Direct and Indirect Speech

In English, there are two ways to convey what someone has said.

• Direct Speech
• Indirect Speech

These two forms are crucial for reporting what someone has said, and each has its own unique structure and usage.

Direct (Quoted) Speech#

Direct speech, also known as quoted speech, involves quoting the exact words spoken by someone. The quoted words are enclosed in quotation marks, and the reporting verb (e.g., said, asked, exclaimed) often comes before or after the quotation.

Features#

• Quotation Marks: Direct speech is typically enclosed in quotation marks (" “).
  • Example: She said, “I am going to the market.”
• Reporting Clause: The reporting clause indicates who is speaking and can come before, after, or in the middle of the direct speech.
  • Examples:
    • Before: John said, “I’ll be late.”
    • After: “I’ll be late,” John said.
    • Middle: “I’ll be,” John said, “late.”
• Reporting Verb: Common reporting verbs include said, asked, exclaimed, replied, etc.
• Capitalization: The first word of the direct speech begins with a capital letter.
  • Example: He said, “This is important.”

Example#

• She said, “I am going to the market.”
• He asked, “What time is the meeting?”

Punctuation Rules#

• Before the Quotation: A comma or a colon can be used.
  • Example: He said, “Hello.”
• Within the Quotation: Punctuation marks (like question marks, exclamation marks) that are part of the quoted speech are kept inside the quotation marks.
  • Example: She asked, “Are you coming?”
• Interrupted Quotations: If the speech is interrupted by the reporting clause, a comma is used within the quotation marks to separate the segments.
  • Example: “If you don’t mind,” he said, “I’d like to join you.”

Indirect (Reported) Speech#

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves paraphrasing what someone has said without quoting their exact words. The structure of the sentence changes, and quotation marks are not used.

Features#

• No Quotation Marks: Unlike direct speech, indirect speech does not use quotation marks.
  • Example: She said that she was going to the market.
• Reporting Verbs: Common reporting verbs include say, tell, ask, etc.
  • Example: He said that he would be late.
• Changes in Pronouns: Pronouns are changed to match the perspective of the reporting speaker.
  • Example: Direct: She said, “I am tired.” → Indirect: She said that she was tired.
• Tense Changes: The tense of the verb in the original speech often changes in indirect speech.
  • Example: Direct: He said, “I will go.” → Indirect: He said that he would go.
• Punctuation: Indirect speech does not use punctuation marks like commas or question marks that are specific to direct speech.
  • Example: Direct: “Can we meet tomorrow?” she asked. → Indirect: She asked if we could meet the next day.

Example#

• She said that she was going to the market.
• He asked what time the meeting was.