What does direct speech mean?
The term direct speech simply means the exact words of the person are mentioned. When writing direct speech we use speech marks before the first spoken word and after the full stop.
Marcus said, ”I love you.”
The exact words that were spoken are : ”I love you”
When we use direct speech we always use speech marks!
So what does reported speech or indirect speech mean?
Reported speech is used to quote what someone else said without using the persons exact words. This is done by reporting the speech of the person by changing the tense and the subjects involved in the speech.
What do I mean by changing the tense?
When reporting speech, the standard formula followed is to go back a tense. For example, if the person spoke in the present tense we would report in the past tense. If a person spoke in the present continuous tense, we would report in the past continuous tense.
Marcus said, ”I love you”
Marcus said that he loves me
No speech marks are needed!
Are there any exceptions to the rule?
Yes! When we report something that is still true then we do not need to change the tense. For example: If a student who still has three more years to study says , ”I am a student”
In this case we would report this in the same tense but change the subject from I to he.
He said that he is a student.
We do not change the tense when reporting in the past perfect, using might, could and would
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| Present Simple
He hates me They love to play football in the morning. Where does he work? Do you like me? |
Change to Past Simple
He said that he hates me He said that they love to play football in the morning He asked where he worked She asked if I liked her |
| Present Continuous
I am living in London I am using my phone Where did he live? Are you using your phone? |
Change to Past Continuous
He said that he is living in London (No change if still true) He said that he was using his phone He asked where he lived He asked if I were |
| Past Simple
I paid for a new watch l studied English for three years. Where did you study English? Did you live in France? |
Change to Past Perfect
He said that he had paid for a new watch He said that he had studied English for three years. He asked where I had studied English He asked if I had lived in France |
| Past Continuous
I was playing football They were living in Paris. What were you eating? Do you like studying in Australia? |
Change to Past Perfect Continuous
He said that he had been playing football He said that they had been living in Paris He asked me what I had been eating He asked if I liked studying in Australia |
| Present Perfect
I haven’t eaten yet What have you eaten? Have you eaten? |
Change to Past Perfect
She said that she hadn’t eaten yet He asked what I had eaten? He asked if I had eaten |
| Past Perfect*
Mike Tyson said, ”I had beaten Frank Bruno before.” Where had the waiter gone? Had boy eaten all of his food before you arrived? |
No change
Mike Tyson said that he had beaten Frank Bruno before. He asked where the waiter had gone He asked if the boy had eaten all of his food before I arrived |
| Will
They will meet me later Why will you go to America? Will beat him up? |
Change to Would
They said that they would meet me later He asked why I would go to America He asked if I would beat him up |
| Would*
He would help me but he is tired Where would you go if …. ? Would you help me? |
No change
He said that he would help but he is tired He asked where I would go if …. He asked if I would help him |
| Can
I can ride a bike What can you do for me? Can you help me? |
Change to could
He said that he could ride a bike He asked what I could do for him He asked if I could help him |
| Could*
I could do that when I was young What could you do when you were younger? Could you help him? |
No change He said that he could do that when he was young She asked what I could do when I was younger She asked if I could help him
|
| Shall
I shall visit you at the hospital Shall I do it for you ? |
Change to would or should
She said that she would visit me at the hospital She asked if she should do it for me |
| Should
I should visit the doctor Why should I do it for you? Should I do it for you? |
Should
He said that he should visit the doctor He asked why he should do it for me He asked if he should do it for me |
| Might*
I might smack him May I smack him? |
Might
She said that she may smack him She asked if she may smack him |
| Must
I must finish my homework Why must I finish my homework? Must you finish your homework now? |
Must
He said that he must finish his homework He asked why he must finish his homework He asked if I must finish my homework now |