Using Direct and indirect speech Structure English Grammar Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Lesson Plan: English Grammar – Primary 5 First Term

Subject: English Grammar

Class: Primary 5

Term: First Term

Week: 6

Age: 9 years

Topic: Structure: Using Direct and Indirect Speech

Sub-topic: Identifying and Changing Direct Speech to Reported Speech

Duration: 60 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Identify sentences in reported speech.
2. Change direct speech to reported speech and vice versa.
3. Criticize different sentences to discover the basic rules guiding the change of direct speech to reported speech.

Keywords: Direct Speech, Reported Speech, Quotation Marks, Reporting Verbs, Speech Bubbles

Set Induction:
The teacher will start by asking pupils to share what they said to their friends or family in the past week and how they think those words might be reported to someone else. This introduces the concept of direct and reported speech.

Entry Behaviour:
Pupils have a basic understanding of sentences and can identify quotations and speech bubbles.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Flashcards with examples of direct and reported speech.
• Worksheets for practice exercises.
• Whiteboard and markers.

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:
The teacher will connect the lesson to previous knowledge about sentences and quotations, explaining that reported speech is a way to convey what someone else has said without using their exact words.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Analytical skills in identifying and changing speech forms.
• Communication skills in reporting speech accurately.

Learning Materials:

• Flashcards
• Worksheets
• Sentence strips

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Primary English Textbook

Instructional Materials:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Flashcards with examples
• Worksheets for practice

Content

1. Definition of Direct and Reported Speech:
   • Direct Speech: The exact words spoken by someone, enclosed in quotation marks.
     • Example: She said, “I am going to the market.”
   • Reported Speech: Paraphrasing what someone has said, without quotation marks, often using reporting verbs like “said” or “told.”
     • Example: She said that she was going to the market.
2. Changing Direct Speech to Reported Speech:
   • Steps:
     • Remove quotation marks.
     • Change the pronouns and verb tenses if needed.
     • Use a reporting verb such as “said” or “told.”
     • Example: “I will call you later,” he said. → He said that he would call me later.
3. Changing Reported Speech to Direct Speech:
   • Steps:
     • Add quotation marks around the spoken words.
     • Adjust the pronouns and verb tenses back to the original.
     • Example: She said that she was tired. → “I am tired,” she said.
4. Basic Rules for Changing Direct Speech to Reported Speech:
   • Change the verb tense (e.g., present simple to past simple).
     • Example: “I eat breakfast” → He said that he ate breakfast.
   • Change pronouns to match the reporting sentence.
     • Example: “I will see you” → She said that she would see me.
   • Remove quotation marks and add “that” (optional).
     • Example: “We are leaving now” → They said (that) they were leaving then.
5. Criticizing Sentences to Discover Rules:
   • Review ten example sentences to identify errors or correct usage in changing between direct and reported speech.
     • Example: Direct: “I have finished my homework,” she said. Reported: She said that she has finished her homework. (Incorrect: should be “had finished”)

Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words by using quotation marks.

Indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words, usually with a change in pronouns, tenses, and word order.

Direct speech is structured with the exact words spoken by a person, enclosed in quotation marks. It replicates the original words spoken and is often used when reporting someone’s speech or conversation directly. For example:

John said, “I will come to the party.”

In this sentence, “I will come to the party” is in direct speech, and it is presented within quotation marks to show that these are John’s exact words.

Evaluation

1. What is direct speech? a) Replicating the original words spoken b) Changing the words spoken c) Omitting the words spoken d) Ignoring the words spoken
2. How is direct speech usually presented? a) Without quotation marks b) In italics c) Within quotation marks d) In bold text
3. When is direct speech commonly used? a) When you want to change the words spoken b) When you want to omit the words spoken c) When you want to replicate the original words spoken d) When you want to ignore the words spoken
4. In the sentence, “She exclaimed, ‘What a surprise!'”, what is in direct speech? a) “She exclaimed” b) “What a surprise!” c) The entire sentence d) None of the above
5. What punctuation is used to enclose direct speech? a) Parentheses b) Commas c) Quotation marks d) Semicolons
6. In the sentence, “Tom said, ‘I’m going to the store,’ he stated,” what part is in direct speech? a) “Tom said” b) “he stated” c) “I’m going to the store” d) None of the above
7. Which of the following represents direct speech correctly? a) “She whispered,” she said. b) She said, “She whispered.” c) She whispered, “she said.” d) “She whispered,” “she said.”
8. What is the purpose of using direct speech? a) To change the words spoken b) To omit the words spoken c) To replicate the original words spoken d) To ignore the words spoken
9. How is direct speech different from indirect speech? a) Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not. b) Direct speech uses different words from the original, while indirect speech replicates the original words. c) Direct speech changes the tense, while indirect speech keeps the tense the same. d) Direct speech omits the reporting verb, while indirect speech includes it.
10. In the sentence, “They said, ‘We will win the game,’ with confidence,” what is in direct speech? a) “They said” b) “We will win the game” c) “with confidence” d) None of the above

