Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
Have you ever been told to “take the direct approach?” When it comes to communication, this is often sound advice. However, there are times when taking the direct approach can be a little too blunt – especially if your message isn’t well-received by the other person. In these cases, using indirect speech can be a more tactful way to get your point across. But what is Indirect Speech? And how can you use it effectively in your own conversations? Read on for answers to these questions and more!
Speech in English
Speech in the English language is of two types- Direct and Indirect. In this lesson, we will be discussing what indirect speech is with examples.
Direct Speech: When a person speaks his/her words directly without any change in the sentence, it is called direct speech. For example,
“I am going to the market”.
Here, the speaker’s words are directly quoted and there is no change in the sentence.
Indirect Speech: Indirect speech is a method of reporting or reproducing someone else’s words, usually in a less blunt or more formal way. It is also known as reported speech. For example,
He said that he was going to the market.
Here, the speaker’s words are indirectly quoted and there is a change in the sentence.
When to use Indirect Speech?
There are many reasons why you might want to use indirect speech in your writing. It is used mainly in journalistic speech and writing when someone reports an incident or someone’s words.
Again, if you’re trying to be less blunt or confrontational, if you want to avoid hurting someone’s feelings, or if you’re not sure how the other person will react to what you have to say.
Indirect speech is a way of saying what you mean in a less direct, more polite or less confrontational way. It’s a way of communicating with others that can help to avoid misunderstandings and conflict.
Indirect Speech: Examples
– She said that she was sorry.
– I told Bikash to come late as I was busy.
– You asked me if I could turn the volume on.
– I requested Mr Sharma to help me.
– My grandmother asked me if I was coming the day before.
When to use direct Speech?
If you are conveying your own view about something and want to be very clear, then it’s best to use direct speech. For example, if you’re giving a presentation and want to make sure no one misinterprets what you’re saying, it’s best to use direct speech.
Direct Speech: Examples
– I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
– Oh, I see you’re busy. I’ll come back later.
– Would you mind turning down the music? It’s kind of loud.
– Can you please pass the salt?
– Do you think you could help me with this heavy box?
How to Convert Direct Speech into Indirect Speech?
Now that we know when to use indirect speech, let’s learn how to convert direct speech into it. The first step is to identify the speaker and the context of the conversation. Once you know who is speaking, you can change the direct speech into indirect speech.
For example, let’s say – “I love you.” The direct speech would be “I love you.” However, in indirect speech, it would be – I told my partner that I loved him/her.
As you can see, the first step is to identify the speaker.
The second step is to identify the context of the conversation. In this case, the speaker is telling this to his/her partner.
The third and final step is to change the direct speech into indirect speech. This can be done by using a variety of verbs such as said, told, asked, answered, and exclaimed with a careful eye on the tense used.
Conclusion
Indirect speech can be a powerful tool to make your writing less blunt and more diplomatic. By converting direct statements into less confrontational indirect ones, you can avoid alienating your readers and maintain better relationships with them. It’s important to remember that there is no one right way to speak indirectly – it depends on the context and the situation. However, following these tips should give you a good starting point for crafting polite, professional communications.
