Direct: he said, “It used to be a lovely quiet street.”
Indirect: he said that it used to be a lovely quiet street.
Why is it not:
He pointed out that it had used to be a lovely quiet street.
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There is no passive voice here.– tchrist ♦Commented Oct 17, 2015 at 15:03
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2That's not "active x passive voice". It's about "direct x reported speech".– CentaurusCommented Oct 17, 2015 at 15:04
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1 Answer
You don't have to use "he said" every time you put a sentence into indirect speech. In fact, you can choose the appropriate verb from a long list.
- he said
- he mentioned
- he pointed out
- he exclaimed
- he declared
- he suggested
- he asked
- he wondered
- he told her
- he replied
- he shouted
- etc.
Whether you choose one or another verb pretty much depends on context and intonation.
e.g.
What about going to the beach? "He suggested..."
Yes, we must visit her. "He agreed..."
- I will never allow anyone to disrespect my daughter!!! "He declared..."
Context and intonation will help you choose the right verb.
answered Oct 17, 2015 at 17:34
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@V.V. Somebody had edited the question and it turned out completely different from the original. It has been fixed. Commented Oct 18, 2015 at 17:06