Rules for converting from direct speech to indirect speech 

Converting direct speech to indirect speech involves several rules and changes to the original words spoken. Here are the key rules for making this conversion:

1. Pronoun Changes:
   • Change the pronouns to match the subject of the reporting sentence.
   • For example, “I” becomes “he,” “she” becomes “they,” and “you” becomes “we.”
2. Tense Changes:
   • Change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.
   • For example, “said” remains in the past tense, but the verb in the reported speech might change. “I am going” becomes “he was going.”
3. Time Expressions:
   • Adjust time expressions (like today, tomorrow, now) to match the context of the reporting.
   • For example, “now” might become “then.”
4. Word Order:
   • Change the word order in questions and statements.
   • For example, “Are you coming?” becomes “She asked if I was coming.”
5. No Quotation Marks:
   • Remove quotation marks in indirect speech. In direct speech, words are enclosed in quotation marks, but they are omitted in indirect speech.
6. Reporting Verb:
   • Introduce the reported speech with a reporting verb like “said,” “explained,” “asked,” etc.

These rules help transform direct speech into indirect speech while maintaining the essence of the original message within a different reporting framework.

[mediator_tech]

Evaluation

1. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, we need to change the ______________. a) subject b) tense c) time expressions d) reporting verb
2. In indirect speech, we modify the pronouns to match the subject of the ______________ sentence. a) reporting b) reported c) request d) original
3. When converting from direct speech to indirect speech, we adjust time expressions to fit the ______________. a) reporting verb b) reported speech c) direct speech d) context
4. The tense of the verb in the reported speech should match the tense of the ______________ verb. a) reporting b) reported c) requesting d) changing
5. In indirect speech, we change the word order in ______________ and statements. a) questions b) exclamations c) commands d) quotations
6. When converting direct speech to indirect speech, we remove ______________ in the reported speech. a) pronouns b) time expressions c) quotation marks d) reporting verbs
7. The rules for converting from direct speech to indirect speech help maintain the ______________ of the original message. a) language b) essence c) punctuation d) capitalization
8. To indicate indirect speech, it’s important to introduce the reported speech with a ______________ verb. a) reporting b) requesting c) repeating d) narrating
9. In indirect speech, we ______________ the original words spoken by someone. a) replicate b) change c) omit d) ignore
10. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, we need to modify the ______________. a) pronouns b) reporting verb c) time expressions d) capitalization
11. Adjusting time expressions in indirect speech is done to match the ______________ of the reporting. a) subject b) context c) tense d) punctuation
12. In indirect speech, we change the ______________ of the verb in the reported speech. a) tense b) subject c) pronouns d) quotation marks
13. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, we use a ______________ verb to introduce the reported speech. a) requesting b) changing c) reporting d) commanding
14. In indirect speech, we need to modify the ______________ to match the subject of the reporting sentence. a) reporting verb b) tense c) pronouns d) capitalization
15. The purpose of these rules is to transform direct speech into indirect speech while keeping the ______________ of the original message. a) language b) essence c) punctuation d) capitalization

More samples 

Rules and Conversion (10 minutes):

• Explain the rules for converting direct to indirect speech.
• Discuss changes in pronouns, tense, time expressions, and word order.
• Provide examples of direct speech sentences and their corresponding indirect speech sentences.
• Guide students through the conversion process.

Individual Practice (5 minutes):

• Provide a new set of direct speech sentences.
• Ask students to independently convert these sentences into indirect speech.

General Evaluation 

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions:

1. She said, “I __________ playing basketball.” a) was b) am c) were d) is
2. He asked, “Can you __________ me a favor?” a) did b) do c) does d) doing
3. “We have a test tomorrow,” they __________. a) said b) say c) says d) saying
4. She said, “My birthday is next __________.” a) year b) week c) month d) day
5. “I will help you with your homework,” he __________. a) tell b) told c) tells d) telling
6. They asked, “__________ you coming to the party?” a) Was b) Is c) Are d) Were
7. “I don’t like broccoli,” she __________. a) said b) saying c) says d) say
8. He said, “__________ watch that movie last night.” a) I will b) I would c) I did d) I do
9. She said, “__________ my pen?” a) Did you see b) Will you see c) You see d) Did you saw
10. “We can go to the park,” they __________. a) says b) saying c) say d) said
11. She asked, “__________ you like pizza?” a) Do b) Did c) Does d) Are
12. “I’m studying for the test,” he __________. a) say b) saying c) said d) says
13. He said, “__________ my book?” a) Did you see b) You saw c) You see d) Did you saw
14. She said, “__________ to the music.” a) I’m listening b) I’m listen c) I listen d) I listened
15. “I can swim,” he __________. a) tell b) told c) tells d) telling

Theory Questions:

16. Explain what direct speech is.
17. How do you convert a sentence from direct to indirect speech?
18. Why is it important to use indirect speech in some situations?
19. Give an example of a sentence in direct speech and rewrite it in indirect speech.
20. When might you use quotation marks in writing or speech?

