reporting clause first
reported clause
reporting clause second
The reporting clause may sometimes come in the middle of the reported clause, especially in literary styles:
“No,” she said , “I’ve never seen it before.”
‘Was it,’ he asked , ‘the first time you had spoken to Mrs Dalton?’
We can use adverbs with the reporting verb to describe the way someone said something. This is more common when the reporting clause comes second:
“I will not accept it!” he said angrily .
‘Can I speak to the doctor?’ she asked rather nervously .
Reported speech: punctuation
Reported speech: reporting and reported clauses
In narratives, especially novels and short stories, when the reporting clause comes second, we often invert the subject (s) and reporting verb (v):
“Things have always been the same in this village,” [V] said [S] the old man .
‘Hold on! I’m coming!’ [V] cried [S] Maurice .
Informal narratives.
In informal conversation, we sometimes use the present simple in the reporting clause. This makes the direct speech more vivid and dramatic:
So then this guy says , “I’ve got something for you. Come over here.” And he picked up a box and he says , “Open that.”
We can make the direct speech even more vivid and dramatic by using the present continuous. This is very informal:
And he’s looking at me and he ’s asking , “Who are you?” and I said, “I’m your nephew” and he ’s mumbling , “I don’t know you. I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
In very informal conversation, people sometimes use says as a reporting verb for all persons ( I, you, she, he, we, they ):
She says , ‘What’s going on here?’ and I says , ‘Nothing. There’s nothing happening – everything’s okay.’
Many speakers consider the above examples to be incorrect. This applies especially to the use of says with all persons.
We also use the present simple in newspaper headlines. This makes the reported words more dramatic:
‘I WON’T RESIGN,’ SAYS MINISTER
Say or tell ?
Word of the Day
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
a child's toy in the shape of a small person or baby
Treasure troves and endless supplies (Words and phrases meaning ‘source’)
To add ${headword} to a word list please sign up or log in.
Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one.
{{message}}
Something went wrong.
There was a problem sending your report.
We often convey a message or give information about what someone said, thought or felt to somebody else. In order to do this you can use the grammar structure named direct or quoted speech, or indirect or reported speech. Indeed this structure can be a source of confusion for ESL learners because they mix it with active and passive voice . Read the whole article to know about direct and indirect speech rules.
To learn more about direct and indirect speech click here.
Initially we will look at direct and indirect speech, then look at how to convert speech from direct to indirect or vice-versa.
Direct Speech / Quoted Speech Saying or quoting exactly what someone has said is called direct speech (sometimes called quoted speech) Here what a person says appears within quotation marks (“…”) a nd should be word for word.
Indirect Speech / Reported Speech Saying or reporting what someone said without quoting his exact words is called indirect speech. Here we don’t use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and does not have to be word for word.
Reporting Verb The verb in the first part of sentence (i.e. say, said, tell, admit, complain, explain remind, reply think, hope, offer, refuse etc.) before the statement of a person in sentence is called reporting verb.
How to Change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech?
If the reported sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it to fit in with the time of reporting, and adverb of nearness should be put into those of distance.
Note: If something is said and reported at the same time, then the time expression can remain the same.
A) If the reporting verb is in present or future (i.e say, says or will say) then don’t change the tense that you can find within the quotation marks.
B) If reporting verb is in the past tense. the tense of the verbs in the reported speech or indirect speech must be generally changed. This is because when we use reported speech, we are usually talking about a time in the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past). The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too.
Tense Change As a rule when you report something someone has said you go back a tense. Present Simple › Past simple
Present continuous › Past continuous
Present perfect › Past perfect
Present perfect continuous › Past perfect continuous
Past simple › Past perfect
Past perfect › Past perfect
Past perfect continuous › Past perfect continuous
Modal verb forms also sometimes change: Will › would
Can › could
Must › had to
May › might
Note – There is no change to; could, would, should, might and ought to.
If indirect speech the words within quotation marks talk of a universal truth or habitual action or when a sentence is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true then the tense inside the quotation marks is not changed at all.
You can also use the present tense if you are talking about a future event.
We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence.
Note: Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is confusing consider the examples below:
(If we only make mechanical changes, then the new sentence can have different meaning)
Rule 9. Reported Speech of Interrogative Sentences 1. Remove the quotation marks and question mark in the interrogative sentence. 2. Use ‘if’ or ‘whether’ if the sentence inside the quotation marks begins with a helping verb (Auxiliary verb). 3. Use the given interrogative word (what, when, where, why, who, whom, whose, which, now etc.) if it does not begin with the helping verb. 4. Don‘t use ‘that’ 5. Changing the reporting verb (say, said) into ‘ask, want to know wonder or inquire’ in its correct tense. 6. Omit helping verb like ‘do, does, did’. But don’t omit them when they are with ‘not’.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If is more common and whether is more formal.
1. Remove the quotation mark in an Imperative sentence. 2. Use ‘to’ if it is an affirmative sentence. (without don‘t) 3. Use ‘not to’ if the sentence begins without Don‘t. 4. Don‘t use ‘that’ 5. Omit the word ‘please’. Use the word ‘request’ instead of ‘say’. 6. If the direct speech contains a request or a command, the reporting verb (say, said) change to tell, request, order, command etc. in its correct tense. 7. The commands, requests and advice mostly have the same form in English: verb + object + infinitive (advise, ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge, warn etc.).
Negative: + object + not + infinitive.
Rule 12. Reported Speech of Advice If it contains advice the reporting verb changes into advised.
1. Change the exclamatory sentence into statement or assertive 2. Remove the quotation marks and exclamatory mark. 3. Use the conjunction ‘that’ 4. Omit the interjections such as Oh, O, Alas, how, what, hurrah. 5. Add the word ‘very’ to the adjective or adverb if necessary. 6. If the verb is not given, use ‘Be’ form verb (is, was, are, were, am) in its correct tense according to the subject. 7. Change the reporting verb (say, said) to ‘exclaim joyfully’ 8. Use ‘exclaim’ sorrowfully for sorrowful incidents.
In reported speech, the word that is often used, however it is optional. We recommend you no to use it because in some cases we don’t use ‘That’ in reported speech like: question, command request and order, so its better not to use it.
In direct speech, various punctuation conventions are used to separate the quoted words from the rest of the text: this allows a reader to follow what’s going on. Here are the basic rules: A) We use inverted commas (also called quotation marks, quotes or speech marks) to indicate direct speech. Double quotes (“) are preferred in American English, while single quotes (‘) are more common in British English:
B) Every time a new speakers says something, you should start a new paragraph:
C) There should be a comma, full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark at the end of a piece of speech. This is placed inside the closing inverted comma or commas.
D) If the direct speech is broken up by information about who is speaking, you need a comma (or a question mark or exclamation mark) to end the first piece of speech and a full stop or another comma before the second piece (before the inverted comma or commas):
Conclusion: I hope that the points that I have mentioned above about direct and indirect speech may prove beneficial for people learning English. All you need to do is to understand the crucial rules of direct and indirect speech, and don’t mix it with passive and active voice.
Check out Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises With Answers
If you would like to know more about direct or quoted speech, or indirect or reported speech, check out more in the book below.
Subject verb agreement rules, comparative and superlative adverbs rules, what is a capstone project in grad school, 20 comments.
hello! I’m Abdullah and I want to ask a question related to indirect and direct speech.what would be the indirect sentence of this this speech: “I fell fed up” says trevor
Hello dear Abdullah. When the reporting verb (He says)is in simple present tense, then we don’t go one tense back,so the statement won’t be changed in this case and remains the same in reported speech.
