Direct and Indirect
Speech
By the end of the lesson I will:
• Understand the difference between direct
and indirect speech.
• Be able to apply this knowledge in my
writing.
• Accurately punctuate direct and indirect
speech
• Know when and how to change pronouns
and verb tenses in indirect speech.
Direct speech
When we use direct speech in our writing:
• The exact words spoken must be put inside
speech marks. “ ”
• The first spoken word must have a capital
letter.
• When a new speaker begins, we must start
a new line.
Here are some terms
that are used in direct
speech and what they
will change to when
moving to indirect
speech.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
simple present
He said, “I go to school every day.”
simple past
He said (that) he went to school every day.
simple past
He said, “I went to school every day.”
past perfect
He said (that) he had gone to school every day.
present perfect
He said, “I have gone to school every day.”
past perfect
He said (that) he had gone to school every day.
present progressive
He said, “I am going to school every day.”
past progressive
He said (that) he was going to school every day.
past progressive
He said, “I was going to school every day.”
perfect progressive
He said (that) he had been going to school every
day,
future (will)
He said, “I will go to school every day.”
would + verb name
He said (that) he would go to school every day.
future (going to)
He said, “I am going to school every day.”
present progressive
He said (that) he is going to school every day.
past progressive
He said (that) he was going to school every day
Direct Speech
auxiliary + verb name
He said, “Do you go to school every day?”
He said, “Where do you go to school?”
Indirect Speech
simple past
He asked me if I went to school every day.*
He asked me where I went to school.
The situation changes if instead of the common said another part of the
very to say is used. In that case the verb tenses usually remain the
same. Some examples of this situation are given below.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
simple present + simple present
He says, “I go to school every day.”
simple present + simple present
He says (that) he goes to school every day.
present perfect + simple present
He has said, “I go to school every day.”
present perfect + simple present
He has said (that) he goes to school every day.
past progressive + simple past
He was saying, “I went to school every day.”
past progressive + simple past
He was saying (that) he went to school every
day.
past progressive + past perfect
He was saying (that) he had gone to school
every day.
future + simple present
He will say, “I go to school every day.”
future + simple present
He will say (that) he goes to school every day.
Another situation is the one in which modal constructions are used. If the
verb said is used, then the form of the modal, or another modal that
has a past meaning is used.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
can
He said, “I can go to school every day.”
could
He said (that) he could go to school every day.
may
He said, “I may go to school every day.”
might
He said (that) he might go to school every day.
might
He said, “I might go to school every day.”
must
He said, “I must go to school every day.”
had to
He said (that) he had to go to school every day.
have to
He said, “I have to go to school every day.”
should
He said, “I should go to school every day.”
should
He said (that) he should go to school every day.
ought to
He said, “I ought to go to school every day.”
ought to
He said (that) he ought to go to school every day.
Questions
General questions
“Are you watching TV?”
“Do you play chess?”
“Does she go to school?”
“Are you listening to me?”
“Have you done your
homework?”
“Did you skate last winter?”
“Will you see your friend
tomorrow?”
Indirect Questions
if, whether
…I was watching TV.
…I played chess.
…she went to school.
…I was listening to him.
…I had done my homework.
…I had skated the winter
before.
…I should see my friend the
next day.
Direct speech
Here are some examples
of direct speech.
Direct Speech
I’ve hurt my
leg!
“I’ve hurt my leg!” moaned the boy.
Direct speech
Can you take a
deep breath?
“Can you take a deep breath?” asked the
doctor.
Direct speech
I like this dress.
The woman said, “I like this dress.”
Direct Speech
Use the correct punctuation to write
what is being said.
I’ve caught
three fish.
The train will
leave in ten
minutes!
I love ice
cream.
I am a
clever
girl.
Do you
know
what
type of
angle
this is?
Indirect speech
This is sometimes called REPORTED SPEECH.
When we use indirect speech in our writing:
• We don’t use speech marks.
• We usually have to change pronouns and verb
tenses.
• We don’t have to start a new line when we
report a new speaker’s words.
Indirect speech
Here are some examples
of indirect speech.
Direct Speech
I’ve hurt my
leg!
The boy moaned that he had hurt his leg.
Direct speech
Can you take a deep
breath?
The doctor asked the boy if he could take a deep breath.
Direct speech
I like this dress.
The woman said that she liked the dress.
Indirect Speech
Use the correct punctuation to
report what was said.
I’ve caught
three fish.
The train will
leave in ten
minutes!
I love ice
cream.
I am a
clever
girl.
Do you
know
what
type of
angle
this is?
He said he’d caught three fish.
Не shouted (that) the train would leave in ten minutes!
She said she was a clever girl.
He said he loved ice cream.
She asked if I knew what type of angle this was?
QUESTIONS
Is your
father still in
Moscow?
We asked the girl if her father was still in Moscow.
When did
you fall ill?
I wanted to know when he had fallen ill.
By the end of the lesson I will look for evidence to
show that you will:
• Understand the difference between direct and
indirect speech.
• Be able to apply this knowledge in your writing.
• Accurately punctuate direct and indirect speech
• Know when and how to change pronouns and
verb tenses in indirect speech.