Words of indirect speech. Indirect speech in English. Reported Speech. Specifying Tone and Mood

As in Russian, indirect speech in English language(reported speech in English), are used when it is necessary to retell the direct speech of another person. Let’s not delay the introduction and look in detail at how these two types of speech work in English.

Indirect speech is conveyed using the verb say (said), the preposition that and one more (in the example above it is verb like). The preposition that can be omitted from the sentence; it is not required. It is also important to remember that if a sentence in direct speech contains the verb to say without an object, then the verb to say will remain in indirect speech. If there is an object in direct speech, then the verb to say must be changed to the verb to tell.

In the example above, during the transition to direct speech, only , and the time of the narration remained the same. However, in the case when the verb conveying indirect speech is in the past tense, you need to change the tense in the action itself:

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Translation of direct speech into indirect speech by tenses and moods

Table	Direct speech	Indirect speech	Translation
Present simple	I like vanilla ice cream.	He said (that) he liked vanilla ice cream.	I love vanilla ice cream - He said he loves vanilla ice cream.
Present continuous	I am living in Budapest.	He said (that) he was living in Budapest.	I live in Budapest - He said he lives in Budapest.
Past simple	I bought a coffee maker.	He said (that) he had bought a coffee maker.	I bought a coffee maker - He said he bought a coffee maker.
Past continuous	I was walking along the Bourbon Street.	He said (that) he had been walking along the Bourbon Street.	I was walking down Bourbon Street - He said he was walking down Bourbon Street.
Present perfect	I haven't seen Claus.	He said (that) he hadn’t seen Claus.	I didn't see Klaus - He said he didn't see Klaus.
Past perfect	I had taken English lessons before.	He said (that) he had taken English lessons before.	I used to take English lessons - He said he used to take English lessons.
Future simple	I'll see you later.	He said (that) he would see me later.	See you later - He said he'll see me later
Would	I would help, but...	Ann said (that) she would help but…	I would help, but... - Ann said she would help, but...
Can	I can speak perfect Swahili.	Michael said (that) he could speak perfect Swahili	I speak Swahili very well – Michael said he speaks Swahili very well.
Could	I could swim when I was four.	Laila said (that) she could swim when she was four.	I could swim at four years old - Lila said she could swim at four years old.
Shall	I shall come later.	Bob said (that) he would come later.	I'd better come later - Bob said he'd better come later.
Should	I should call my godfather.	He said (that) he should call his godfather.	I have to call my godfather - He said he has to call his godfather.
Might	I might be late.	Matt said (that) he might be late.	I might be late – Matt said he might be late.

Sometimes the tense in indirect speech may not be changed, but this is only acceptable if the information being said is still relevant from the moment of direct speech. This applies when talking about general concepts:

Changing time and place indicators in indirect speech

Questions

If you translate questions from direct speech, the sentence will no longer be interrogative. Therefore, the word order in questions in this case will differ from that characteristic of an affirmative sentence.

Video lesson about indirect speech

The speech of a person, transmitted as his original words, is called direct.

If only its content is conveyed, for example, in the form of additional subordinate clauses, then it is called indirect speech.

Direct speech is highlighted in quotation marks and is considered a separate sentence. Please note that, unlike Russian, quotation marks in English are written at the top of the line. Words introducing direct speech are usually followed by a comma, and the first word of direct speech is capitalized. At the end of direct speech, a period or other punctuation mark is placed inside quotation marks:

He said, “I need my glasses.”
He said, “I need my glasses.”

She told me, “It’s snowing.”
She told me: "It's snowing."

Transition from direct speech to indirect speech

In order to convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to omit the comma after the words introducing direct speech and the quotation marks. Often indirect speech in English is introduced by the conjunction that, which, however, can be omitted:

I said, “It is June.”
I said, “It’s June.”

I said that it was June. (I said it was June.)
I said it was June.

All personal and possessive pronouns must be modified depending on the person from whom the story is being told:

Tom and Bob told me, “ We need your dictionary.”
Tom and Bob said, “We need your dictionary.”

Tom and Bob told me that they need my dictionary.
Tom and Bob said they needed my dictionary.

