Direct and Indirect Speech

WEEK: 9
ASPECT: Speech work

TOPIC: RISING TUNE
The rising tune is like the falling tune until you get to the end, when your voice rises on or
after the last stressed syllable. We use this tune for questions answered with “yes” or “no” (that
is, polar questions).
Examples:
I. Have you finished your assignment?
II. Is Joy coming with us?
III. Did you all come to school on time?
IV. Are we finishing early today?
V. Did you eat last night?
VI. Will Monday be good for it?
The rising tune is sometimes used to achieve a special effect or to convey a speaker’s
attitude. When a special effect is intended, the rise in pitch may be gradual. The following
sentences illustrate a few situations where the gradual rise in pitch is useful.
A. Utterances showing Indifference
I. You can do what you want.
II. If you want to.
III. I think that’s right.
B. Listing Items
I. One, two, three and four.
II. We need some rice, beans, fish and meat.
III. She wore a cap, shirt, bangles and a pair of trousers.
CONTRAST BETWEEN RISING AND FALLING TUNES

The following examples illustrate the contrast between rising and falling tunes
I. Can you tell me the way to the market? (Rising Tune)
II. You can tell me the way to the market. (Falling Tune)
III. Is this the way to the market? ( Rising Tune)
IV. Which is the way to the market? (Falling Tune)
EVALUATION: Oral English for Schools and Colleges by Sam Onuigbo; Exercises 6.4.1 a (1-
15); page 99.
ASPECT: Structure
TOPIC: DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
Direct speech means the exact speech or sentence of a particular speaker. This means that if a
person says something, we say or write exactly the same words he used. It also means that we are
quoting the speaker.
Examples:
1. The boy likes me much.
Direct speech-He said, ‘The boy likes me much’.
2. How many of us are invited?
Direct speech – He asked, ‘How many of us are invited?’
3. Go out immediately.
Direct Speech – He ordered me, ‘Go out immediately.’
Please note that direct speeches are always in quotation marks.
INDIRECT SPEECH
This is also called reported speech. It means what the speaker says is reported.
Examples:
i. The boy likes me much. Indirect Speech- He said that the boy liked him much.
ii. How many of us are invited? Indirect Speech – He asked them how many of them were
invited.
iii. Go out immediately. Indirect Speech – He ordered me to go out at once.
iv. Can you swim for ten hours non-stop? Indirect Speech – He asked me if I could swim for
ten hours nonstop.
Changing of Sentences from Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
Rules of Indirect Speech

a. After mentioning the speaker (subject) and the verb, the reported speech is introduced
with the conjunction ‘that’ where appropriate.
b. All the verbs in the present tense in a quotation must be changed to past tense, e.g. says
to said, has to had, is to was, can to could, may to might, shall to should, will to would;
but the verb must not be changed if it expresses a permanent truth or customary fact,
e.g. He said that the world is round.
All pronouns must be changed to the third person, e.g. I to he/she; me to him/her, we to they, our
to their.
c. All words of nearness must be changed to corresponding words of remoteness e.g. now
to then, here to there, this to that, these to those, yesterday to the previous day,
tomorrow to the next day, last week to the previous week and next year to the
following year.
Note very carefully how the rules are applied in the following examples:
1. Direct Speech: Akin said, ‘I can do it now’.
Indirect Speech: Akin said that he could do it then.
2. Direct Speech: Ladi remarked, ‘My team wins this year.’
Indirect Speech: Ladi remarked that his team won that year.
3. Direct Speech: She said, The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
Indirect Speech: She said that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
4. A command can be reported with one of the following verbs: told, commanded, ordered
or instructed; e.g.
(a) Direct Speech: The tutor said “stop talking”.
(b) Indirect Speech: One of the following:
I. The tutor told the student to stop talking.
II. The tutor commanded the student to stop talking.
III. The tutor ordered the student to stop talking.
IV. The tutor instructed the student to stop talking.
5. A question can be reported with the use of one of the following: asked of, asked if,
asked whether, inquired whether or requested to know;e.g.
a) Direct Speech: The man asked, “Can you come tomorrow?”
b) Indirect Speech: One of the following:
i. The man asked if I could come the next day.
ii. The man asked whether I could come the next day.
iii. The man inquired whether I could come the next day.
EVALUATION
A. Turn the following sentences to reported speech:
1. The boy said, “I will do it tomorrow".
2. The student said, “My tutor has a round table.”
3. He asked, “What is your name?”
4. The tutor said, “go out.”
5. She asked, “Have you paid your fees?”
B. Turn the following sentences to direct speech:

1. Olu asked of where I went the previous day.
2. The tutor ordered her to stand up.
3. She begged the tutor to allow her to stay in the class.
4. Bako promised to see me that day.
5. The tutor instructed us to do the work the next day.
ASPECT: Comprehension
TOPIC: Mass Media
Skimming and scanning are useful reading techniques that allow you to read quickly by picking
out main points. As you skim and scan through this passage, you’ll discover and provide answers
to these questions;
I. What have parents become concerned about recently?
II. When does propaganda perform a useful function?
III. How do the mass media influence public opinion?
IV. Do the viewers and listeners always change their opinions after listening to political
broadcasts?
EVALUATION: Intensive English for JSS2; Exercise 17.2.1; pages 191-193.

ASSIGNMENT: Intensive English for JSS2; Exercises 17.2.2, 17.2.3 and 17.3.4; pages 193-
199.
ASPECT: Composition
TOPIC: STORY WRITING
Write a story which ends with the words: I wish I had told the truth at the beginning.
You may use these guidelines to write an imaginary story or a story you have been told by
someone else.
 Write the title in capital letter and do not underline it.
 Explain what you did wrong in paragraph 1.
 Explain how people got to know the wrong you did in paragraph 2.
 Explain one consequence you suffered because of the wrong you did in paragraph 3.
 Explain the reasons why you currently regret not telling the truth at the beginning in
paragraphs 4 and 5.
ASPECT: Literature
Reading of the recommended text. (Students should be made to read the recommended text
while the teacher explains).

Direct and Indirect Speech

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Direct and Indirect Speech

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Direct and Indirect Speech

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

WEEK: 9

ASPECT: Speech work

CONTRAST BETWEEN RISING AND FALLING TUNES

Rules of Indirect Speech

B. Turn the following sentences to direct speech:

EVALUATION: Intensive English for JSS2; Exercise 17.2.1; pages 191-193.

You might also like