Using Direct and Indirect Discourse

I.

Learning Objectives

II.

Relay information accurately using direct and indirect discourse.

Use direct and indirect speech in giving reports.

Subject Matter
A. Topic:
B. References:
C. Materials:
Value Focus:

III.

Using Direct and Indirect Discourse

PELC Speaking II
English Language Power 6 pp.264273
pictures, puzzle, comic strips, message for relay game
Accuracy and Responsibility

Procedure
A. Preparatory Activities
Motivation
Play the Message Relay
Divide the class into five groups. Let them choose their leaders. Call the
leaders of each group and relay the message to them, the leaders relay
the message to the first member of their group, who relays it to the next
member and so on. The last member of the group will write the message
he receive on a piece of paper and submit it to the teacher. The first
group to submit with the correct message wins the contest.
Unlocking of Difficulties
Ask, Are you good at interpreting body language? Tell what the people
in the pictures are saying by their actions. Lets start the fun!
1. What is the police officer trying to say by his action?
(The police officer meant Stop when he raised his hand).
What about the referee?
(The referee, shouted Foul! as he _blew_ his whistle.
2. Can you guess what the athlete is trying to say?
(The athlete said, Im very tired, as he slumped to the ground).
3. What about the conductor, what is he trying to say?
(The conductor directs the orchestra to play softer).
4. What about the lady in the picture, what kind of a dancer is she?
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(She is a ballet dancer. She gestures, This is my best performance!)

Say, You are really good at reading peoples body language! to
compliment the responses of the class.
Add: Now, lets have another game.
Meeting New Words Lets Boogie
Give each group a copy of this puzzle.
Q

The object of the game is to discover words with high value points
from the letters in the Boogie Box. There are 100 letters cube in the
Boogie Box.
Each group will start at the same time to find words. The teacher will
give three minutes for the groups to find the words at a given signal. It is
advisable to have an English dictionary as reference in settling possible
disputes that may arise during the game.
Each word in the Boogie Box earns corresponding points as follows.
Words in the
Box!
Quotation
Discourse
Reply
Speech
Direct
Indirect

PTS
3
2
2
1
1
1
10

The group with the highest score wins the game.

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B. Development of Lesson
Presentation

1. Say: Based on the Body Language activity, tell the message of each
pictures. (Write the possible answers on the board.)
Given Statements

Expected Answers

Direct Discourse/Speech

Indirect Discourse/Speech

A. Given Messages

B. Relayed/Reported Messages

The police officer signaled, Stop,

Mr. Driver!
The referee shouted, Foul!
Ricky!
The athlete sighed, Im very
tired!
The conductor directed the
singers, Sing softer!
The ballet dancer expressed, This
is my best performance!

The police officer signaled

that Mr. Driver had to stop.
The referee shouted that
Ricky was foul.
The athlete sighed that he
was tired.
The conductor directed the
singers to sing softer.
The ballet dancer expressed
that it was her best performance.

Analysis and Discussions

Read the sentence in the first column. Ask:

What are the exact words said by the police officer? the referee? the
athlete? the conductor? the ballet dancer? How were you able to tell
the exact word of the speaker? (They are separated by quotation
marks.
These sentences are called direct discourse because they contain the
exact words of the speaker.

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What kind of sentences are they? (It can be statement, command or a

request.)
Read the sentences in the second column.
What information were given by these sentences.
Do they have the same information as sentences in the first
column?
What is the difference between the sentence structures?

Generalization
Recall the differences in structure between a direct and an indirect speech
or discourse.
What rules should we follow in changing direct speech to a relayed or
reported speech?
C. Post Activity
Application
Activity 1
Change each direct speech to a relayed/reported statement. Write your
sentence on a piece of paper.
1. We will leave early, said John.
_____________________________________________________
2. Mother said, My plants have grown so fast.
_____________________________________________________
3. Some computers can talk, said Darwin.
_____________________________________________________
4. Kangaroos have long and powerful hind legs, said Nicole.
_____________________________________________________
5. Would you like another glass of lemonade? Joana asked Vina.
_____________________________________________________
6. Did I miss the beginning of the show? Pura asked her friend.
_____________________________________________________
7. Set the alarm at seven oclock sharp, said Mother.
_____________________________________________________
8. Let me know when lunch is ready, said Father.
_____________________________________________________

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9. Rebecca, Kindly help me carry these books to the library, requested

Ms. Palma.
_____________________________________________________

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10. Romeo, Turn off the light before going to bed, father said.
_____________________________________________________
Activity 2
Change each reported statement to direct speech. Observe correct
punctuation. Write your sentences in your English notebook.
1.

