Sentences in English with direct speech. Translation into indirect speech in English: playing Reported Speech

Direct speech in English ( Direct Speech), literally quoting the statement. The response is enclosed in quotation marks on both sides, and you add the words of the author to it, for example, He says: “I swim well”.

Indirect speech in English ( Reported Speech/ Indirect Speech), which conveys the content of the conversation from a third person. In this case, the accuracy of the statement is violated: you change the tenses and word order in the sentence.

let's consider Reported Speech rule and learn how to correctly express the opinion of the interlocutor, without inventing anything.

Indirect speech in English always depends on what time is used in the words of the author. If there is real, then you can exhale and relax: you will not have to change almost anything. The tense in the subordinate clause will remain the same, just watch the verb form and capricious pronouns:

Melissa says: I am a good cook.” – Melissa says that she is a good cook.

Jack said: like cats.” (Present Simple) – Jack said that he liked cats. (Past Simple)

In more detail, we will consider the timing ( Sequence of Tenses) separately.

Examine the Reported Speech table. With it, you will be able to express yourself grammatically correctly. And one more piece of advice - always try translate sentences into Russian, he will tell you which words will have to be replaced.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Affirmative sentences turn into complex sentences with the union That (what). See if you know who we're talking to. If yes, then the verb to say should be changed to to tell.
They say: "Annie, we read a lot of books."	They tell Annie that they read a lot of books.
When you translate negative sentences into indirect speech in English, pay special attention to the form of the verb and don't lose the not particle.
Mark says:"I don't like computer games".	Mark says that he doesn't like computer games.
Imperative sentences, namely orders and requests, become the infinitive. At the same time, in the main sentence, use the verbs to ask - to ask, to tell - to say, order, to order - to order, etc. and indicate the person being addressed.
Mother said: "Open the window."	Mother asked me to open the window.
Questions become subordinate clauses with direct word order. a) General questions are introduced by a subordinate clause using the unions if and whether
Jim asks me: "Do you watch TV?"	Jim asks me if I watch TV.
b) Special questions are attached to the main sentence with the interrogative words that are used in them.
Tony wonders: “What is your favorite food?”	Tony wonders what my favorite food is.

If the sentence you are translating into indirect speech in English contains demonstrative pronouns or adverbs of time and place, then our table will help to replace them correctly:

To master this vast topic, you only need a Reported Speech table, a list of adverbs, and your defense-ready brain. Keep in mind that exercises for translating direct speech into indirect(Reported Speech Exercises) are found in all kinds of work and exams that you can only imagine. Moreover, without this knowledge, you will be stuck and will not progress in learning English.

Direct indirect and speech Direct and indirect speech in English
Alternative name for indirect speech in English:
Reported speech

Direct speech expresses someone's speech, as it was delivered, without any changes. Direct speech in English is enclosed in quotation marks, which in English are superscripted on both sides.
Indirect speech does not convey someone's speech verbatim, but expresses the content of this speech in the form of a subordinate clause.

