Understanding Direct and Indirect Discourse
* Direct Discourse: Reports speech exactly as it was spoken, using quotation marks. Example: "What is your favorite color?" she asked.
* Indirect Discourse: Reports speech indirectly, using a reporting verb (e.g., ask, wonder, inquire) and changing the sentence structure. Example: She asked what my favorite color was.
Steps for Changing Direct to Indirect Questions
1. Introduce a Reporting Verb: Choose a suitable verb that indicates the type of question (e.g., ask, inquire, wonder, want to know).
2. Change the Word Order:
* Remove the question mark.
* In most cases, invert the subject-verb order in the original question.
3. Use a Conjunction: Use a conjunction like "if," "whether," or "that" to introduce the indirect question.
4. Adjust Pronouns and Verb Tense:
* Pronouns may need to be changed to reflect the new perspective.
* Verb tenses might need adjusting depending on the context.
Examples:
Direct: "Are you going to the party?" he asked.
Indirect: He asked if I was going to the party.
Direct: "What time does the movie start?" she inquired.
Indirect: She inquired what time the movie started.
Direct: "Can you help me with this?" she wanted to know.
Indirect: She wanted to know if I could help her with that.
Special Cases
* Yes/No Questions: In indirect discourse, "yes/no" questions typically use "if" or "whether."
* Wh- Questions: "Wh-" questions (who, what, when, where, why, how) usually retain their original word order.
* Embedded Questions: Indirect questions can be embedded within a larger sentence, making them part of a clause.
Remember: The goal is to convey the original meaning while using indirect reporting. Think about the context and the intended meaning to choose the most appropriate reporting verb and sentence structure.