Indirect speech English language table. Indirect speech in English

AT English language The transmission of someone else's utterance is carried out in two ways: using indirect and direct speech. In direct entry, the speech of another person is transmitted without various changes. If we use indirect speech in English, then the statement will be transmitted from a third person, while the word order changes and other temporary forms can be used. Indirect speech is written as a subordinate clause.

With the help of indirect speech, you can convey questions, statements, requests and orders. If you use a statement, then the sentence must be made a subordinate clause and use Union that. If the sentence is in the past tense, then it will be slightly changed, according to the rules. These rules have their own characteristics, so the coordination of tenses is best considered separately from indirect speech. If you convey other people's words or thoughts, then and will change, namely the correct choice of its form. Undoubtedly, if the sentence contains the person to whom the appeal is directed, then the verb is changed from say to tell. The question in indirect speech has a direct word order, and at the end of the sentence, the question mark is replaced by a period. A special question in indirect speech is presented in the form of an additional subordinate clause, connected by interrogative words with the main part.

Converting direct speech to indirect

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you must omit commas and quotation marks after words that are included in direct speech. All possessive and personal pronouns change depending on the person who is narrating. If the imperative mood is used in direct speech, then we will have to transform the verb in indirect speech into an infinitive. And if we use interrogative sentences, then we will have to transform these sentences into subordinate clauses according to the rule. When posing a general question, you should use subordinate clauses with introductory unions whether, if . All adverbs of time and demonstrative pronouns must be changed in the subordinate clause according to the meaning. Now let's reduce the whole theory to table.

Rules for translating direct speech into indirect: table

When translating from direct speech to indirect, personal pronouns change in meaning; the following pronouns change too:

this - that
today - that day
these - those
this week - that week
here - there
yesterday - the day before yesterday
now-then
tomorrow - the next day (the next day)

In the indirect speech of the past tense (begins with somebody said, and not says) you should also watch the times:

Coordination of tenses in indirect speech

Exceptions:

1) Common knowledge. He said that the Earth is round.
2) Personal 100% conviction. He said that Tom is a kind person.

💡 I remind you once again that if the indirect sentence is in the present tense, for example he says, then the transition of tenses according to the above is not carried out! 💡

To understand what indirect speech is in English grammar, you need to figure out first what direct speech is.

Direct speech is a phrase of a subject, it sounds directly from the first mouth and is written in quotation marks

Direct speech is a separate sentence, so after we open the quotes, we write the first word with a capital letter. In English, after words indicating who is speaking, a comma is placed. While in Russian we put a colon:

• He said, "I will return your book tomorrow."

He said, "I will return your book tomorrow."

Indirect speech is a way of transmitting words spoken by another person, while the transmitter transforms other people's words grammatically and in meaning so that it is clear to whom they belong, while maintaining the general content of what was said.

• He said he would return my book the next day.

He said that he would return my book the next day. Secrets of English indirect speech

Indirect speech - transformed direct

In the declarative sentences of the English language, a number of changes occur when direct speech is turned into indirect:

1. After the words that introduce the phrase of the author, the comma is no longer put
2. An alliance is put after the introductory words that(what), sometimes you can do without it
3. If there is a verb in the introductory words to say(say) it is replaced by to tell(say) if it is followed by an addition indicating to whom the phrase is addressed

The following table with illustrative examples will help you understand the rules listed above.

The main proposals are those introductory words, such as "Luke said", "she claims", "parents answered", etc. They retain their temporary form:

• Present Indefinite(Real Simple)
• Present Perfect(Present perfect)
• Future Indefinite(Future Simple), even as part of indirect speech

The table with examples will again help you understand this rule.

Gradually we came to important point grammar, which must be parsed to understand how indirect speech is formed in English. I mean the rules for coordinating the tenses of the English language in indirect speech. The following table conveys the principle of the transition of tenses (in the upper column - the time that is used in direct speech, in the lower column - the time to be used in indirect speech).

Using examples, let's consider how time can change when speech is converted.

