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Yahyacan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

reported speech

Frank asked all of his colleagues if the pay rise that was discussed during his absence had been accepted.

The sentence above has been taken from a testbook. I wonder whether there is a problem with the sentence or not. I think the direct form of this sentence is;

Frank asked all of his colleagues "Has the pay rise which was discussed during my absence been accepted or not?"

  

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What error do you think there is?

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5 Answers
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What error do you think there is?
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The way it was written in the textbook is fine.  This is indirect reported speech.  More properly, it is called a noun clause (there are other names for it as well).  We use this kind of reporting when we don't want to say the exact words that somebody said.  We use the way that you have done it when we want to report the exact words that somebody has used.
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Hi Richard
richard_sThis is indirect reported speech
I thought it should be indirect speech or reported speech.

Is it correct to write 'indirect reported speech'?

Many thanks.
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Well, you know there are a number of terms for virtually everything relating to do with language.  The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language calls it 'indirect reported speech'.  I think the 'reported' part of the name is important to distinguish it from 'indirect speech' in which the person doesn't directly say what they mean (in which they imply the meaning).
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Yoong Liat
Hi Richard
richard_sThis is indirect reported speech
I thought it should be indirect speech or reported speech.

Is it correct to write 'indirect reported speech'?

Many thanks.

Thanks, Richard.

I've learnt something new.

With warmest wishes

Yoong Li
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