Quando falamos o que disse, conta, pedi, pergunta um a outra pessoa existe duas maneiras:
O discurso direto em inglês, chamado de direct speech – repete-se ao pé da letra a fala da pessoa. Consiste em períodos simples.
O discurso indireto em inglês, chamado de indirect speech ou reported speech – relata-se com as nossas palavras o que a pessoa falou. Consiste em período composto.
Exemplo:
Direct Speech - Kitty said, I’m very happy. (Kitty disse, eu estou muito feliz.)
Indirect Speech - Kitty said that she was very happy. (Kitty disse que estava muito feliz.)
Algumas sugestões que devem ser usadas para a transformação e formação dos discursos diretos e indiretos:
| DIRECT SPEECH | INDIRECT SPEECH |
|---|---|
| Simple present | Simple past |
| Simple past | Past perfect |
| Present perfect | Past perfect |
| Simple future | Conditional |
| Imperative | Infinitive |
Exemplos: Mary said, I study every day. (simple present) Mary disse, estudo todo dia.
Mary said (that) she studied every Day. (simple past) Mary disse que estudava todo dia.
Susan said, I studied yesterday. (simple past) Susan disse, (eu) estudei ontem.
Susan said (that) she had studied the day before. (past perfect) Susan disse que tinha estudado no dia anterior.
Leo said, I have studied. (present perfect) Leo disse, eu tenho estudado.
Tobby said, I will study tomorrow. (simple future) Tobby disse, estudarei amanhã.
Tobby said (that) he would study in the following day. (conditional) Tobby disse que estudaria no dia seguinte.
Carol said to him, study hard. (imperative) Carol disse a ele, estude bastante.
Carol told him to study hard. (infinitive) Carol disse a ele para estudar bastante.
| DIRECT SPEECH | INDIRECT SPEECH |
|---|---|
| Can | Could |
| May | Might |
| Must | Had to |
| Should | Should |
| Ought | Ought |
Liz said, I can go. / Liz said (that) she could go.
Jane said, I may go. / Jane said (that) she might go.
Paul said, I must go. / Paul said (that) he had to go.
John said, I should go. / John said (that) he should go.
She said, I ought to go. / She said (that) she ought go.