Chapter LXII: Direct and Indirect Discourse

=254.= In the sentence,—Ruth said, “_I like your cake_,” we have a =direct quotation=, the exact words spoken by Ruth. A direct quotation is often called =direct discourse=.

In the sentence,—_Ruth said that she liked my cake_, we have an =indirect quotation= containing the substance, or thought, of Ruth’s remark, but not her exact words. An indirect quotation is often called =indirect discourse=.

=255.= In changing from direct to indirect discourse, we are likely to make a change in personal pronouns, as well as in the tense of verbs. An indirect quotation usually takes the form of a dependent clause beginning with the word _that_. If the verb of saying that usually precedes an indirect quotation is in the present tense, then the verb in the quotation is likely to be in the present or the future tense; but if the verb of saying is in the past tense, then the verb in the quotation is likely to be in the past tense; as,

Father _says_ that he _is_ on the jury.

Father _said_ that he _was_ on the jury.

Can you account for the tense of the verb in the indirect quotation in this sentence,—Somebody once said that the pen is mightier than the sword?

=256.= When a direct quotation containing the word _shall_ is changed to an indirect quotation, _shall_ is retained if the verb of saying preceding the quotation is in the present tense; but if this verb is in the past tense, then _shall_ is changed to _should_. In like manner _will_ is changed to _would_; as,—

Mother says, “I shall be voting soon.”

Mother says that she shall be voting soon.

Mother said that she should be voting soon.

Mother says, “I will make him a pillow.”

Mother says that she will make him a pillow.

Mother said that she would make him a pillow.

=257.= If a direct quotation is a question, it becomes an indirect question when changed to indirect discourse; as,—

He asked, “Why do you tremble so?”

He asked me why I trembled so.

=258.= A command may be changed from direct to indirect discourse; as,—

Christ said, “Love your enemies.”

Christ said that we should love our enemies.

=Exercise 1.=—Account for the use of _shall_, _will_, _should_, and _would_ in the following sentences:—

1. The teacher said, “I shall be pleased to go.”

2. The teacher said that she should be pleased to go.

3. Aunt Elsie said, “I will tell you the story to-morrow.”

4. Aunt Elsie said that she would tell us the story to-morrow.

5. The principal said, “You shall have no recess to-day.”

6. The principal said that we should have no recess to-day.

7. Mother said, “You will be late.”

8. Mother said that I should be late.

9. The mayor said, “The matter shall be investigated.”

10. The mayor said that the matter should be investigated.

11. The director said, “The celebration will be on Tuesday.”

12. The director said that the celebration would be on Tuesday.

13. The teacher said, “David and Harry shall not take part.”

14. David and Harry, the teacher said that you should not take
part.

15. The boys said, “David and Harry will be sorry.”

16. David and Harry, the boys said that you would be sorry.

=Exercise 2.=—Change the following sentences from direct to indirect discourse:—

1. Longfellow said, “Life is real, life is earnest.”

2. John wrote, “I know that Shep will give you a warm welcome
when you come.”

3. The lawyer demanded, “Mr. Christoff, what have you done with
the company’s books?”

4. The Bible says, “Give to him that asketh.”

5. Patrick Henry asked, “When shall we be stronger?”

6. The eloquent speaker said, “The declaration of our
independence will strengthen us at home, and give us character
abroad.”

7. The great orator declared, “If we fail, it can be no worse
for us. But we shall not fail. The cause will raise up armies.”

8. He admitted, “We may not live to the time when this
declaration shall be made good.”

9. Then he uttered this prophecy: “This declaration must cost
treasure, and it may cost blood; but it will stand, and it will
richly compensate for both.”

10. Every listener was moved when the statesman said, “If it
be the pleasure of Heaven that my country shall require the
poor offering of my life, the victim shall be ready at the
appointed hour of sacrifice.”

11. His closing words were these: “All that I have, and all
that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready
here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I began, that live or
die, survive or perish, I am for the declaration.”

=Exercise 3.=—Make the following sentences clear by changing them from indirect to direct discourse:—

1. The teacher told Mrs. Gray that her little girl lost the
report she had given her.

2. Jennie told Ada that her mother was willing that she should
go to the concert with her and her brother.

3. Bertrand told George that he ought to sell his sailboat and
buy his launch.

4. The teachers asked the young men why they had made such a
disturbance in the corridor when they had forbidden them to
congregate there.