He said, "I feel great."
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.
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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.
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Introduction
Deborah Tannen in her article “ When you shouldn’t tell it like is”, compiled on 1 st March 1987. (Tannen), stated the need for discretion in certain conversations. There are times when information to be conveyed should not always be delivered outright. For example the sudden death of a person and how this might be conveyed to the family member. The consideration of shock to the potential receiver of the news and the instant damage this may invoke. As such a softer approach is required that delivers such news gradually rather than a direct hit.
Tannen explains this in greater detail outlining many reasons where direct speech may be inappropriate under certain circumstances.
Tanners Concepts
Tanner suggests a number of different approaches in the consideration of delivering indirect speech. The first of these relates to keeping your verbal distance . In this regard it considers two aspects of delivering speech i.e. getting involved or being detached. In the delivery of bad news like that of a death you need to remain detached but equally empathetic to the family member who is receiving the news. Given human behavioural patterns this can prove difficult as there is a natural leaning towards becoming involved. The concept of being detached allows you to become more supportive and focused upon the delivery of bad news and delivering this in a gentle manner so as the recipient has time to adjust and grasp the full extent of the message to be delivered. .
Tanner also considers the concepts of hypocrisy and dishonesty. The concept of dishonesty being not meaning what you are saying, whereas hypocrisy being not saying what is meant. These two aspects frequently surface in conversations.
Tanner states that in the art of communication and the telling of truths it can on occasions be difficult on deciding which truths to tell. This to avoid being criticised or condemned in the delivery of the message. Equally what you consider may be obvious ( in your opinion), indeed may not be perfectly obvious to another ( in their opinion). Tanner stresses the need for clarity in speech as an indirect conversation often lacks distinctiveness and purpose of meaning.
Personal Opinion
There is certainly a need to be mindful in the use of direct and indirect speech. Parents have been lying and using this tactic to the children for a long time. For example a girl complains to her mother that a friend says she is fat. The mother responds by saying that no you are not fat, in order to comfort her, essentially a lie but the parent is being mindful of what a harsh comment might have on the psychological wellbeing of her daughter. In most instances it is better to tell the truth but this depends on circumstances and there will be occasions where an indirect or softer approach may be required and this may involve you in a lie or deception. The important point is to be aware of the consequences of your own action and have a responsible plan in the event of being found out. The mother might say that she did not want to unduly alarm her daughter and had secretly addressed a change in the balance of her diet in order that the issue would be resolved without making her worried and upset. The emphasis being changed from a lie to that of a concern attached with remedial action.
The need for subtlety in speech and delivery thereof is important in the art of communication and the need of consideration in the prevention of doing harm or hurt to other people. It should be used in discretion and delivered wisely.
Works Cited
Tannen, Deborah. “When you shouldn’t tell it like it is.” Washington Post 1 3 1987: 1. Newspaper.
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There are many occasions in which we need to describe an event or action that happened, and very often that includes repeating what someone said. Such occasions can include a social situation as well as in a work email or presentation. In order to describe what people said there are two different types of speech – direct speech and indirect speech (or reported speech).
Read the article below to find out more about these forms and improve your English storytelling skills.
Do you want to practice your English speaking skills with small classes with native-level teachers? Find out more about Speak+ now
When we want to describe what someone said, one option is to use direct speech . We use direct speech when we simply repeat what someone says, putting the phrase between speech marks:
It is very common to see direct speech used in books or in a newspaper article. For example:
As you can see, with direct speech it is common to use the verb ‘to say’ (‘said’ in the past). But you can also find other verbs used to indicate direct speech such as ‘ask’, ‘reply’, and ‘shout’. For example:
When we want to report what someone said without speech marks and without necessarily using exactly the same words, we can use indirect speech (also called reported speech). For example:
When we report what someone says in the present simple, as in the above sentence, we normally don’t change the tense, we simply change the subject. However, when we report things in the past, we usually change the tense by moving it one step back. For example, in the following sentence the present simple becomes the past simple in indirect speech:
All the other tenses follow a similar change in indirect speech. Here is an example for all the main tenses:
The same rule of moving the tenses one step back also applies to modal verbs. For example:
As an alternative to using ‘say’ we can also use ‘tell’ (‘told’ in the past) in reported speech, but in this case you need to add the object pronoun. For example:
Sometimes it’s necessary to change the time expressions when you report speech, especially when you are speaking about the past and the time reference no longer applies. For example:
Here are some other examples:
When you report a question you need to change the interrogative form into an affirmative sentence, putting the verb tense one step back, as with normal reported speech.
