Dirrect and Indirrect Speech

 

You can answer the question "What did he/she say?" in two ways:

·        by repeating the words spoken (direct speech)

·        by reporting the words spoken (indirect or reported speech).

 

Direct Speech
Direct speech repeats, or quotes, the exact words spoken. When we use direct speech in writing, we place the words spoken between inverted commas ("....") and there is no change in these words. We may be reporting something that's being said NOW (for example a telephone conversation), or telling someone later about a previous conversation

Examples:

She says "What time will you be home?"
She said "What time will you be home?"
and I said "I don't know! "
"There's a fly in my soup!" screamed Simone.
John said, "There's an elephant outside the window."

  Here a the backshift of tenses:FROM TO
Simple Present Simple Past
Simple Past
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Past Perfect
Will Would
am/is/are was/were
Was/were
has been Had been
had been

Time Signal: 
Dirrect Speech Indirrect Speech
Now Then
Today That day/that night
Yesterday The day before/The previous day 
Tomorrow The next day/following day
Last week The previous week
Next week The following week
A year A year before

There are three kinds of dirrect and indirrect speech:

1. Statement

• Dirrect speech (Present Tense): The students go to the library once a day
• Indirrect speech (Past Tense): The students went to the library once day
• Dirrect speech (Present Countinous Tense): The students are reading books now
• Indirrect speech (Past Countinous Tense): The students were reading books then
• Dirrect speech (Past Tense): The students borrowed books last week
• Indirrect speech (Past Perfect Tense): The students had borrowed books the previous week
• Dirrect speech (Present Perfect Tense): The students have returned the books
• Indirrect speech (Past Perfect Tense): The students had returned the books
• Dirrect speech (Future Tense): The students will borrow novels tomorrow
• Indirrrect speech (Future Tense): The students would borrow novels the following day
• Dirrect speech: The girls say, "We like reading een magazines."
• Indirrect speech: The girls say that they like reading teen magazines.
• Dirrect speech: Woody says,"I am on my way home."
• Indirrect speech: Woody says that he is on his way home.
• Dirrect speech: Riana says, " I can do this myself."
• Indirrect speech: Riana says that she can do that herself.

2. Question

• Dirrect speech: Peter asked me,"Do you play football?"
• Indirrect speech: Peter asked me whether I played football.
• Dirrect speech: Peter asked me,"When do you play football?"
• Indirrect speech: Peter asked me when I play football.

3. Command

• Dirrect speech: Mother said to me, "Turn off the TV and preapare yourself."
• Inddirect speech: Mother told me to turn off the TV an preapare myself.
• Dirrect speech: Nollan said to me, "Don't go anywhere after tou have done our homework."
• Indirrect speech: Nollan told me not to go anywhere after I had done my homework.

Finite and non Finite Verbs

A finite verb is a verb that is inflected for person and for tense according to the rules and categories of the languages in which it occurs. Finite verbs can form independent clauses, which can stand by their own as complete sentences.

For example

·      I walked, they walk, and she walks are finite verbs
* (to) walk is an infinitive.

·      I lived in French.
* "I" is the subject. "Lived" describes what the subject did. "Lived" is a finite verb.

"Finite verbs can be recognized by their form and their position in the sentence. Here are some of the things to look for when you are trying to identify the finite verbs in a sentence:

    1.          Most finite verbs can take an -ed or a -d at the end of the word to indicate time in the past: cough, coughed; celebrate, celebrated. A hundred or so finite verbs do not have these endings.

    2.          Nearly all finite verbs take an -s at the end of the word to indicate the present when the subject of the verb is third-person singular: cough, he coughs; celebrate, she celebrates. The exceptions are auxiliary verbs like can and must. Remember that nouns can also end in -s. Thus the dog races can refer to a spectator sport or to a fast-moving third-person singular dog.

    3.           Finite verbs are often groups of words that include such auxiliary verbs as can, must, have, and be: can be suffering, must eat, will have gone.

Modals In The Past Form

When do we use modals?