All demonstrative pronouns and adverbs of time and place in the subordinate clause must be changed according to the meaning of the sentence:

these —> those

today —> that day

tomorrow —> next day

the day after tomorrow —> 2 days later

yesterday —> the day before

the day before yesterday —> 2 days before

She told me, “I will come to see you tomorrow.”
She told me: “Tomorrow I will come to see you.”

She told me she would come to see me the next day.
She said that she would come to see me the next day.

If the predicate in the main clause is expressed by a verb in the past tense, then the form of the verb in the subordinate clause must also be changed to one of the past tenses. This process is called tense coordination.

Questions in indirect speech

In indirect speech, questions have direct word order, and the question mark at the end of the sentence is replaced by a period.

General issues are introduced by unions if And whether:

I asked, “Have you seen my pen?”
I asked, “Have you seen my pen?”

I asked him if he had seen my pen. (I asked him whether he had seen my pen.)
I asked if he had seen my pen.

Special questions are introduced with question words:

He wondered: “Who on earth will buy this junk?”
He was surprised: “Who would buy this junk?”

He didn't wonder who on earth would buy that junk.
He wondered who would buy this junk.

A short answer to the question of indirect speech is introduced by the conjunction that without words yes / no.

In English, there is a distinction between direct and indirect speech. Direct speech- this is the speech of a person, which is transmitted verbatim. Reported speech- this is speech that conveys only the main content of the speaker’s phrase or expression.

Let's take a closer look with examples.

The table shows that indirect speech is introduced using the conjunction ‘ that’. Personal and possessive pronouns change in meaning.

It is important to say that if the verb before the statement is in the present or future tense, then the verb in indirect speech does not change.

However, if the verb before the phrase is in the past tense, then in indirect speech the rule is used and the tense form of the verb changes.

Table of tense agreement in indirect speech

Direct speech

Indirect speech

Present simple

He said, 'I work’.

Past Simple

He said that he worked.

Present Continuous

He said, 'I am working’.

Past Continuous

He said that he was working.

Present Perfect

He said, 'I have finished my work'.

Past Perfect

He said that he had finished his work.

Past Continuous

He said, 'I was working’.

Past Perfect Continuous

He said that he had been working.

Past Simple

He said, 'I worked’.

Past Perfect

He said that he had worked.

Future Simple

He said, 'I will work’.

Future-in-the-Past

He said that he would work.

It is worth paying attention to the replacement of words when converting direct speech into indirect speech. However, the replacement of words must be logical.

Replacing words in indirect speech

Direct speech	Indirect speech



	that day


yesterday	the day before

next year	the following year
last night	the previous might
these days	those days

John said, 'I went to the gym yesterday’.

John said: "I went to the gym yesterday." (direct speech)

John said that he had gone to the gym the day before.

He said he had been to the gym the day before.

Case 1. . This form of questions in indirect speech is formed by attaching a subordinate clause to the main one using conjunctions 'if' or 'whether'.

Case 2.. When converting this form of questions into indirect speech, the subordinate clause is attached to the main clause using interrogative words (who, when, where and others).

As for imperative sentences such as a request, instruction or order, in indirect speech, the action is expressed using the infinitive with the particle ‘ to’. The negative form in an imperative sentence is formed by adding the particle ‘ not’. In addition, indirect speech uses verbs such as: to ask- ask, to tell- say, command, order, to order- to order, to allow-allow others.

Indirect speech in English is considered a real stumbling block. In fact, “the devil is not as terrible as he is painted.” If you want to make sure of this, then our material will be useful to you.

There are 2 types of speech: direct (Direct Speech) and indirect (Indirect Speech or Reported Speech). The direct one is conveyed using regular quotations, and the indirect one is conveyed using special constructions and introductory verbs.

Direct and indirect speech: short examples that English offers us (with translation)


1) Julia said, “I like green leaves in early spring.” Julia said: “I love green foliage in early spring.”	1) Julia said that she liked green leaves in early spring. Julia said she loves green foliage in early spring.
2) Mother told her, “Open the door, please!” Her mother told her: “Please open the door!”	2) Mother asked her to open the door. Her mother asked her to open the door.
3) The tutor said to me, “I have been to London this year.” The teacher told me: “I went to London this year.”	3) The tutor said that he had been to London that year. The teacher said that he was in London that year.

