Direct and indirect speech are like two ways of presenting conversations in writing; they allow us to report what someone said in different styles. Just as quoting someone directly captures their exact words, indirect speech presents the reported speech in a more narrative form.
Direct Speech:
Quoting Exact Words:
Direct speech involves quoting the exact words of a speaker, using quotation marks to indicate the speech.
Example:
Mary said, “I will be there at 5 o’clock.”
Reporting with Question and Exclamation Marks:
When directly quoting questions or exclamations, the original punctuation is retained.
Example:
He asked, “Where are you going?”
She exclaimed, “What a beautiful day!”
Indirect Speech:
Reporting the Sense of Speech:
Indirect speech involves reporting the sense of what someone said without using quotation marks.
Example:
Mary said that she would be there at 5 o’clock.
Changes in Pronouns and Verb Tenses:
When transforming from direct to indirect speech, pronouns, and verb tenses may change according to the reporting context.
Example:
Direct: He said, “I am going to the store.”
Indirect: He said that he was going to the store.
Reporting Verbs:
Reporting verbs such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” “exclaimed,” etc., are used to introduce indirect speech.
Example:
She told me that she had finished her work.
Punctuation in Indirect Speech:
Changes in Punctuation:
In indirect speech, the quotation marks are not used, and the reporting clause may end with a comma or a full stop.
Example:
Direct: “I am busy,” she said.
Indirect: She said that she was busy.
Reporting Questions:
In indirect speech, reported questions are introduced with reporting verbs and typically use “if” or “whether” instead of the question words.
