oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

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264 Introduction to indirect speech
264 Introduction to indirect speech
1 Direct speech
We use direct speech when we report someone's words by repeating them.
'I'll go and heat some milk,' said Agnes. (from a story)
Gould was the first to admit "We were simply beaten by a better side.'
(from a newspaper report)
'Made me laugh more than any comedy I have seen in the West End this year' -
Evening Standard (from an advertisement)
For an example text and for details about punctuation, • 56(4).
2 Indirect speech
a
Instead of repeating the exact words, we can give the meaning in our own words
and from our own point of view.
Agnes said she would go and heat some milk.
Gould admitted that his team were beaten by a better side.
Here the indirect speech (or 'reported speech') is a noun clause, the object of said
and admitted. We sometimes use that, but in informal English we can leave it out,
especially after say or tell.
Tom says (that) his feet hurt.
You told me (that) you enjoyed the visit.
We can sometimes use a non-finite clause.
Gould admitted having lost to a better side. • 270(2d)
They declared the result to be invalid. • 122(2c)
NOTE
a We use a comma after said, admitted etc and before direct speech, but not before
indirect speech.
Fiona said, 'It's getting late.'
Fiona said it was getting late.
b Sometimes the main clause is at the end, as a kind of afterthought. There is a comma
after the indirect speech.
His team were beaten by a better side, Gould admitted.
There will be no trains on Christmas Day, British Rail announced yesterday.
We cannot use that when the indirect speech comes first.
c For according to, • 228(1).
b
c
We can report thoughts as well as speech.
Louise thought Wayne was a complete fool.
We all wondered what was going on.
We can mix direct and indirect speech. This is from a newspaper report about a
man staying at home to look after his children.
But Brian believes watching the kids grow up and learn new things is the biggest
joy a dad can experience. 'Some people think it's a woman's job, but I don't think
that's relevant any more.'