1． Characteristics of direct quotation Direct quotation is used to directly quote the words of others. Generally speaking, it has the following five characteristics: (1) The quoted words are placed in quotation marks; (2) The quoted words are the original words without any changes; (3) Use "," or ":" before the quoted words; (4) After the quoted words, use ".", "!", "?" and other punctuation marks; (5) Quoting verbs that lead to direct quotations Often used as say, ask, shout, cry, order, add, smile, laugh, etc. e.g. Laura said, "I would like to visit China this summer." Laura said: "I would like to visit China this summer." "Mary will give me a nice present," Bobbie said. Give me a beautiful gift." Lisa asked, "Can someone help me out?" David said to me, "I have been ill since 1ast week." David said to me, "I have been ill since 1ast week." I said, "I've been sick since last week." Justin asked his mother, "Can I watch TV for a while?" Paula said, "There 'll be a lecture tomorrow afternoon." Paula said: "There will be a lecture tomorrow afternoon." The doctor asked: "What's the matter with you?" The doctor asked: "What's the matter with you?" 2. Characteristics of Indirect Speech Indirect speech is used to paraphrase other people's words. It mainly has the following characteristics: (1) No commas, colons, quotation marks, etc. are used between the quoting predicate and the quoted utterance; (2) Tense Change; (3) Change of person, time, place, etc.; (4) Commonly used quotation verbs include say, ask, shout, cry, order , add (add), smile (smile), laugh (laugh), etc. e.g.Mill said that he would stay in China for another year. Mill said that he would stay in China for another year. Lily told me that she had phoned you. Lily told me that she had phoned you. The girl asked me if I could help her. The girl asked me if I could help her. Tamara asked Tanya when they would start off. Tamara asked Tanya when they would start off. (2) Conversion between direct quotation and indirect quotation Direct quotation can be converted into indirect quotation in many cases. At this time, attention should be paid to the changes in person, tense, place adverbial and time adverbial, and different sentence patterns should also be paid attention to. changes. 1． Changes in person pronouns: When pronouns in direct speech are changed into indirect speech, they must be changed according to the meaning of the sentence. The change rules are as shown in the following table: direct speech indirect speech first person third person or first person second person third person or first person third person third person e.g. I said, "I won't lose heart." → I said that 1 wouldn' t lose heart. I said I won’t lose heart.

(First person I remains unchanged) I told Mary, "We will help you out of trouble." → I told Mary that we would help her out of trouble. I told Mary that we would help her out of trouble. (The first person pronoun we remains unchanged, the second person you becomes the third person her) Nancy told her parents, "Evan is a nice boy. He is always ready to help." → Nancy told her parents that Evan was a nice boy and that He was always ready to help. Nancy told her parents that Ivan was a nice guy and that he was always ready to help. (The third person pronoun he does not change) 2. Changes in tenses: If the tense of the predicate verb in the main clause is present tense or future tense, the tense in the indirect quotation will be the same as the tense in the original direct quotation without any change. e.g.Carson says, "I will have all of you over and enjoy our free and easy time." → Carson says that he will have all of us over and enjoy our free and easy time. Carson says he will have all of us over and enjoy our free and easy time. , relax and have fun. (1) Changes in tenses If the main clause is in a certain tense in the past, the tense of the indirect quotation should be pushed forward by one tense accordingly, as shown in the following table: direct quotation indirect quotation direct quotation indirect Quotations Simple present tense Simple past tense Simple future tense Past future tense Simple past tense Past perfect tense Present perfect tense Past perfect tense Present continuous tense Past continuous tense Past perfect tense e.g. Tina said, "I usually get up at six." → Tim said she usually got up at six. Tina said she usually got up at six. (Simple present tense becomes simple past tense) Martin told me, "I rang Alice yesterday." → Martin told me that he had rung Alice the day before. Martin told me that he had rung Alice the day before. Martin told me that he had rung Alice yesterday. (Simple past tense becomes past perfect tense) Nina told me, "Lisa is studying abroad." Nina told me that Lisa was studying abroad. Nina told me that Lisa was studying abroad. (Present continuous tense changes to past continuous tense) Hayley said to me, "I will see you at the same place tomorrow." →Hayley said to me that she would see me at the same place the next day. Hayley said to me She was to meet me at the same place the next day. (Simple future tense becomes past future tense) Nell said, "I have worked out this problem." → Nell said that she had worked out that problem. Nell said that she had worked out that problem. (Change present perfect tense to past perfect tense) Bob told me, "I had worked here for years before I moved out." → Bob told me that he had worked there for years before he moved out. Bob told me that he had worked there for years before he moved out. I worked there for many years before moving out.

