Thema 14 - indirect speech_student copy

• Engels
• Middelbare school

Indirect speech

Jim: ‘I don’t like reading.’

Jim said (that) he didn’t like reading.

--> what is the difference?

Indirect speech

When you want to tell what someone else has said, you use indirect speech. Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken. With indirect speech, you can use the word that, but you can also leave it out. 

Jim: ‘I don’t like reading.’

Jim said (that) he didn’t like reading.

Indirect speech

When using indirect speech, you one step back in time.

Direct speech --> Indirect speech

Present simple --> Past simple

Present continuous --> Past continuous

Past simple --> Past perfect

Indirect speech

When using indirect speech, you often have to change the personal or possessive pronoun and the time reference. 

Trish: ‘We don’t like shopping.’

Trish said (that) they didn’t like shopping.

Shane: ‘My father and I will do it right now.’

Shane said (that) his father and he would do it straight away.

Time

today -- that day

now -- then

yesterday -- the day before

...days ago -- ...days before

last week/month/etc. -- the previous week/month/etc.

next week/month/etc. -- the following week/month/etc.

tomorrow -- the next day / the following day

here -- there

this -- that

these -- those

last night -- the night before

Firemen: 'We have extinguished the fire in your kitchen.'

Brandon: 'I don't want to hurt your feelings.'

Our guests: 'Your restaurant is the best in town!'

My teacher: 'Can you hand in your stories tomorrow?'

The author: 'I spent almost five years writing this story.'

The reporter: 'A disaster has taken place in Japan.'

I: 'Could you show me the story you've been working on?'

Grandma: 'I forgot my books at your house.'