Direct and Reported Speech

Direct and Reported Speech (El estilo directo y indirecto) Cuando queremos comunicar o informar de lo que otra persona ha dicho, hay dos maneras de hacerlo: utilizando el estilo directo o el estilo indirecto.

Direct Speech (El estilo directo)

Cuando queremos informar exactamente de lo que otra persona ha dicho, utilizamos el estilo directo. Con este estilo lo que la persona ha dicho se coloca entre comillas ("...") y deberá ser palabra por palabra. • 

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Ejemplos: Play   "I am going to London next week,"  week, "  she  she said. ("Voy a ondres la semana que !iene," ella dio.) Play  " Do Do you have a pen I could o!!ow, "  he  he asked. ("#$ienes un bol%&rafo que puedas prestarme'," l pre&unt.) Play   lice said, " I love to dance."  dance." (*lice dio, "+e encanta bailar.") Play  #h!is asked, " $ould $ould you like to have dinne! with me tomo!!ow night% "  " (Chris pre&unt, "#$e &ustar%a cenar conmi&o maana por la noche'")

Reported Speech (El estilo indirecto) El estilo indirecto , a diferencia del estilo directo, no utiliza las comillas y no necesita ser palabra por

palabra. -n &eneral, cuando se usa el estilo indirecto, el tiempo !erbal cambia. * continuacin tienes un explicacin de los cambios que sufren los tiempos !erbales. * !eces se usa " that" en las frases afirmati!as y ne&ati!as para introducir lo que ha dicho l a otra persona. or otro lado, en las frases interro&ati!as se puede usar " if " o "whether". Nota: $en en cuenta tambin que las exp!esiones de tiempo  cambian en el estilo indirecto. /iate en los cambios de tiempo en los eemplos más abao y despus, encontrarás una tabla con más explicaciones de los cambios de tiempo en el estilo indirecto. Direct Speech

Reported Speech

Present Simple

Past Simple

lay "0e's *merican," she said.

lay 1he said he was *merican.

lay "2'm happy to see you, " +ary said.

lay +ary said that she was happy to see me.

lay 0e as3ed, "Are you busy toni&ht' "

lay 0e as3ed me if 2 was busy that night .

Present Continuous

Past Continuous

lay 4an is living in 1an /rancisco, / rancisco," she said.

lay 1he said 4an was living in 1an /rancisco.

lay 0e said, "2'm maing dinner."

lay 0e told me that he was maing dinner.

lay "5hy are you woring so hard' " they as3ed.

lay $hey as3ed me 6hy 2 was woring  so hard.

Past Simple

Past Perfect Simple

lay "5e went to the mo!ies last ni&ht, " he said.

lay 0e told me they had gone to the mo!ies the night e&o!e.

lay "7re& said, "2 didn't go to 6or3 yesterday. "

lay 7re& said that he hadn't gone to 6or3 the day e&o!e.

lay "Did you !y a ne6 car' " she as3ed.

lay 1he as3ed me if 2 had !oght a ne6 car.

Past Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous

lay "2 was woring late last ni&ht, " Vic3i said.

lay Vic3i told me she 'd !een woring  late the night e&o!e.

lay $hey said, "6e weren't waiting lon&."

lay $hey said that they hadn't !een waiting lon&.

lay " 0e as3ed, "were you sleeping 6hen 2 called'"

lay 0e as3ed if 2 'd !een sleeping 6hen he called.

Present Perfect Simple

Past Perfect Simple

lay "0eather said, "2've already eaten."

lay 0eather told me that she 'd already eaten.

lay "5e haven't !een to China," they said.

lay $hey said they hadn't !een to China.

lay "#ave you wored here before' " 2 as3ed.

lay 2 as3ed her 6hether she 'd wored the!ebefore.

Present Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous

lay "2've !een stdying -n&lish for t6o years, "he said.

lay 0e said he 'd !een stdying -n&lish for t6o years.

lay lay " 1te!e said, "6e've !een dating for o!er a year 1te!e told me that they 'd !een dating for o!er a no6." year. lay "#ave you !een waiting lon&'" they as3ed.

lay $hey as3ed 6hether 2 'd !een waiting lon&.

Past Perfect Simple

Past Perfect Simple (*NO CHANGE)

lay "2'd !een to Chica&o before for 6or3, " he said.

lay 0e said that he 'd !een to Chica&o before for 6or3.

Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous (*NO CHANGE)

lay 1he said, "2'd !een dancing for years before the accident."

lay 1he said she 'd !een dancing for years before the accident.