There are two types of questions that we can report – questions that have a yes/no response, and questions that begin with a question word like ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘who’ etc. When we report a yes/no question, we use ‘if’. For example:
As you can see, in the reported version of the question, ‘do’ is eliminated because it is no longer a question, and the verb ‘live’ becomes ‘lived’.
For questions starting with question words like ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘who’, etc., we report the question using the question word but change the interrogative form to the affirmative form. For example:
When we report a question we normally use the verb ‘ask’. As with the verb ‘to tell’, the verb ‘to ask’ is normally followed by an object pronoun, though it is possible to omit it.
When you give someone an order, you use the imperative form, which means using just the verb without a subject. For example:
To report an order we use ‘tell’ and the infinitive of the verb. For example:
When you make a request, you normally use words like ‘can’, ‘could’, or ‘will’. For example:
To report a request, we use the verb ‘to ask’ and the infinitive form of the verb. For example:
Now you’ve seen how we use direct and indirect speech , practice using them yourself. An excellent and easy way to see how they are used is by reading a short story in English or a news article online, because stories and articles contain many examples of reported speech.
We can use adverbs in many ways, from describing how often we do something to where we do it. What about adverbs of manner? What are they for and how do we use them? Read on to find out more!
The past perfect simple is used to refer to something more in the past than another action or situation. Read on to find out more!
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The distinction between Direct and Indirect Speech may be confusing for some students. Often when we need to explain an incident or action, it involves quoting what someone said. A social situation, as well as a work email or presentation, are examples of such instances. There are two forms of Speech used to explain what other people say: direct Speech and indirect Speech (or reported Speech).
The same words spoken are quoted indirect Speech. If we use Direct Speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We may be reporting something that is being said (for example, a phone conversation) or asking someone about a previous conversation later.
Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."
Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"
Supriya said, "I don't know!"
When we use reported or Indirect Speech to speak about the past, we generally change the tense of the words we say. We use reporting verbs like 'say,' 'tell,' and 'ask,' and we can introduce the reported words with the word 'that.' There are no inverted commas in this sentence.
For Example,
Mahima said that she had seen him.
Nirmal said he was looking forward to playing in the match on Saturday.
Children often mix up Direct and Indirect Speech. We need a way to say the difference between what someone is claimed to have said and what they said when we're writing. What did she say if you asked her? You may respond in one of two ways:
“I don’t like pizza,” Siddi said. (Direct Speech)
Siddi says she doesn’t like pizza. (Indirect Speech)
Note how Speech marks (“...”) are used in Direct Speech to indicate precisely what was said. Speech labels are located at the beginning and end of the actual words spoken. The words 'Siddi said' are not in Speech marks because they were not spoken aloud; rather, they are a way for the writer to express who was speaking to the reader.
The past tense is often used in reported Speech. This is because the words have already been spoken, and the writer is simply reporting on what has already been saying. It's critical to think about what was said and convert it to the past tense.
Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let’s discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail.
Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense.
Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location and time.
Step 3: For both the object and the subject, use the correct pronoun.
Step 4: Make sure the sentence has the correct structure and word order.
Now we'll go through each of these measures in greater depth.
Case 1: Nirmal said, ‘I go to the gym every day.
Case 2: Nirmal says, ‘I go to the gym every day.’
The verb ‘say' is used in both of the instances above to express the action of speaking. In addition, the reporting verb say is used in the past tense in the first case – said. In case 2, however, the reporting verb is in the present tense.
