Parts Of Speech Questions Long
Indirect quotations, also known as reported speech, serve the function of conveying someone else's words or thoughts without using their exact words. They are used to report or relay information, statements, or thoughts expressed by another person.
The primary function of indirect quotations is to provide a summary or paraphrase of what someone else has said or thought, rather than quoting them verbatim. This allows the speaker or writer to present the information in their own words while still attributing it to the original source.
Indirect quotations are commonly used in various contexts, such as news reporting, storytelling, academic writing, and everyday conversations. They enable the speaker or writer to share information or opinions expressed by others, adding credibility and supporting their own arguments or narratives.
In terms of sentence structure, indirect quotations are typically introduced by reporting verbs or phrases, such as "said," "stated," "claimed," "explained," or "according to." These verbs are followed by a clause that summarizes or paraphrases the original statement or thought. For example:
Direct Quotation: "I will attend the meeting," said John.
Indirect Quotation: John said that he would attend the meeting.
In this example, the direct quotation is transformed into an indirect quotation by reporting the statement using the reporting verb "said" and changing the pronoun and verb tense to match the context.
Overall, the function of indirect quotations is to relay information or thoughts expressed by others in a summarized or paraphrased form, allowing the speaker or writer to incorporate external perspectives and support their own ideas or arguments.