Direct and indirect speech

15.1 Direct speech 15.1 A Quotation marks and other punctuation marks [> LEG 15.1-3]

We use the term direct speech to describe the way we represent the spoken word in writing. We punctuate the four types of sentence [> 1 1B] by putting quotation marks (also called inverted commas) outside all other punctuation marks, such as commas (,), full stops (.), and exclamation marks (!). Quotation marks may be single ('...') or double ("..."). We put them at the beginning and end of each quotation, high above the base-line. We don't use dashes * - * or chevrons ['ʃevr(ə)n] шеврон *<... >* to punctuate direct speech. We use only one question mark or exclamation mark at the end of a question or exclamation:

statement: 'The shops close at 7 tonight.' or: "The shops close at 7 tonight."

question: 'Do the shops close at 7 tonight?' or: "Do the shops close at 7 tonight?"

command: 'Shut the window!' or: "Shut the window!"

exclamation: 'What a slow train this is!' or' "What a slow train this is!"

 

Write: Add correct punctuation marks to these examples of direct speech.

1 John's in a hurry

2 Have you been out

3 Where are my glasses

4 What a surprise

5 How are you

6 It's unbelievable

7 There's someone at the door

8 What a noise

9 When did you arrive

10 Tell me what happened

11 Don't shout at me

12 Have a cup of coffee

13 How do you like your coffee

14 Have you met Jean

15 Keep quiet

16 Stop

17 Are you all right

18 I'm waiting for a bus

19 Here's a letter for you

20 Haven't we met before

15.1 B Quotation marks and 'reporting verbs' [> LEG 15.1-3]

1 When we show direct speech in writing, we often use reporting verbs like say, tell and ask.

What is said, plus reporting verb and its subject, is a whole unit of meaning.

2 When the subject + reporting verb comes at the beginning of a sentence, we put a comma after the reporting verb (sometimes a colon (:) in American English) and we begin the quotation with a capital letter: John said, 'We’re late.' (Not *John said, 'we're late. '*)

3 When the subject + reporting verb comes after what is said, we put a comma before the second quotation mark: 'We're late,’ John said. or: 'We're late,’ he said. (Not *'We're late', John said. *)

4 If we end a quotation with a question mark or an exclamation mark, we do not use a comma as well: 'Where can I get a taxi?’ John asked. (Not 'taxi,?*) 'What a surprise!' John exclaimed.

5 Subject + verb can come in the middle of a quotation-sentence: 'Where, in this wretched (['reʧid] нещасний, жалюгідний) town,' John asked, ‘can I get a taxi?' (Not *... asked, 'Can") The second part of the quotation does not begin with a capital letter because it is not a separate sentence.

 

Write: Add single quotation marks and other punctuation marks to these examples.

1 Where do you come from John asked

2 It's here Bill said

3 I've got a good idea Mark said

4 Is it something she asked that we all ought to know

5 As I was leaving he explained I heard

someone shout

6 Don't shout at me he cried

7 John said We're late

8 We're late John said

9 What's the time Andrew asked

10 Bill said I'm hungry

11 What is it Jill asked

12 You are stupid sometimes she said

13 Where is he Tom asked

14 What a surprise she exclaimed

15 Is there anyone in she inquired

16 Which way did they go he asked

17 Tom said She's ill

18 She's ill Tom said

 

15.1C 'Quote within a quote' [> LEG 15.3ns.3,5]

1 If we are quoting someone else's words inside a quotation, we use a second set of quotation marks. If we have used single quotation marks on the 'outside', we use double ones on the 'inside' and vice-versa. The inside quotation has its own punctuation, distinct from the rest of the sentence: Ann said, 'Just as I was leaving, a voice shouted, " Stop!". 'What do you mean, "Are you all right? "?' Ann asked.

2 We can also use a second set of quotation marks when we mention the title of e.g. a book or a film:

'How long did it take you to read "War and Peace"?' I asked.

3 We don't normally use quotation marks with verbs like think and wonder.

So that was their little game, he thought. Why hasn't she written, he wondered.

 

Write: Add correct punctuation marks to these examples of direct speech.

1 As I was leaving, he explained someone shouted Fire

2 Please don't keep asking me What's the time Jim said crossly (angrily)

3 Have you read Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf my teacher asked

4 What do you mean Have you lost your way the stranger asked me

5 Where are they now he wondered

 

15.1 D Context. Write: In printed dialogue, each new speech begins on a new line in a new paragraph. Punctuate the following.