Understanding Direct and Indirect Speech in Afrikaans
In Afrikaans, just like in English, we can tell what someone said in two ways: by using their exact words, which is called direct speech, or by telling it in our own words, which is called indirect speech.
Direct speech is when we repeat the exact words someone said. In Afrikaans, we use quotation marks to show these words. It's like taking a snapshot of what was said.
Examples
- Jannie sê: "Ek is bly."
- Mamma vra: "Wil jy 'n koek hê?"
Indirect speech is when we tell someone else's words without using their exact words. We change the sentence a little to fit into our own sentence.
Examples
- Jannie sê dat hy bly is.
- Mamma vra of ek 'n koek wil hê.
Key Changes from Direct to Indirect Speech
Important Points
- Remove quotation marks.
- Change the pronouns to match the speaker.
- Adjust the verb tense if necessary.
- Use words like 'dat' (that) or 'of' (if/whether) to connect sentences.
Examples
- Sy sê: "Ek gaan huis toe." -> Sy sê dat sy huis toe gaan.
- Hy vra: "Kom jy saam?" -> Hy vra of ek saamkom.
Tense Changes in Indirect Speech
Sometimes, when we change from direct to indirect speech, we need to change the tense of the verb. This depends on when the action happened.
Examples
- Hy sê: "Ek eet nou." -> Hy sê dat hy nou eet.
- Sy het gesê: "Ek het klaar geëet." -> Sy het gesê dat sy klaar geëet het.