As you can see, indirect speech and English are friends with numerous changes in sentences, the table reflects only a few of them. You will read more about the rules for translating direct statements into narrative below.

Stages of translating direct speech into indirect speech

The punctuation stage involves omitting the quotation marks that enclose the replica, and the comma separating 2 simple sentences in a complex sentence. The latter can be replaced by the conjunction that, but this is not necessary. When transferring interrogative sentences Don't forget to put a period instead of a question mark.
At the lexical stage, all necessary verbal transformations occur.

Changes in adverbs

Examples of such modifications:

The boy said that he was reading at that moment. – The boy said that he was reading at that moment.
(In the original the boy said: “I am reading now.”)

This woman tells me she has lost the key that week. “This woman says she lost her key last week.”
(In the original the woman says: “I have lost the key this week.”)

The librarian asked to return the book the following week. — The librarian asked to return the book next week.
(In the original “Return the book next week, please!”)

Rules for agreeing tenses in indirect speech

Let's take a closer look at all the necessary changes regarding the time frame.

He says, “I swim very well.” (direct speech)
He says that he swims very well. (indirect speech)

NB! Indirect speech in English to convey what has already happened and constructing corresponding statements can cause some difficulties. If the introductory verbs are in the past tense, the tenses of the verbs from the quotations are subject to the following modifications.

Reported Speech: Sequence of Tenses

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Present Simple (Indefinite)“I want to buy a car”	Past Simple (Indefinite) He said (that) he wanted to buy a car.
Present Progressive (Continuous)“I am looking for a kitten”	She said (that) she was looking for a kitten.
Present Perfect“He has won this game”	Past Perfect She said (that) he had won that game.
Past Simple (Indefinite)“She found me at the seaside yesterday”	Past Perfect He said (that) she had found him at the seaside the day before.

Past Progressive (Continuous)“He was playing football”	Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Mother said (that) he had been playing football.
Future Simple (Indefinite)“I will catch this butterfly”	Future-in-the-Past (= Conditional Would) The boy said (that) he would catch that butterfly.
Modals: “I can dive very well” “You must be here at 5 p.m.” “I may be late a bit”	Modals: He said (that) he could dive very well. She told me (that) I had to be there at 5 p.m. He said he might be late

If you learn 2 basic tables (temporal and adverbial changes), modifying sentences from direct speech to indirect speech will be easy and simple. There will only be nuances that need to be monitored.

Light (upper) cloud – transmission of thought in the present, dark (lower) cloud – transmission of thought in indirect speech (in the past tense)

Indirect speech: features of the transition of various types of sentences

Get to know these simple principles and delve deeper into grammar with ease: now English, in particular direct and indirect speech, will not cause any special difficulties.

Translation of affirmative sentences is carried out using the conjunction that. Introductory verbs to tell (with an object), to say (without an object).
They said, "We have never been here before." – They said (that) they had never been there before.

He said, "I will clean the car." – He told me he would clean the car.

He said, “I will have finished this paper by tomorrow.” – He told his teacher that he would have finished that paper by the following day.

She said, "It is very quiet here." – She said that it was very quiet there.
When changing negative sentences, pay special attention to the particle not.
She said, “I don't know where my shoes are.” – She said that she didn’t know where her shoes were.

He said, “They won't sleep.” – He told that they would not sleep.

“I don"t speak Italian,” she says. – She says that she does not speak Italian.

“I cannot find a book anywhere,” she said to him. – She told me that she could not find a book anywhere.
The imperative mood is transformed using the infinitive. Introductory verbs to order - to order, to ask - to ask, to tell - to order, to beg - to beg, etc.
“Take off your shoes,” she told us. – She told us to take off our shoes.

“Stop talking, Joe,” the teacher said – The teacher asked Joe to stop talking.

“Don"t go out without me,” he begged her. – He begged her not to go out without him.