As a consequence, all verbs must be in the relevant past tense here. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, this is often followed. Thus, Nirmal said, ‘I go to the class every day will change to Nirmal said that he went to the gym every day.
The second rule is that the tense is not changed whether the reporting verb is in the future or present tense. So, Nirmal says, ‘I go to the class every day will be changed to Nirmal says that he goes to the class every day.
The time or place specified in the sentence should be changed to match the current time or position.
On 21st, May 2015: ‘I will come tomorrow,’ Sriram said.
On 21st, May 2015, Sriram said that he would come the next day.
Case 1: Saurav will say to his friends, “I have started learning psychology” will change to Saurav will tell his friends that he has started learning psychology.
In this case, the speaker and the reporter are the same people. As a consequence, the pronoun should be the first person pronoun.
Case 2: Ma’am said to me, “I hope you will bring the geometry to my next class” will changed to Ma’am hoped that I would bring the geometry to her next class.
The speaker is ma'am, and the reporter is the student. As a consequence, the ma'am pronoun should be in the third person. The reporter's pronoun should also be in the first person.
Remember that we do not change the tense of the reporting verb within the quotation marks when it is in the present or future tense.
When using English, you'll want to use both direct and indirect Speech regularly, so make sure you're familiar with both and can use them correctly. Direct Speech isn't always an accurate representation of what someone has said. Using inverted commas before and after the quotation, you may quote from other texts similarly. Instead of using the verb "to tell," consider using a verb like "to compose," "to state," or "to define." You may convey what is being reported using a variety of verbs; for example, while "to say" is widely used, you may also want to use "to tell" to explain something that has been told to you. Keeping a small diary of what has been said around you is an important way to practise – explain what people have said and try to write a few examples of each form.
1. What is Direct and Indirect Speech with Examples?
The same words spoken are quoted in the direct speech. If we use direct speech in writing, we bring the words spoken between quotation marks (" ") and leave them alone. We are talking about the present moment and we are talking about the original content. Direct Speech: “I'm seeing my brother tomorrow.” or “I’ll call them tomorrow”
While reporting if we are changing the words without changing the meaning of the sentence then it is called indirect speech. Here the present tense is converted into past tense. Here the sentence of the speaker is summarized without changing the meaning and reported.
Indirect Speech: She said she was seeing her brother the following day. Or She said that it was hot.
2. What are Simple Rules for Conversion of Indirect Speech to Direct Speech?
Both inverted commas and quotation marks should be eliminated. Put a full stop at the end of the sentence. Shift the present tense of the verb within the inverted commas/quotation marks to the corresponding past tense. Shift it to the past perfect tense if it's in the simple past tense.
Step 1: change the tenses from present to past
Present Tense: I like chocolates
Past Tense: she said that she liked chocolates
Step 2: Change the sentences from simple past to past perfect
Present: He arrived on Tuesday
Past: He said that he had arrived on Tuesday
Step 3: while converting future tense, ‘will’ changes to would
Present: I will be attending the wedding.
Past: She said that she would be attending the wedding.
Step 4: change the present continuous tense to the past continuous tense.
Present: We are eating dinner
Past: They said that they were eating dinner.
Step 5: Change the Present Perfect Tense into Past Perfect Tense
Present: She has finished her task.
Past: She said that she had finished her task.
Step 6: Change the Past Progressive Tense into the Perfect Continuous Tense
Present: My husband was cooking
Past: She said that her husband had been cooking.
Step 7: And also remember past perfect and past perfect progressive doesn't change.
Step 8: And also the future Progressive Tense changes into “would be”. The Future Perfect Tense changes into “would have”.The Future Perfect Progressive Tense changes into “would have been”.
And also follow these simple rules.
The conjunction ‘that’ is used in indirect speech.
The pronoun ‘I’ has to be changed according to the person.
The verb “am" is changed to “was".
For converting to Indirect speech, the words representing nearness will be changed to the words representing distance like the adverb “now” will be converted to the word “Then”, here now represent the nearness in time while ‘then’ represent distance.
