Speeking : Speech

Direct and Indirect Speech

When using indirect or reported speech, the form changes. Usually indirect speech is introduced by the verb said, as in I said, Bill said, or they said. Using the verb say in this tense, indicates that something was said in the past. In these cases, the main verb in the reported sentence is put in the past. If the main verb is already in a past tense, then the tense changes to another past tense; it can almost be seen as moving even further into the past.
► Direct Speech
~ Simple Present Tense “I always go to school”
~ Present Continous “I’m doing my homework”
~ Simple Past / Present Perfect “ I didn’t do my test well” / “I have sent an e-mail”
~ Modals “I’ll see you at the party” / “ You must be carefully”


► Indirect Speech
~ Simple Past Tense “She said that she always went to school”.
~ Past Continous “She said that she was doing her homework”.
~ Past Perfect “She said that she had not done her test well” / “She said that she had sent an e-mail”.
~ Modals “She said that she would see me at the party” / ‘She said that I had to be carefully”.

Direct Speech → Refers to reproducing another person’s exact words. We use avotation marks.
Indirect Speech → Refers to reproducing the idea of another person’s words not all the exact words are used verb form and pronoun may change. We do not used avotation marks.