When you’re telling someone about a conversation you had earlier, you’re probably using indirect discourse—even if you didn’t know it!

This blog will break down what indirect discourse is, how it works, and how you can use it confidently.

What is Indirect Discourse?

Indirect discourse, also known as reported speech, involves conveying what someone else said without using their precise words. We have two ways to report speech or thoughts: direct and indirect.

♥ Direct speech: She said, “I love pizza.”
♥ Indirect speech: She said that she loved pizza.

Notice how indirect speech doesn’t use quotation marks and changes some words to fit the new sentence. Let’s explore their differences and how to use them effectively.

Related Reading: Using Subordinate Clauses Like a Pro

Direct Quotations

A direct quotation gives the exact words spoken or thought, just as they were originally expressed.

Examples:

♦  I replied, “I am sorry to hear it.”
♦ “From now on,” he explained, “I will visit on Tuesdays.”
♦ “You have to see California,” she insisted.
♦ “Elizabeth doesn’t live here anymore,” he said.
♦ “I know nothing about it,” the witness replied.
♦ “Where,” I wondered, “is the crew?”

Key Features of Direct Quotations:
♥ They begin with a capital letter.
♥ They are enclosed in quotation marks.
♥ They preserve the original wording of the speech or thought.

Indirect Quotations

An indirect quotation summarizes or restates what someone said or thought. It usually changes the wording slightly but keeps the meaning the same.

Examples:

♦ I replied that I was sorry to hear it.
♦ He explained that he would visit on Tuesdays from now on.
♦ She insisted that I had to see California.

Key Features of Indirect Quotations:
♥ They don’t use quotation marks.
♥ They usually begin with a small letter (unless they start a new sentence).
♥ Statements are introduced with the word “that.”

Differences Between Direct and Indirect Quotations

Key Changes in Indirect Discourse

When switching from direct to indirect discourse, there are some important changes to keep in mind:

Pronoun Shifts

You change the pronouns to match the perspective of the speaker.

Examples:

♦ Direct: “I need help,” she said.
♦ Indirect: She said that she needed help.

Here, “I” becomes “she.”

Verb Tense Changes

The verb tense often changes to reflect that the statement happened in the past. This is called the sequence of tenses.

However, general truths or universal facts stay in the present tense, even in indirect discourse.

Examples:

♦ Direct: “Air is a gas.”
♦ Indirect: I told him that air is a gas.
♦ Indirect: I had told him a hundred times that air is a gas.

So, the key is that when you’re reporting something that happened in the past, you often shift the verb tense, but facts that are always true stay the same.

Time and Place Words

Words like “today,” “now,” or “here” change to fit the new timeline or location.

Examples:

♦ Direct: “I’ll meet you tomorrow.”
♦ Indirect: She said that she would meet me the next day.

Punctuation Differences

In indirect speech, you don’t use quotation marks. Instead, you introduce the statement with words like “that,” “if,” or “to.”

♦ Example: If I had known about the meeting, I would have attended.

Types of Indirect Discourse

Let’s look at the three main types of indirect speech:

Statements

You report what someone said.

Examples:

♦ Direct: “I love this book,” she said.
♦ Indirect: She said that she loved that book.

Questions

For yes/no questions, use “if” or “whether.” For WH-questions, keep the question word but adjust the sentence structure.

Examples:

♦ Yes/No Question:
Direct: “Are you coming?”
Indirect: He asked if I was coming.

♦ WH-Question:
Direct: “Where is she?”
Indirect: He asked where she was.

A WH-question is a type of question that begins with a word containing “wh,” such as what, where, when, who, whom, which, whose, why, or how (though “how” is an exception to the “wh” spelling). These words are used to ask for specific information, rather than a simple yes/no answer.

Commands and Requests

Use “to” with the verb when reporting a command or a polite request.

Examples:

♦ Direct: “Turn off the lights,” she said.
♦ Indirect: She told me to turn off the lights.

♦ Direct: “Don’t leave,” he said.
♦ Indirect: He told me not to leave.

Using Indirect Discourse

When you’re talking about something someone said, you can use their words as a noun. These clauses can have different jobs in a sentence.

Object

As the object of a verb: after verbs like “say,” “think,” or “believe“).

♦ Example: He said that the box was empty. (The clause answers “What did he say?”)

Subject

As the subject of a sentence. This structure can sound formal or heavy, so it’s less commonly used.

♦ Example: That the box was empty was all he could say. (The clause acts as the subject of the sentence.)

Predicate Nominative

As a predicate nominative renaming or describing the subject after a linking verb.