1. To talk about someone's ability (or inability) to do something
   Example: "We can find your house without the street plan."
   "She can't have a daughter that old!"
2. To talk about an action that is necessary (or impossible, or not necessary)
   Example: "You must always have your driver's licence when you are driving your car."
   "You needn't carry your passport around with you."
3. To talk about a situation that is possible (or impossible)

Example:"Do be careful with that glass, the baby might knock it over"

Modals in the Past Form

can't have	could	could have	couldn't	couldn't have
didn't need to	had to	may have	may not have	might have
might not have	must have	needn't have	ought not to have	ought to have
should have	shouldn't have	would have	would not

Modals
present	Past
can	could
will	would
shall	should
may	might

1. Could + Verb base

>>      To offer suggestions or possibilities

Example:          

Jason      :  Oh, no! I left my shorts.

Nate       : Don’t worry, Jason. You could borrow my shorts.

Mitchie  : I’m having trouble with English.

Demi : Why don’t you ask Tess? Perhaps she could help you.

>>      To indicate that the ability existed in the past but doesn’t exist now.

Example: 

Mitchie  : Ras, can you climb the coconut tree?

Shane     : Well… I could climb coconut tree when I was so young. But I think I’m too heavy to climb it.

Selena      : Grandpa, what could you do when you were younger?

Grandpa   : When I was younger, I could swim across the big river very well and faster.

>>      To express polite requests

Example:   

*      Could I borrow your pencil (please)?

*      Could you lend me your jacket now?

*      Could you please close the door?

*      Could you pass the salt?

2.    Would + Verb base

>>      For an action that was repeated regularly in the past

Example:          

*      When I was a child, I would visit my grandparents every weekend.

*      On Sundays, when I was a child, we would all get up early and go fishing.

>>      Insert rather into the pattern and use this expression to express preferences

Example:          

Troy     :  What would you rather do in the weekend, go to the party or stay home?

Ryan    :  I would rather go to the party than stay home.

Gabriella  :  Which country would you rather visit?

Sharpay    :  I would rather visit Italia than Somalia.

>>      To express polite requests

Example:          

Nick       :  Would you mind cycling with me, Selena?

Selena    :  No, not at all. It would be nice.

Joey     : Would you please pass the helmet, Mary?

Mary   :  No problem.

3. Should + Verb base

>>      To give definite advice (advisability)

Example:          

Mom      : Putri, you should study tonight. You will have English test tomorrow, won’t you?

Mitchie  : I will, Mom.

Joe       : You should paint your door, Kevin. It looks terrible.

Kevin   : Yes, I know I should.

>>      To express the subject’s obligation or duty:

Example:          

*      You should practice for more than an hour.  (to musical friend)

*      They shouldn’t allow parking here; the street is too narrow.

*      Application should be sent before March 25^th.

4. Might + Verb base

>>      To tell possibilities

Example:          

Nick     :   Where is Joe?

Kevin   :   He might be in the studio with Stella.

 

>>      To express polite requests

Example:          

Demi   : Might I borrow your coat?

Miley   : I’m afraid not. It has been brought by Hannah for weeks and I don’t know when he’ll return it.

Introductory “it”

 

Structure: It + verb + subject complement + infinitive phrase (real subject)

A       : To understand this lesson is easy.

B       : It is easy to understand this lesson.

In this pattern, it has no meaning. It is used only to fill the subject position in the sentence. Thus, it is called introductory “it”.

A and B mean the same thing, but sentence B is more common and useful than A. A was introduce mainly to make the meaning of B easier to understand.

Introductory “it” can fill the position both of the subject and object.

Introductory “it” as a subject:

·      To watch musical programs is pleasant.

It is pleasant to watch musical program.

·      To play football must be fun.

It is fun to play football.

When the subjective is an infinitive phrase

We begin a sentence with it when the real subject is an infinitive phrase. So instead of saying, ‘To accept your advice is difficult’, we say, ‘It is difficult to accept your advice’.

Structure: It + verb + subject complement + infinitive phrase (real subject)

·      It is easy to learn English. >>  (To learn English is easy).

·      It is easy to find fault with others. >>  (To find fault with others is easy).

·      It is difficult to know his motive. >>  (To know his motive is difficult).

·      It is difficult to find a good job during these troubled times.

·      It is dangerous to play with fire.

·      It could be dangerous to drive so fast.

