Indirect Speech
Reported or indirect speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we normally change the tense of the words spoken. We use reporting verbs like ‘say’, ‘tell’, ‘ask’, and we may use the word ‘that’ to introduce the reported words. Inverted commas are not used.
She said, “I saw him.” (direct speech) = She said that she had seen him. (indirect speech)
‘That’ may be omitted:
She told him that she was happy. = She told him she was happy.
‘SAY’ AND ‘TELL’
Use ‘say’ when there is no indirect object:
He said that he was tired.- Он сказал, что устал.
Always use ‘tell’ when you say who was being spoken to (i.e. with an indirect object):
He told me that he was tired.- Он сказал мне, что он устал.
‘TALK’ AND ‘SPEAK’
Use these verbs to describe the action of communicating:
He talked to us.- Он говорил с нами.
She was speaking on the telephone.- Она разговаривала по телефону.
Use these verbs with ‘about’ to refer to what was said:
He talked (to us) about his parents.- Он говорил (нам) о своих родителях.