Rules for changing direct speech to indirect in declarative sentences

1. Quotation marks and a comma after words that introduce direct speech are omitted. In indirect speech, the conjunction that can be used, but it can also be omitted.
He said, "I know you from somewhere". - He said (that) he knew me from somewhere. He said, "I know you from somewhere." - He said (that) he knows me somewhere.
Note: If the verb say (to speak) is used in direct speech with the addition (1) and the preposition to (2), indicating the person being addressed, then say will change to the verb tell without the preposition to. In other cases, no changes are made.
He said to (2) me (1), "I know you from somewhere". - He told me (that) he knew me from somewhere. He told me: "I know you from somewhere." - He told me (that) he knew me from somewhere.
2. Personal and possessive pronouns change in meaning, depending on the context.
He said, " I(1) can bring you(2) a cup of tea." - Not said (that) he(1) could bring me(2) a cup of tea. He said, "I can bring you a cup of tea." He said he could bring me a cup of tea.
3. If the verb that introduces indirect speech (1) is in the present or future tense, then the verb in indirect speech (2) is preserved in the same tense as it was in direct speech.
He says(1), "I visit Lily every Saturday". - He says(2) (that) he visits Lily every Saturday. He says, "I visit Lily every Saturday." - He says he visits Lily every Saturday.
4. If the verb that introduces indirect speech is in the past tense, then tense agreement is observed.
Note: For a more conscious understanding of this rule, it is recommended to read the material "".
a. If in direct speech there was a present tense (1), then in indirect speech there will be a past (2).
He said, "I go(1) to driving lessons every day". - He said (that) he went(2) driving lessons every day. He said, "I go to driving lessons every day." He said that he goes to driving lessons every day.
b. If in direct speech there was Past Simple (1.1) or Past Continuous (1.2), then in indirect speech it will change to Past Perfect (2.1) or Past Perfect Continuous (Past Perfect Continuous). ) (2.2), respectively.
He said, "I did(1.1) my best". - He said (that) he had done(2.1) his best. He said, "I did my best." - He said he did his best.
He said, "I was trying(1.2) to help you". - He said (that) he had been trying(2.2) to help me. He said, "I tried to help you." He said he was trying to help me.
Note: If in direct speech there is an indicator of the time of the action, then the time in indirect speech does not change, except for such indicators as:
the day before
two months before five months ago
etc. when they are used, the time in indirect speech changes to the perfect form (Perfect).
He said, "I bought this car in 2004". He said (that) he bought this car in 2004. He said, "I bought this car in 2004." He said he bought this car in 2004.
the day before". He said (that) he had bought this car the day before. He said, "I bought this car the other day." He said he bought this car the day before.
in. If in direct speech there was a past perfect tense (Past Perfect) (1.1) or a past perfect continuous tense (Past Perfect Continuous) (1.2), then in indirect speech it will remain so.
He said, "I had read(1.1) this book by ten o "clock in the evening". - He said (that) he had read(1.1) that book by ten o "clock in the evening. He said: "I finished reading this book by ten o'clock in the evening." - He said that he had finished reading this book by ten o'clock in the evening.
d. If in direct speech there was one of the forms of the future tense (1), then in indirect speech it will change to the corresponding form of the future in the past (2).
He said, "I will have done(1) all work by Wednesday." - He said (that) he would have done(2) all work by Wednesday. He said, "I'll have finished all the work by Wednesday." He said he would finish all the work by Wednesday.
e. If modal verbs were used in direct speech, then those that have past forms will change and take on the past form, and those that do not have will remain unchanged in indirect speech.
He said, "I can show you out the Jungle." - He said (that) he could show us out the Jungle. He said, "I can take you out of the jungle." - He said he could lead us out of the jungle.
He said, "I should attend her more." - He said (that) he should attend her more. He said, "I should pay more attention to her." He said he should pay more attention to her.
5. If in direct speech there were adverbs of place and time, as well as demonstrative pronouns, then in indirect speech they will change to those that are appropriate in meaning.
this - that this - that
these - those
here - there
now - then now - then
ago - before ago - earlier
today - that day
tomorrow - the next day
yesterday - the day before
the day after tomorrow - two days later
the day before tomorrow - two days before
last morning - the previous morning
etc.
He said, "I will do it the day after tomorrow". - He (that) he would do it two days later. He said, "I'll do it the day after tomorrow." He said he would do it in two days.

The rule for changing direct speech to indirect in incentive sentences

The imperative action (1), expressed by the infinitive without the particle to in direct speech, will change to the infinitive with the particle to (2) in indirect speech. That is not added in such sentences.
Note: In the negative form, the particle not is used before the particle to.
He asked me, " Close the window(1)". - He asked me close the window(2). He will ask me: "Close the window." - He asked me to close the window.
or no indication of the face
He asked, " Close the window(1)". - He asked close the window(2). He asked: "Close the window." - He asked to close the window.