Helo ,,pls let me know about one thing…if there is no object in reporting speech and “you” is used in reporting speech ,,in which pronoun v have to change “you”,,???
Tashakkur, bisyar malumati bud 🙂
You are welcome dear Raza.
This article is beneficial…thnkxx
You are welcome.
Very helpful thank you soooo muchhhh
I want a clarification for the following sentence. “Would you post this letter when you go out?”she said. She asked if I would post that letter when I go out . OR She asked if I would post that letter when I went out.
Change the narration. 1.’I must leave at once’ I said,’because i must not be late’ 2 .Tariq said the police could not prove that the man had been murdered .
very helpful understanding direct and indirect speech thank you very soooooo muuuuccccchhhh
You are welcome Mr. Moueez
Thank you . It’s really helpful
Welcome dear.
Useful article thank you.
Hope it is useful and informative.
Tomorrow is my English exam and this page is very helpful
Thank you Rahema. We always try to help people enhance their skills in four models: Listening, Speaking, Reading and writing.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Direct and indirect speech grammar rules vary so you need to understand them. We'll start by looking at what each one is. Note that indirect speech is also commonly knows as reported speech.
Direct speech is when the words are given in exactly the way that the speaker said them. So in other words they are quoted with no change .
When presenting direct speech, the words are usually placed in quotation marks, with a comma after say(s) / said if it is used to present the speech. Say (s) / said can also be placed at the end of the quotation, in which case a comma comes before it.
Indirect speech is also known as reported speech . You may also see it referred to as indirect discourse or indirect narration .
Indirect speech is the reporting of what someone else said in your own words but without changing the meaning of what was said.
Reporting verbs are used to present indirect speech. The common ones are:
That is in brackets as it can be omitted from the sentence, whether spoken or written.
So the key difference between direct and indirect speech is that with direct speech the exact words are quoted but in indirect speech it is your own words .
Direct speech is fairly simple to use and understand as it involves just repeating what was said. There is not much to get confused about with the grammar, apart from getting say(s)/said correct.
But indirect or reported speech is more difficult so we will look at that in more detail now.
View more examples of direct and indirect speech >>
With direct and indirect speech, there are three main things you need to be aware of when converting one to the other:
The tense of verbs when moving from direct to indirect speech do not necessarily change because if the circumstances of what someone said is the same, then it may be reported as that. For example:
However, as we are reporting what was said in the past, we often change the tense. This rule for this is related to backshifting, which means shifting back a tense. So the present will go back to the past. Some modals also change.
Here are examples using the previous examples of indirect speech, showing you how they look like in direct speech:
There are more details on the site about changing tenses in indirect / reported speech:
Learn more about changing tenses >>
Pronouns in indirect speech also need to be changed from what they were in the indirect speech, as well as of course adapting the first pronoun to fit the person who said the statement:
You may also need to change phrases referring to time, though this depends on the context and when you are reporting the speech.
With these examples you have to assume the speech is being reported at a time in the future so the phrases such as 'yesterday' or 'tomorrow' would not makes sense any more in terms of the reported speech.
Some different rules apply when turning direct speech using imperatives or commands into indirect speech. Check out the rules here:
Rules for Reported Speech Imperatives >>
Reported speech tenses may differ from the tense of the direct speech. The general rule for tenses in reported speech is that it changes to the past tense. This is called backshifting.
In these examples of direct and indirect speech you are given a sentence in direct speech which is then connected to indirect speech.
This reported speech quiz gives you the chance to practice converting direct speech to reported speech, also known as indirect speech. This involves backshifting with the tenses.
Reported speech imperatives, also known as reported commands, follow a slightly different structure to normal indirect speech. We use imperatives to give orders, advice, or make requests.
Any questions or comments about the grammar discussed on this page?
Post your comment here.
Sign up for free grammar tips, quizzes and lessons, straight into your inbox
Subscribe to grammar wiz:, grammar ebook.
This is an affiliate link
Gerund or infinitive quiz.
Aug 11, 24 04:34 AM
Aug 09, 24 01:59 AM
Jun 29, 24 11:04 AM
Online Quizzes Grammar Lessons Courses Blog
Privacy Policy / Disclaimer / Terms of Use
Ai generator.
Direct and Indirect Speech: Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, using quotation marks, while indirect speech paraphrases the spoken words without quotes, often changing tenses and pronouns. Both forms are essential for effective communication, emphasizing clarity and context in reporting speech.
Direct speech refers to the exact words spoken by someone, presented within quotation marks and often accompanied by a speech tag that attributes the statement to the speaker. This method of reporting speech is used to convey the original words and the tone in which they were spoken, preserving the personal touch and specific expressions of the speaker.
For example , if John says, “I am going to the store,” the direct speech presentation would be:
John said, “I am going to the store.”
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a method of conveying what someone said without quoting their exact words. Instead of using direct quotations, indirect speech summarizes or paraphrases the original statement. It often involves changes in verbs tenses, pronouns, and other elements to fit the grammatical context of the reporting sentence.
For example , consider the direct speech statement:
Tom said, “I am going to the gym now.” When converted into indirect speech, it becomes:
Tom said that he was going to the gym then.
Indirect speech does not use quotation marks and typically introduces the reported clause with conjunctions like “that,” although “that” can be omitted in informal contexts.
Rules for converting direct into indirect speech.
Feature | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|---|
Uses quotation marks to enclose exact words. | Does not use quotation marks. | |
Uses the tense as spoken originally. | Often shifts tense back to reflect past narration. | |
Uses pronouns as originally spoken. | Adjusts pronouns to match the speaker’s perspective. | |
The syntax mirrors the original spoken form. | Syntax may change to fit indirect reporting (e.g., question forms are changed). | |
Specific to the moment of speaking. | Adjusted to the time and place from the speaker’s perspective. | |
Simple reporting verb (“he said,” “she said”). | May include that-clauses or question words (if, whether). | |
Directly quotes exclamations and commands. | Transforms exclamations into statements; commands into requests with infinitive verbs. |
This table should help you clearly see how the format, verbs, pronouns, and other elements differ between direct and indirect speech.
1. Direct : “I love reading books,” Jane said. Indirect : Jane said that she loved reading books. 2. Direct : “We will go to the park,” they announced. Indirect : They announced that they would go to the park. 3. Direct : “I have finished my homework,” he told his mother. Indirect: He told his mother that he had finished his homework. 4. Direct : “Can you help me with this?” she asked. Indirect: She asked if I could help her with that. 5. Direct : “I am feeling sick today,” he whispered. Indirect: He whispered that he was feeling sick that day. 6. Direct : “I won’t be able to attend the meeting,” Laura said. Indirect: Laura said that she would not be able to attend the meeting. 7. Direct : “Please open the window,” she requested. Indirect: She requested him to open the window. 8. Direct : “Do not touch my phone,” he warned. Indirect: He warned not to touch his phone. 9. Direct : “I’ll call you tomorrow,” she promised. Indirect: She promised that she would call me the next day. 10. Direct : “What time does the concert start?” he asked. Indirect: He asked what time the concert started.
Direct to indirect speech exercises.
Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech:
Exercise 1 : “I am learning to play the piano,” she said. Answer 1 : How did she say she was learning to play the piano?
Exercise 2 : “Will you be attending the meeting?” he asked me. Answer 2 : How did he ask if I would be attending the meeting?
Exercise 3 : “I have seen that movie three times,” Alex told her. Answer 3 : How did Alex tell her that he had seen that movie three times?
