Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
In direct speech someones words are rendered exactly as they were uttered. In indirect
speech, by contrast, these words are reported. At the level of writing, the quotation marks, that
are typically English for direct speech, are omitted.
Changes regarding the verb
If the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, then the rules of the sequence of tenses are
applied.
I often write letters. She said that she often wrote letters.
I have just seen him. I informed her that I had just seen him.
I solved the problem yesterday. I told them that I had solved the problem the day
before.
I had done such things. He said that he had done such things.
Will you do this tomorrow? I asked him if/ whether he would do that the next day.
They will be talking about salaries tomorrow morning. He said that they would be
talking about salaries next morning.
We will have finished work by 11 oclock. She said they would have finished work by
11 oclock.
I was reading at 9 oclock yesterday. He said he was reading at 9 oclock the day
before.
I have been working here since I came to New York. He said he had been working
there since he came to New York.
They used to smoke a lot. She told me that they used to smoke a lot.
He darent jump from this height. She told me that he darent jump from that height.
You must be more careful. She told me that I must be more careful.
You must be rather tired. She said that I must be rather tired.
Whenever it expresses necessity or obligation, must is replaced by have (in one of the past
tenses) + long infinitive.
I must get up early tomorrow. He informed us that he had to/ would have to get up
early the following day.
You wont like it. She said that I wouldnt like it. I said that she/ he/ they wouldnt
like it. a.s.o.
I like this dress. She said that she liked that dress.
These rules are very important. She said that those rules were very important.
Here there
Tomorrow the day after/ the following day/ the next day
The day after tomorrow two days after/ in two days time
Ago before
Last previous
The adverbials remain unchanged if the speaker reports an utterance in the same place and
approximately at the same time as the direct speaker.
I will come here tomorrow. He said that he would come here tomorrow.
No, I didnt take that book. He said he hadnt taken that book./He denied taking that
book.
In order to express the speakers attitude, his/ her tone or quality of voice, etc. certain animal
sound verbs or instrument sound verbs are used, e.g.: croak, bray, neigh, quack, bark, etc.; scrape,
rasp, creak, etc.
If you ever do that again you will be fired. He barked that if I ever did that again I
would be fired.
I would rather die than cooperate with you. He rasped that he would rather die than
cooperate with me.
Why did Tom buy that car? He asked/ wondered/ wanted to know/ inquired why
Tom bought that car.
The word order in an indirect question is identical to the one in a declarative sentence.
(Subject + predicate).
Reported general interrogatives are usually introduced by elements such as if/ whether.
Whenever the predicate of the reported special interrogative is the existential or the link be,
and the special word is a subject or a predicative, the interrogative word order may be preserved;
Standard English prefers the declarative word order.
Who is that girl? He asked who that girl was/was that girl.
The interrogatives which have an imperative function are reported by verbs chosen according
to the speech act each sentence performs; an infinitive is often used in the reported interrogative.
Would you help me? She asked/ begged/ implored me to help her.
Why dont you buy a better dictionary? She suggested to me to buy/ that I should
buy a better dictionary.
Clean the barracks! The officer ordered the soldiers to clean the barracks.
a verb modified by an adverbial in order to preserve the emotional charge, and by the specific
verbs exclaim and ejaculate (old-fashioned).
What a delicious cake! The guest exclaimed/said admiringly that the cake was
delicious.
How beautiful she is! He exclaimed (with admiration) that she was beautiful.
You are telling a lie! She cried indignantly/ angrily that I was telling a lie.
I am so sorry Mary is leaving us! She said sorrowfully that Mary was leaving them.
(But also She said she was sorry that Mary was leaving them.)
Do forgive me for what I have done! She begged her forgiveness for what she had
done.
Greetings are reported using verbs such as wish, greet, welcome, etc.
Good bye! I took leave of him/ I bade him good bye/ I said good bye to him.