Rule of direct indirect speech

What is Direct Speech? - Learn the Meaning, Definition, Rules and Usage with Examples In In this article, you will learn the meaning and definition of direct speech. Also, go through the rules to be followed when using the direct speech and the examples given to understand how to use them accurately. Table of Contents • • • • • • • What is Direct Speech? Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is a way in which you can report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone about something that is to happen at a later point of time. Let us now take a look at how various dictionaries define direct speech to further understand what it is. Definition of Direct Speech According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, direct speech is defined as “a speaker’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “when you use direct speech, you repeat what someone has said using exactly the words they used.” The Collins Dictionary defines direct speech as “speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used” and according to the Macmillan Dictionary, direct speech is defined as “the exact words that someone has said.” Rules to be Followed When Using Direct Speech Like every other grammar topic, there are rules to be followed when using direct speech. Let us look at each one of them to know how dire...

direct indirect reported clause statement ‘I’m tired,’ I said. I told them ( that) I was tired. that-clause question ‘Are you ready?’ the nurse asked Joel. ‘Who are you?’ she asked. The nurse asked Joel if/whether he was ready. She asked me who I was. if-clause /whether-clause wh-clause command ‘Leave at once!’ they ordered. They ordered us to leave at once. to-infinitive clause Indirect speech: reporting statements Indirect reports of statements consist of a reporting clause and a that-clause. We often omit that, especially in informal situations: The pilot commented that the weather had been extremely bad as the plane came in to land. (The pilot’s words were: ‘The weather was extremely bad as the plane came in to land.’) I told my wife I didn’t want a party on my 50th birthday. ( that-clause without that) (or I told my wife that I didn’t want a party on my 50th birthday.) Reporting yes-no questions and alternative questions Indirect reports of yes-no questions and questions with or consist of a reporting clause and a reported clause introduced by if or whether. If is more common than whether. The reported clause is in statement form (subject + verb), not question form: She asked if [S] [V] I was Scottish. (original yes-no question: ‘Are you Scottish?’) The waiter asked whether [S] we [V] wanted a table near the window. (original yes-no question: ‘Do you want a table near the window?) He asked me if [S] [V] I had come by train or by bus. (original alternative question: ‘D...

A direct speech can be transformed into an indirect speech and vice versa using a suitable reporting verb and a linker depending on the sentence. Let’s have an example first. • Tina said to me, “Are you busy now?” [direct speech] • Tina asked me whether I was busy then. [indirect speech] Direct Speech Advertisements Speaker Reporting verb Direct speech Tina said “Are you busy now?” Indirect Speech Speaker Reporting verb Linker Reported Speech Tina asked whether I was busy then. • Look, if the reporting verb in direct speech (said) is in past tense, the reporting verb in indirect speech (asked) would also be in past tense. ‘Whether’ is the linker added here as it is a ‘yes-no’ type question (Refer to list 1 below). • ‘Are’ changes to ‘was’. As the reporting verb was in past tense, the verb in the reported speech will also be in past. (Refer to list 2 below) • ‘Now’ has become ‘then’. Time and place expressions change if the reporting verb is in past tense. (Refer to list 3 below) • The question mark (?) has changed to a full stop(.). • Another important thing, the format of question (v + s + o) has changed to the format of a statement (s + v + o). In indirect speech the pattern always comes to subject + verb + object. List of Reporting verbs and linkers (list 1) Sentence Reporting verb (past) Linker Assertive Said, told That Interrogative 1. Yes-no question 2. Wh-question Asked, wanted to know, enquired If / whether Asked, wanted to know, enquired wh-word Imperative 1. With...

Rules For Direct And Indirect Speech For English Language In this article, we will cover important rules of direct and indirect speech, relevant for the English Language section of various competitive exams. Aspirants of various Government exams such as SSC, RRB, IBPS, Insurance, etc. must go through the concept and rules of direct – indirect speech carefully, as the English language is a part of the syllabus for most of these exams.  What is Direct & Indirect Speech? Direct speech – reporting the message of the speaker in the exact words as spoken by him. Direct speech example : Maya said ‘I am busy now’. Indirect speech : reporting the message of the speaker in our own words Indirect speech example:  Maya said that she was busy then. Let us understand the direct and indirect rules with examples and for all tenses so that you can apply them correctly, without making any mistakes in the exams. Direct And Indirect Speech Rules PDF:- Download PDF Here Preparing for the upcoming Government exams? Refer to the links given below for better preparation: • • • Direct And Indirect Speech Rules Rules for converting Direct into Indirect speech To change a sentence of direct speech into indirect speech there are various factors that are considered, such as reporting verbs, modals, time, place, pronouns, tenses, etc. We will discuss each of these factors one by one. Rule 1 – Direct To Indirect Speech Conversion – Reporting Verb • When the reporting verb of direct speech is in...