sentences.
6
Cook and Suter state that grammar used a writer description of the rules of the language and a set of rules by which people speak and write.
7
Moreover, Burton says that grammar is not a collection of hard and fast rules. It is more flexible and, therefore, more useful than the rule itself.
8
From several definitions above, it can be concluded that grammar is the study about rules how words change their form and are combined into
good sentences. It becomes a guide in order that every word can be understandable, and also grammar can represent someone’s knowledge in
interaction with other people.
B. Reported Speech
1.
The Kinds of Speech
When reporting someone’s words or thoughts, there are two ways that can be used; by quoting the exact words or thoughts of a speaker which is
called as direct speech or by quoting the speaker’s words or thoughts but not all
of that speaker’s exact words or thoughts which is called as indirect speech or reported speech.
a. Direct Speech
Direct speech or quoted speech quotes the exact words or thoughts of a speaker.
9
Quoted speech refers to reproducing a speaker’s exact words. Quotation marks are used.
10
In direct speech people repeat the original speaker’s exact word:
He said, „I have lost my umbrella.’
6
A. S Hornby, Oxford A dvanced Learner’s Dictionary, Editor Jonathan Crowther Oxford
University Press, 5
th
ed, p. 517.
7
Stanley J. Cook and Richard W. Stanley and Suter, The Scope of Grammar New York: Mc. Graw-Hill Book Company, 1986, p. 2.
8
S. H Burton, Mastering English Language, London: Longman, 1982, p. 1.
9
Jay Maurer, Focus on Grammar; An Advance Course for Reference and Practice, New York: Pearson Education, 2000, 2
nd
ed, p. 451.
10
Betty Schrampfer Azar, Fundamentals of English Grammar, New Jersey: Prentice- Hall, 1985, p. 290
Remarks thus repeated are placed between inverted commas, and a comma or colon is placed immediately before the remark. Direct speech is
found in conversation in books, in plays, and in quotations.
11
In direct speech, quotation marks surround the quotation. The reporting verb, such as said, told, or responded, is followed by a comma if
it introduces the quotation. Quotation marks come after a final period, question mark, or exclamation point. Examples:
“Taylor said, “Mom, I want to keep going to public school.” statement. Marie asked Chuck,
“Can we afford to send Taylor to a private school?” question. Taylor said
to Chuck and Marie, “I won’t go” exclamation”
12
If reporting statement comes after the quotation, a comma follows the last word of the quotation, and the second set of quotation marks
comes after comma. A period ends the sentence. Example: ““I don’t want
to go to a private school,” Taylor said”.
13
It uses quotation marks when it quotes direct speech. Single quotation marks
„...’ are more common in British English, and double quotation marks
“...” in American English.
14
From explanations above, it can be concluded that direct speech or quoted speech is a way to represent someone’s words or thoughts by
quoting the exact words or thoughts that is indicated by single quotation marks „…’ or double quotation marks “…” surround the quotation.
Direct speech can be started by reporting statement which is followed by comma and the quotation which is surrounded by quotation marks. On the
other way, reporting statement comes after the quotation, a comma follows the last word of the quotation, and the second set of quotation marks
comes after comma.
b. Indirect Speech
Indirect speech or reported speech reports the words or thoughts
11
A. J Thompson and A. V Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, New York: Oxford University Press, 1986, 4
th
ed, p. 269.
12
Maurer, loc. cit.
13
Ibid.
of a speaker and contains most but not all of that speaker’s exact words or
thoughts.
15
Reported speech refers to reproducing the idea of a speaker’s words. Not all of the speaker’s exact words are used: verb forms and
pronouns may change. Quotation marks are not used.
16
In Cambridge dictionary, Reported Speech is defined as the act of reporting something that was said, but not using exactly the same words.
17
A.J. Thompson and A.V. Martinet stated in A Practical English Grammar
