When converting greetings and leave-taking into indirect speech, we use such verbs as to greet, to welcome, etc. Direct Speech Indirect Speech She said to them, “How do you do?” She greeted them. He said to them, “Happy to see you at my place.” He welcomed them. He said to them, “Goodbye!” He bade them goodbye. He said to them, “Good night!” He wished them good night.

When exclamations are converted into indirect speech, it is not so much the verb as the adverbial modifier which shows the character of the exclamation — whether it expresses joy, sorrow, surprise, etc. Direct Speech Indirect Speech She said, “How pleasant! Jane is going to spend a week with us!” She cried joyfully (with joy, delightedly) that Jane was going to spend a week with them. She said, “I am so sorry! Jane is leaving us!” She said sadly (with deep sadness, sorrowfully) that Jane was leaving them. She said, “I am sure we’ll never meet again.” She said regretfully [...]

When converting offers and suggestions into indirect speech, we use the verbs to offer and to suggest. There is a difference between these two verbs: the person who makes an offer intends to do the action himself, and the action is an act of kindness. A suggestion may also be an act of kindness, but not necessarily; the person who makes a suggestion may or may not intend to do the action himself. Direct Speech Indirect Speech He said to her, “Shall I fetch you a glass of water?” She said, “Do, please.” (“No, don’t trouble.”) He offered [...]

An order or a request in indirect speech is expressed by an infinitive: Direct Speech Indirect Speech She said to him, “Please, open the window (do not open the window).” She asked him to open the window (not to open the window). She said to him, “Open the window (do not open the window).” She told him to open the window (not to open the window). The choice of the verb is determined by the character of the order (request). The verb most commonly used to introduce indirect orders is the verb to tell; the verb to order is frequently used, occasionally also the verb to command. [...]

Word order in an indirect question is the same as in a statement. An indirect general question is introduced by the conjunction if or whether. Direct Speech Indirect Speech I said to her, “Have you lived here long?” I asked her if she had lived there long. She asked if she knew him. (Bennett) An indirect special question is introduced by the same adverb or pronoun that introduces a direct question. Direct Speech Indirect Speech I said to her, “Where do you live?” I asked her where she lived. I asked her where she was going and where her friends were. (Ch. Bronte)  If a direct question to the [...]

Indirect statements are generally introduced by the verbs to say, to tell, to announce, and in official style by the verb to inform. With the verbs to tell and to inform the person addressed is always mentioned. With the verbs to say and to announce the person addressed may or may not be mentioned. If it is mentioned, the preposition to is used. Direct Speech Indirect Speech She said (to us), “There are interesting magazines in the reading-hall.” She said (she told us) that there were interesting magazines in the reading- hall. She said (to us), “I am leaving for [...]

In contrast to direct speech, in which the exact words of the speaker are given, indirect speech is a form of utterance in which these words are reported. When direct speech is converted into indirect speech the following changes are introduced: #1. The quotation marks and the comma (or colon) are omitted. #2. If the speaker reports somebody else’s words the pronouns of the 1st person are replaced by those of the 3rd person; the pronouns of the 2nd by those of the 1st or 3rd. He said, “I am ready.” He said he was ready. If the speaker [...]