Page 1: Introduction to Direct and Indirect Speech

This page introduces the concepts of direct and indirect speech, focusing on the backshift of tenses that occurs in indirect speech when the reporting verb is in the simple past.

Direct speech involves quoting someone's exact words, while indirect speech reports what someone said without using their exact words. When the reporting verb is in the simple past (e.g., said, told, wrote), the tenses in the reported speech are usually shifted back one step. This is known as the backshift of tenses.

Example: Direct: "You're too slow, Kaya." Indirect: He said (that) Kaya was too slow.

The page provides a table showing how different tenses change in indirect speech:

• Present → Past
• Past → Past Perfect
• Will-future → Would + infinitive
• Can → Could

Highlight: Past tense forms in direct speech are often kept the same in indirect speech, rather than changing to past perfect.

Example: Direct: "Drew asked me for a date." Indirect: Kaya said Drew asked her for a date.

Direct and Indirect Speech in English

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of indirect speech in English, including tense changes, question formation, and reporting commands and requests. It is particularly useful for students learning about indirekte rede englisch übungen and backshift of tenses.

Key points:

• Direct speech quotes someone's exact words
• Indirect speech reports what someone said without using their exact words
• When the reporting verb is in the past tense, a backshift of tenses often occurs
• Indirect questions follow a different structure than direct questions
• Commands, requests, and advice are typically reported using infinitive constructions