Exercise 4 : “You should try the new Italian restaurant,” he recommended. Answer 4 : How did he recommend trying the new Italian restaurant?
Exercise 5 : “Please pass the salt,” she requested. Answer 5 : How did she request to pass the salt?
Exercise 6 : “I cannot come to your party,” Jane apologized. Answer 6 : How did Jane apologize that she could not come to the party?
Exercise 7 “Let’s meet at the mall,” they suggested. Answer 7 : How did they suggest meeting at the mall?
Exercise 8 : “Do you know where the station is?” he inquired. Answer 8 : How did he inquire if I knew where the station was?
Exercise 9 : “I must finish this book tonight,” she declared. Answer 9 : How did she declare that she must finish the book that night?
Exercise 10 : “I didn’t take your notebook,” he denied. Answer 10 : How did he deny taking my notebook?
Convert the following sentences from indirect to direct speech:
Exercise 11 : She said that she was learning to play the piano. Answer 11 : What did she say about learning to play the piano in direct speech?
Exercise 12 : He asked if I would be attending the meeting. Answer 12 : How did he ask about my attendance at the meeting in direct speech?
Exercise 13 : Alex told her that he had seen that movie three times. Answer 13 : What did Alex tell her about how many times he had seen the movie in direct speech?
Exercise 14 : He recommended trying the new Italian restaurant. Answer 14 : What did he say about trying the new Italian restaurant in direct speech?
Exercise 15 : She requested to pass the salt. Answer 15 : What did she request about the salt in direct speech?
Exercise 16 : Jane apologized that she could not come to the party. Answer 16 : What did Jane say when she apologized for not coming to the party in direct speech?
Exercise 17 : They suggested meeting at the mall. Answer 17 : What did they suggest about meeting in direct speech?
Exercise 18 : He inquired if I knew where the station was. Answer 18 : How did he inquire about the location of the station in direct speech?
Exercise 19 : She declared that she must finish the book that night. Answer 19 : What did she declare about finishing the book in direct speech?
Exercise 20 : He denied taking my notebook. Answer 20 : What did he say when he denied taking the notebook in direct speech?
How do tenses change in indirect speech.
Tenses in indirect speech usually shift back (e.g., present to past) to reflect that the speaking occurred in the past.
Pronouns change in indirect speech to match the perspective of the speaker reporting the speech, ensuring clarity and coherence.
Questions in direct speech are converted by introducing a clause with ‘if’ or ‘whether’, and rearranging the syntax to statement form.
Modal verbs often change in indirect speech, with ‘will’ becoming ‘would’ and ‘can’ changing to ‘could’, for example.
Yes, if the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense within the reported clause might not change.
Common verbs include ‘said’, ‘told’, ‘asked’, ‘replied’, ‘exclaimed’, and ‘advised’, depending on the nature of the speech.
Imperatives are converted into infinitive structures, such as changing “Close the door” to “He asked her to close the door.”
Text prompt
10 Examples of Public speaking
20 Examples of Gas lighting
Know the Differences & Comparisons
In these two examples, you might have observed that when we use direct speech, we use quotations to outline the real words of the speaker. As against, in an indirect speech, there is no such thing, as the listener narrates the same in his/her own words.
Comparison chart.
Basis for Comparison | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|---|
Meaning | Direct speech implies a direct discourse, that uses the actual words of the speaker to report it. | Indirect speech refers to indirect discourse that delineates what a person said, in own words. |
Alternative Name | Quoted speech | Reported speech |
Point of view | Speaker | Listener |
Usage | When we repeat the original words of a person. | When we use our own words for reporting what other person says. |
Quotation Marks | It uses quotation marks. | It does not use quotation marks. |
When a person gives a written or spoken account of the speech, by repeating the exact words of the speaker, then this is known as Direct Speech. It uses inverted commas to highlight the original statement of the speaker, which is supported by a signal phrase or say dialogue guide.
Sometimes, reporting verb appears in the mid of the sentence:
Adverbs can be used with the reporting verb, to delineate the manner in which something is spoken.
Indirect Speech or otherwise called as reported speech is one in which a person reports on what someone else said or wrote to him, not using the actual words. The indirect speech stresses on the content, i.e. what someone stated, instead of the words that are used for stating it.
The formation of the reported clause in an indirect speech is mainly based on whether the speaker is just reporting something, or ordering, commanding, requesting, etc.
The difference between direct and indirect speech are discussed as under:
There are certain rules which need to be followed while changing from direct to indirect speech or vice versa:
Rule 1 : Backshift changes
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
: He said, "I feel great." | : He said that he felt great. |
: The teacher said, "I have written the example on the board." | : The teacher said that she had written the example on the board." |
: Rahul said, "I am going to the gym." | : Rahul said that he was going to the gym. |
: She said, "I have been living here for five years." | : She said that she had been living there for five years. |
: My mother said to me, "You watched YouTube all night." | : My mom said to me that you had watched YouTube all night. |
Exception : When the direct speech consists of a universal fact or truth, then the tense of the sentence remains the same.
Rule 2 : For change in adverbs, pronouns, demonstratives and auxiliary verbs
Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
---|---|
Must | Had to |
Will | Would |
Can | Could |
Shall | Should |
May | Might |
Do/Does | Did |
Did | Had done |
Now | Then |
Here | There |
Thus | So |
Ago | Before |
This | That |
These | Those |
Hence | Thence |
Today | That day |
Tonight | That night |
Yesterday | The day before |
Tomorrow | The next day |
Last week | The previous week |
Next week | The following week |
Rule 3 : For Interrogative Sentences
Questions may be of two types: Objective questions whose answer can be given in yes or no which starts with an auxiliary verb.
On the other hand, Subjective questions whose answers can be given in detail. Here subjective question refers to the questions that begin with wh-word, i.e. when, how, who, what, which, where, why and so forth. Here, the reporting verb is changed from said to ask in the reporting speech.
Rule 4 : When the direct speech contains orders, request, advise, suggestions command etc. then the reporting verb is changed to tell, request, command, instruct, order, advise, suggestion etc.
Rule 5 : When something is said repeatedly by a person, or it is said by many people we use says/say instead of said in the direct speech. Says when it is said by only one person and say when it is said by many people. Further, in indirect speech, it is replaced by tell/tells accordingly.
The reporting verb remains in simple present tense also when the actual words are still true when it is reported.
Rule 6 : When there is an exclamatory sentence in the direct speech, first of all, the exclamatory sentence is changed into an assertive sentence. The inverted commas, interjections like oh, hurray, bravo etc. and the exclamatory mark is removed. The reporting verb, i.e. said is changed into exclaimed, and we use the conjunction that to add the clause.
The basic tip to recognize the difference between direct and indirect speech is that in case of direct speech we use inverted commas which are not used in case of indirect speech. Further, we use the word ‘that’ in general, in indirect speech.
josophina emvula says
July 15, 2019 at 2:37 pm
what are the rules that I must know to make the different of this direct and indirect speech?
January 26, 2024 at 2:36 am
Direct speech uses the exact words while indirect speech report what someone said without using the exact word
Ritupallab Bora says
January 4, 2021 at 6:56 pm
So good. Earlier I didn’t understand the difference between direct and indirect speech but now I got the whole concept
Arma Farooqui says
May 18, 2022 at 8:35 pm
It’s really really helpful. I understood everything very well. Thanks a lot…
Garang Chiman says
July 5, 2022 at 10:37 pm
Well illustrated. Thank you so much.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Talk to our experts
1800-120-456-456
Direct speech is a way of reporting the exact words spoken by someone, allowing the speaker’s original phrasing and expression to be conveyed. In writing, direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks to indicate that the words are being quoted directly. For example, if someone says, "I am going to the park," and you want to report it exactly as it was said, you would use direct speech.