♦ Example: My remark was that the bill is a menace. (The clause explains “My remark.”)

Appositive

As an appositive – restating or explaining a noun

♦ Example: Your remark, that the bill is a menace, has caused vigorous protest. (The clause explains “Your remark.”)

By recognizing these roles, you can better understand how indirect discourse fit into sentences!

Additional Factors

What are some of the other factors that affect indirect discourse?

Infinitive Phrase

Sometimes you can switch a “that” clause in indirect speech with an infinitive phrase.

♦ Example: The jury declared him to be innocent. (Compare: The jury declared that he was innocent.)
♦ Example: Morton admitted them to be counterfeit. (Compare: Morton admitted that they were counterfeit.)

In these examples, him and them are the subjects of the infinitives (to be innocent and to be counterfeit), not the objects of the verbs (declared and admitted). This structure simplifies the sentence while keeping the meaning intact.

Passive Voice

Three constructions arise when the verbs “tell” or “think” are in the passive voice.

1. A clause with that is used as the subject of the passive verb.

♦ Example: That Roger desires the office is commonly known.

2. The expletive it is used as the grammatical subject, and a that-clause follows the passive verb.

♦ Example: That Roger desires the office is commonly known.

3. The subject of the that-clause becomes the subject of the passive verb, and an infinitive replaces the verb of the clause.

♦ Example: That Roger desires the office is commonly known.

The first structure can feel awkward and is less common so people prefer the second and third structures for clarity and ease of reading.

To Explain or Support

People often use a noun clause starting with that to explain or support the statement after expressions like it seems, it is true, it is evident, and similar phrases

Examples:

♦ It seems that Robert has lost all his money.
♦ It is true that genius does not always bring happiness.
♦ It is evident that Pyra tells the truth.

Omitting That

We often omit the conjunction that.

♦ Example: Jack said [that] he was sorry.
♦ Example: I hope [that] you can come.

Using Should, Would, Shall and Will

Basically, when you’re talking about something someone else said, the rules for “shall,” “will,” “should,” and “would,” are the same as if they said it directly, with one big difference:

Key Rule

If you say “I will” or “I should,” (first person) and someone else talks about what you said, they still use “shall” or “should.”

Why This Happens

In indirect speech, the second or third person in the indirect version (e.g., “you” or “he”) still represents the original first person (e.g., “I”) from the direct speech. As a result, we keep shall or should.

Change in Tense

When shifting from says (present tense) to said (past tense) in indirect discourse, shall becomes should as part of normal tense changes.

Exception to the Rule

If following the usual rule would result in using I will or I would to express simple futurity in the first person, you must instead use shall or should.

Examples:

♦ Direct: John says, “If you fall overboard, you will drown.”
♦ Indirect: John tells me that, if I fall overboard, I shall drown (Not “will,” because “shall” expresses simple futurity for the first person.)

Auxiliary Verb

In indirect discourse, keep the auxiliary verb (shall, will, should, would) from the direct speech, and only change its tense if needed. However, if this would lead to using I will or I would to express simple futurity, switch to I shall or I should instead.

This ensures the sentence maintains the correct meaning and tone.

Related Reading: Exploring Adverbs: Types, Examples, and Uses 

Key Takeaways

1. Avoid Quotation Marks: Quotation marks are only used in direct discourse. Indirect discourse integrates speech into the narrative.
2. Shift Tenses Appropriately: In indirect discourse, shift present tense to past tense when the reporting verb is in the past.
3. Keep General Truths in the Present Tense: Universal facts don’t change tense.
4. Adjust Pronouns to Match Perspective: Change pronouns to fit the speaker’s point of view:
5. Modify Time and Place Words: Words like today and here need to shift based on context.

6. Handle Questions Carefully: For yes/no questions, use if or whether; For WH-questions, keep the question word.
7. Adapt Commands and Requests: Use to with the verb to report commands; Use not to for negative commands:
8. Be Mindful of Passive Voice: In passive constructions, you can use it is reported or he is said to.
9. Know When to Use Infinitive Clauses: Replace a that-clause with an infinitive when the subject of the clause remains the same:
10. Choose the Right Reporting Verb: Use precise verbs like said, claimed, asked, suggested, explained, or admitted to convey the speaker’s tone or intent.

Last Words on Indirect Discourse

Now you know you use indirect discourse every day without even realizing it!

In fiction writing, it makes dialogue flow naturally. In speaking, it helps when you’re summarizing conversations or sharing news. Remember the key changes—pronouns, tenses, and time words—and you’ll be on your way.

Happy writing!

Linda

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