Rules for changing direct speech to indirect in interrogative sentences

Interrogative sentences in indirect speech are called indirect questions . The question mark in such sentences is not used, except when the main part is the interrogative in the indirect sentence.
1. Special question (1) (about special and other types of questions - in the material ") in direct speech, when changed to indirect, they become an additional subordinate clause (2), which is connected to the main part with interrogative words from the question directly.
He asked me, " Who(1) has brought the letter?" - He asked me who had brought the letter(2). He asked me: "Who brought the letter?" He asked me who brought the letter.
2. The general question (1) in direct speech changes to a subordinate clause (2) in indirect speech and is connected to the main part with if / whether (whether) (2), while the comma is not used.
He asked, " Do(1) you know her?" - He asked me if/whether (3) I knew her(2). He asked, "Do you know her?" He asked if I knew her.
3. Short answers in indirect speech are expressed by an auxiliary (1) or modal verb (2), and the time of these verbs changes according to the tense agreement rule (3).
Do(1) you know her? Do you know her?
no, I don't(one). - I answered, I didn't(3). No, I do not know. - I answered that I don't know.
Can(2) you repair it? Can you fix it?
no, I can't(2). - I answered, I couldn't(3). No I can not. - I answered that I could not.
Note: Brief answers are used in official speech:
I answered in the affirmative. I answered in the affirmative.
I answered in the negative. I answered in the negative.

Indirect speech in English is considered a real stumbling block. In fact, the devil is not so "terrible as he is painted." If you want to make sure of this, then our material will come in handy for you.

There are 2 types of speech: direct (Direct Speech) and indirect (Indirect Speech or Reported Speech). The direct is transmitted using ordinary quoting, and the indirect is transmitted using special constructions and introductory verbs.

Direct and indirect speech: short examples that English offers us (with translation)


1) Julia said, “I like green leaves in early spring.” Julia said: "I love green leaves in early spring"	1) Julia said that she liked green leaves in early spring. Julia said she loves green leaves in early spring.
2) Mother told her, “Open the door, please!” The mother told her: “Please open the door!”	2) Mother asked her to open the door. The mother asked her to open the door.
3) The tutor said to me, “I have been to London this year.” The teacher told me: "This year I went to London."	3) The tutor said that he had been to London that year. The teacher said that he was in London that year.

As you can see, indirect speech and English are friends with numerous changes in sentences, the table reflects only a few of them. You will read more about the rules for translating direct statements into narrative below.

Stages of translating direct speech into indirect

The punctuation stage implies the omission of the quotes that enclose the replica, and the comma that separates 2 simple sentences as part of a complex one. The last one can be replaced by the union that, but this is not necessary. When sending interrogative sentences, do not forget to put a period instead of a question mark.
At the lexical stage, all the necessary verbal transformations take place.

Changes in adverbs

Examples of such modifications:

The boy said that he was reading at that moment. The boy said that he was reading at that moment.
(In the original, the boy said: "I am reading now.")

This woman tells me she has lost the key that week. This woman says she lost her key last week.
(In the original, the woman says: "I have lost the key this week.")

The librarian asked to return the book the following week. The librarian asked to return the book next week.
(Original "Return the book next week, please!")

Rules for coordinating tenses in indirect speech

Let's take a closer look at all the necessary changes regarding the time frame.

He says, “I swim very well.” (direct speech)
He says that he swims very well. (indirect speech)

NB! Indirect speech in English to convey what has already happened and the construction of appropriate statements can cause some difficulties. If the introductory verbs are in the past tense, the tenses of the verbs from the quotations are subject to the following modifications.