The key characteristic of direct speech is that it faithfully reproduces the speaker's words, preserving the original tone, intention, and style. Direct speech is commonly used in dialogue, interviews, and narratives to create a vivid and accurate depiction of conversations.
Indirect speech , also known as reported speech , is a way of telling someone what another person said without using their exact words. Instead of quoting the speaker directly, you describe what was said in your own words.
For example, if someone says, "I am going to the store," in indirect speech, you might report it as "He said he was going to the store."
In indirect speech, the tense of the verbs often changes, and pronouns are adjusted to fit the context of the sentence. This form of speech is commonly used in everyday conversation, writing, and reporting to convey information without repeating someone's exact words.
Interesting Facts About Direct Speech |
1. "I will be late to the meeting," Sarah said.
Sarah directly communicates her intention of being late to the meeting.
2. "Can you help me with this project?" asked John.
John directly asks for assistance with the project.
3. "I love reading books," remarked Emily.
Emily directly expresses her love for reading books.
4. "Please turn off the lights before you leave," the teacher instructed.
The teacher directly instructs them to turn off the lights.
5. "It's going to rain today," predicted the weather report.
The weather report directly states the prediction about the weather.
Direct Speech: "I am going to the park."
Indirect Speech: He said that he was going to the park.
Direct Speech: "She will call you tomorrow."
Indirect Speech: She said that she would call me the next day.
Direct Speech: "We have finished our homework."
Indirect Speech: They said that they had finished their homework.
Direct Speech: "Can you help me with this?"
Indirect Speech: She asked if I could help her with that.
Direct Speech: "I saw a movie yesterday."
Indirect Speech: He said that he had seen a movie the day before.
Direct Speech: "Don't talk during the class."
Indirect Speech: The teacher told us not to talk during the class.
Direct Speech: "I need some more time to decide."
Indirect Speech: She mentioned that she needed some more time to decide.
Direct Speech: "Are you coming to the party?"
Indirect Speech: He asked if I was coming to the party.
Direct Speech: "I will be there at 5 PM."
Indirect Speech: She said that she would be there at 5 PM.
Direct Speech: "We must leave now."
Indirect Speech: They said that they had to leave immediately.
Direct speech formula:.
[Subject] + [Reporting Verb] + , + " + [Speaker's Exact Words] + "
She said, "I am going to the market."
[Subject] + [Reporting Verb] + that + [Subject Pronoun Change] + [Verb Tense Change] + [Rest of the Sentence]
She said that she was going to the market.
1. Use Quotation Marks : Place the exact words of the speaker within quotation marks.
Example : She said, "I will join you for dinner."
2. Capitalise the First Word : The first word of the quoted speech should be capitalised.
Example : "We will leave early," he said.
3. Punctuation Inside Quotation Marks : Commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points should be placed inside the quotation marks if they are part of the quoted speech.
Example : "Can you help me?" she asked.
4. End with a Comma : When a quote is followed by a dialogue tag (e.g., he said, she asked), end the quote with a comma before the closing quotation mark.
Example : "I’m going to the store," he said.
5. Start a New Paragraph for a New Speaker : Begin a new paragraph each time the speaker changes.
"I am not sure if I can come," said Jane.
"Don’t worry," replied Mark. "We can figure something out."
6. Use Single Quotation Marks for Quotes within Quotes : If there is a quote within the direct speech, use single quotation marks for the inner quote.
Example : "He said, ‘I will be there on time,’ but I was not convinced."
7. Correct Placement of Punctuation Marks : If the quoted speech ends with a question mark or exclamation point, it should be placed inside the quotation marks. If it ends with a comma, place the comma inside the quotation marks.
Example : "Are you coming?" she asked. "Wow! That’s amazing," he replied.
Understanding how to convert direct speech into indirect speech requires following specific rules. These rules help ensure that the meaning of the original statement is accurately conveyed, even though the exact words are not used. Here are the key rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech:
Change in Tense:
If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the verbs in the direct speech usually changes.
Direct: "I am hungry."
Indirect: She said that she was hungry.
Pronoun Changes :
Pronouns are adjusted to match the perspective of the speaker and the listener in the reported speech.
Direct: "I will help you."
Indirect: He said that he would help me.
Time and Place Changes :
Words that refer to time and place often change to reflect the timing of the reporting.
Direct: "I’ll see you tomorrow."
Indirect: He said that he would see me the next day.
Direct: "She is here."
Indirect: He said that she was there.
Reporting Verbs :
The reporting verb (like "said," "told," "asked") often changes depending on the type of sentence (statement, question, command).
Statements: "She said that..."
Questions: "He asked if..."
Commands: "They told me to..."
No Quotation Marks :
Quotation marks are removed when converting from direct to indirect speech.
Direct: "I love reading," she said.
Indirect: She said that she loved reading.
Question Forms :
When reporting questions, the word order typically changes from question format to statement format.
Direct: "Where are you going?"
Indirect: She asked where I was going.
Commands and Requests :
When reporting commands or requests, the verb is usually changed to an infinitive form.
Direct: "Please close the door."
Indirect: He asked me to close the door.
Modals Change :
Modal verbs may change in indirect speech.
"Can" becomes "could"
"Will" becomes "would"
"May" becomes "might"
No Backshift with Universal Truths :
When reporting universal truths or facts, the tense of the verb often remains unchanged.
Direct: "The sun rises in the east."
Indirect: He said that the sun rises in the east.
Conditional Sentences :
Conditional sentences in direct speech often follow the same tense in indirect speech.
Direct: "If it rains, we will cancel the trip."
Indirect: He said that if it rained, they would cancel the trip.
1. Change Pronouns : Adjust pronouns to match the perspective of the reporting sentence.
Direct Speech : "I am going to the store," he said.
Indirect Speech : He said that he was going to the store.
2. Change Tense : Generally, shift the tense back one step in time. For example, present tense becomes past tense, present perfect becomes past perfect, etc.
Direct Speech : "I am reading a book," she said.
Indirect Speech : She said that she was reading a book.
3. Use ‘That’ to Introduce the Reported Speech : Often, ‘that’ is used to introduce the reported speech, though it can be omitted in informal contexts.
Direct Speech : "I will finish my homework," he said.
Indirect Speech : He said that he would finish his homework.
4. Adjust Time References : Modify time expressions to reflect the change in context.
Direct Speech : "I will see you tomorrow," she said.
Indirect Speech : She said that she would see me the next day.
5. Maintain the Same Meaning : Ensure the meaning of the speech remains the same even though the wording and structure change.
Direct Speech : "It is raining heavily," she said.
Indirect Speech : She said that it was raining heavily.
6. Change Questions to Statements : Convert questions into statements and use appropriate reporting verbs like ‘ask’ or ‘inquire’.
Direct Speech : "Are you coming to the party?" he asked.
Indirect Speech : He asked if I was coming to the party.
7. Change Imperatives to Infinitives : Commands or requests should be reported with the infinitive form of the verb.
Direct Speech : "Close the door," she said.
Indirect Speech : She told me to close the door.
8. Remove Quotation Marks : In indirect speech, quotation marks are not used since the speech is integrated into the reporting sentence.
