Direct Speech

Direct speech repeats, or quotes, the exact words spoken. When we use
direct speech in writing, we place the words spoken between quotation
marks (" ") and there is no change in these words. We may be reporting
something that's being said NOW (for example a telephone conversation), or
telling someone later about a previous conversation.

Examples

 She says, "What time will you be home?"

 She said, "What time will you be home?" and I said, "I don't know! "
 "There's a fly in my soup!" screamed Simone.
 John said, "There's an elephant outside the window."

Indirect speech
Reported or indirect speech is usually used to talk about the past, so we
normally change the tense of the words spoken. We use reporting verbs like
'say', 'tell', 'ask', and we may use the word 'that' to introduce the reported
words. Inverted commas are not used.

She said, "I saw him." (direct speech) = She said that she had seen him.
(indirect speech)

"That" may be omitted:

She told him that she was happy. = She told him she was happy.

"Say" and "tell"

Use 'say' when there is no indirect object:
He said that he was tired.

Always use 'tell' when you say who was being spoken to (i.e. with an indirect
object):
He told me that he was tired.

"Talk" and "speak"

Use these verbs to describe the action of communicating:
He talked to us.
She was speaking on the telephone.
Use these verbs with 'about' to refer to what was said:
He talked (to us) about his parents.

1. Direct Speech:

a) Definition:

Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, usually enclosed in quotation marks. It refers
to the exact language a person used without altering it.

For example:

She said, "I am going to the store."

The quotation marks indicate that these are the speaker’s original words.

b) When to Use Direct Speech:

When you want to convey the speaker's original words without changing them.

In narrative writing, to create a realistic conversation or dialogue.

To provide a stronger sense of what was actually said.

c) How to Form Direct Speech:

When forming direct speech:

Place the exact words of the speaker within quotation marks.

Use a comma or colon to introduce the quote, depending on the structure of the sentence.

The reporting verb (such as said, asked, told, etc.) can come either before, after, or even in the middle of
the quoted speech.

For example:

He said, "I will call you tomorrow."

"I will call you tomorrow," he said.

"I will," he said, "call you tomorrow."

d) Punctuation in Direct Speech:

The first word inside the quotation marks always starts with a capital letter.

The comma usually comes before the opening quotation mark if the reporting verb comes first (e.g., He
said, "It's raining.").

If the direct speech is broken up by a reporting verb, the second part of the quote starts with a
lowercase letter (e.g., "It's raining," he said, "but I don't mind.").

e) Examples:
He said, "I love ice cream."

"Can I come with you?" she asked.

They shouted, "Watch out!"

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2. Indirect Speech (Reported Speech):

a) Definition:

Indirect speech is when you report what someone said without quoting their exact words. You
paraphrase the message and make grammatical changes to fit the sentence into your own speech.

For example:

Direct: "I am going to the store," she said.

Indirect: She said that she was going to the store.

There are no quotation marks in indirect speech, and the tense often changes based on the time frame.

b) When to Use Indirect Speech:

When you don’t need to quote someone exactly, but want to summarize or convey the meaning of what
they said.

When the exact wording isn’t important, or when you’re reporting something that was said in the past.

In formal writing, indirect speech is more common.

c) How to Form Indirect Speech:

To change from direct to indirect speech, several grammatical changes are needed:

i) Changes in Pronouns:

Pronouns often need to be adjusted to fit the perspective of the reporter.

For example:

Direct: "I am tired," said Mark.

Indirect: Mark said that he was tired.

ii) Tense Changes:

The tense usually shifts back in indirect speech, especially if the reporting verb is in the past.

Present Simple in direct speech becomes Past Simple in indirect.

Direct: "I play football."

Indirect: He said that he played football.

Present Continuous becomes Past Continuous.

Direct: "I am working."

Indirect: He said that he was working.

Past Simple becomes Past Perfect.

Direct: "I watched the movie."

Indirect: He said that he had watched the movie.

Present Perfect becomes Past Perfect.

Direct: "I have eaten."

Indirect: He said that he had eaten.

Future Simple (will) becomes Conditional (would).

Direct: "I will visit you."

Indirect: He said that he would visit me.

iii) Changes in Time and Place Expressions:

Certain words referring to time or place need to change to fit the new context of the indirect speech.

For example:

Direct: "I will meet you tomorrow," she said.

Indirect: She said that she would meet me the next day.

d) Common Reporting Verbs:

Said: The most common verb used to introduce indirect speech.

Told: Often used when there is an indirect object (i.e., someone being spoken to).

She told me she would be late.

Asked: For reporting questions.

He asked if I had finished my homework.

Requested: For reporting polite requests.

She requested that I close the window.

e) Examples of Indirect Speech:

Direct: "I am studying," she said.

Indirect: She said that she was studying.

Direct: "Will you come with me?" he asked.

Indirect: He asked if I would come with him.

Direct: "I finished my project yesterday," he said.

Indirect: He said that he had finished his project the day before.

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3. Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech:

a) Quotation Marks:
Direct Speech: Uses quotation marks to show the exact words spoken.

Indirect Speech: No quotation marks are used because the speech is paraphrased.

b) Tense:

Direct Speech: Tense remains the same as the original speaker's words.

Indirect Speech: The tense often shifts back in time.

c) Pronouns and Time Expressions:

Direct Speech: Pronouns and time expressions stay the same as the original speaker’s.

Indirect Speech: Pronouns and time expressions often change to fit the context of the reporter.

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4. Examples of Conversion from Direct to Indirect Speech:

1. Direct: "I am learning English," she said. Indirect: She said that she was learning English.

2. Direct: "I will visit my parents next week," John said. Indirect: John said that he would visit his parents
the following week.
3. Direct: "Did you finish your homework?" the teacher asked. Indirect: The teacher asked if I had
finished my homework.

4. Direct: "Don't touch the stove!" my mother warned. Indirect: My mother warned me not to touch the
stove.

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5. Exercises:

a) Convert the following sentences from direct to indirect speech:

1. Direct: "I can speak French," she said.

2. Direct: "Are you coming to the party?" he asked.

3. Direct: "We will meet at the station tomorrow," they said.

4. Direct: "I don’t like chocolate," Anna said.

5. Direct: "I am watching TV," he said.

b) Answers:

1. Indirect: She said that she could speak French.

2. Indirect: He asked if I was coming to the party.

3. Indirect: They said that they would meet at the station the next day.

4. Indirect: Anna said that she didn’t like chocolate.

5. Indirect: He said that he was watching TV.