Reported Speech: Indirect Speech: Paraphrasing What Someone Said
Think of yourself as a translator. Sometimes, you translate word for word. Other times, you convey the meaning without using the exact words. Indirect speech is like paraphrasing – you report what someone said, but you change the words slightly.
What is Indirect Speech?
Indirect speech (also called reported speech) is when you report someone’s words without quoting them directly. You use your own words to express what they said, often changing pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions.
- Example: Direct speech: John said, “I’m going to the beach tomorrow.”
- Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the beach the next day.
Why Do We Use Indirect Speech?
Indirect speech is used to:
- Summarize or paraphrase what someone said.
- Focus on the content of the message rather than the exact words.
- Create a more formal or objective tone.
- Report speech that happened in the past.
Changes in Indirect Speech:
- Pronouns: Change to match the person reporting (e.g., I becomes he/she, we becomes they).
- Verb Tenses: Usually shift back one tense (e.g., present simple becomes past simple, present continuous becomes past continuous).
- Time Expressions: Change to reflect the time of reporting (e.g., today becomes that day, yesterday becomes the day before, tomorrow becomes the next day).
Let’s Practice!
Rewrite as Indirect Speech: Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.
- “I’m hungry,” said Sarah.
- “I will call you later,” Tom told me.
- “We are going to the party,” they said.
- “Have you finished your work?” the teacher asked the students.
Correct the Errors: Identify and correct the errors in the following indirect speech sentences.
- She said me she was busy.
- They told that they were going to the cinema tomorrow.
- He asked if I can help him.
Challenge!
Imagine you had a conversation with a friend. Write a paragraph summarizing the conversation using indirect speech.
Remember:
Indirect speech is a versatile tool for reporting conversations and expressing ideas in your own words. By mastering it, you can effectively communicate information and enhance your storytelling skills.