3. What are the Examples of Direct Speech?
Few examples of Direct speech are:
Nirmal said, "There's a dog outside the window."
Mahima says, "What time will you be home?"
Supriya said, "I don't know!"
I like chocolates.
Where do you live in?
Where are you?
I play basketball
I do yoga every morning
Can you pass me the bottle, please?
I brought a new pen
I will shift to Mumbai
She had worked hard.
My mom is preparing sweets
Don’t talk to me
I play chess every day
Ananth is dancing on the floor
I like Sachin Tendulkar
She plays the guitar very well
4. Differentiate between Direct and Indirect Speech.
|
|
While reporting if we use the exact words of the user, then it is called direct speech. | While reporting, if we gave the same meaning without using exact words then it is called indirect speech. |
While writing we use inverted commas | We don’t use inverted commas |
Here the words are repeated originally | Here speaker words are summarized, modified |
Here it is happening at the present moment | It is in past tense |
Any form of verbs can be used | Most commonly said and told is used |
I'll come to the party by 8 PM | he said that he would come to the party by 8 PM |
5. Give some examples for indirect speech.
She said that she liked chocolates
He said that he played basketball
She asked me to be on time
Neha said that her parents were very well.
He said that he played chess every day
She told me that she liked Sachin Tendulkar
She told me that she had been to the USA.
She said that she had finished her task.
he said that he would come to the party by 8 PM
She said that she hadn’t seen Nupur recently.
She asked me to bring her dress the next day
He asked us not to be late.
They told that they were ready for competition
English Basics
In English grammar, sentences are the key part that helps us convey our thoughts and ideas. Without sentences, it would be impossible for us to interact, state, or speak out our thoughts. But sentences can be of different types. Different sentences convey different information in their own unique ways.
Today, we will learn about one such unique sentence structure that works on its own functionality, the direct speech . In general, direct speech can be defined as a sentence where the exact words used by some speaker or writer are used to convey the message. Here, we make a sentence that uses the same words from the original speech that some person, at some point, spoke.
However, there are certain rules that we need to follow while using a direct speech sentence. If you are not aware of them, refer to the explanations below and enlighten yourself with every rule to avoid confusion.
By definition, direct speech is a sentence in which the exact words used or spoken by a speaker is presented. This is a sentence structure in which the words of a person are reproduced in speech marks. This is especially used to make the readers feel engaged or quote something very important.
In simple words, direct speech is the sentence where we see quotation marks or inverted commas containing a certain set of words in the grammatical tense of when it was originally spoken. That means the message that someone at some point has written or spoken is conveyed exactly in the same manner in the present.
This form of sentence structure is used for various different purposes. However, the most common use of direct speech is storytelling or quoting a thought. It makes dialogue presentation easy and helps understand characters more interestingly and engagingly.
If you are still confused, look at the examples below to understand easily:
In the above examples, we can notice that different sets of words are stated inside quotation marks. And those words are evidently not being spoken in a current state. So, direct speech is a sentence where the exact words spoken at some point are written in a new sentence. This is to convey the exact message that the original speaker had conveyed.
Now that we know what direct speech is, it is important to learn how to form and use one correctly. Direct speech is the presentation of the exact words of some person. It may seem easy in that sense. But there are some rules, especially punctuating rules, that we need to be aware of.
Some of the main rules regarding direct speech are;
• In a direct speech sentence, the speech of a particular person should always be between speech marks. That means the speech is opened and closed by speech marks, quotation marks, or inverted commas. For example: “I hate math classes,” said Vicky.
• The next important rule is that each character’s new speech will start on a new line. Also, each line of speech will begin with a capital letter.
• A line of speech usually ends with a comma, question mark, or exclamation mark. Further, if a sentence needs to be broken up for added information, we can use commas or question marks to finish the first part of the speech.
• A reporting clause mostly comes at the end of the sentence. Reporting clause means the phrase that indicates we are referring to the words that someone said or thought. They are the part that goes like: He said, Sarah asked, they screamed , etc. It is usually placed at the end of a sentence. But in some cases, it can also come in the beginning.