Nota: Cuando hablamos de al&o que no ha cambiado (que si&ue siendo cierto) o de al&o en el futuro,

no es necesario cambiar el tiempo !erbal. • 

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Ejemplos: Play  "I 'm '( yea!s old," she said.  )he said she is '( yea!s old. Play  Dave said, "*elly is sick."  Dave said *elly is sick. Play  "$e are going to +okyo next week," they said.  +hey said they are going to +okyo next week. →

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→

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→

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Play  "I 'll cut  my hai! tomo!!ow," ina said.

 ina said she is cutting he! hai! tomo!!ow.

→

$odal %er!s (&os ver!os modales)

-l tiempo !erbal cambia en el estilo indirecto tambin con al&unos de los !erbos modales. Nota: Con "wold", "cold", "shold", "might" y "oght to", el tiempo no cambia. Direct Speech

ndirect Speech

Will

Woul

lay "2'll go to the mo!ies tomorro6," 8ohn said.

lay 8ohn said he wold go to the mo!ies the next day .

lay "ill you help me mo!e' " she as3ed. Can

 

lay 1he as3ed me if 2 wold help her mo!e. Coul

 

lay lay  4ebra said, "*llen can wor  tomorro6." 4ebra said *llen cold wor the next day . lay "an you open the 6indo6, please'", he

as3ed.

lay 0e as3ed me if 2 cold open the 6indo6.

!ust

Ha to

lay "9ou mst wear your seatbelt, " mom said.

lay +y mom said 2 had to wear  my seatbelt.

lay  1he said, "9ou mst wor tomorro6."

lay 1he said 2 had to wor the next day .

Sall

Soul

lay "Shall 6e go to the beach today' " $om

as3ed.

 

lay $om as3ed if 6e shold go to the beach that day .

lay "5hat shall 6e do toni&ht'" she as3ed.

lay 1he as3ed me 6hat 6e shold do that night .

!a#

!igt$Coul

lay  8ane said, "2 may not !e  in class tomorro6."

lay 8ane said she might not !e  in class the next day .

lay  the boy as3ed. "$ay 2 se the bathroom, please' "the boy as3ed.

lay $he boy as3ed if he cold se the bathroom.

 

Nota: * continuacin tienes una tabla donde puedes obser!ar los cambios que sufren las expresiones

de tiempo cuando usamos el estilo indirecto. Direct Speech

ndirect Speech

today

that day

toni&ht

that ni&ht

this 6ee3monthyear

that 6ee3monthyear

tomorro6

the next day

next 6ee3monthyear

the follo6in& 6ee3monthyear

yesterday

the day beforethe pre!ious day

last 6ee3monthyear

the daymonthyear before o the pre!ious daymonthyear

no6

thenat that moment

Otros cam%ios

here

there

Here's how it works:  We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. (Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell'.) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence: •

Direct speech: I like ice crea!".

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#eported speech: $he says she likes ice crea!.

 We don't need to change the tense, though probably %e do need to change the 'person' fro! 'I' to 'she', for e&a!ple. We also !ay need to change %ords like '!y' and 'your'. But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually %e change the tenses in the reported speech: •

Direct speech: I like ice crea!".

•

#eported speech: $he said she liked ice crea!.

Tense

Direct Speech

Reported Speech

present si!ple

I like ice crea!"

$he said (that) she liked ice crea!.

present

I a! living in

continuous

ondon"

past si!ple

I bought a car"

past

I %as %alking

$he said she had been %alking along

continuous

along the street"

the street.

present

I haven't seen

perfect

ulie"

$he said she %as living in ondon.

$he said she had bought a car # $he said she bought a car.

$he said she hadn't seen ulie.

I had taken +nglish

$he said she had taken +nglish

lessons before"

lessons before.

 %ill

I'll see you later"

$he said she %ould see !e later.

 %ould*

I %ould help, but.."

$he said she %ould help but...

I can speak perfect

$he said she could speak perfect

+nglish"

+nglish.

I could s%i! %hen

$he said she could s%i! %hen she

I %as four"

 %as four.

past perfect*

can

could*

shall

should*

!ight*

!ust

I shall co!e later"

I should call !y !other"

I !ight be late

I !ust study at the  %eekend

$he said she %ould co!e later.

$he said she should call her !other

$he said she !ight be late

$he said she !ust study at the  %eekend # $he said she had to study  at the %eekend

* doesn't change. ccasionally, %e don't need to change the present tense into the past if the infor!ation in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things %hich are general facts, and even then usually %e like to change the tense): •

Direct speech: -he sky is blue".

•

#eported speech: $he said that the sky iswas blue.

Click here for a mi!ed tense e!ercise about practise reported statements" Click here for a list of all the reported speech e!ercises" Reported #uestions $o no% you have no proble! %ith !aking reported speech fro! positive and negative sentences. ut ho% about /uestions0 •

Direct speech: Where do you live0

1o% can %e !ake the reported speech here0 In fact, it's not so different fro! reported state!ents. -he tense changes are the sa!e, and %e keep the /uestion %ord. -he very i!portant thing though is that, once %e tell the /uestion to so!eone else, it isn't a /uestion any !ore. $o %e need to change the gra!!ar to a nor!al positive sentence. 2onfusing0 $orry, !aybe this e&a!ple %ill help: •

Direct speech: Where do you live0

•

#eported speech: $he asked !e %here I lived.

