This article will discuss what direct and indirect speech in English is, as well as how direct words are translated into indirect words in all types of sentences.
Direct speech refers to speech that is transmitted in the text without any changes, exactly as it was originally delivered. In a letter, it is usually enclosed in quotation marks, and the first words in direct speech begin with a capital letter. In English, periods and other punctuation marks are placed within quotation marks.
An author’s word or expression that introduces direct speech can follow or precede it. In any case, the author’s words are separated by a comma. When compared with the Russian language, then a colon is put in it after the introductory words of the author. In English, direct speech, which is a long text, is also separated by a colon. Indirect speech in English is a speech that conveys words not verbatim, but only in content with the help of an additional subordinate clause.
Rules for addressing indirectly a narrative sentence
Turning direct speech into indirect speech entails a number of changes. Consider the most basic of them.
- The comma that comes after the words that introduce direct speech, and the quotation marks in which the direct speech is enclosed, are omitted. Indirect speech is introduced using the union that, however, and it is very often omitted. For example, She says (that) Peter will come tomorrow.
- The pronouns of direct speech are replaced in meaning, similar to the rules of the Russian language.
- If the verb, which introduces indirect speech, is used in the future or present tense, then the subordinate clause must remain in the same tense in which it was originally used.
- If a verb that introduces indirect speech is used in the past tense, then the existing tense of the verb should be replaced in indirect speech by another, using the rules for coordinating tenses. So, the present changes to the past, the past which is not perfect for the perfect time, the future for the future in the past, and the past perfect time remains unchanged.
- Indirect speech changes the verb must to had to, except when this modal verb expresses advice or order.
- The verbs ought to and should remain unchanged.
- The pronoun and adverbs of time and place are replaced with other words within the meaning (this - that, now - then, tomorrow - the next day and so on). It should not be forgotten that indirect speech should be full of meaning, so such replacements should not be thoughtless. It must be appropriate for the situation.
Converting an interrogative sentence
Questions that are reproduced in indirect speech are called indirect questions. In contrast to direct speech, where in questions the reverse order of words takes place, in indirect speech, questions have the structure of an ordinary narrative sentence. There is no question mark, and the auxiliary verb is not used.
- Special questions become subordinate clauses that join the main thing with the help of typical question words.
- General questions are replaced by the subordinate clause and appended to it by the unions whether or if. Do not put a comma.
Conversion to indirect speech in the imperative sentence
Indirect requests and orders are introduced with verbs that express the request: to beg, to ask, to implore and many others. After such verbs an object case with an infinitive follows. So, it turns out that the action, which is expressed in direct speech with the help of imperative mood, is replaced by the infinitive and the particle to. For example, She told me to open the door.
The negative form in the imperative mood is replaced by the infinitive and the negative particle: She told me not to open the door. If after the verb that introduces the imperative sentence, there is no pronoun or noun that denotes the person to address, the imperative sentence is transmitted using an object infinitive phrase.