Evaluation

1. Direct speech uses __ (a. commas, b. quotation marks, c. periods) to enclose the spoken words.
2. Reported speech often uses reporting verbs like __ (a. said, b. shouted, c. whispered).
3. “I am coming now,” she said. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. She said she was coming now, b. She said she is coming now, c. She said she was coming).
4. “We have a test tomorrow,” he said. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. He said they have a test the next day, b. He said they had a test the next day, c. He said they had a test tomorrow).
5. The pronoun “I” in direct speech usually changes to __ (a. he, b. they, c. she) in reported speech.
6. “Can you help me?” she asked. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. She asked if I can help her, b. She asked if I could help her, c. She asked if I will help her).
7. “We are leaving now,” they said. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. They said they are leaving now, b. They said they were leaving then, c. They said they leave now).
8. In reported speech, “will” often changes to __ (a. would, b. will, c. could).
9. “She is playing outside,” he said. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. He said she is playing outside, b. He said she was playing outside, c. He said she plays outside).
10. “I have finished my book,” he said. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. He said he had finished his book, b. He said he has finished his book, c. He said he finished his book).
11. The word “that” is __ (a. optional, b. always required, c. never used) in reported speech.
12. Direct speech is enclosed in __ (a. square brackets, b. quotation marks, c. parentheses).
13. “I need help,” she said. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. She said she needs help, b. She said she needed help, c. She said she needs helping).
14. “They are coming with us,” John said. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. John said they are coming with us, b. John said they were coming with us, c. John said they come with us).
15. “I am reading a book,” he said. In reported speech, this becomes __ (a. He said he is reading a book, b. He said he was reading a book, c. He said he read a book).

Class Activity Discussion

1. Q: What is direct speech?
   A: Direct speech is when you use the exact words spoken by someone, enclosed in quotation marks.
2. Q: What is reported speech?
   A: Reported speech is when you convey what someone said without using their exact words, often using reporting verbs like “said” or “told.”
3. Q: How do you change direct speech to reported speech?
   A: Remove quotation marks, change the pronouns and verb tenses as needed, and use a reporting verb.
4. Q: What happens to the verb tense when changing to reported speech?
   A: The verb tense usually shifts back in time (e.g., present simple becomes past simple).
5. Q: How do you handle pronouns in reported speech?
   A: Adjust pronouns to match the perspective of the reporting sentence.
6. Q: What is the purpose of using reported speech?
   A: To convey what someone said without quoting their exact words.
7. Q: Can you use “that” in reported speech?
   A: Yes, but it is optional and often omitted in informal speech.
8. Q: How do you convert the question “Are you coming?” into reported speech?
   A: He asked if I was coming.
9. Q: What should you do if the direct speech includes a time phrase like “tomorrow”?
   A: Change the time phrase to match the reporting context (e.g., “tomorrow” becomes “the next day”).
10. Q: In reported speech, how does “will” change?
    A: It usually changes to “would.”
11. Q: What happens to the word “said” in reported speech?
    A: It is used as a reporting verb and remains unchanged.
12. Q: How do you handle exclamation marks in direct speech?
    A: Exclamation marks are usually omitted in reported speech, and the reporting sentence adjusts accordingly.
13. Q: What is an example of a direct speech sentence?
    A: “I am happy,” she said.
14. Q: What is an example of reported speech?
    A: She said that she was happy.
15. Q: What are common mistakes in changing direct speech to reported speech?
    A: Common mistakes include incorrect tense changes, misplacing pronouns, or failing to adjust time phrases.

Presentation

Step 1: The teacher revises the previous topic, “Using Adjectives in Speaking and Writing,” by discussing how adjectives can be used in speech and writing.

Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic by defining direct and reported speech, giving examples, and explaining the steps to change between them.

Step 3: The teacher allows the pupils to practice converting sentences between direct and reported speech, providing corrections and guidance as needed.

Teacher’s Activities

1. Introduce and explain the concepts of direct and reported speech.
2. Provide examples and practice exercises.
3. Guide pupils in converting sentences between direct and reported speech.
4. Monitor and correct pupils’ practice work.

Learners’ Activities

1. Participate in discussions about direct and reported speech.
2. Complete exercises converting direct speech to reported speech and vice versa.
3. Critique sample sentences to discover rules.

Assessment

1. Define direct speech and give two examples.
2. Change the following direct speech sentence to reported speech: “I can swim,” she said.
3. Change the following reported speech sentence to direct speech: He said that he would go to the store.
4. Identify the errors in the following reported speech sentence: “She is late,” he said. (Reported: He said she was late.)
5. Describe the basic rules for converting direct speech to reported speech.

Conclusion

The teacher will go around to check pupils’ work, mark their answers, and provide necessary corrections. The lesson will be summarized by reviewing the main points about direct and reported speech, emphasizing the rules and common mistakes.

More Useful Links

• Mastering Reported Commands and Questions: Key Conversions Structure English Grammar Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 8
• Building Strong Sentences: A Guide to Simple Sentence Structure English Grammar Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 9
• Understanding and Using the Present Perfect Tense Structure English Grammar Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 10