9. Adapt Adverbs of Frequency and Place : Adjust adverbs according to the context of the reporting sentence.
Direct Speech : "I always go to the gym," he said.
Indirect Speech : He said that he always went to the gym.
When using direct speech in writing or speaking, it’s important to follow specific rules to ensure clarity and accuracy. Direct speech involves quoting the exact words of a speaker, often enclosed in quotation marks. Here are the key rules for direct speech narration:
Use Quotation Marks :
Always enclose the speaker’s exact words within quotation marks.
Example : She said, "I am going to the market."
Punctuation Inside Quotation Marks :
Place punctuation marks (like commas, periods, and question marks) inside the quotation marks.
Example : "Are you coming with me?" she asked.
Capitalise the First Word :
The first word of the quoted speech should always be capitalised, even if it appears in the middle of a sentence.
Example : He replied, "Yes, I will be there."
Reporting Clause Position :
The reporting clause (e.g., "he said," "she asked") can be placed before, after, or in the middle of the direct speech.
Before: He said, "I will help you."
After: "I will help you," he said.
Middle: "I will," he said, "help you."
Use of Comma Before Quotation :
A comma usually separates the reporting clause from the direct speech when the reporting clause comes before or after the speech.
Before: She said, "We need to leave now."
After: "We need to leave now," she said.
New Paragraph for Each Speaker :
Start a new paragraph each time a different person speaks to avoid confusion and improve readability.
"What time is it?" John asked.
"It's almost noon," replied Sarah.
No Comma in Questions or Exclamations :
When the direct speech is a question or exclamation, do not use a comma before the closing quotation marks; use the appropriate punctuation instead.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Wow!" he exclaimed.
Indirect vs. Direct Speech :
Direct speech repeats the exact words of the speaker, whereas indirect speech paraphrases the words without quotation marks.
Direct: He said, "I am tired."
Indirect: He said that he was tired.
Quotes Within Quotes :
If quoting someone who is quoting another person, use single quotation marks inside double quotation marks.
Example : "Did you hear him say, 'I’m not interested'?" she asked.
Avoid Overusing Direct Speech :
While direct speech can add realism and emphasis, overusing it can make writing cluttered. Balance it with narrative to maintain a smooth flow.
Aspect | Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
Definition | Quoting the exact words of the speaker. | Paraphrasing or reporting the speaker's words. |
Quotation Marks | Use quotation marks to enclose the speaker's words. | Do not use quotation marks. |
Pronouns | Pronouns remain the same as used by the speaker. | Pronouns are changed to suit the perspective of the narrator. |
Verb Tense | Usually retains the original tense spoken. | Often changes the tense to reflect the shift in time. |
Example | He said, "I am tired." | He said that he was tired. |
Punctuation | Punctuation like commas, periods, question marks, etc., are placed inside the quotation marks. | Punctuation is adjusted to fit the new sentence structure. |
Reporting Verbs | Common verbs: said, asked, exclaimed, etc. | Common verbs: said, told, asked, inquired, etc. |
Structure | Typically follows the pattern: [Speaker] + [Verb] + “[Exact Words]” | Follows the pattern: [Speaker] + [Verb] + [that] + [Paraphrased Words] |
Example of a Question | He asked, "Are you coming?" | He asked if I was coming. |
Contextual Adjustments | No adjustment to time or place references. | Time and place references are often adjusted (e.g., "today" becomes "that day"). |
1. Convert the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct Speech : "I will call you when I arrive," she said.
2. Rewrite the following indirect speech into direct speech:
Indirect Speech : He asked if I had completed the assignment.
3. Change the following direct speech to indirect speech:
Direct Speech : "Why are you late?" the teacher asked.
4. Transform the following indirect speech into direct speech:
Indirect Speech : She told me that she was going to visit her grandmother.
5. Convert the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct Speech : "Please help me with my homework," the student said.
6. Rewrite the following indirect speech into direct speech:
Indirect Speech : They inquired if we had seen the new movie.
7. Change the following direct speech to indirect speech:
Direct Speech : "I am not feeling well," John said.
8. Transform the following indirect speech into direct speech:
Indirect Speech : She asked if I could join her for lunch.
9. Convert the following direct speech into indirect speech:
Direct Speech : "Do you want to go for a walk?" she asked.
10. Rewrite the following indirect speech into direct speech:
Indirect Speech : The manager said that the meeting would be rescheduled for next week.
Indirect Speech: She said that she would call me when she arrived.
Direct Speech: He asked, "Have you completed the assignment?"
Direct Speech: "Why are you late?" the teacher asked.
Direct Speech: She said, "I am going to visit my grandmother."
Indirect Speech: The student requested to be helped with his homework.
Direct Speech: They asked, "Have you seen the new movie?"
Indirect Speech: John said that he was not feeling well.
Direct Speech: She asked, "Can you join me for lunch?"
Indirect Speech: She asked if I wanted to go for a walk.
Direct Speech: The manager said, "The meeting will be rescheduled for next week."
Direct speech involves quoting the exact words spoken by someone, typically enclosed in quotation marks. It captures the speaker's precise wording and is often used to convey conversations or statements directly.
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, the exact words are paraphrased and typically reported in a way that reflects the original meaning without using quotation marks. This usually involves changing pronouns and verb tenses to fit the context.
In direct speech, the quoted speech is placed within quotation marks. Punctuation marks like commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points are placed inside the quotation marks if they are part of the quoted material.
Common reporting verbs in direct speech include "said," "asked," "replied," and "exclaimed." These verbs help attribute the quoted speech to the speaker and often precede or follow the quoted text.
Direct speech can be integrated into a narrative by using reporting verbs and appropriate punctuation to indicate the shift between the speaker's words and the narrative context.
1. What is Direct Speech?
Direct speech involves quoting the exact words spoken by a person, enclosed in quotation marks. For example, "I’m seeing my brother tomorrow," she said.
2. What is Indirect Speech?
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves paraphrasing what someone has said without using their exact words. The tense usually shifts to the past. For example, She said that she was seeing her brother the following day.
3. How do you convert Direct Speech to Indirect Speech?
To convert direct speech to indirect speech, remove the quotation marks, change the tense to the past, and adjust pronouns and time expressions as needed. For example, "I like chocolates," becomes She said that she liked chocolates.
4. What are the basic rules for converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech?
The rules include shifting the tense back one step, changing pronouns to match the new perspective, using 'that' as a conjunction, and adjusting time expressions (e.g., "now" becomes "then").
5. What are some examples of Direct Speech?
Examples of direct speech include:
Nirmal said, "There’s a dog outside the window."
Supriya said, "I don’t know!"
"I play basketball," he said.
6. What are some examples of Indirect Speech?
Examples of indirect speech include:
She said that she liked chocolates.
He said that he played basketball every day.
She told me that she had finished her task.
7. How does tense change when converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech?
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, present tense changes to past tense, past tense changes to past perfect, and future tense changes to "would" or "would have."
8. What changes occur in pronouns when converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech?
Pronouns are adjusted to reflect the perspective of the reporting speaker. For example, "I am going," in direct speech becomes "He said that he was going," in indirect speech.
9. What is the purpose of using quotation marks in direct speech?
Quotation marks are used in direct speech to enclose the exact words spoken by a person. They clearly indicate what was said by the speaker and distinguish it from the rest of the narrative.
10. How should punctuation be placed in direct speech?
In direct speech, punctuation marks such as commas, periods, and question marks should be placed inside the quotation marks. For example: "Are you coming with me?" she asked.
