Using indirect speech to report words and ideas
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Overview | page 2 of 3 |
Forms of indirect speech
An indirect speech structure consists of two parts. The first part contains a reporting verb which functions as a reporting signal. Some common reporting verbs include: say, tell, suggest, claim, warn, admit, argue, explain, and insist.
For further information about reporting verbs, see 
Using
indirect speech to report words and ideas: Common reporting verbs.
We usually use a past tense for a reporting verb:
They said that the battery was all right. (Bank of English)
However, we can also use a present tense if, for example, we are reporting a general statement:
The law says that you mustn't deprave and corrupt people. (Bank of English)
For further information about tenses of reporting verbs, see Using indirect speech to report words and ideas: Choosing past or
present tense.
A number of indirect speech changes are frequently mentioned in coursebooks. For example, it is often said that when transforming direct speech into indirect speech, present simple verbs must be changed to past simple verbs. Such "rules" do not adequately reflect the kinds of English we encounter outside the classroom:
He said it is important that the Legco representative be kept informed of the committee's work. (SCMP 27/4/94)
For further information about indirect speech changes, see Using indirect speech to report words and ideas: Indirect speech
changes.
Introduction
Forms of indirect speech
