8

7

6

5

4

3

WITH10A

GROUP 5

Larisa said that the new teacher had given all the

students an A last semester.

Really! Viktor told me that

students could eat in his class.

No, what is it?

REPORTED SPEECH

Have you heard the latest gossip

about the new teacher?

Wow! Yeah, I heard he was

an easy teacher.

Maria said that the new teacher didn’t give any

homework.

DIRECT SPEECH

In direct speech we use the

speaker’s own words.

“In text we put speech

marks around the

words spoken”

“Speech marks are

also called

inverted commas”

INDIRECT SPEECHIn indirect speech, we do not use the

exact words of the speaker.Instead we report what was said.We sometimes need to change pronouns

and verb tenses. We don’t use speech marks.

“I am going home.” Helen said she was going

home.

USING DIRECT SPEECHWhen using direct speech in your writing you

need to use the correct punctuation.• The exact words spoken must be enclosed in

speech marks.• The first word of the speech must begin with a

capital letter.• The words in the speech marks must be

separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.

• You must use a new line when a new speaker begins to speak.

USING INDIRECT SPEECH

Using speech in fiction and non-fiction writing adds variety.

However, writing out long pieces of direct speech can make your writing confusing. It also slows down the action.

Reported speech can summarise what the speaker has said so that the action moves along more quickly.

Reported speech is useful when you want a contrast between what a character says and what he or she is thinking.

CHANGES THAT HAPPEN DURING

REPORTED SPEECH

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

• now then• today that day• tomorrow the next day

the day afterthe following daya day later

• next the … after the following …

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH• last … the … before

the previous …the preceding …

• … ago … before … earlier• yesterday the day before

the previous daythe preceeding day

• here there• this that• these those

TENSESTHE CHANGE IN THE TENSE OF A PASSAGE IS SUBSEQUENT TO THE SPEECH-RELATED CHANGES.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present

Present Continuous

Simple Past Tense

Present Perfect

Simple Past

Past Continuous

Past Perfect

Past Perfect

EXAMPLES

“The teacher

is strict.”

She said the teacher was strict.

“The teacher is giving

everyone an A.”

He said the

teacher was

giving everyone

an A.

EXAMPLES

“Somebody put the final exam on the

Internet.”

She said somebody had put the final exam

on the Internet.

“The teacher has graded our grammar

tests.”

Joe said the teacher had graded our

grammar tests.

EXERCISE 1

1. “The library is closed.” He said…

2. “We have registered for classes.” They said…

3. “She got an A on the test.” You said…

CHANGE DIRECT SPEECH INTO INDIRECT SPEECH…

“My friend is helping me study.” She said…Example:

She said her friend was helping her study.

He said the library was closed.

They said they had registered for classes.

You said she had gotten an A on the test.

TENSES

The Modal Auxiliary (helping) Verbs are changed into their past forms.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

will

can

may

must

would

could

might

had to

EXAMPLES

“The test will be

difficult.”

He said the test would be difficult.

She said we could use our notes

on the test.

“You can use your notes on the test.”

EXAMPLES

She said we had to study hard for the final exam.

“You must study hard for the final

exam.”

“We may have a

substitute teacher.”

She said we might have a

substitute teacher.

EXERCISE 2

1. “We’ll help you with your homework.” They said…

2. “Anna must finish her paper.” He said…

3. “She may take a different class.” You said…

CHANGE DIRECT SPEECH INTO INDIRECT SPEECH…

“You can relax about the exam.” She said…Example:

She said I could relax about the exam.

They said they would help me with my homework.

He said Anna had to finish her paper.

You said she might take a different class.

TENSES

THE FOLLOWING MODALS DO NOT CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE SPEECH-RELATED CHANGES : Should, Could, might, and ought to.

“You shouldn’t tell this

secret to anyone.”

She said I shouldn’t tell this secret to

anyone.

“You ought to tell this to

a friend.”! He said I

ought to tell this to a friend.

“I could have gotten help from a tutor.”

He said he could have gotten help from a tutor.

He said if he had studied, he would have gotten an A.

“I thought I had chosen the easy teacher.”

“If I had studied, I would have gotten an A.”

He said he thought he had chosen the easy teacher.

TENSES

EXERCISE 3

1. “If I knew, I would tell you.” She said…

2. “I might have known the test was difficult.” He said…

3. “She had had that teacher before.” We said…

CHANGE DIRECT SPECCH INTO INDIRECT SPEECH…

“We ought to study some more.” He said…Example:

He said we ought to study some more.

She said if she knew, she would tell me.

He said he might have known the test was difficult.

We said she had had that teacher before.

Keep practicing!!! And please . . . ask if you need assistance!

Congratulations!

Do you understand reported speech better NOW than you

did BEFORE?