DIRECT SPEECH: Quoting the exact words of the speeker is called The Direct Speech.

David said, I am writing a letter now

Indirect Speech :
Reporting of what a speaker said without quoting his exact words is called Indirect Speech. David said that he was writing a letter then.

Rules For changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.

Rule :1. The adverbs of nearness should be put into those of distance.
Direct Speech - Indirect Speech now - then here - there this - that these - those ago - before thus - so to-day - that day to-night - that night the day before (or) yesterday the previous day the next day (or) tomorrow the following day last week - the week before next week - the week after

Rule :2. Tenses.

If the reporting verb is in the Present or Future tense (e.g., say, will say) there is no change in the tense of the verb in the Indirect speech. Antony says, I eat a mango. (D.S.) Antony says, that he eats a mango. (I.S.) If Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense. the tense of the verbs in the reported speech or Indirect Speech must be generally changed. 1. Present Tense in the Direct becomes p.ast tense. Johnsi said, I write a letter. (D.S) Johnsi said that she wrote a letter. (I.S) 2. Past Tense in the direct becomes past perfect or remains unchanged. Angel said, I brought a pen yesterday. (D.S) Angel said that she had bought a pen the day before. (I.S) 3. Present Continuous in the direct becomes past continuous. John said, I am going to church. (D.S) John said that he was going to church. (I.S)

4. Past Continuous in the direct becomes past perfect continuous. Nelson said, I was playing cricket. (D.S) Nelson said that he had been playing cricket. (I.S) 5. Present Perfect in the direct becomes past perfect. Kamal said, I have done my home work. (D.S) Nelson said that he had done his home work. (I.S) 6. Present Perfect Continuous in the direct becomes past perfect continuous. He said, I have been reading a novel. (D.S) He said that he had been reading a novel. (I.S) 7. Will and Shall are changed to would. He said, I will go to London tomorrow. (D.S) He said that he would go to London the next day. (I.S) 8. may - might can - could must - had to (or) must Johnsi said, I must go now. (D.S) Johnsi said that she must (or) had to go then. (I.S) Exception to the above rule: If the direct speech contains the Universal Truth, the tense of the direct speech remains unchanged even if the reporting verb is in the past. The teacher said, The sun rises in the East. (D.S) The teacher said that the sun rises in the East. (I.S) Statement (or) Assertive Sentence Rules : Remove the quotation marks in the statement Use the conjuction that Change the reporting verb say to into tell Change the reporting verb said to into told Note : He said that (correct) He told me that (correct) He told that (Incorrect) 1. I will work hard to get first class said Lazar (D.S.) Lazar said he would work hard to get first class. (I.S.) 2. You can do this work said Nelson to Johnsi (D.S.) Nelson told Johnsi that he could do that work. (I.S.)

3. He says, I am glad to be here this evening(D.S.) He says that he is glad to be there that evening. (I.S.) 4. Im going to the library now said David (D.S.) David said that he was going to the library then. (I.S.) Imperative Sentence (Order or Request) Rules : Remove the quotation mark in an Imperative sentence. Use to if it is an affirmative sentence. (without dont) Use not to if the sentence begins without Dont. Dont use that Omit the word please. Use the word request instead of say. If the direct speech contains a request or a command, the reporting verb (say, said) change to tell, request, order, command etc. In its correct tense. 1. Dont talk in the class said the teacher to the boys. (D.S.) The teacher advised the boys not to talk in the class. (I.S.) 2.Please give me something to eat. I am hungry the old man said to them. (D.S.) The old man requested them to give him something to eat and said that he was hungry (I.S.) 3. Be careful said he to her. (D.S.) He ordered her to be careful. (I.S.) 4. Bring me a cup of tea said Nelson to Andriya. (D.S.) Nelson asked Andriya to bring him a cup of tea. (I.S.) Interrogative Sentence (Questions) Rules : Remove the quotation marks and question mark in the interrogative sentence. Use if or whether if the sentence inside the quotation marks begins with a helping verb (Auxiliary verb). Use the given interrogative word (what, when, where, why, who, whom, whose, which, now etc.) if it does not begin with the helping verb. Dont use that Changing the reporting verb (say, said) into ask or enquire in its correct tense. Omit helping verb like do, does, did. But dont omit them when they are with not. 1. Wont you help me to caary this box? said I to my friend. (D.S.) I asked my friend if he would not help me to carry that box. (I.S.) 2. Mohan said to Stalin, Why did not you attend the meeting yesterday? (D.S.) Mohan asked Stalin why he had not attended the meeting the day before. (I.S.) 3.How often do you go to the theatre? said David to John. (D.S.)

