Indirect speech in English: exercises, examples

In English Language, the speaker’s speech can be transmitted using direct and reported speech. These concepts in the Russian language mean direct and indirect speech. This topic is perhaps one of the most difficult in the English language, as it contains many rules. However, our article will not only answer your questions regarding direct and indirect speech, but also allow you to consolidate the knowledge gained in practice.

Direct and indirect speech in English: time alignment exercises

Direct speech is someone else's, transmitted unchanged speech and is made out as follows:

• the author’s words are separated from direct speech by a dot or comma;
• someone else's speech is enclosed in quotation marks;
• quotation marks are placed on top;
• punctuation marks are inside quotation marks.

Indirect speech conveys someone else's speech, expressing the contents of the phrase, but not preserving, at the same time, the particular stylistic features of the owner whose words were conveyed. To convey such a speech in a letter, it is important to consider the following points:

• indirect speech is sometimes introduced by a union or a question word;
• Do not put in quotation marks;
• question and exclamation marks, comma are omitted.

In the transition of the grammatical forms of English verbs into indirect speech, the rule of harmonizing tenses works.

The following are examples and exercises for indirect speech in English.

Exercises. Translate the following sentences into indirect speech.

1. She said, “I want to try some juice.”
2. He claimed, “You have not play the guitar."
3. Jessy promised, “I will show you the right way.”

Features of the transition of the verbs say and tell, modal verbs

The verb to say in an indirect sentence changes to to tell, only if to say takes on the complement.

In English, in indirect speech, exercises on modal verbs are quite simple to perform, given the following nuances:

Modal verbs must, need, ought to, as well as modal verbs in the past tense, enter indirect speech without changes. The rest of the modal verbs change according to the rule of the coordination of tenses.

Translate the following sentences into indirect speech:

1. Peter said, “I had to finish my composition yesterday.”
2. Sarah said, “You must rewrite all your essays.”

The use of adverbs of time and place in direct and indirect sentences

The adverbs of time and place in the conversion of direct speech to indirect speech also undergo significant changes. In English, in indirect speech, exercises for the use of adverbs will not be very difficult, given the fact that they indirectly change, in accordance with logic.

Exercises: translate the following sentences into indirect speech:

1. Lisa says, “I am singing today.”
2. He claimed, “I went to the factory yesterday.”

Features of the use of general and special questions in indirect sentences

In indirect speech in English, exercises on general and special questions are guided by the following rules:

• interrogative words, unions if, whether combine the main and subordinate clauses in general and special questions;
• the word order is preserved following the example of a narrative sentence;
• auxiliary verbs do, does, did are omitted;
• the dot replaces the question mark;
• quotes are removed;
• in short answers, yes / no particles are omitted.

Examples:

Exercises to questions in indirect speech in English. Translate the following sentences into indirect speech:

1. Kate asks Alice, “Did you go to the fitness center yesterday?”
2. Alice answered, “Yes, I did.”
3. She asked mum, “Who drank my milk?”

Imperative in indirect sentences

When translating imperative sentences into indirect speech, the following nuances should be taken into account:

• affirmative sentences are introduced to + infinitive;
• negative sentences - not to + infinitive;
• punctuation marks are omitted;
• timing is not respected.

If direct speech expresses an order or prohibition, then the verb to say in the subordinate clause changes to one of the verbs to tell, to order, to forbid, etc. If in direct speech a polite request is displayed, then in indirect speech the verb to say changes to ask.

Examples:

Perform the following indirect speech exercises in English:

1. The father asked daughter, “Show me this boy.”
2. John asked me, “Bring me some sugar, please.”

Features of the use of pronouns

The pronouns in indirect speech change according to the requirements of logic. When replacing some pronouns, the form of the verb changes.

Examples:

Indirect speech in English. Exercises for translating pronouns:

1. He says, “My name is Carlos.”
2. Leila said, “She can go with me.”