Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Direct and Indirect Speech Examples

Direct And Indirect Speech Examples

While using English, we use direct and indirect speeches quite often. If a sentence is expressed exactly as it came out of the mouth of the person who said it, it becomes a direct speech. However Indirect Speech (also called reported speech) refers to transmitting a sentence that someone has said. It is often used in daily language.

For example,

• Susan told me she ate pizza yesterday. (Indirect Speech)

Susan said, “I ate pizza yesterday.”. (Direct Speech)

• Mathilda told me she had to go out. (Indirect Speech)

Mathilda said: “I have to go out.”. (Direct Speech)

• Julie asked if the train had left when she arrived at the ticket office. (Indirect Speech)

Julie asked: “Did the train leave?” (Direct Speech)

Direct Speech

Present Simple: He said, “The car is dirty”.

Present Continuous: He said, “I’m washing the car”.

Past Simple: He said, “I washed the car”.

 

Modals

Wil, Can, Must, Am/are/is going to

Mustn’t, Could, Would, Should, Might

Today

Tomorrow

Next day

Now

Yesterday

Last week

 

Indirect Speech

Past Simple: He said that the car was dirty.

Past Simple: He said that he was washing the car.

Past Perfect: He said that he had washed the car.

 

Modals

Would, Could, had to, was/were going to

Mustn’t, Could, Would, Should, Might

That day

The next day

The following day

Then

The day before

The week before