“Don"t repair the computer yourself,” she warned him. – She warned him not to repair the computer himself.
Interrogative sentences acquire direct word order. In this case, general questions become subordinate clauses, joined by conjunctions if or whether. Special questions are attached using appropriate question words. Introductory verbs: to ask - to ask, to wonder - to be interested, to want to know, to want to know - to want to know, to be interested - to be interested, etc.
Helen: What does she say? – He wanted to know what Helen said.

"Where is my umbrella?" she asked. – She wondered where her umbrella was.

“Are you going to the cinema?” he asked me. – He asked me if I was going to the cinema.

"Have you tidied up your room?" the mother asked the twins. – The mother asked the twins whether they had tidied up their room.
To convey lines with an exclamation, you can use the verb to exclaim - to exclaim, adding the corresponding emotion word (for example, joy - joy, sorrow - grief, wonder - surprise, etc.)
“Hurrah! I’ve got the first prize!” – Tomas exclaimed with joy (that) he had got the first prize.

“Wow! What a marvelous dress you are having on.” – She exclaimed with wonder (that) I was having a marvelous dress on.

“Oh, my... I’ve lost my wallet!” – He exclaimed with sorrow (that) he had lost his wallet.

“Come on! You’ll cope with this task.” – She exclaimed with enthusiasm (that) I would cope with that task.

And, finally, we present to your attention the transmission of a short dialogue in indirect speech.

— Hello Mike! How are you?
— Hi Jane! I am not well, I have a sore throat. Sorry, I can’t speak to you now…
— Ok, hold on then… I’ll call you in a couple of days.

Reported Speech: Jane greeted Mike and asked him how he was. Mike greeted Jane in response and explained that he was not well. He exclaimed with sorrow that he could not speak to Jane. She expressed her support and added that she would call him in a couple of days.

Admit it, now indirect speech does not seem so difficult, the English language does not seem so scary, and repeated exercises will increase your skill and improve your grammatical skills.

Watch the video for the basic rules of indirect speech with examples.

So, let's talk about everything in more detail.

Declarative sentences in indirect speech.

If you need to translate a declarative sentence into indirect speech, the first thing you should pay attention to is the speaking verb in the original sentence.

Look at what tense the speaking verb is in - in one of the present tenses or in the past.

Valentine says:“I’m attracted to clever people.” – The verb say is in the Present Simple tense.

Valentine said:“I don’t feel comfortable here.” — The verb say is in Past Simple tense.

If the speaking verb is in present time- You're lucky - to translate direct speech into indirect speech you will only have to slightly change the sentence:

Valentine says:“I’m attracted to clever people.” (Direct speech) -> Valentine says that he is attracted to clever people – Valentine says that he is attracted to smart people (Reported speech).

Let's look at another example:

Molly says: “I like sport” -> Molly says that she likes sports.

Note that in the third person singular the ending –s appears. It corresponds general rules.

In a word, if the speaking verb is in the present tense, then the tense in the subordinate clause is preserved.

However, if you are less fortunate and the speaking verb is in the past time, more manipulation will be required in order to correctly translate direct speech into indirect speech.

Firstly, in this case the rule of tense coordination applies, and therefore the time in the subordinate clause will change - there will be a shift of tenses into the past.

Time shift table in Indirect Speech.

Present Simple -> Past Simple	Molly said: “I like coffee” -> Molly said that she liked coffee.
Present Continuous -> Past Continuous Am / is +Ving -> was / were +Ving	Molly said: “I am drinking coffee” -> Molly said that she was drinking coffee.
Present Perfect -> Past Perfect Have / has + V3 -> had + V3	Molly said: “I have drunk my coffee” -> Molly said she had drunk her coffee.
Past Simple -> Past Perfect V2 -> had + V3	Molly said: “I liked coffee” -> Molly said she had liked coffee.
Future Simple -> Future Simple in the Past Will -> would	Molly said: “I will have a coffee.” -> Molly said she would have a coffee.
Past Continuous -> Past Perfect Continuous was / were +Ving -> had +V3	Molly said: “I was drinking coffee.” -> Molly said she had been drinking coffee.

Modal verbs also require changes in tense.

