Direct and Indirect Speech
March 24, 2008
At 09:00 Rick Spivak's bank telephoned and said his credit card payment was late. "the cheque is in the mail," Rick replied quickly. At 11:45 Rick left for 12:00 meeting across town. Arriving late, Rick told his client that traffic had been bad. That evening, rick's financee wore a new drees. Rick hated it."it looks just great on you," he said.
Three lies in one day! Yet Rick just an ordinary guy. each time, he told himself that sometimes the truth causes too many problems. Most of us tell white lies, harmless untruths that help u to avoid trouble. These are our four most frequent reason:
Three lies in one day! Yet Rick just an ordinary guy. each time, he told himself that sometimes the truth causes too many problems. Most of us tell white lies, harmless untruths that help u to avoid trouble. These are our four most frequent reason:
- To get something more quickly or to avoid unpleasant situation. " I have to have that report by 5:00 today,"or" i tried to call you but your line was busy".
- To appear more acceptable to a new friend or to feel better about yourself. " I run a mile every day",or " I'm looking better better these days."
- To make a polite excuse " I'd love to go to your party, but i have to work".
- To protect someone else's feelings. "That tie looks great on you".
Is telling lies a new trend? The majority of people in a recent survey said that people were more honest ten years ago. Nevertheless, lying wasn't really born yesterday. In the eighteen century. the French philosopher Vauvenargues told the truth about lying when he wrote " All men are born truthful and die liars".
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Direct Speech ( also called "Quoted Speech")
Subject Reporting Verb Direct Statement
"The cheque is in the mail"
He Said "The dress looks good on You"
"The traffic was bad"
...or, you may change the construction..it'll goes like...
Direct Speech SubjectReporting Verb
"The cheque is in the mail"
"The dress looks good on You" He Said
"The traffic was bad"
Please look at the yellow-bold-typed words above..and compare them with Indirect speech bellow
Subject Reporting Verb Noun/PronounIndirect Speech
His ClientThe cheque was in the mail
He toldAnn(that)The dress looked good on her
HerThe traffic had been bad
_______________________
Said
Notes
Speech my be reported in two ways..Direct speech and Indirect speeh or we also call them as
quoted Speech and Reported Speech..
Direct speech state the excact words that speaker used in speech. In writing, there should be put quotation marks at before and after the speech you are quoting.
look at these example
He said,"The cheque is in the mail."
She told him,"I like that shoes."
Prefer another construction
"The cheque is in the mail",he said.
"I like that shoe",she told him.
In reported speech, we report what the speaker ssid without using the exact words. in this case, the word that can introduce indirect speech.
He said the cheque was in the mail
She told him that she liked the shoes
Remember do not put a quotation mark when writing indirect speech as in direct speech.
Ok Let's have alook on the third table above (indirect speech). The are told (tell) and said (say). Remember. Do not use the verb told(tell) when the listener is not mentioned.
direct speech "I'm sorry to be late,"Rick told Ann.
Indirect speech Rick told her He was sorry to be late .
We use told here because the Her as the listener is mentioned.
Otherwise.
Rick said he was sorry to be late.
NOT Rick told he was sorry to be late.
In indirect speech the verb tense change is optional when reporting:
something someone has just saidA: The cheque is in the mail
B: What did you say?
A: I said the cheque is in the mail
or
I said the cheque was in the mail.
something that is still trueRick said the Bank wants the cheque
or
Rick said the bank wanted the cheque
a general truth or scientific lawProf. Rick told the students that the water freezes at 0 Celcius degree.
or
Prof. Rick told the students that the water froze at 0 Celcius degree
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Grammar Presentation
Direct Speech ( also called "Quoted Speech")
Subject
He
...or, you may change the construction..it'll goes like...
Direct Speech
"The cheque is in the mail"
"The dress looks good on You"
"The traffic was bad"
Please look at the yellow-bold-typed words above..and compare them with Indirect speech bellow
Subject
He
Notes
Speech my be reported in two ways..Direct speech and Indirect speeh or we also call them as
quoted Speech and Reported Speech..
Direct speech state the excact words that speaker used in speech. In writing, there should be put quotation marks at before and after the speech you are quoting.
look at these example
He said,"The cheque is in the mail."
She told him,"I like that shoes."
Prefer another construction
"The cheque is in the mail",he said.
"I like that shoe",she told him.
In reported speech, we report what the speaker ssid without using the exact words. in this case, the word that can introduce indirect speech.
He said the cheque was in the mail
She told him that she liked the shoes
Remember do not put a quotation mark when writing indirect speech as in direct speech.
Ok Let's have alook on the third table above (indirect speech). The are told (tell) and said (say). Remember. Do not use the verb told(tell) when the listener is not mentioned.
direct speech "I'm sorry to be late,"Rick told Ann.
Indirect speech Rick told her He was sorry to be late .
We use told here because the Her as the listener is mentioned.
Otherwise.
Rick said he was sorry to be late.
NOT Rick told he was sorry to be late.
In indirect speech the verb tense change is optional when reporting:
something someone has just said
something that is still true
a general truth or scientific law
