§ 3. Indirect statements.

Indirect Statements are generally introduced by the verbs to say, to tell, to announce and in official style by the verb to inform.

With the verbs to tell and to inform the person addressed is always mentioned. With the verbs to say and to announce the person addressed may or may not be mentioned. If it is mentioned, the preposition to is used.

She said (to us), “There are inter- She said (she told us) that there esting magazines in the reading- were interesting magazines in hall.” the reading-hall.

She said (to us), “I am leaving She announced to us that she for good.” was leaving for good.

The monitor said to us, “There The monitor informed as that there will be a meeting to-night.” would be a meeting that night.

One night the telephone bell rang and he (Cowperwood) informed her that he was compelled to remain at the office late. (Dreiser)

The verb to say is used to introduce both direct and indirect speech if the person addressed is not mentioned. If the person is mentioned, the verb to tell is preferable; if the verb to say is used, the preposition to is necessary.

She said, “I’ll be back directly.” She said she would be back directly. You said that you would give me back mv letter, didn’t you? (Wilde)

The Miller said to his wife that he would go down and see Little Hans. (Wilde)

The verb to tell is used to introduce indirect speech only; the person addressed must be mentioned.

She said to us, “I’ve received an She told us she had received an interesting letter.” interesting letter.

Note 1. —The verb to tell is used without the person addressed being mention* .1 in sentences as The hook tells of the life of Negroes, also in the exprcs sions to tell a lie, to tell the truth, to tell a story.

Note 2.— The verb to speak never introduces indirect speech because it i never followed by an object clause (it can only be followed by ;m object clause with a preposition).

Therefore the sentence ‘Он говорил, что любит музыку’ should bt; rendered in the following way: He said he was fond of music. Note 3. —It should be noted that the verb to speak cannot take a direct object, unless it is the name of a language or the noun truth in the expression to speak the truth. ‘Он говорил много интересного' should be rendered in the following way: He said many interesting things.

An emphatic statement tinged with emotion is often introduced by the verb to declare.

She said, “It’s the dullest book She declared it was the dullest I’ve ever r«?d.” book she had ever read.

The innkeeper declared that he really wanted to go to Oakbourne. (Eliot)

Other verbs are also used to introduce statements. According to the character of the statement, the verbs to promise, to remark, to remind, to assure, to admit, to deny, etc. are frequently used.

He said to me, “I hope you have He reminded me that there would

not forgotten that there will be be a meeting that night, a meeting to-night.”

He said, “The text is rather dif- He remarked that the text was

ficult.” rather difficult.

He said, “I did speak to her about He admitted having spoken to her

that.” about that.

He said, “I never spoke to her.” He denied having spoken to her.

The child said to his mother, The child promised his mother

“I’ll never disobey you again.” never to disobey her again.

She said to them, “I’ll certainly She assured them that she would

come in time.” come in time. .

I spoke to the station-master and also to the innkeeper of the village. Both of them assured me that he (my friend) had gone for a voyage round the world. (Conan Doyle)