This article will discuss what is direct and indirect speech in English, as well as how direct words are translated into indirect words in all types of sentences.
A direct speech is a speech that is in the textis transmitted 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.
Author's word or expression that introducesdirect speech, can follow or precede it. In any case, the author's words are separated by a comma. If to 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.
- A comma that stands after inserting a straight linespeech words, and quotation marks, in which a direct speech is concluded, are omitted. 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 meaning, similar to the rules of the Russian language.
- If the verb with which indirect speech is introduced is used in the future or present time, 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, the past 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 replacein other words, by meaning (this - that, now - then, tomorrow - the next day, and so on). At the same time, one should not forget that indirect speech should be full of meaning, therefore such replacements should not be made thoughtlessly. It must fit the situation.
Appeal to indirect speech interrogative sentence
Questions that are reproduced in indirect speech,called indirect questions. Unlike direct speech, where in questions the reverse word order takes place, in indirect speech questions have the structure of an ordinary declarative sentence. The question mark is absent, and the auxiliary verb is not used.
- Special questions become subordinate clauses that are attached to the main point using typical question words.
- Common questions are replaced by a subordinate clause and are joined by the unions whether or if. A comma is not set.
Appeal to indirect speech in the imperative sentence
Indirect requests and orders are entered with verbs,which express the request: to beg, to ask, to implore and many others. Such verbs are followed by an object case with an infinitive. So, it turns out that the action, which is expressed in direct speech by means of the imperative mood, is replaced by the infinitive and the particle to. For example, she told me to open the door.
Negative form in the imperativereplacing the infinitive and negative particle: She told me not to open the door. If after a verb that introduces an imperative sentence, there is no pronoun or a noun that designates a person to be addressed, the imperative sentence is transmitted using object infinitive circulation.