Reported Speech: Sequence of Tenses (Timing)

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Present Simple (Indefinite)“I want to buy a car”	Past Simple (Indefinite) He said (that) he wanted to buy a car.
Present Progressive (Continuous)“I am looking for a kitten”	She said (that) she was looking for a kitten.
Present Perfect“He has won this game”	past perfect She said (that) he had won that game.
Past Simple (Indefinite)“She found me at the seaside yesterday”	past perfect He said (that) she had found him at the seaside the day before.

Past Progressive (Continuous)“He was playing football”	Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Mother said (that) he had been playing football.
Future Simple (Indefinite)“I will catch this butterfly”	Future-in-the-Past (= Conditional Would) The boy said (that) he would catch that butterfly.
modals: “I can dive very well” “You must be here at 5 p.m.” “I may be late a bit”	modals: He said (that) he could dive very well. She told me (that) I had to be there at 5 p.m. He said he might be late

If you learn 2 main tables (temporary and adverbial changes), modifying sentences from direct speech to indirect speech will be easy and simple. There will be only nuances that will need to be monitored.

Light (upper) cloud - thought transmission in the present, dark (lower) cloud - thought transmission in indirect speech (past tense)

Indirect speech: features of the transition of various types of sentences

Get acquainted with these simple principles and easily delve into grammar: now English, in particular direct and indirect speech, will not cause any special difficulties.

Translation of affirmative sentences is carried out using the union that. Introductory verbs to tell (with addition), to say (without addition).
They said, "We have never been here before." – They said (that) they had never been there before.

He said, "I will clean the car." – He told me he would clean the car.

He said, "I will have finished this paper by tomorrow." – He told his teacher that he would have finished that paper by the following day.

She said, "It is very quiet here." She said that it was very quiet there.
When changing negative sentences, pay special attention to the particle not.
She said, "I don't know where my shoes are." – She said that she didn’t know where her shoes were.

He said, "They won't sleep." – He said that they would not sleep.

“I don't speak Italian,” she says. - She says that she does not speak Italian.

"I cannot find a book anywhere," she said to him. – She told me that she could not find a book anywhere.
The imperative mood is transformed with the help of the infinitive. Introductory verbs to order - to order, to ask - to ask, to tell - to order, to beg - to beg, etc.
"Take off your shoes," she told us. – She told us to take off our shoes.

"Stop talking, Joe," the teacher said - The teacher asked Joe to stop talking.

"Don" t go out without me, "he begged her. - He begged her not to go out without him.

"Don" t repair the computer yourself," she warned him. - She warned him not to repair the computer himself.
Interrogative sentences acquire direct word order. At the same time, general questions become subordinate clauses, joined by unions if or whether. Special questions are attached with appropriate question words. Introductory verbs: to ask - to ask, to wonder - to be interested, to want to know, to want to know - to want to know, to be interested - to be interested, etc.
Helen: What does she say? – He wanted to know what Helen said.

"Where is my umbrella?" she asked. – She wondered where her umbrella was.

Are you going to the cinema? he asked me. – He asked me if I was going to the cinema.

"Have you tidied up your room?" the mother asked the twins. – The mother asked the twins whether they had tidied up their room.
To convey replicas with an exclamation, you can use the verb to exclaim - exclaim by adding the appropriate emotion word (for example, joy - joy, sorrow - grief, wonder - surprise, etc.)
“Hurrah! I've got the first prize!” – Tomas exclaimed with joy (that) he had got the first prize.

“Wow! What a marvelous dress you are having on.” – She exclaimed with wonder (that) I was having a marvelous dress on.

“Oh, my… I’ve lost my wallet!” – He exclaimed with sorrow (that) he had lost his wallet.

“Come on! You'll cope with this task.” – She exclaimed with enthusiasm (that) I would cope with that task.

And, finally, we present to your attention the transmission of a small dialogue in indirect speech.

— Hello Mike! How are you?
— Hey Jane! I am not well, I have a sore throat. Sorry, I can't speak to you now…
— Ok, hold on then… I’ll call you in a couple of days.

