Direct and Indirect Speech

1. In English when a declarative sentence is changed from Direct into Indirect Speech, it becomes an object clause introduced by the Conjunction that, which is often omitted. He says: “The supermarket is opened from 8 a.m. till 9 p.m. every day.” – He says that the supermarket is opened from 8 a.m. till 9 p.m. every day.

2. Personal and Possessive Pronouns are shifted or remain unchanged according to the sense. She says: “ I am going to change my image.” – She says that she is going to change her image. He says: “ They will have negotiations next week.” – He says that they will have negotiations next week.

3.If the reporting Verb to say has an Object (with the preposition to) denoting the person addressed, the Verb to say is usually replaced by the Verb to tell after which the Object is used without a Preposition. When the person addressed is not indicated, the Verb to say remains before the Indirect Speech. They say to me: “We should change our supplier.” – They tell me that they should change their supplier. They say: “We should change our supplier.” – They say that they should change the supplier.

4.In indirect questions there is no inversion; they have the word order of a declarative sentence. He said to me: “Why hadn’t you prepared the presentation?” – He asked me why I hadn’t prepared the presentation.

5. Indirect general questions are introduced by the Conjunctions if or whether. In indirect special questions the Interrogative Pronouns and Adverbs turn into Conjunctive Pronouns and Adverbs. He asked me: “Did you introduce the new employee?” – He asked me if I introduced the new employee.

6. When orders and requests are changed into Indirect Speech, the Imperative Mood is replaced by the Infinitive and reporting Verb to say is replaced by to ask, to tell, to order or their synonyms. He said: “As far as you know the details, phone me.” – He asked me to phone him as far as I know the details. He said: “ Do not send emails today.” – He said not to send emails today.

7. If the reporting Verb denotes a past action, tenses of the Verb of the Direct Speech are changed according to the rules of the Sequence of Tenses.