Note :

When we wish to emphasize the infinitive phrase, it may be put at the beginning, especially when it is short.

·      To err is human OR It is human to err.

·      To become a well known writer was his life-long ambition OR It was his lifelong ambition to become a well known writer.

·      To invest all your money in shares is foolish OR It is foolish to invest all your money in shares.

When the subject is a gerund phrase

When the real subject is a phrase that includes a gerund, it is used as a provisional subject to begin the sentence. So instead of saying ‘Your trying to fool us is no good’, we say, ‘It is no good your trying to fool us.’

·      It won’t be any good complaining to the manager. (Complaining to the manager won’t be any good.)

·      It is silly throwing away this opportunity. (Throwing away this opportunity is silly.)

·      Will it be any good my talking to him about it? (Will my talking to him about it be any good?)

·      It is no fun having so many children to look after. (Having so many children to look after is no fun.)

Note that it is possible to change the gerund into an infinitive.

·      It won’t be any good for me to complain to the manager.

·      It is silly (for you) to throw away this opportunity.

·      Will it be any good for me to talk to him about it?

·      Many of these sentences can also be re-written as exclamatory sentences.

·      How silly of you to throw away this opportunity!

When the subject is a clause

When the subject is a clause, the sentence usually begins with it. So instead of saying ‘That he was once a communist is true’, we say, ‘It is true that he was once a communist’.

·      It does not matter whether he comes or not. (Whether he comes or not does not matter.)

·      It is required that he should pay the fine. (That he should pay the fine is required.)

·      It is clear that he overheard our conversation. (That he overheard our conversation is clear.)

·      It is clear that you are not interested in this offer. (That you are not interested in the offer is clear.)

·      It cannot be denied that they tried their best to help him. (That they tried their best to help him cannot be denied. )

·      It doesn’t matter whether we buy it now or later. (Whether we buy it now or later does not matter. )

Introductory it with seem, appear and look

Introductory it is also used with seem, appear and look when the subject is an infinitive phrase, a phrase with a gerund in it or a clause.

·      It looked doubtful whether she would come

·      It seemed strange that she should behave like that.

·      It seems possible that she may quit the job.

·      It appeared unwise to offend him.

·      It does not seem much good going on with the work.

Introductory it as an object

It is sometimes used as the object of the verbs think, feel, deem, count, consider etc.

·      Don’t you think it dangerous to drive so carelessly?

·      I consider it a privilege to have this opportunity of welcoming you.

·      I think it odd that she doesn’t write to me these days.

·      I think it a pity that she could not win.

·      We think it improper that he should be so dictatorial.

·      He made it clear what he wanted.

·      I find it difficult to talk to him.

Introductory it in questions

The introductory it is sometimes used in questions.

·      Who was it that broke the window?

It is Peter who broke the window.

·      Why was it that he stole the bread?

It was because he was poor that he stole the bread.

·      When was it that the manager came?

It was at 10 am that the manager came.

Passive Voice

 

Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

• the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
• the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
• the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive 

Tense		Subject	Verb	Object
Simple Present	Active:	Rita	writes	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	is written	by Rita.
Simple Past	Active:	Rita	wrote	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	was written	by Rita.
Present Perfect	Active:	Rita	has written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	has been written	by Rita.
Future I	Active:	Rita	will write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	will be written	by Rita.
Hilfsverben	Active:	Rita	can write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	can be written	by Rita.

Examples of Passive 

Tense		Subject	Verb	Object
Present Progressive	Active:	Rita	is writing	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	is being written	by Rita.
Past Progressive	Active:	Rita	was writing	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	was being written	by Rita.
Past Perfect	Active:	Rita	had written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	had been written	by Rita.
Future II	Active:	Rita	will have written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	will have been written	by Rita.
Conditional I	Active:	Rita	would write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	would be written	by Rita.
Conditional II	Active:	Rita	would have written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	would have been written	by Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects 

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.

	Subject	Verb	Object 1	Object 2
Active:	Rita	wrote	a letter	to me.
Passive:	A letter	was written	to me	by Rita.
Passive:	I	was written	a letter	by Rita.

.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is calledImpersonal Passive.

Example: he says – it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men.

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).

Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.