Reported Speech: Jane greeted Mike and asked him how he was. Mike greeted Jane in response and explained that he was not well. He exclaimed with sorrow that he could not speak to Jane. She expressed her support and added that she would call him in a couple of days.

Admit it, now indirect speech does not seem so difficult, English is so scary, and repeated exercises will increase your skills and improve your grammatical skills.

See the video for the basic rules of indirect speech with examples.

1. When replacing direct speech with indirect speech, personal and possessive pronouns, as well as personal forms of verbs, are transmitted on behalf of the author, narrator, and not on behalf of the one whose speech is transmitted.

2. If direct speech is expressed by a declarative sentence, then when replacing an indirect one, it is transmitted by an explanatory subordinate clause with a union what.

3. If direct speech denotes an impulse, an order, a request, and the predicate in it is expressed by a verb in the imperative mood, then when replacing an indirect one, it is transmitted by an explanatory clause with a conjunction to.

Direct speech, in which the predicate is expressed in an imperative mood, can also be conveyed by a simple sentence with an addition in an indefinite form.

4. If direct speech is an interrogative sentence, then when replacing an indirect one, it is transmitted by an indirect question (with a particle whether or without it through allied words which, what, what and etc.). An indirect question does not include a question mark.

5. Indirect speech is less expressive, less emotional than direct speech. The appeals, interjections, particles that are available in direct speech are omitted when replacing it with an indirect one. Their meanings can sometimes only be conveyed in other words, more or less close to them in meaning. In this case, an approximate retelling of direct speech is obtained.

let's consider Reported Speech rule and learn how to correctly express the opinion of the interlocutor, without inventing anything.

Melissa says:I am a good cook.” – Melissa says thatshe is a good cook.

Jack said:like cats.”(Present Simple) – Jack said that heliked cats.(Past Simple)

In more detail, we will consider the timing ( Sequence of Tenses) separately.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Affirmative sentences turn into complex sentences with the union That (what). See if you know who we're talking to. If yes, then the verb to say should be changed to to tell.
They say: "Annie, we read a lot of books."	They tell Annie that they read a lot of books.
When you translate negative sentences into indirect speech in English, pay special attention to the form of the verb and don't lose the not part.
Mark says:"I don't like computer games".	Mark says that he doesn't like computer games.
Imperative sentences, namely orders and requests, become infinitive. At the same time, in the main sentence, use the verbs to ask - to ask, to tell - to say, order, to order - to order, etc. and indicate the person being addressed.
Mother said: "Open the window."	Mother asked me to open the window.
Questions become subordinate clauses with direct word order. a) General questions are introduced by a subordinate clause using the unions if and whether
Jim asks me: "Do you watch TV?"	Jim asks me if I watch TV.
b) Special questions are attached to the main sentence with the interrogative words that are used in them.
Tony wonders: “What is your favorite food?”	Tony wonders what my favorite food is.

If the sentence you are translating into indirect speech in English contains demonstrative pronouns or adverbs of time and place, then our table will help to replace them correctly:

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
This - this	That - that

Here - here	There - there
Now - now	Then - then
Today - today	That day - on that day
Tomorrow - tomorrow	The next day - the next day
Yesterday - yesterday	The day before - the day before
The day after tomorrow - the day after tomorrow	Two days later - two days later
The day before yesterday - the day before yesterday	Two days before - two days before
Ago - ago	Before - before
Next month - next month	The next month, the following month - a month later
Last week - last week	The previous week - the week before

Direct speech sentences present no difficulty. We simply translate them using the tenses that we consider necessary.

For example:

Cinderella said, "I will marry this prince."

Cinderella said: "I will marry this prince."

The principal said, "Yesterday you did a very good job."

Director said: "Yesterday you worked very well."

The writer says, "I write a new book every year."

A writer says: "I write a new book every year."

There really is nothing complicated about this.