1. present simple(Real Simple) -> past simple(Past Simple)
   • Nick said, "I learn English." Nick said: "I'm learning English."
   • Nick said that he learned English. — Nick said that he was learning English.
2. present progressive(Present Continuous) -> past progressive(Past Continuous)
   • Leonardo said, "I am reading the book now." Leonardo said: "I'm reading a book now."
   • Leonardo said that he was reading the book then. — Leonardo said he was reading a book now
3. Present Perfect(Real Perfect) -> past perfect(Past Perfect)
   • Angelina said, "I have seen him this morning." Angelina said, "I saw him this morning."
   • Angelina said that she had seen him that morning. Angelina said she saw him this morning
4. past progressive(Past Continuous) -> past progressive/ Past Perfect Progressive(Past Perfect Continuous)
   • Robert said, "I was swimming." - Robert said: "I swam."
   • Robert said that he was swimming. Robert said he swam.
   • Robert said that he had been swimming. — Robert said he swam
5. past simple(Past Simple) -> past perfect(Past Perfect)
   • Nina said, "I wrote the letters." Nina said: "I wrote letters."
   • Nina said that she had written the letters. Nina said she wrote letters
6. Future Simple(Future Simple) -> future in the Past (Future in the Past)
   • Kate said, "I will find the solution of this problem."
   • Kate said that she would find the solution of this problem. Kate said she would find a solution to this problem

English grammar strictly regulates the use of temporary forms necessary in a particular case. The fact is that each of them has its own characteristics, through which information about the period of the action is obvious. When translating into Russian, these subtleties are not so noticeable, due to the fact that Russian grammar is different from English.

Necessary modifications in interrogative and imperative sentences

1. An indirect question is different from a regular question:
   • Has a direct word order, that is, a structure similar to a declarative sentence
   • Doesn't require a question mark
   • Doesn't need present simple and past simple in an auxiliary verb to do, which is replaced by if(whether)
     • Daniel said, "Do you want to walk?"
     • Daniel asked if I want to walk. Daniel asked if I wanted to go for a walk
   • The rules for coordinating tenses between the main and subordinate clauses remain the same as in narrative sentences.
   • Special interrogative words still remain in indirect speech, helping to create a connection between the main and subordinate clauses.
     • Bob asked me, "When did you meet her?" Bob asked: “When did you see her?”
     • Bob asked me when I had met her. Bob asked when I saw her
2. Indirect requests and orders:
   • The following introductory verbs are used
     For requests:
     • to ask - ask
     • to run - ask
     • to implore - beg

     For orders:

     • to tell - say, command, order
     • to order - order
     • to allow - allow
   • After the introductory part, the infinitive construction follows.
     To + verb
     Request:
     • Lisa says, "Be attentive, please!" - Lisa says: "Be careful, please!"
     • Lisa asks to be attentive. Lisa will ask you to be careful.

     Command:

     • Jack says, "Learn English!" Jack says: "Learn English!"
     • Jack tells to learn English. Jack tells me to learn English.
   • If you need a negative form of the imperative mood, you should put a particle before the infinitive construction -not
     • Kim says, "Don't talk so loudly!" Kim says, "Don't talk so loud!"
     • Kim orders not to talk so loudly. Kim orders not to speak so loudly

Test exercises

Indirect speech in English is considered a real stumbling block. In fact, the devil is not so "terrible as he is painted." If you want to make sure of this, then our material will come in handy for you.

There are 2 types of speech: direct (Direct Speech) and indirect (Indirect Speech or Reported Speech). The direct is transmitted using ordinary quoting, and the indirect is transmitted using special constructions and introductory verbs.

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

1. The punctuation stage implies the omission of the quotes that enclose the replica and the comma separating 2 simple sentences within the complex. The last one can be replaced by the union that, but this is not necessary. When sending interrogative sentences, do not forget to put a period instead of a question mark.
2. At the lexical stage, all the necessary verbal transformations take place.

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.
(Original "Return the book next week, please!")

Rules for coordinating 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 the construction of appropriate 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.

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

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

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

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

1. Translation of affirmative sentences is carried out using the union that. Introductory verbs to tell (with addition), to say (without addition).

   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.

2. 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 said 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.

3. The imperative mood is transformed with the help of 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.

4. Interrogative sentences acquire direct word order. At the same time, general questions become subordinate clauses, joined by unions if or whether. Special questions are attached with 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.

5. To convey replicas with an exclamation, you can use the verb to exclaim - exclaim by adding the appropriate 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 small dialogue in indirect speech.

— Hello Mike! How are you?
— Hey 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, English is so scary, and repeated exercises will increase your skills and improve your grammatical skills.

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

Direct speech in English is formatted a little differently, and this should be remembered, since in serious study of the subject you will have to do this in written exercises, letters or essays. At first glance, the differences are minor, but if you start to ignore them, it will immediately give you a foreigner.

The transfer of the meaning of the statement from direct speech to indirect speech is also quite different, and the resulting new English text is subject to certain rules, which will be discussed in a separate section.