The children said that cleaning up the house was their task that

day.
______________________________________________________
2.
Girlie said that her brother was washing the dishes.
______________________________________________________
3.
Bessie quipped that her chore was the easiest.
______________________________________________________
4.
Cory said she would clean her room.
______________________________________________________
5.
Mother said that hers was the neatest room.
______________________________________________________
Enrichment Activity
Activity 1
Read the narrative then provide the appropriate dialogs in the speech
balloons of the comic strip.
The telephone rings. Grace picks it up and answers it; Rowel the
caller asks for Sam. Grace tells Rowel to hold the line. She calls Sam
and tells him that he has a call. Sam gets the phone. Rowel tells Sam
that they are going to attend Emmanuels party on Saturday. Sam
asks where the party will be held. Rowel tells him that it will be at
Willies Restaurant. Sam thanks Rowel and says goodbye. Rowel bids
him goodbye too.

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Activity 2
Look at the comic strip then report each event using indirect discourse.
Activity 1 has been done for you.

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Activity 3
Change these sentences into direct discourse or vice versa.
Read these to the class.
1. The president said they had to think of their project for the school
year.
2. The president told the secretary to write down notes.
3. Please give your suggestions, the president encouraged the group.
4. I think we can have a Reading corner in our room, said Paul.
5. The group said that the idea of Paul was excellent.
6. Yes, each of us will bring a book for the corner, added Joan.

7. How about bringing magazines too? asked Vino.

8. Geoffrey answered that it was good to have magazines too.
9. So, we have to go on with the plan, said Paul.
10. Lets start this project this coming Monday, everyone agreed.

Note: For additional activities, use ELSA Audio tapes on Direct to Indirect
Discourse Stargazing
Values Integration
When relaying messages, observe promptness and be sure to tell the
complete and correct information.

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IV.

Evaluation
Oral or Written
A. Read what each character says, then rewrite it (a) as a direct quotation
and (b) as an indirect quotation. Use the simple present tense in your
quotation.
1. Gatekeeper: There is a maiden in the gate.
a. _____________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________
2. Maidservant: I will take you to the guest room.
a. _____________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________
3. Prince: I will never marry a girl who is not a real princess.
a. _____________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________
4. Queen: I can easily find the truth.
a. _____________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________
5. Princess: I do not know what is in my bed.
a. _____________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________
B. Report the direct discourse by completing the blanks with the missing
words.
Example: I need some flour, Mother said to the grocery owner.
Mother told to the grocery owner that she needed some flour.
1. Is this the brand you want? The man asked Mother.
The man asked Mother if _________________________________.
2. Ill take it, Mother said.
Mother said _______________________________.
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3. I will buy a tray of eggs, too, she said.

She said ________________ a tray of eggs too.
4. Do you want some sugar? the man asked.
The man asked ______________ if ______________.
5. I forgot about it, Mom said.
Mom said _______________________________.
Written Test:
Put a cross (x) before the discourse that has a different idea or message.
1. a. Im so sorry, he apologized.
b. She said, Thats alright,
c. She said that it was alright.
2. a. He said he was in a hurry.
b. She answered him that she wasnt hurt.
c. I was in a hurry, he said.
3. a. Im late for my class, he said.
b. He said that he was late for his class.
c. My teacher will be mad at me, he said.
4. a. Whos your teacher, she asked.
b. She asked who his teacher was.
c. He said his teacher was Miss Kahanap.
5. a. Is she your Math teacher? she asked.
b. Is your class in room 16? she wanted to know.
c. She wanted to know if his class was in room 16.
6. a. Were classmates, she said.
b. She said that they were classmates.
c. She said she was on the way to class, too.
7. a. She urged him to hurry.
b. Lets hurry, she urged him.
c. We can still arrive on time, she said.
8. a. Thank God were just on time, she said.
b. Here she comes, he said.
c. He said that they were just on time.
9. a. Good Morning, the teacher said.
b. The teacher said good morning.
c. The children greeted her back.

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10. a. She teaches well, he observed.

b. He observed that she teaches well.
c. I think I will enjoy her class, he said.
V.

Assignment
Change the following direct statements to reported statements. Make the
necessary changes in the verbs or pronouns. Write your sentences in your
English notebook.
a. The club moderator announced, The outreach program will start next
week.
_______________________________________________________
b. The president added, Our club will donate clothes and toys to the victims
of flood.
_______________________________________________________
c. Evangeline exclaimed, That a great idea!
_______________________________________________________
d. Mary Florence said, I will bring canned foods.
_______________________________________________________
e. Jade Rex said, I will share my old books.
_______________________________________________________

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