A little trickier with sentences where we pass other people's words. Here, first of all, you need to pay attention to the words of the author, such as "She says", "He asked", "Director will say" etc. If these words are in the present tense ( "she says"- now or usually), then when changing direct speech to indirect, we do not change the time.

For example:

Mom often says that we are not very attentive.

Mother often says that we are not very careful.

The doctor says that at this time of the year many people get sick.

Doctor says that many people get ill in this season.

She says he hasn't called her yet.

She says that he hasn't called her yet.

But it is possible that the words that we want to convey using indirect speech were said earlier. And the author's words refer to the past ( "we said", "they asked", "He adviced" etc.).

For example:

The store clerk said yesterday, "This bread is fresh."

The seller said yesterday that this bread is fresh.

The teacher said last week: "Tomorrow we will write a test."

The teacher said last week that tomorrow we will write a test.

And in this case "in Game" enters TIME CONTROL RULE.

Since information about fresh bread and tests was given in the past, there is a need to slightly change the tenses in the part that starts with the word "WHAT".

for example if in a sentence with direct speech used time present simple, then, having remade the sentence into indirect speech, we will use past simple.

He said: " I LIKE to read newspapers in the morning.” – He said that he LIKED to read newspapers in the morning.*

*Please note that when you change a sentence into indirect speech, the subject changes! He says:"I'm going." - He says he's coming.

The entire sequence of changing times according to this principle is given in the table below:

Sequence of Tenses (time alignment)

TIME IN A SENTENCE WITH DIRECT SPEECH	TIME IN A SENTENCE WITH INDIRECT SPEECH

Present Continuous	Past Continuous
Present Perfect

Past Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous

All Future Tenses	All Future in the Past Tenses*

* The tenses Future- in the Past are formed with the help of an auxiliary verb "WOULD", which we just use instead of the auxiliary verb "will".

For example, "will go" (Future Simple) - "would go" (Future Simple - in the Past).

for example:

He said: "My friends usually come at 5."

He said that his friends usually came at 5.

She told her sister: "I am reading a very interesting book."

She told her sister that she was reading a very interesting book.

Mary said to the man: "I have not decided anything yet."

Mary said to the man that she had not decided anything yet.

I told them: "I will do this job in two days."

I told them that I would do this job in two days.

In speech, we often use time markers ( yesterday, today, in two days, tomorrow) or words like "here", "there", "this", "that" etc.

In English, when "translating" a sentence from direct speech to indirect if the words of the author are in the past time, such words should be replaced as follows:

for example:

He said: "I will not begin now."

He said he would not begin then.

The President said: "I didn't know about it last week."

The President said he hadn't known about it the week before.

She said: "My husband will be here tomorrow."

She said her husband would be there the next day.

Words in direct speech and in indirect speech

This / these That / those

Yesterday The day before
Tomorrow (the) next day / the following day
Last week / year
The week / year before
The previous week/year
Next week / year
The following week / year
The next week / year

In indirect speech, we can convey orders, commands or requests. In order to figure out how to do this in English, let's see how we do it in Russian.

She told us, "Don't stand here!"

She told us not to stand here.

The director ordered the worker: "Do it immediately!"

The director ordered the employee to do so immediately.

We asked the teacher: "Explain this rule to us again, please!"

We asked the teacher to explain this rule to us again.

As you noticed, when we “translate” a command, request or order into indirect speech, then instead of the “Do it!” the "do" form is used, i.e. infinitive (indefinite form of the verb). In English, this situation is repeated.

So, when transmitting a command, request or order in indirect speech in English, we will use the infinitive of the verb with the particle "to" - "to go", "to stand", "to read", "to do", etc.

For example:

She told us: "Stand there!"

She told ustostand there.

He asked his friend: "Bring me, please, that book!"

He asked his friendtobring him that book.

Teacher said to the students: "Rewrite this exercise!"