If you need a translation into direct speech in English, you will have to perform diametrically opposite actions. In this case, it is necessary to know the rules of time coordination well. For example, with such an action, it will be necessary to change some pronouns, and the aspectual forms and circumstances of the place should be moved “one step back”. It will look something like this:

Pat said that she would be ready to pass her exam next day. Pat said she would be ready to take the exam the next day.

Pat said, “I will be ready to pass my exam tomorrow.” Pat said, "I'll be ready for the exam tomorrow."

Tables will help you understand the rules of direct speech in English. We offer to compare the design of such sentences when transmitting colloquial statements in Russian and English:

If you look closely, you will notice that in Russian statements, the dot and comma are behind the quotes, and in English - vice versa. If the words of the author are brought forward, then on the left side of the table after them there is a colon, and on the right side of it there is a comma. If the words of the author are embedded inside the statement, then it is striking that both parts of the English direct speech are separated by commas.

It should also be noted that native speakers use the so-called “inverted commas” before direct speech - inverted commas. Usually they are double, but sometimes they are single. Your keyboard has a dedicated key for this.

It is very important to note that direct speech in English is transmitted literally, and examples will help you understand this:

“I'll start learning French soon,” said Steven."I will soon start studying French" Stephen said.

Unlike indirect speech, the short form of the verb is used here. “will”, which is not recommended in indirect speech. When paraphrased, the sentence would look like this:

Steven said that he would start learning French soon. Stephen said that he would soon be learning French.

According to the rule of timing, instead of he will used here he would, but this cannot be reduced as he'd.

As an exercise in direct speech in English, you can use any of the tables presented. They will have a double benefit: you will remember how direct speech is formed in your native language, and you will also become experts in English written statements. There is a little trick - try to do this exercise in Word, which has a text editing function.

As a piece of advice, we suggest using Word for both writing essays and composing monologues. In most cases, the program will react to errors and even correct some of them automatically. As for the design of direct speech, everything works flawlessly here.

The statements that a person utters are transmitted in writing in two ways: direct or indirect speech. This is typical for both Russian and English.

Differences between direct and indirect speech

Direct speech or Direct Speech - verbatim transmission of someone's speech (phrases, sentences) in writing. Therefore, it is enclosed in quotation marks.

Cyril said, "I've never been to London."

Cyril said: "I've never been to London."

Indirect speech or Indirect or Reported Speech - is not a literal speech transmission. Indirect speech retains the content, but can change form, conveying the message inaccurately, in other words. Quotation marks in this case are not put, and the sentence becomes a subordinate clause.

Fam said that she had never been to London.

Pham said she had never been to London.

Direct speech in English

Direct speech in English is somewhat different from Russian in writing: upper quotation marks (“) are used instead of the usual Russian “Christmas trees”. At the same time, in English, a dot at the end of a sentence is placed before quotation marks, like other signs, while in Russian, on the contrary, after quotation marks.

She answered, “No, I can't.”

She replied, "No, I can't."

After the introductory construction “He said”, “She answered”, “Someone exclaimed”, etc. a colon or comma is inserted.

I said: "I don't like fruit."

I said, "I don't like fruit."

Direct speech includes not only affirmative sentences, but also interrogative, exclamatory or incentive sentences. Punctuation marks are always stored inside quotation marks.

We exclaimed, “It's so easy!”

We exclaimed, "It's so easy!"

To convey direct speech in English, the following verbs are usually used:

Say - to speak

tell - to tell

Ask - to ask

answer - answer

Explain - to explain

Exclaim - exclaim

Whisper - to whisper

Scream - scream

As well as many other verbs, the meaning of which is associated with the transfer of information.

Transformation of direct speech into indirect

Indirect speech is used more often than direct speech, especially in oral speech. But in English, the transformation from direct speech to indirect speech is not limited to omitting quotes. It is also necessary to observe the rule of coordinating times, as well as a number of other rules. Also, in indirect speech, parts of a sentence are not separated by a comma.

Personal and possessive pronouns are replaced depending on the context.

Boris said, “We should work.”

Boris said they should work.

He said they should work.

Demonstrative pronouns also change:

this - that

these - those

She said to Moris, “Give me this shawl.”

She asked Moris to give her that shawl.

Adverbs of time are replaced:

today - that day

ago-before

tomorrow - the next day

He said, “I'll call it off tomorrow.”

He promised to call it off the next day.

If the predicate in the main clause is in the past tense (which happens most often), the subordinate clause in indirect speech also requires the transition of the predicate into the past tense.

They said, “We are working.”

They said they were working.