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Unit 1 Module 4
Grammar and usage
Direct speech and indirect speech:
What are “direct speech and indirect speech?
And when do we use them?
1. We use direct speech to report what exactly
has been said. If we write the speech down,
the words will usually appear in quotation
marks.
e.g. Tom said, “I have previewed Grammar
↘ Tom
and usage.”
2. We often use indirect speech to report the
meaning of what has been said without
using the exact words.
e.g. Tom said that he had previewed Grammar
and usage.
Comparing the examples, we can see the
changes in “personal pronouns & tenses”.
More examples:
She said, “I’m used to ads.”
She said that she was used to ads.
The table below shows how we usually
change the tenses when the reporting verb is
in the past tense.
Direct
speech
Reported
speech
Simple present Simple past
Present
continuous
Past
continuous
Simple past
Past perfect
Present
perfect
Direct
speech
Reported
speech
Simple future
Future in the
past
Past perfect
Past perfect
Present
perfect
Past perfect
continuous
Ditto!
continuous
True or false:
“Light travels as great speed.” he said. →
travels at
He said that light traveled
at great
great speed.
speed. F
We do not change the tense when we report a fact
that does not change over time.
More practice:
1. He said, “We exchange gifts at Christmas.”
He said (that) they exchange gifts at
→
Christmas.
2. He said, “ Magnet attracts iron.” →
He said that magnet attracts iron.
3. The teacher said, “The earth contains a large
number of metals which are useful to man.” →
The teacher told us that the earth contains
a large number of metals which are useful
to man.
How to change this sentence?
Tom said, “I’m working here today.” →
Tom said he was working there that day.
The following table shows other examples of
such changes:
direct speech
today
reported speech
→ that day / yesterday / on Wednesday, etc.
tomorrow
→ the next day / the following day / on
Thursday , etc.
yesterday
→ the day before / the previous day /
next month
on Tuesday, etc.
→ the month after / the following
month / in July, etc.
last year
→ the year before / the previous year etc.
a week ago
→ a week before / a week earlier, etc.
In addition to the above changes, we have
the following:
direct speech
reported speech
this
that
these
those
come
go
Reported speech: (1) statements
We use noun clauses introduced by “that”
to report statements.
e.g. 1. She said, “Advertisements are an
important part of our lives. →
She said that advertisements are an important
part of our lives.
2. “PSAs are often placed for free,” the writer
said. →
The writer explained that PSAs are often
placed for free.
Besides “tell, say”, the following words are
also used to report statements:
advise agree explain insist promise
warn
remind suggest
Change this sentence into indirect speech:
Mary asked Ann, “Are you the happiest
person in the world?” →
Mary asked
asked Ann
Ann whether
that she /she
was
thewas
happiest
was
thethe
Mary
if she
person inperson
the world?
happiest
in the Right?
world. Is “if” OK?
★We use noun clauses introduced by whether
/ if to report yes / no-questions.
e.g. “Are all ads playing tricks on us?” I
asked her. →
I asked her whether / if all ads are playing
tricks on us.
How to change this one?
I asked her, “How can that be true?” →
I asked her how
whether
if that
that/can
be can
true.be true. OK?
★ We use noun clauses introduced by whwords to report wh-questions.
More practice:
1. “Where did you find the advertisements
for jobs abroad?” Bill asked. →
Bill asked where I had found the
advertisements for jobs abroad.
2. “When did you get the tickets for the
concert?” I asked Wang Hua. →
I asked Wang Hua when he had got the
tickets for the concert.
Please try to change this into indirect speech:
The writer said, “Think about why you should
do the things the ad suggests.” →
The
we thought
about
The writer
writer told
told us
us that
to think
about why
we why
we
should
things
suggested. OK?
should
do do
thethe
things
thethe
ad ad
suggested.
★ To report imperative sentences, we use
the structure: reporting verb + obj. + (not)
to-infinitive
More practice:
1. The salesman said to me, “Read what
some of our satisfied customers say.” →
The salesman asked me to read what some
of their satisfied customers said.
2. “Don’t worry, Mickey,” Jen said. →
Jen asked Mickey not to worry.
☆ There are other verbs that can be used in
this structure to report imperative sentences:
advise encourage invite remind warn
e.g.
1. “Don’t believe every advertisement you
read,” Michelle said to me. →
Michelle advised me not to believe every
advertisement I read.
2. “Don’t forget to take your medicine, Dad,”
my daughter said. →
My daughter reminded not to forget to take
my medicine.
More practice to be given.