Indirect Speech

Basic Formulation:

In indirect speech, the reported statement is introduced by a reporting verb such as "say," "tell," "ask," etc. The reported statement is then transformed to fit into the structure of the reporting clause.

For example:

• Direct speech: "I am going to the store," she said.
• Indirect speech: She said (that) she was going to the store.

Changes in Pronouns and Verb Tenses:

In indirect speech, pronouns, time expressions, and verb tenses may need to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporting clause.

Here are some common changes:

• Pronouns: Change pronouns to match the subject of the reporting clause.
  For example, "I" becomes "she/he," "we" becomes "they," etc.

• Verb Tenses: Change present tense to past tense, and past tense to past perfect tense (if the reported speech refers to an action that occurred before the reporting verb).
  For example, "am" becomes "was," "said" becomes "had said," etc.

• Time Expressions: Adjust time expressions to fit the context of the reporting clause.
  For example, "today" becomes "that day," "tomorrow" becomes "the next day," etc.

Reporting Verbs:

Various reporting verbs can be used to introduce indirect speech, such as "say," "tell," "ask," "explain," "mention," etc. The choice of reporting verb may indicate the speaker's attitude or the nature of the reported speech.

For example:

• She said (that) she was tired. (Neutral reporting)
• He admitted (that) he had made a mistake. (Acknowledging wrongdoing)
• They explained (that) they would arrive late. (Providing clarification)

Omission of Quotation Marks:

Unlike direct speech, which uses quotation marks to enclose the speaker's exact words, indirect speech does not use quotation marks. Instead, the reported statement is integrated into the reporting clause.

For example:

• Direct speech: "I will call you later," he said.
• Indirect speech: He said (that) he would call me later.

Optional "That":

The word "that" can be optionally included before the reported statement in indirect speech, but it is often omitted in informal contexts.

For example:

• She said (that) she was happy.
• He told me (that) he had already eaten.

Indirect Questions:

Indirect speech can also be used to report questions. In this case, the reporting verb may change to a verb that indicates questioning, such as "ask," "wonder," "inquire," etc.

For example:

• Direct question: "Where are you going?" she asked.
• Indirect question: She asked where I was going.

Constructing indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves several changes to the original statement to make it grammatically correct within the context of the reporting clause. Here's how to construct indirect speech:

Change Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives:
Change pronouns and possessive adjectives to match the subject of the reporting clause.
Example:

• Direct speech: "He said, 'I am going to the store.'"
• Indirect speech: "He said that he was going to the store."

Change Verb Tenses:
Change verb tenses in the reported speech to reflect the time frame of the reporting clause. This often involves backshifting the tense one step into the past.
Example:

• Direct speech: "She said, 'I will come back tomorrow.'"
• Indirect speech: "She said that she would come back the next day."

Change Demonstratives and Time Expressions:
Change demonstratives and time expressions to reflect the perspective of the reporting clause.
Example:

• Direct speech: "They said, 'We are leaving today.'"
• Indirect speech: "They said that they were leaving that day."

Change Modal Verbs and Other Expressions:
Change modal verbs and other expressions as needed to match the context and structure of the reporting clause.
Example:

• Direct speech: "He said, 'Can you help me?'"
• Indirect speech: "He asked if I could help him."

Change Reporting Verbs:
Change reporting verbs such as "say," "ask," "reply," etc., to match the context of the reported speech.
Example:

• Direct speech: "She said, 'I am busy.'"
• Indirect speech: "She mentioned that she was busy."

Introduce Reporting Clauses:
Introduce the reported speech with appropriate reporting clauses such as "he said that," "she told me that," etc.
Example:

• Direct speech: "They said, 'We have finished our work.'"
• Indirect speech: "They informed me that they had finished their work."

Maintain the Meaning and Intent:
Ensure that the reported speech maintains the meaning and intent of the original statement while adjusting it to fit within the context of the reporting clause.
Example:

• Direct speech: "She said, 'I am excited.'"
• Indirect speech: "She exclaimed that she was excited."

Punctuate Appropriately:
Punctuate indirect speech with commas, quotation marks, and other punctuation marks as needed to maintain clarity and readability.

Example:

• Direct speech: "He said, 'I am happy.'"
• Indirect speech: "He said that he was happy."

By following these steps, speakers can accurately convey statements, questions, or commands made by others in indirect speech, maintaining clarity, accuracy, and grammatical correctness within the context of the reporting clause.

Understanding and knowing how to use indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is valuable for English learners and speakers for several reasons:

Reporting Statements Made by Others:
Indirect speech allows speakers to report statements, questions, or commands made by someone else in a more formal or indirect manner.
Example:

• Direct speech: "She said, 'I am going to the store.'"
• Indirect speech: "She said that she was going to the store."

Maintaining Clarity and Accuracy:
Indirect speech helps maintain clarity and accuracy when reporting what someone else has said, especially in situations where direct quoting might be impractical or less precise.
Example:

• Direct speech: "He said, 'I will come back tomorrow at 3 p.m.'"
• Indirect speech: "He said that he would come back the next day at 3 p.m."

Avoiding Misquoting or Misunderstanding:
Indirect speech reduces the risk of misquoting or misunderstanding someone's words by accurately conveying the intended meaning or message.
Example:

• Direct speech: "She said, 'I didn't steal the money.'"
• Indirect speech: "She denied stealing the money."

Reporting Questions and Commands:
Indirect speech allows speakers to report questions and commands in a more indirect and polite manner.
Example:

• Direct speech: "He asked, 'Can you help me?'"
• Indirect speech: "He asked if I could help him."

Maintaining the Context of the Original Conversation:
Indirect speech helps maintain the context of the original conversation or dialogue by providing background information or additional details.
Example:

• Direct speech: "She said, 'I have finished my work.'"
• Indirect speech: "She said that she had finished her work."

Conveying Emotions and Attitudes:
Indirect speech allows speakers to convey the emotions, attitudes, or intentions of the original speaker through reported statements.
Example:

• Direct speech: "He said, 'I am so excited!'"
• Indirect speech: "He exclaimed that he was so excited."

Adapting Speech for Different Contexts:
Indirect speech allows speakers to adapt their speech for different contexts, such as formal writing, storytelling, or reporting events.
Example:

• Direct speech: "She said, 'I can't believe it!'"
• Indirect speech: "She expressed disbelief at the news."

Maintaining Politeness and Respect:
Indirect speech can be used to maintain politeness and respect by avoiding direct confrontation or criticism when reporting someone else's words.
Example:

• Direct speech: "He said, 'You are wrong.'"
• Indirect speech: "He stated that I was mistaken."