I hope you noticed that the conjunction that, which introduces indirect speech, can be omitted without loss of meaning:

Molly said that she was drinking coffee = Molly said she was drinking coffee.

Sometimes changing tense is not enough to correctly translate direct speech into indirect speech. It is also necessary to replace some adverbs and demonstrative pronouns.

Replacement table for adverbs and pronouns in Indirect Speech

Thus, in order to correctly translate a sentence into indirect speech

Molly said “I don’t like these guys.”

We need:

Pay attention to the fact that the speaking verb is in the past tense, and therefore in the sentence “I don’t like these guys” there will be a shift of tenses into the past (from Present Simple to Past Simple).
Pay attention to the demonstrative pronoun these and change it to those.

Molly said “I don’t like these guys” -> Molly said she didn't like those guys.

And the last point that you need to pay attention to when translating direct speech into indirect speech is the correct use of the speaking verb.

Statements in Indirect speech are usually introduced by the speaking verbs sау and tell (although you can use other verbs, of which there are at least a hundred -). And if everything is simple with the verb say - it can be used both in direct and indirect speech with and without an object, then the verb to tell can only be used with an object.

Compare:

The professor said to his student that his mark was bad.

The professor said that the mark was bad.

The professor told his student that his mark was bad.

The professor told that the mark was bad. (It is forbidden)

And, of course, pay attention: say to smb/tell smb.

Interrogative sentences in indirect speech.

When conveying interrogative sentences in indirect speech, the same rules for agreeing tenses and changing some adverbs and pronouns that we discussed above apply. One more rule is added to these rules.

When translating a question into indirect speech, we must change the reverse word order to direct.

Reverse word order:

auxiliary verb + subject + predicate

Did you play hockey?

Direct word order.

Subject + (auxiliary verb) + predicate

Molly is playing tennis.

Each type of question is translated into indirect speech in its own way.

General questions in indirect speech.

Let's look at the translation of general questions into indirect speech using the following sentences as an example:

Peter asks “Do you like tennis, Molly?” (The verb speaking in the present tense -> the time in the subordinate clause does not change)

Peter asked Molly “Will you come with me tomorrow?” (Verb speaking in past tense -> tense in subordinate clause changes)

We translate (a question with a yes or no answer) into Indirect Speech according to the following scheme:

Rewriting the main sentence
We insert conjunctions if or whether (whether)
We write the subordinate clause according to the diagram

Subject + predicate + minor members of the sentence.

Don't forget to change the tense form and other words if necessary.

Thus, the general question is translated into Reported speech according to the following scheme:

Please note that in the second sentence we changed will to would and tomorrow to the following day.

If your general question began with do \ does \ did, then auxiliary verbs there will be no indirect speech.

Sandy asks Jim “Do you like coffee?” -> Sandy asks Jim if he likes coffee.

Sandy asked Jim “Do you like coffee?” -> Sandy asked Jim if he liked coffee.

Answers in indirect speech.

Short answers in indirect speech are conveyed by repeating the verb contained in the direct answer. This verb will change according to the rule of tense agreement. A verb can also be introduced by the conjunction that.

Have you ever been to the Sudan?

-Yes, I have.

He asked me if I had been to the Sudan and I answered that I had.

Alternative questions in indirect speech.

An alternative question (a question with or) is translated into indirect speech in the same way as a general question.

Let's convert the following alternative questions into indirect speech:

Molly asks Tim “Have you or your sister bought this picture?” -> Molly asks Tim if / whether he or his sister has bought this picture.

Molly asked Tom “Will you come today or tomorrow?” -> Molly asked Tom if / whether he would come that day or the following day.

Special questions in indirect speech.

Special questions are introduced by their own question words, which become allied words. Otherwise, everything is similar to the rules for the general question.

Let's look at examples:

The teacher asks Jillian “Who is on duty today?” -> The teacher asks Jillian who is on duty today.

Mum asked her son “Where have you been?” -> Mum asked her son where he had been.

The shop-assistant asks me “What color do you like?” -> The shop-assistant asks me what color I like.

The easiest way to convert subject questions into Reported Speech is with who? and what? Here the sentence structure is completely preserved, and all you have to do is change the rules for coordinating tenses, if necessary.