What is the tree diagram for an indirect speech?

There isn't a single "tree diagram" specifically for indirect speech, as the structure of the sentence will vary depending on the original direct speech. However, we can illustrate the general process of transforming direct speech into indirect speech using a simplified tree diagram.

Here's a breakdown:

1. Original Direct Speech:

```

-------

| |

NP VP

| |

John said

"I am happy"

```

2. Transformation:

* Change the tense: If the direct speech is in the present tense, we usually shift it to the past tense in indirect speech.

* Change pronouns: Pronouns need to be adjusted to reflect the perspective of the reported speech.

* Add reporting verb: A reporting verb like "said," "told," or "asked" is used to introduce the indirect speech.

3. Indirect Speech:

```

-------

| |

NP VP

| |

John said

that he was happy

```

Explanation:

* "John" remains the subject of the sentence.

* "Said" is the reporting verb.

* "That" acts as a conjunction introducing the indirect speech.

* "He" replaces "I" to match the perspective of the report.

* "Was happy" reflects the past tense shift from "am happy."

Important Notes:

* This is a simplified example. The actual transformation will depend on the specific tense, pronouns, and context of the direct speech.

* There are other ways to represent sentence structures, such as dependency trees, which might be more suitable for complex indirect speech examples.

Feel free to provide a specific example of direct speech, and I can create a more detailed tree diagram for you.