11. When should you start a new paragraph in direct speech?
You should start a new paragraph each time a different person speaks. This helps avoid confusion and makes it clear to the reader who is speaking.
Personalise your OpenLearn profile, save your favourite content and get recognition for your learning
Become an ou student, download this course, share this free course.
Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.
When the dialogue is presented with reporting clauses such as ‘shouted his uncle’ or ‘said Tom’, this is called direct speech . When dialogue is presented without reporting clauses, such as with Uncle Alan’s long speech and Tom’s single word reply, this is called free direct speech . With direct speech, we assume that the words in the speech marks are exactly the words that the character spoke and that the narrator is reporting them exactly.
Now read this extract from chapter 2 of Marianne Dreams and notice how the writing uses both dialogue (direct speech) and narration, giving the narrator more input and control:
… she heard her mother come up the stairs, talking to someone. Marianne knew it must be the doctor.
‘Good,’ she thought. ‘Now he’ll say I can get up and go back to school. I’m frightfully bored with being here all the time.
But when the doctor had examined her, and asked all the usual sort of questions that doctors do ask, he didn’t say she could get up and go back to school. In fact he still looked rather grave.
‘Now, young lady,’ he said, ‘I don’t know if this is going to be good news or bad news, but I’m afraid you won’t be going back to school this term. You’ve got to stay in bed for at least another six weeks, possibly more. I’ll come and see you fairly often and I’ll tell you when you can get up, but until then, it’s bed all the time.’
Marianne stared at him. She had never imagined anything like this. The three weeks she had already spent in bed had seemed endless and the idea of another six weeks, perhaps more, was terrible. ‘But I must go back to school,’ she protested. ‘I’m acting in the school play at the end of term!’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Dr Burton. ‘But you can’t get up even for that.’
‘But six weeks is a terribly long time,’ said Marianne, ‘I can’t stay in bed for six weeks and not do anything.’
‘I’m afraid you’ve got to,’ Dr Burton said gravely. ‘If you don’t, you might make yourself ill in a way that would last the rest of your life, and we don’t want that to happen.’
‘I don’t care,’ Marianne said, nearly crying, ‘I’d rather be ill for the rest of my life than have to stay in bed any more now.’ She knew it was silly, and that she didn’t really mean it, but she was too upset to mind.
In this last paragraph, the narrator reports on thoughts instead of speech. Direct speech can also be used to describe thought, when it occurs in quotation marks, such as when Tom imagines the letter that he will write to his brother:
To begin with, the narrator reports on Marianne’s thoughts. Direct speech can also be used to describe thought, when it occurs in quotation marks, such as when Marianne imagines what the doctor will say:
The words in the quotation marks represent Tom’s exact thoughts, word for word, and the reporting clause allows the narrator to separate out Tom’s thoughts from the narrative commentary on them.
Another way of presenting speech and thought is indirectly. In indirect speech , we cannot be entirely sure of what words the character thought or said, such as in this example:
She had never imagined anything like this. The three weeks she had already spent in bed had seemed endless and the idea of another six weeks, perhaps more, was terrible.
Here, we know that we are reading about Marianne’s thoughts because we are told that ‘she had never imagined anything like this’, but we cannot be sure if what we are reading is word-for-word what Marianne was thinking. The narrator is explaining Marianne’s thoughts and feelings, but without restricting this to the exact words in her head. Consider this example, from later on in the extract:
She knew it was silly, and that she didn’t really mean it, but she was too upset to mind.
Here we have a reporting clause ‘she knew’ but what follows may not be Marianne’s exact thoughts. It’s clear from what the narrator tells us that she is not thinking clearly, and is overwhelmed, so the narrator must give us their interpretation of her thoughts in order to better explain them to us. Indirect speech gives the narrator more control, therefore, and this can be useful when authors want to describe or explain the thoughts of child characters while using descriptive language the child may not have used themselves.
At this point in the novel, it becomes clear to the reader that Marianne’s tiredness from the earlier activity is actually a symptom of a more serious illness. This illness and the bed rest that Dr Burton recommends to deal with it leads to her spending more time both drawing and dreaming, and it is in the fantasy world of these dreams that her drawings come to life.
One of the challenges for writers of fantasy is to persuade readers to suspend disbelief and accept that, within the terms of the constructed world, characters and events are believable. From what you’ve read of the novels so far, consider: how do the techniques we’ve looked at so far help the authors to draw the reader into their protagonist’s world? How do the authors portray this world from the child protagonist’s perspective? Make some notes and select short quotes from what you’ve read so far to support your points.
In Tom’s Midnight Garden , the narrator focuses very closely on Tom’s perspective (we know little of the thoughts and feelings of the Kitsons or Peter), and we need to see and feel through his eyes and sensibilities for the story to work. Characters and places are presented from his perspective: Peter as a valued playmate and Uncle Alan as morose and authoritarian. In what you’ve read in the activities so far, you may have thought that Tom is being annoyingly pedantic by interrupting his uncle to ask if staying in bed means he can’t go to the lavatory, but there is nothing in the narrator’s words that would indicate this. Despite Tom’s frustrating responses, when Uncle Alan loses his temper, this is described as ‘sudden’ because it is unexpected to Tom, even though you might have predicted that Tom’s answers would make him angry. The narrator calls him ‘poor Tom’, making it clear who we should be empathising with.
In the extracts of Marianne Dreams you’ve read so far, the narrator uses indirect speech to report on Marianne’s thoughts, in which Marianne’s words are reported with the narrator’s words. This mixing of the narrator’s voice with Marianne’s feelings strengthens the reader’s identification with her. Through this colouring, the reader accepts her experiences in the dreamworld as believable within the framework of Storr’s constructed world.
However, at times the narrator does give us information that does not come solely from Marianne’s perspective. In the opening chapter (some of which you read in Activity 4), the narrator helps us to understand Marianne’s feelings by using the pronoun ‘you’ to explain why ‘It is worse if you have had your first riding lesson and know that you ought to be hungry. But not to be able to eat your birthday lunch is worst of all’. Without this context, Marianne’s tears might strike us as a strange overreaction, making it harder for us to empathise with her.
The third-person narrators tell us the story closely from Tom and Marianne’s perspective, therefore, but this narration is also omniscient, and so can give us information and ideas that the protagonists do not know or are not concerned with.
Free indirect speech takes the mixing of the character with the narrator one step further. In free indirect speech, the thoughts or speech of the character is described indirectly, but without any reporting clauses that make it clear that it is the character’s thoughts rather than the narrator’s which are being reported on. This can have the effect of confusing the distinction between the character’s thoughts or words and the narrator’s commentary.
Continue reading Chapter 2 of Tom’s Midnight Garden , in which Tom is lying in bed listening to the clock strike thirteen. Most of this is written in free indirect speech. Which parts do you think represent Tom’s thoughts and what comes from the narrator instead?
And at last—One! The clock struck the present hour; but, as if to show its independence of mind, went on striking—Two! For once Tom was not amused by its striking the wrong hour: Three! Four! ‘It’s one o’clock,’ Tom whispered angrily over the edge of the bedclothes. ‘Why don’t you strike one o’clock, then, as the clocks would do at home?’ Instead: Five! Six! Even in his irritation, Tom could not stop counting; it had become a habit with him at night. Seven! Eight! …
Nine! Ten! ‘You are going it,’ thought Tom, but yawning in the midst of his unwilling admiration. Yes, and it hadn’t finished yet: Eleven! Twelve! ‘Fancy striking midnight twice in one night!’ jeered Tom, sleepily. Thirteen! proclaimed the clock, and then stopped striking.