• Each reporting clause is ended with a full stop. But that is the case usually when it is mentioned at the end of a sentence. If a reporting clause is used at the beginning of a sentence, we will generally end it with a comma.
These are the general rules that we need to learn in order to form direct speech sentences. Missing any of these points can cause grammatical errors.
There is another form of speech in grammar, the indirect speech. Indirect speech and direct speech are both different types of sentences that convey a message in different ways.
As we learned, direct speech is a sentence where the exact same words spoken by someone are presented. On the other hand, indirect speech is where we rephrase the words of the speaker in a sentence. In indirect speech, only the necessary or important points of someone’s message or speech are reported.
Here, unlike direct speech, we do not write the full speech of the speaker. Instead, we report the necessary content by rephrasing them in our own words.
For example;
Direct speech: “I am bored of school activities,” John screamed. Here, the exact words used by John are conveyed. There is no change or replacement of words.
Indirect speech: Sam said that he wanted to go to the movies.
Here, the words used might not match exactly with the words used by Sam in the original context. However, the main objective is to convey the same message. And in indirect speech, we do that without quoting the person’s speech.
So, this is the basic difference between direct speech and indirect speech. Both the speech types work equally well in different situations. However, when it concerns characters and dialogues, one cannot avoid direct speech to make the sentences more interactive and engaging.
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Back to: Direct and Indirect Speech (Narration)
Some easy examples of direct speech are given below. Attentively look at the use of punctuation marks, pronouns, proper nouns and type of sentences in the examples.
Table of Contents
Assertive sentence makes statement. It can be about a speaker’s thoughts and feelings or about day to day events, etc. assertive sentence always ends with full stop.
Interrogative sentence asks question. We can form interrogative sentence with WH-question, yes/no question. Interrogative sentence in direct speech always ends with question mark.
We use imperative sentence to give order, advice, to instruct or to request something.
Exclamatory sentence is used to convey or express emotions like joy, sorrow, pity, fear, wish etc. In case of Direct speech, exclamatory mark is used to show and stress on emotions in exclamatory sentence.
40 Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Sentences
Table of Contents
While using English, we use direct and indirect speeches quite often. If a sentence is expressed exactly as it came out of the mouth of the person who said it, it becomes a direct speech. However Indirect Speech (also called reported speech) refers to transmitting a sentence that someone has said. It is often used in daily language.
For example,
Susan said, “I ate pizza yesterday.”. (Direct Speech)
Mathilda said: “I have to go out.”. (Direct Speech)
Julie asked: “Did the train leave?” (Direct Speech)
1 | It is too late. | |
I said it was too late. | ||
2 | I had taken Spanish lessons before. | |
He said he had taken Spanish lessons before. | ||
3 | Did you do your homework? | |
He asked me if I did (had done) my homework. | ||
4 | Please help me carry this! | |
My mother asked me to help her carry that. | ||
5 | I like ice cream. | |
He said that he liked ice cream. | ||
6 | I’II see you later. | |
He said he would see me later. | ||
7 | I could swim when I was four. | |
He said he could swim when he was four. | ||
8 | I should call my mother. | |
He said he should call her mother. | ||
9 | I might be late. | |
He said he might be late. | ||
10 | He said, “I was teaching earlier.” | |
He said he had been teaching earlier. | ||
11 | Mary said, “I have been writing this essay.” | |
Mary said that he had been writing that essay. | ||
12 | Michael said, “I may go there.’ | |
Michael says that she may go there. | ||
13 | We can´t go the zoo next week. | |
They said they couldn’t go to the zoo next week. | ||
14 | George is said, “I write a letter”. | |
George is said that she wrote a letter. | ||
15 | I said, “He is driving a car” | |
I said that he was driving a car. | ||
16 | I am reading a book, he explained. | |
He explained that he was reading a book. | ||
17 | My father said, “I am cooking dinner.” | |
My father said he was cooking dinner. | ||
18 | My sister said, “I had already eaten.” | |
My sister said she had already eaten. | ||
19 | My boyfriend asked, “Do you like horror films?” | |
Do you like horror films? my boyfriend asked. | ||
20 | I never get up late, my mother said. | |
My mother said that she never got up late. |