(Past perfect tense remains unchanged) (2) Several situations where the tense does not need to change. Generally speaking, when a direct quotation is converted into an indirect quotation, the quoted words are still valid or when they are quoted at the time or place, the tense often does not change. . Specifically, there are the following situations. ① Direct speech has a definite past time. e.g.Chloe said, "The story took place in the 1930s." →Chloe said that the story took place in the 1930s. Crowe said that the story took place in the 1930s. ② Focus only on reporting the facts without focusing on the time when the action precedes the reported action. e.g.The boy said, "I found the dog just at the edge of the wood." →The boy said that he found the dog just at the edge of the wood. The boy said that he found the dog just at the edge of the wood. ③When the action or state being reported continues when speaking, and this point is emphasized. e.g.The reporter said, "The war is now still on." →The reporter said that the war is now still on. The reporter said that the war is now still on. Charlie told me, "I am just helping my dad on the farm right now." → Charlie told me that he is just helping his dad on the farm right now. Charlie told me that he is just helping his dad on the farm right now. Charlie told me that he is just helping his dad on the farm right now. ④When what is reproduced is natural phenomena, scientific truths, famous sayings, etc., and is emphasized. e.g. Our English teacher said, “All work no play makes Jack a dull boy.”→Our English teacher told US that all work no play makes Jack a dull boy. Our English teacher told us that all work no play makes Jack a dull boy. Be silly. 3. Changes in Demonstrative Pronouns: This in direct speech should be changed to that, and these should be changed to those when changing into indirect speech. e.g.Toby said to me, "This is the School Computer Center." →Toby said to me that was the School Computer Center. (this changes to that) Toby told me that that was the School Computer Center. Kerry told me, "These photos were taken ten years ago." → Kerry told me that those photos had been taken ten years before. (these changes to those) Kerry told me that those photos had been taken ten years before. Note: This and that do not need to be changed when paraphrasing the speaker at the time and place of the speaker.

—Nora said, “I’ll take this book.” —What did Nora say just now? —She said she will take this book. 4. Changes of time adverbials direct speech indirect speech now then then today today that day that day this evening tonight that evening that night yesterday yesterday the day before the day before yesterday yesterday morning yesterday morning the morning before the day before yesterday morning last night last night the night before the night before yesterday two days ago two days before two days before next week the next week the following week tomorrow the next day the following day the day before yesterday two days before the day after tomorrow the day after tomorrow in two days' timetwo days after e.g. Nell said, "I'm now visiting China." → Nell said that she was then visiting China. Nell said that she was then visiting China. (now becomes then) Rebecca asked me, "Have you got anything on this evening?" → Rebecca asked me whether I had got anything on that evening. Rebecca asked me if I had anything on that evening. (this evening becomes that evening)Joanna said, "Professor Black is going to give a lecture on SARS next week."→Joanna said that Professor Black was going to give a lecture on SARS the next week.Joanna said that Professor Black was going to give a lecture on SARS the next week. There will be a lecture on SARS in two weeks. (next week becomes the next week) Special reminder: When the speaker is reporting at that time and place, the words still have an effect when reporting, and the time adverbial remains unchanged. e.g.—Jimmy, we’ll take a trip to Hawaii tomorrow. Jimmy, we’ll take a trip to Hawaii tomorrow. —What did Daddy say just now, Mummy? —He said we’ll take a trip to Hawaii tomorrow. He said we’ll take a trip to Hawaii tomorrow. 5. Changes in adverbials of place A common change in adverbials of place is to change here into there. In addition, over here should become over there. e.g.The boy said, "This is the first time I have been here." →The boy said that that was the first time he had been there. The boy said that it was the first time he had been there.