Thirteen? Tom’s mind gave a jerk: had it really struck thirteen? Even mad old clocks never struck that. He must have imagined it. Had he not been falling asleep, or already sleeping? But no, awake or dozing, he had counted up to thirteen. He was sure of it.
He was uneasy in the knowledge that this happening made some difference to him: he could feel that in his bones. The stillness had become an expectant one; the house seemed to hold its breath; the darkness pressed up to him, pressing him with a question: Come on, Tom, the clock has struck thirteen—what are you going to do about it?
‘Nothing,’ said Tom aloud. And then, as an afterthought: ‘Don’t be silly!’
What could he do, anyway? He had to stay in bed, sleeping or trying to sleep, for ten whole hours, as near as might be, from nine o’clock at night to seven o’clock the next morning. That was what he had promised when his uncle had reasoned with him.
Uncle Alan had been so sure of his reasoning; and yet Tom now began to feel that there had been some flaw in it … Uncle Alan, without discussing the idea, had taken for granted that there were twenty-four hours in a day—twice twelve hours. But suppose, instead, there were twice thirteen? Then, from nine at night to seven in the morning—with the thirteenth hour somewhere between—was more than ten hours: it was eleven. He could be in bed for ten hours, and still have an hour to spare—an hour of freedom.
You probably found this difficult, and there are no clear answers! One of the key features of free indirect speech is that it often becomes almost impossible to separate out the narrator from the character being narrated. The phrase ‘mad old clocks’ could be Tom’s words, whereas a phrase like ‘uneasy in the knowledge that this happening made some difference to him’ is unlikely to be the word-for-word thoughts of a child. Some of the questions (‘had it really struck thirteen?’ and ‘Had he not been falling asleep, or already sleeping?) seem more likely to come from Tom’s mind than the narrator’s, but they could also be questions the narrator is asking the reader.
What did you think the effect of this narration style is? Towards the end, you may have noticed that there is a sense that something magical is about to happen: when the narrator tells us that ‘the house seemed to hold its breath’ it could just be to Tom that this seemed the case, but because this is unclear, it’s possible that something more magical really is occurring, and this isn’t just Tom’s interpretation. When the narrator tells us that ‘the darkness pressed up to him’ this could be Tom’s thoughts, but it’s also possible that the narrator is describing literal fantastic events. The narrator even uses direct speech to describe what the darkness asks him, which gives the impression that this question is not merely something Tom is imagining. The result is that we not only get insight into what Tom is thinking and feeling, but the confusion between his thoughts and the more objective account from the narrator heightens the sense of magic. This isn’t just in Tom’s imagination: something incredible is about to happen!
Tom does of course use this extra hour of freedom to leave his bed, and discovers that the back door by the Grandfather clock no longer opens onto a tiny, walled-in courtyard but a huge and beautiful garden (the ‘midnight garden’ of the title). As both Tom’s Midnight Garden and Marianne Dreams continue, the lives of the protagonists are split between the mundane and restricted lives they lead during the day and the unsupervised (and sometimes dangerous) fantasy worlds of the midnight garden and Marianne’s dreams.
In English grammar , the term ‘speech’ refers to the process of communicating or expressing one’s thoughts. It is an exchange of ideas or even a conversation. There are two ways in which you can report speech – direct speech and indirect speech . Direct speech is used to report or rather repeat the words spoken by the speaker or writer in the way it is told by the speaker, whereas indirect speech is the way in which you convey what someone said to another person, not necessarily using the exact words of the speaker.
In this article, you will learn the meaning and definition of direct speech. Also, go through the rules to be followed when using the direct speech and the examples given to understand how to use them accurately.
Definition of direct speech.
Examples of direct speech, test your understanding of direct speech, frequently asked questions on direct speech in english, what is direct speech.
Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is a way in which you can report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone about something that is to happen at a later point of time. Let us now take a look at how various dictionaries define direct speech to further understand what it is.
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, direct speech is defined as “a speaker’s actual words.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “when you use direct speech, you repeat what someone has said using exactly the words they used.” The Collins Dictionary defines direct speech as “speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used” and according to the Macmillan Dictionary, direct speech is defined as “the exact words that someone has said.”
Like every other grammar topic, there are rules to be followed when using direct speech. Let us look at each one of them to know how direct speech can be used accurately and effectively.
Name of the speaker says/said, “Exact words of the speaker.” |
---|
You can become an expert in using direct speech if you practise well. Here are some ways you can do it.
Now that you know the rules to be followed, take a look at the following examples to have a better idea of how it is done.
Rearrange the following sentences to form direct speech and punctuate them appropriately.
1. vishal / my / is / in / brother / participating / race / said / the / running
2. asked / i / devi / like / maths / problems / solving / free time/ your / in / do / you
3. friends / said / wearing / we / my / are / red / for / dresses / wedding / the / reception
4. responded / teacher / nobody / when / have / completed / the / you / project / many / of / how / asked / the
5. reach / says / tonight / bangalore / he / will / i
6. guest / the / danced / children / the / chief / said / beautifully
7. mom / Finn’s / they / all / said / singing / favourite / are / songs / his
8. Bellas / susan / are / the / said / live / performing / world / the / acapella / at / raiser / curtain
9. love / father / said / i / my / you
10. sing / asked / you / with / maria / her / me / will
Now, if you finished rearranging the sentences, check if you have done it correctly from the answers given below.
1. Vishal said, “My brother is participating in the running race.”
2. I asked Devi, “Do you like solving maths problems in your freetime?”
3. My friends said, “We are wearing red dresses for the wedding reception.”
4. Nobody responded when the teacher asked, “How many of you have completed the project?”
5. He says, “I will reach Bangalore tonight.”
6. The chief guest said, “The children danced beautifully.”
7. Finn’s mom said, “They are singing all his favourite songs.”
8. “The Bellas are performing live at the World Acapella Curtain Raiser”, said Susan.
9. My father said, “I love you.”
10. Maria asked, “Will you sing with me?”
Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is the way in which you report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone at a later point of time.
What is the formula of direct speech.
When using direct speech, you can follow the formula given below. Name of the speaker says/said, “Exact words of the speaker.”
Immediately after the phrase mentioning who said the particular sentence, add a comma followed by open quotation marks, the words of the speaker (capitalise the first letter of the first word) followed by a period, question mark or exclamation mark and the close quotation marks.
Here are a few examples of direct speech that you can refer to.
ENGLISH Related Links | |
Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Request OTP on Voice Call
Post My Comment
Register with byju's & watch live videos.
Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms
ThoughtCo / Vin Ganapathy
Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer. Contrast with indirect speech . Also called direct discourse .
Direct speech is usually placed inside quotation marks and accompanied by a reporting verb , signal phrase , or quotative frame.
"While direct speech purports to give a verbatim rendition of the words that were spoken, indirect speech is more variable in claiming to represent a faithful report of the content or content and form of the words that were spoken. It is important to note, however, that the question of whether and how faithful a given speech report actually is, is of a quite different order. Both direct and indirect speech are stylistic devices for conveying messages. The former is used as if the words being used were those of another, which are therefore pivoted to a deictic center different from the speech situation of the report. Indirect speech, in contrast, has its deictic center in the report situation and is variable with respect to the extent that faithfulness to the linguistic form of what was said is being claimed." (Florian Coulmas, "Reported Speech: Some General Issues." Direct and Indirect Speech , ed. by F. Coulmas. Walter de Gruyter, 1986)
When a speaking event is reported via direct speech forms, it is possible to include many features that dramatize the way in which an utterance was produced. The quotative frame can also include verbs that indicate the speaker's manner of expression (e.g. cry, exclaim, gasp ), voice quality (e.g. mutter, scream, whisper ), and type of emotion (e.g. giggle, laugh, sob ). It can also include adverbs (e.g. angrily, brightly, cautiously, hoarsely, quickly, slowly ) and descriptions of the reported speaker's style and tone of voice, as illustrated in [5].
