Direct and indirect speech in English

In this article we will discuss what is direct and indirect speech in English, as well as how the translation of direct words into indirect sentences occurs in all types of sentences.

A direct speech is a speech that is transmitted in the text without any changes, just as it was originally pronounced. On the letter, it is usually enclosed in quotes, and the first words in direct speech begin with a capital letter. In English, dots and other punctuation marks are placed within quotation marks.

The 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. If you compare with the Russian language, then in it after the introductory words of the author put a colon. In English, a 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 clause.

The rules for referring to a narrative sentence in an indirect speech

The conversion of direct speech into an indirect speech entails a number of changes. Let's consider the most basic of them.

- The comma, which is after the words that enter the direct speech, and the quotes in which the direct speech is enclosed, drop. Indirect speech is introduced with the help of the union that, however, and it is often omitted. For example, She says (that) Peter will come tomorrow.

- Pronouns of direct speech are replaced by the meaning, similar to the rules of the Russian language.

- If the verb with which indirect speech is introduced is used in the future or in the present tense, the subordinate clause must remain at the same time as it was originally used.

- If a verb that introduces an indirect speech is used in the past tense, then the available verb tense should be replaced in indirect speech by others, using the rules of time harmonization. So, the present time changes to the past, past imperfect for a perfect time, future for the future in the past, and the past perfect time remains unchanged.

- Indirect speech changes the verb must on had to, except when the given modal verb expresses advice or order.

- The verbs ought to and should remain unchanged.

- The pronoun and adverbs of time and place are replaced by other words in meaning (this - that, now - then, tomorrow is the next day and so on). At the same time, one should not forget that indirect speech should be meaningful, therefore such substitutions should not be made without thought. It must correspond to the situation.

Addressing an interrogative sentence in an indirect speech

The questions that are reproduced in indirect speech are called indirect questions. Unlike direct speech, where the reverse order of words takes place in questions, in an indirect speech questions have the structure of an ordinary narrative sentence. There is no question mark, but the auxiliary verb is not used.

- Special questions become subordinate clauses that join the main with the help of typical interrogative words.

- Common questions are replaced by a subordinate clause and attached to it by whether or if. Do not put a comma.

Indirect speech in the imperative sentence

Indirect requests and orders are introduced by verbs that express a request: to beg, to ask, to implore and many others. After such verbs, an objective with an infinitive follows. Thus, it turns out that the action, which is expressed in direct speech by means of an imperative mood, is replaced by an infinitive and a particle to. For example, She told me to open the door.

The negative form in the imperative mood is replaced by an infinitive and a negative particle: She told me not to open the door. If, after a verb that introduces an imperative sentence, there is no pronoun or noun, which designates the person to be treated, the imperative sentence is transmitted by means of an objective infinitive turnover.