The Speech | Direct speech and Indirect speech | English Grammar | Part-1 | Learn Hutt

THE SPEECH

English Grammar

Speech is of two types. They are 

      1) Direct speech and

            2) Indirect speech.

Before going to speech in depth, we should learn about the sentences.

Sentence:

A group of words that forms a complete sense is called a sentence. Depending on the meaning there are four kinds of sentences. They are  

          1) Assertive sentence

          2) Interrogative sentence

          3) Imperative sentence

          4) Exclamatory sentence

Assertive sentence: 

Assertive sentence is nothing but a statement. This sentence always begins with a subject. The linking word to be used in indirect speech is “that”.

Interrogative sentence: 

This is nothing but a question. The question is of two kinds. They are

a) That which start with a helping verb. The linking word to be used in indirect speech is “if or whether”.

b) That which start with a question word. The linking word to be used in indirect speech is the same question word.

Imperative sentence: 

It can be either an order or a request or a command or a suggestion or a piece of advice. This sentence usually begins with a main verb. The link word to be used in indirect speech is “to”.

Note: This sentence may sometimes start with a subject but the subject has to take the helping verb “should” after it.

Exclamatory sentence: 

The sentence which expresses a sudden feeling is called the exclamatory sentence. It can be either delightful or sad. This sentence has to be changed to the assertive sentence before being transformed into indirect speech.

Rules for changing direct speech into indirect speech:

the speech

       1) When reporting verb is past, the reported speech changes to its     next form.

       2) When reporting verb is present, the reported speech does not       change its form.

       3) When reporting verb changes its next form, if it has both              helping verb and main verb, helping verb should change and            main verb   remains same. If there is no helping verb, main verb      changes to its   next form.

       4) Universal truths and proverbs do not change their tense                 structure, even though the reporting verb is in the past.

Note: Click here to get English grammar for competitive exams.

Changing form of helping verbs from direct to indirect speech:

Direct Speech	Indirect speech
Am	Was
Is	Was
Are	Were
Have	Had
Has	Had

Direct Speech	Indirect speech
Will	Would
Shall	Should
Can	Could
May	Might

About Words:

Direct Speech	Indirect speech
Now	Then
Here	There
This	That
These	Those

Direct Speech	Indirect speech
Today	That day
Tomorrow	The next day
Yesterday	The previous day
Last night	The previous night

Examples:

1) Assertive Sentence:

Direct speech: Siva said, "I can understand English".

Indirect speech: Siva said that he could understand English.

(When reporting verb is past, the reported speech changes to its next form).

Direct speech: Siva says, "I can understand English"

Indirect speech: Siva says that he can understand English.

(When reporting verb is present, the reported speech does not change its form).

Direct speech: Siva has said, "I can understand English".

Indirect speech: Siva has said that he can understand English. 

(When reporting verb is present, the reported speech does not change its form).

Direct speech: My father said, “Honesty is the best policy”.

Indirect speech: My father said that honesty is the best policy. 

(Universal truths and proverbs do not change their tense structure, even though the reporting verb is in the past).

Direct speech: He said to his parents, “I want to study science”.

Indirect speech: He told his parents that he wanted to study science.

Note:  Here “said to” become “told”. The verb “tell” cannot be used without using its object when used in active voice.

2) Interrogative sentence:

a) Questions beginning with a helping verb:

Direct speech: I said to him, "Can you complete the work within the stipulated time?".
Indirect speech: I asked him if / whether he could complete the work within the stipulated time.

b) Questions beginning with a question word:

Direct speech: I said to her, "Why are you crying?".
Indirect speech: I asked her why she was crying.

3) Imperative sentence:

Direct speech: The officer said to the peon, "stay where you are".
Indirect speech: The officer ordered the peon to stay where he was.

4) Exclamatory sentence:

Direct sentence: The girl said, "what a beautiful bird it is!".
Indirect speech: The girl exclaimed that it was a very beautiful bird.

Conclusion:

Well, you have learnt about the direct speech and indirect speech. I will post more lessons on English grammar. To get latest posts on spoken English and grammar, do subscribe and follow me on facebook page.

Degrees Of Comparison: Click here to learn Degrees Of Comparison