Do you see ho% I !ade it0 -he direct /uestion is in the present si!ple tense. We !ake a present si!ple /uestion %ith 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that a%ay. -hen I need to change the verb to the past si!ple.  3nother e&a!ple: •

Direct speech: %here is ulie0

•

#eported speech: $he asked !e %here ulie %as.

-he direct /uestion is the present si!ple of 'be'. We !ake the /uestion for! of the present si!ple of be by inverting (changing the position of)the subject and verb. $o, %e need to change the! back before putting the verb into the past si!ple. 1ere are so!e !ore e&a!ples:

Direct #uestion

Reported #uestion

Where is the 4ost ffice, please0"

$he asked !e %here the 4ost ffice %as.

What are you doing0"

$he asked !e %hat I %as doing.

Who %as that fantastic !an0"

$he asked !e %ho that fantastic !an had  been.

$o !uch for '%h' /uestions. ut, %hat if you need to report a 'yes 5 no' /uestion0 We don't have any /uestion %ords to help us. Instead, %e use 'if': •

Direct speech: Do you like chocolate0

•

#eported speech: $he asked !e if  I liked chocolate.

6o proble!0 1ere are a fe% !ore e&a!ples:

Direct #uestion

Reported #uestion

Do you love !e0"

1e asked !e if I loved hi!.

1ave you ever been to 7e&ico0"

$he asked !e if I had ever been to 7e&ico.

3re you living here0"

$he asked !e if I %as living here.

Click here to practise reported 'wh' $uestions" Click here to practise reported 'yes  no' $uestions" Reported Re$uests -here's !ore8 What if so!eone asks you to do so!ething (in a polite %ay)0 9or e&a!ple: •

Direct speech: 2lose the %indo%, please

•

r: 2ould you close the %indo% please0

•

r: Would you !ind closing the %indo% please0

 3ll of these re/uests !ean the sa!e thing, so %e don't need to report every %ord %hen %e tell another person about it. We si!ply use 'ask me % to % infiniti&e' : •

#eported speech: $he asked !e to close the %indo%.

1ere are a fe% !ore e&a!ples:

Direct Re$uest

Reported Re$uest

4lease help !e".

$he asked !e to help her.

4lease don't s!oke".

$he asked !e not to s!oke.

2ould you bring !y book tonight0"

$he asked !e to bring her book that

night.

2ould you pass the !ilk, please0"

$he asked !e to pass the !ilk.

Would you !ind co!ing early

$he asked !e to co!e early the ne&t

to!orro%0"

day.

-o report a negative re/uest, use 'not': •

Direct speech: 4lease don't be late.

•

#eported speech: $he asked us not to be late.

Reported rders  3nd finally, ho% about if so!eone doesn't ask so politely0 We can call this an 'order' in +nglish, %hen so!eone tells you very directly to do so!ething. 9or e&a!ple: •

Direct speech: $it do%n8

In fact, %e !ake this into reported speech in the sa!e %ay as a re/uest. We just use 'tell' instead of 'ask': •

#eported speech: $he told !e to sit do%n.

Direct rder

Reported rder

o to bed8"

1e told the child to go to bed.

Don't %orry8"

1e told her not to %orry.

e on ti!e8"

1e told !e to be on ti!e.

Don't s!oke8"

•

1e told us not to s!oke.

Click here for an e!ercise to practise reported re$uests and orders"

Time (!pressions with Reported Speech $o!eti!es %hen %e change direct speech into reported speech %e have to change ti!e e&pressions too. We don't al%ays have to do this, ho%ever. It depends on %hen %e heard the direct speech and %hen %e say the reported speech. 9or e&a!ple: It's 7onday. ulie says I'! leaving today . If I tell so!eone on 7onday, I say ulie said she %as leaving today . If I tell so!eone on -uesday, I say ulie said she %as leaving yesterday . If I tell so!eone on Wednesday, I say ulie said she %as leaving on )onday . If I tell so!eone a !onth later, I say ulie said she %as leaving that day . $o, there's no easy conversion. ;ou really have to think about %hen the direct speech %as said. 1ere's a table of so!e possible conversions:

no%

then 5 at that ti!e

today

yesterday 5 that day 5 -uesday 5 the <=th of une

 yesterda

the day before yesterday 5 the day before 5 Wednesday 5 the >th of

 y 

Dece!ber

last night

the night before, -hursday night

last %eek

to!orro  % 

the %eek before 5 the previous %eek 

today 5 the ne&t day 5 the follo%ing day 5 9riday