(here becomes there) Roman told me, "I just put all the things over here." → Roman told me that he had just put all the things over there. Roman told me that he had just put all the things over there. Roman told me that he had just put all the things over there. . (over here becomes over there) Special reminder: When paraphrasing the speaker at that time and place, here and over here do not need to be changed. e.g.—Will you come here, Jim? Will you come here, Jim? —What does Robert say? What did Robert just say? —He asked if you will come here. He asked if you will come here. 6. Changes in directional verbs When direct speech becomes indirect speech, the directional verbs bring and come should be changed to take and go. e.g. My sister asked me, "Could you bring the chairs upstairs?" → My sister asked me if I could take the chairs upstairs. My sister asked me if I could take the chairs upstairs. (bring becomes take) Helen told me, "I'd prefer you to come to the party this weekend." → Helen told me that she would prefer me to go to the party that weekend. Helen told me that she would prefer me to go to the party that weekend. Went to a party on the weekend. (come becomes go) Special reminder: When a certain place becomes the center of conversation between the speaker or the listener, even though it is far away from both parties, bring and come are still used in indirect speech. e.g. Lisa said that she’d like me to come to the party. Lisa said she’d like me to come to the party. (the party is the center of the conversation) Terence asked me if I could bring my DV Camera on the trip. Terence asked me if I could bring my DV Camera on the trip. (the trip is the center of the speech) (3) How to convert direct speech of different sentence patterns into indirect speech? People commonly use four different sentence patterns when speaking, namely declarative sentence, interrogative sentence, imperative sentence and exclamatory sentence. Different sentence patterns should be used when reporting these different contents. 1． Declarative sentence: When the declarative sentence in direct speech is converted into indirect speech, it becomes an object clause guided by that, and that can be omitted. The main verbs quoted in the main clause are say, tell, repeat, answer, reply, explain, think, believe, and suggest. (suggestion), advise (suggestion), etc. e.g. Chad said, “I’m going to take up literature this term.” → Chad said (that) he was going to take up literature that term. Chad said (that) he was going to take up literature that term. Perry told his parents, "What I want is not money, but love from you." →Perry told his parents (that) what he wanted was not money but love from them. Perry told his parents (that) what he wanted was not money but love from them. Money, but love from parents.

Doctors usually advise, “People should live a free and easy life.”→Doctors usually advise (that) people should live a free and easy life. Doctors usually advise (that) people should live a free and easy life. 2． Interrogative sentences When interrogative sentences in direct quotations are changed into indirect quotations, they must use declarative sentence order and use a period at the end of the sentence. When the verb in the main sentence is say, it should be changed to ask, wonder, don't know, want to know, be not sure, be puzzled (Wondered) Wait. e.g.Bridget said, "Do all of you often write to your parents?" → Bridget asked if/whether all of us often wrote to our parents. Bridget asked if/whether all of us often wrote to our parents. (General questions become object clauses guided by if/whether) Carmen asked me, "You are interested in computer studies, aren't you?" → Carmen asked me if/whether I was interested in computer studies. Carmen asked me if/whether I was interested in computer studies. Interested in computer research. (Anti-meaning question becomes an object clause introduced by if/whether) I asked Sally, "Will you stay with me or go by yourself on a picnic?" → I asked Sally whether/if she would stay with me or go by herself on a picnic. I asked Sally if she would stay with me or go on a picnic by herself. (Choose the interrogative sentence to become an object clause leading to whether/if...or...) "What are your parents and where do they live?" the policeman asked me. →The policeman asked me what my parents were and where they lived. The policeman asked me What do their parents do and where do they live. (Special interrogative sentences become object clauses guided by special interrogative words) 3. When an imperative sentence is changed into an indirect quotation, the predicate verb of the imperative sentence must be changed into an infinitive and used as an object complement. The original main sentence quoting verb say must be changed to ask (let), tell (tell), order (command), and beg (beg). ), warn (warning), advise (suggestion), etc. Negative sentences require not before the infinitive. Some imperative sentences express suggestions that need to be changed to the "suggest/advise that...+(should)+..." structure. e.g. "Come in and sit down, please!" Cher said to us.→Cher told/asked us to come in and sit down. Cher told us to come in and sit down. “Don’t always be so nervous, John”, one of them said. →One of them told John not to be so nervous. One of them told John not to be so nervous.

“Try one more time and see what will happen”, the teacher said. →The teacher advised that they should try one more time and see what would happen. The teacher advised that they should try one more time and see what will happen. 4. When an exclamatory sentence becomes an indirect speech, it can be introduced by what or how, or it can be introduced by that. e.g. "What a lovely day it is!" they all shouted.→They all shouted what a lovely day it was.They all shouted how lovely a day it was. ． Last Sunday my brother told me, "I'm going to see you tomorrow." (Change to indirect speech) Problem-solving skills: When changing this sentence to indirect speech, the things that need to be changed are first of all, the person I should be based on the subject my brother To change it to he, you should change it to me according to me. The second is that is going to should be changed to was going to. The third is that tomorrow should be changed to the next day. Answer: Last Sunday my brother told me (that) he was going to see me the next day. Example 2. He asked Li Ying, "Were you watching TV at this time yesterday?" (Change to indirect speech) Problem-solving skills: When changing this sentence to indirect speech, you must first know that this is a direct speech change of a general relative question. For indirect speech, the conjunction if or whether must be added. The tense does not need to be changed, but yesterday must be changed to the day before. The person you should use he or she according to Li Ying. Answer: He asked Li Ying if/whether he/she was watching TV at this time the day before. Example 3. He said that he would do it. (Change to direct quotation) Problem-solving skills: First remove the conjunction that, change the personal pronoun he to I, and change would to will. Add quotation marks. Answer: He said, "I will do it."