Teacher told students to rewrite that exercise. Sometimes a command, request or order is negative. Those. we tell someone not to do something. Then, when “translating” such a command into indirect speech, we will put the negative particle NOT immediately before the infinitive.

For example:

He told her: "Don't go there anymore!"

He told her NOT TO GO there anymore.

The teacher told the student: "Don't be late for the next lesson!"

The teacher told the student NOT TO BE late for the next lesson.

She told her boyfriend: "Leave! And don't come again!"

She told her boyfriend to leave and NOT TO COME again.

And in order not to repeat "he told" or "she asked" all the time, use other words.

Clue:

To order

To offer

To suggest

To demand

To warn

To advise

LITTLE SECRETS OF INDIRECT SPEECH. =))

Sometimes it is difficult to figure out how to convey some sentences in indirect speech. For example, how to say in indirect speech the sentence “He said: “Hello!”, Or “She said: “No!”?

Let's give a little hint:

He said: "Hello, everybody!" – He greeted everybody.

She said to him: "No, I will not go with you!" – She refused to go with him.

They said: "Yes!" – They agreed.

Questions in indirect speech in English convey only the content of the question of direct speech, but they themselves are not questions, as such. Based on this, the word order in indirect questions is the same as in affirmative sentences, that is, the subject follows before the predicate, auxiliary verbs ( do, did) are not used, and no question mark is placed at the end of such questions.

For example: He said, "When are you leaving?" - He asked me when I was leaving. (NOT When I was leaving?) He asked, "When are you leaving?" - He asked me when I was leaving. I said, "Where are you staying?" – I asked her where she was staying. I asked, "Where are you staying?" - I asked her where she was staying. "Where does John live?" she asked me. - She asked me where John lived. "Where does John live?" she asked me. She asked me where John lives. John asked, "Where did you go last weekend?" – John asked where I had gone the previous weekend. John asked, "Where did you go last weekend?" John asked where I went last weekend. He asked, "Why are you staring at me?" – He asked me why I was staring at him. He asked, "Why are you looking at me?" He asked me why I was looking at him.

General and alternative questions are introduced into the sentence by conjunctions if / whether:

"Do you speak English?" she asked him. – She asked him if he spoke English. "Do you speak English?" she asked him. She asked him if he spoke English. "Are you British or French?" they asked me. – They asked me whether I was British or French. "Are you from Britain or France?" they asked me. They asked me if I was from Britain or France. "Did you come by train?" she required. – She required if I had come by train. "Did you come by train?" she asked. She asked if I had come by train.

Special questions are introduced with a question word ( when, where, why, and etc.):

"What is your name?" he asked me. – He asked what my name was. "What is your name?" he asked me. - He asked me my name. "How old is your mother?" he asked her. – He asked her how old her mother was. "How old is your mother?" he asked her. He asked her how old her mother was.

What is this - an indirect question?

First, let's compare Direct and Indirect questions. If you want to literally reflect someone’s statement, quote, then it’s better to use ordinary questions using direct speech (more on “Types of questions in English”). But, to convey other people's words, you can use Inderect questions, which consist of two parts: the main one, where it says “who asked, inquired” and the secondary one - “what exactly, the question itself”, and they are connected by a union or a pronoun. But that is not all. It is necessary to capture the essence of only two rules:

Active timing rule (The whole scheme can be found in the article "Time Coordination Table"). In other words, the time used in the main part of the sentence must be sent one back, to the past. Thus, we remove the quotes, and the logical chain of events is not interrupted. Note that neither do nor does can be used in this case. For example: in the main in quotation marks we have the verb “speak” - Present Simple. According to the transition of times, Present Simple changes to Past Simple: spoke.

I also want to remind you of pronouns, which change from direct to indirect speech according to the same principle as in Russian.

He said:have youtranslated this article? -He said: « You translated article? (Present perfectpasses according to rule inpast perfect).

He asked if Ihad translated that article.He asked if I had translated the article.