[5a] "I have some good news," she whispered in a mischievous way. [5b] "What is it?" he snapped immediately. [5c] "Can't you guess?" she giggled. [5d] "Oh, no! Don't tell me you're pregnant" he wailed, with a whining nasal sound in his voice.
The literary style of the examples in [5] is associated with an older tradition. In contemporary novels, there is often no indication, other than separate lines, of which character is speaking, as the direct speech forms are presented like a dramatic script, one after the other. (George Yule, Explaining English Grammar . Oxford University Press, 1998)
An interesting new way of signaling direct speech has developed among younger English speakers and is spreading from the United States to Britain. This occurs entirely in spoken conversation, rather than in writing.
- . . . Though the construction is new [in 1994] and not yet standard, its meaning is very clear. It seems to be used more often to report thoughts rather than actual speech. (James R. Hurford, Grammar: A Student's Guide . Cambridge University Press, 1994)
Even in the days of audio and video recording, there can be surprising differences in direct quotations attributed to the same source. A simple comparison of the same speech event covered in different newspapers can illustrate the problem. When his country was not invited to a meeting of the Commonwealth of Nations in 2003, the president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, said the following in a televised speech, according to The New York Times :
"If our sovereignty is what we have to lose to be re-admitted into the Commonwealth," Mr. Mugabe was quoted as saying on Friday, "we will say goodbye to the Commonwealth. And perhaps the time has now come to say so." (Wines 2003)
And the following according to an Associated Press story in the Philadelphia Inquirer .
"If our sovereignty is to be real, then we will say goodbye to the Commonwealth, [sic; second quotation mark missing] Mugabe said in remarks broadcast on state television. "Perhaps the time has come to say so." (Shaw 2003)
Did Mugabe produce both versions of these comments? If he gave only one, which published version is accurate? Do the versions have different sources? Are the differences in the exact wording significant or not? (Jeanne Fahnestock, Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion . Oxford University Press, 2011)
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech. Change of Pronouns. Change of Tenses. Change of Time and Place References. Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech. Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks. Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker. Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb. Step 4: Change the Pronouns.
Direct speech adds authenticity and captures the speaker's tone or emotions. On the other hand, reportedspeech is used to report the content of the speech in a more generalized or summarized manner. Direct Speech is often involved in writing literature, storytelling, and news reporting. The primary purpose of direct speech is to add an ...
Reported speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Reported speech is the form in which one can convey a message said by oneself or someone else, mostly in the past. It can also be said to be the third person view of what someone has said. In this form of speech, you need not use quotation marks as you are not quoting the exact words spoken by the speaker, but just conveying the message. Q2.
There are two kinds of reported speech you can use: direct speech and indirect speech. I'll break each down for you. A direct speech sentence mentions the exact words the other person said. For example: Kryz said, "These are all my necklaces.". Indirect speech changes the original speaker's words. For example: Kryz said those were all ...
In direct speech, the exact words spoken by a person are quoted within quotation marks. In indirect speech, the words of the speaker are reported without using their exact words and without using quotation marks. Instead, the reported speech is often introduced by verbs such as "said," "told," "asked," etc. Indirect speech allows us ...
Reported speech: She said she was going to the store then. In this example, the pronoun "I" is changed to "she" and the adverb "now" is changed to "then.". 2. Change the tense: In reported speech, you usually need to change the tense of the verb to reflect the change from direct to indirect speech. Here's an example:
Reported Speech Examples. When using reported speech, you are usually talking about the past. The verbs, therefore, usually have to be in the past too. For example: Direct speech: I've lost my umbrella. Reported speech: He said (that) he had lost his umbrella. Another example: Direct speech: She is doing her homework.
Direct speech is when we report what someone says by repeating the exact words. In writing, we use inverted commas: Michelle said, "I'll call them tomorrow." (direct speech) Indirect speech (also called reported speech) is when we give the same meaning of what someone says without repeating the exact words. In this case, we do not use inverted ...
Direct speech: I like ice cream. Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream. She said (that) she liked ice cream. She said (that) she was living in London. She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car. She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
Reported speech is when we repeat what another person has said but instead of using their exact words in quotation marks (direct speech), we use subordinate clause introduced by a reporting verb like the ones below: He says/said …. She explains/explained …. She tells/told me …. He asks/asked …. Often, we have to change the tense ...
Also called reported discourse. Traditionally, two broad categories of reported speech have been recognized: direct speech (in which the original speaker's words are quoted word for word) and indirect speech (in which the original speaker's thoughts are conveyed without using the speaker's exact words). However, a number of linguists have ...
Reported speech: direct speech - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
Use 'not to' if the sentence begins without Don't.4. Don't use 'that'5. Omit the word 'please'. Use the word 'request' instead of 'say'.6. If the direct speech contains a request or a command, the reporting verb (say, said) change to tell, request, order, command etc. in its correct tense. 7.
Definition of Indirect Speech. Indirect speech is also known as reported speech.You may also see it referred to as indirect discourse or indirect narration.. Indirect speech is the reporting of what someone else said in your own words but without changing the meaning of what was said.. Reporting verbs are used to present indirect speech. The common ones are:
Direct and Indirect Speech. When writers write about phrases or sentences a source has said, they can use either direct speech or indirect speech. Direct speech is used to repeat what someone else ...
Direct and Indirect Speech Examples. 1. Direct: "I love reading books," Jane said. Indirect: Jane said that she loved reading books. 2. Direct: "We will go to the park," they announced. Indirect: They announced that they would go to the park. 3. Direct: "I have finished my homework," he told his mother.
Direct: Mary said, "I am going to the US next month." Indirect: Mary said that she was going to the US the following month.; Direct: The sports teacher said, "Run fast, boys." Indirect: The sports teacher asked the boys to run fast.; In these two examples, you might have observed that when we use direct speech, we use quotations to outline the real words of the speaker.
Direct speech is a way of reporting the exact words spoken by someone, allowing the speaker's original phrasing and expression to be conveyed. In writing, direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks to indicate that the words are being quoted directly. For example, if someone says, "I am going to the park," and you want to report it exactly as it was said, you would use direct speech.
3.2 Direct and indirect speech. When the dialogue is presented with reporting clauses such as 'shouted his uncle' or 'said Tom', this is called direct speech.When dialogue is presented without reporting clauses, such as with Uncle Alan's long speech and Tom's single word reply, this is called free direct speech.With direct speech, we assume that the words in the speech marks are ...
Direct speech is a word-to-word repetition of what the speaker or writer has conveyed. In other words, it is the way in which you report the exact words of the speaker. Direct speech can be used to convey something that is being said in the present or to tell someone at a later point of time. Q2.
Direct Speech as Drama . When a speaking event is reported via direct speech forms, it is possible to include many features that dramatize the way in which an utterance was produced. The quotative frame can also include verbs that indicate the speaker's manner of expression (e.g. cry, exclaim, gasp), voice quality (e.g. mutter, scream, whisper), and type of emotion (e.g. giggle, laugh, sob).