David asked John how often he went to the theatre. (I.S.) 4. Mohamed said to Sultan, Do you like mangoes? (D.S.) Mohamed asked Sultan if he liked mangoes. (I.S.) Exclamatory Sentence Rules : Change the exclamatory sentence into satement or Assertive Remove the quotation marks and exclamatory mark. Use the conjunction that Omit the interjections such as Oh, O, Alas, how, what, hurrah. Add the word very to the adjective or adverb if necessary. If the verb is not given, use Be form verb (is, was, are, were, am) in its correct tense according to the subject. Change the reporting verb (say, said) to exclaim joyfully Use exclaim sorrowfully for sorrowful incidents. 1. O, what a beautiful flower that is! said she. (D.S.) She exclaimed joyfully that that was a very beautiful flower. (I.S.) 2. What a horrible sight! we all exclaimed. (D.S.) We all exclaimed that it was a very horrible sight. (I.S.) 3. Alas! I have broken my brothers watch said he. He exclaimed sorrowfully that he had broken his brothers watch. (I.S.) 4. How beautiful she is! said Boon. (D.S.) Boon exclaimed joyfully that she was very beautiful. (I.S.)

Discussing the future using going to

We say something is going to happen when it has already been planned. For example:Q) Are you going to fly to Germansy? A) No, we're going to drive. We also use it to show something has already been decided. For example:"We're going to buy a new car next year." We also use going to when we can see something is about to happen. For example:-

"Look at that cloud. I think it's going to rain."

"Watch out! He's going to crash into that tree!" You can also use going to to predict the future based upon the evidence now. For example:"It looks as though Manchester United are going to win the European cup. "I think my friend Louise is going to have a baby." !Note Thanks to Ken Anderson for pointing out the following:"I'm going to Germany." isn't really the future tense. You would have to say "I'm going to go to Germany."

Discussing the future using shall/will

When we give information about the future or predict future events that are not certain we usually use shall/will. For example:Q) Who do you think will win the election?" A) "I'm not sure but I think the current party will win." We can also use shall/will to make promises for the future. When leaving work I would say - "Goodnight, I'll (I will) see you tomorrow." Shall/Will is often used when we just decide to do something. For example:The phone is ringing - If I decide to answer the phone I would say - "I'll (I will) get it."

It can also be used in formal situations to express planned events and is preferred in formal written English. For example:The party will start at 10.00pm.

Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentence Type 0

Conditional type zero is used to talk about general truths, scientific facts or things which always happen under certain conditions. Form: If + Simple Present, + Simple Present Use: The zero conditional is used to talk about things which are always true, scientific facts, general truths: Examples: If you cross an international date line, the time changes. Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air. If I wake up early, I go jogging. NOTE: you can use "when" instead of "if".

Conditional Sentence Type 1

Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real or possible situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met. It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled. Form:

If + Simple Present, + Simple Future Use Conditional Sentences Type 1 refer to the future. An action in the future will only happen if a certain condition is fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure whether the condition actually will be fulfilled or not, but the conditions seems rather realistic so we think it is likely to happen. Example: If I have enough time, I'll watch the football match. I may have time to watch the match but I'm not sure about it.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal impossible or improbable situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation. It is very unlikely that the condition will be fulfilled. Form: if + Simple Past, + would + base verb Were / Was In conditional type 2, we usually use in the if clause "were" instead of "was" even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it. "were" here is a subjunctive form. NOTE "was" is also a possible form. Example: If I were a millionaire, I would buy a castle. Use Conditional Sentences Type 2 refer to an action in the present that could happen if the present situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change because it is very unlikely. Example:

If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

It is impossible that the condition will be met because it refers to the past. Form: if + Past Perfect, + would + have + Past Participle Use Conditional Sentences Type 3 refer to situations in the past. They express hypothetical results to past given situations. Example: If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had that terrible accident. Sometimes in the past, he was careless. He drove so fast. So he had a terrible accident

Things to remember
1. The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma. Examples: "Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air." " I will send her an invitation if I find her address." " I would travel around the world if I had a million dollars." "He wouldn't have had that terrible accident if he had been careful." 2. Main clause and/or if clause might be negative. Example: If I dont see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening. If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had an accident.

Exercises on conditional sentences Related material:

Listen to "if you were a sailboat" by Katie Melua.