by Alan Townend13. Indirect speech or «Say it again»
Indirect Speech (also known as Reported Speech) refers to a
sentence reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used
in spoken English.
If the reporting verb (i.e. said) is in the past, the reported clause will
be in a past form. This form is usually one step back into the past
from the original.
For example:
She said her job was interesting. She said she went to the library each day. Our new colleague said he spoke French every day.If simple present, present perfect or the future is used in the
reporting verb (i.e. says) the tense is retained. For example:
She says that her job is interesting. She says that she goes to the library each day. Our new colleague will say that he speaks French every day.If reporting a general truth the present tense will be retained or even
the future tensed can be used. For example:
She said that her country is very beautiful. They said that trust is vital for any business. My wife said that she will always love me no matter what.Now read the following story and find the indirect speech expressions
in italics.
«Say it again»
«I'm just popping out to put the car away in the garage. I've left it in
the road.» — I told my wife that I just was popping out to put the
car away in the garage as I had left it in the road. «You be careful.
Remember you've had a lot to drink and the police are having a
particular purge at the moment in drink driving.» — She told me to
be careful and reminded me that I had a lot to drink and that the
police have a particular purge at the time on drink driving. She is
very law-abiding, my wife.
I shut the front door and as I walked down the garden path, I
noticed someone standing by the car. It was a policeman. «Very
pleasant weather for the time of year.» — He pointed out the