Although we call such sentences questions, we do not observe the familiar violation of word order. Namely: the structure of the affirmative sentence is preserved: subject + predicate + object + etc.

She said: "Where didshe ski in summer? - She said, "Where did she ski in the summer?"

She asked whereshe had skied in summer. She asked where she skied in the summer.

Two models of indirect questions in English

So, we know that there are several types of questions: general, special, alternative, disjunctive and question to the subject. In indirect speech, we can build only some of them.

1. General and alternative indirect question is built using the unions if or whether, which in Russian sound like a particle of “li”. Thus, keeping the direct word order, we can derive the following scheme:

Subject + predicate + if (whether) + subject + predicate + secondary members

Direct Speech - Direct Speech

»Is anybody at home? he asked. - "Is anybody home?" he asked.	He asked if anybody was at home. - He asked if there whether is anybody home.
Past Simple - Past Perfect
She asked: "Were she at school yesterday?" She asked: “Was she at school yesterday?”	She asked if she had been at school the day before. She asked was whether she was at school yesterday.
Future Simple - Future in the Past
He said: "Will you go to the theater tomorrow?" - He asked: “Will you go to the theater tomorrow?”	He asked if I would go to the theater the next day. He asked if I would go whether I'm going to the theater tomorrow.

My mother said: "Are you laughing at me?" - Mom said: "Are you laughing at me?"	My mother asked if I was laughing at her. - Mom asked, laughing whether I'm over her.

He said: "Have you heard about the latest events?" - He asked: "Have you heard about the latest events?"	He asked if I heard about the latest events. - He asked, heard whether I'm talking about recent events.
Present Perfect Continuous - Past Perfect Continuous
My friends asked: "Have you been living in this old house for a year?" - My friends asked: "Did you live in this old house for a year?"	My friends asked if I had been living in that old house for a year. My friends asked, lived whether I've been in that old house for a year.
Can-could
He asked: "Can you play tennis?" - He asked: “Can I play tennis?”	He asked if I could play tennis. He asked if I can whether i play tennis.
Must - had to
She said: "Must I write it today?" - She said: “I have to write this today?”	She asked if she had to write it that day. She asked should whether she write it today.

2. In special indirect question the two parts are connected by interrogative words: what, why, where, which, whose (in the article "Interrogative Words" you will find complete information about the use and meaning). And everything else, as in the previous model.

Subject + predicate + interrogative word + subject + predicate + secondary members

Direct Speech - Direct Speech	Indirect speech - Inderect Speech
Present Simple - Past Simple
He asked: "Where is the underground?" - He asked: "Where is the subway?"	He asked where the underground was. - He asked where the subway was.
Present Continuous - Past Continuous
Mary said: "What are you playing now?" - Mary said: "What are you playing now?"	Mary asked what I was playing than. - Mary asked what I was playing.
Present Perfect - Past Perfect
She asked:"Where has he been?" She asked: "Where was he?"	She wanted to know where he had been. She wanted to know where he was.
Past Simple - Past Perfect
His parents asked:"Whose hat have you been wearing?" - His parents asked: "Whose hat did you wear?"	His parents asked whose hat I had been wearing. His parents asked whose hat I wore.

A few more secrets! =)))) (what jokers)

must be distinguished if in subordinate clauses and If in indirect questions. So, in the first case, we translate with the meaning "if", and in the second - with a particle of "whether".

If you come home late, we will have to punish you. - If you come home late, we will be forced to punish you.

She asked me if I would come home late the next day. -She is asked, I will come whether I late tomorrow.

short answers to indirect questions in English are given with the help of auxiliary or modal verbs, as in direct speech, but taking into account the rule of tense coordination. And the connection of the two parts in this model occurs due to conjunction "that" and yes/no are omitted.

"Does she live in the hostel?" - she asked. -Yes, she does (No, she doesn't).

She asked if she lived in the hostel. -I answered that she did (she didn't).