Direct Speech and Reported Speech
Direct Speech
This is when we report the exact that someone says or writes.
`I love your new jacket! ´she said.
In your email you asked: ´Why don´t you ever write to me? `
Reported Speech
This is when we report something that has been said or written. If the report is after the time the thing was said or written, the verb form generally changes as follows:
Direct Speech
1- Present simple/continuous
She said, ´I am meeting him on Friday. `
2- Past simple/continuous
´The class finished five minutes ago`, you said.
3- Present Perfect simple/continuous
He told me, ´I have worked here for 20 years`.
4-Will
´I will tell him`, she said.
5-Can
My brother said. ´I can run a marathon`.
Reported Speech
1- Present simple/continuous
She said she was meeting him on Friday.
2- Past perfect simple/continuous
You said the class had finished five minutes before.
3-Past Perfect simple/continuous
He told me he had worked there for 20 years.
4- Would
She said she would tell him.
5- Could
My brother said he could run a marathon.
