she lived in her own apartment2.He said he was going to visit his parents next weekend.3.Tom said he had studied in Italy for a year.4.They said they couldn't come to the party next week.5.She said that she would write as soon as he got there.6.He said he was learning to cook Chinese food.EXERCISESReported SpeechChange these sentences to reported speech by changing the verb form and adding reporting verbs such as tell or say.1. "My parents are fine".Lily.............. that her parents.............. fine.2. "I'm going to learn how to pilot a plane".She........... me she.................. how to pilot a plane.3. "My friend Gary has found a new job in the music business".Lily............. Gary................ a new job in the music business.4." I am sorry but I can't go to your birthday party because I'm going away for the weekend".She............ me that she .................sorry but she............... to my birthday party because she............... away for the weekend.5. "I will call you as soon as I come back from my trip".She........... to me that she .................me as soon as she.............. back from her trip.6. "I'll bring my CD'S to the party."She ...............that she.................to the party.7."Yes, I stole the CD'S"She...................that she........................the CD'S.8."You must apologise to your teacher".My father ....................that I ...................apologise to my teacher.9."All right! I'll share the expenses with you.My friend said that he.....................the expensives with me.10.They said to me: "You can't talk this area"They said to me that.................................................