21 | She said, “I might come early.” | |
She said she might come early. | ||
22 | I am leaving home now.” | |
He said that he left home then. | ||
23 | Are you living here? | |
He asked me if I was living here. | ||
24 | I’m going to come. | |
She said that she was going to come. | ||
25 | We can communicate smoothly. | |
They said that they could communicate smothly. | ||
26 | I often enjoy myself. | |
Mary will say that that she often enjoys herself. | ||
27 | Everything is going fine. | |
The news says that everything is going fine. | ||
28 | My father was born in 1962. | |
My father told us that he was born in 1962. | ||
29 | She said, “I’ve missed my train.” | |
She said that she’d missed her train. | ||
30 | I’m sorry for the accident. | |
Georger told Samuel (that) he was sorry for the accident. | ||
31 | He said, “I am a football player.” | |
He said that he was a football player. | ||
32 | Michael said, “I will buy a new car.” | |
Michael said that she will buy a new car. | ||
33 | Mark said, “Bill needs a pencil.” | |
Mark said that Bill needed a pencil. | ||
34 | She said, “I went to the shopping center.” | |
She said that she had gone to the shopping center. | ||
35 | I write poems. | |
He says that he writes poems. | ||
36 | She said: “I would buy new house if I were rich”. | |
She said that she would buy new house if she had been rich”. | ||
37 | May I go out? | |
She wanted to know if she might go out. | ||
38 | She is American, she said. | |
She said she was American. | ||
39 | My son, do the exercise.“ | |
Sh told her son to do the exercise. | ||
40 | I don’t know what to do. | |
Samuel added that he didn’t know what to do. |
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Published on May 21, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 29, 2022 by Jack Caulfield.
Quotation marks (also known as quotes or inverted commas) are used to indicate direct speech and quotations.
In academic writing, you need to use quotation marks when you quote a source . This includes quotes from published works and primary data such as interviews . The exception is when you use a block quote, which should be set off and indented without quotation marks.
Whenever you quote someone else’s words, use a signal phrase to introduce it and integrate the source into your own text. Don’t rely on quotations to make your point for you.
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Single vs. double quotation marks, quotes within quotes, punctuation following quotations, quotation marks for source titles, indirect quotation, scare quotes, frequently asked questions about quotation marks.
There are two types of quotation marks: ‘single’ and “double.” Which one to choose generally depends on whether you are using US or UK English . The US convention is to use double quotation marks, while the UK convention is usually to use single quotation marks.
US English | UK English |
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Double quotation marks can also be acceptable in UK English, provided you are consistent throughout the text. APA Style requires double quotations.
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When your quotations are nested (i.e., a quote appears inside another quote), you should use the opposite style of quotation marks for the nested quotation.
US English | UK English |
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US and UK English also differ on where to place punctuation within quotation marks.
US English | UK English |
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In all variants of English, a question mark appears inside the quotation marks when the person quoted was asking a question, but outside when it’s you asking the question.
Note that when you include a parenthetical citation after a quote, the punctuation mark always comes after the citation (except with block quotes ).
Some source titles (e.g., the title of a journal article) should be presented in quotation marks in your text. Others are italicized instead (or occasionally written in plain text).
The rules for how to format different source titles are largely the same across citation styles, though some details differ. The key principles apply in all the main styles:
Some examples are shown below, with the proper formatting:
Indirect quotation means reporting what someone said without using exactly the same words they did.
It’s a lot like paraphrasing , except that you’re only changing the words you need to in order to fit the statement into your new sentence grammatically. For example, changing the pronouns or the verb tense .
Indirect quotation is more common in everyday speech, but it can occur in academic writing too. When it does, keep in mind that you should only use quotation marks around words taken directly from the original speaker or author.
“Scare quotes” are quotation marks used around words that are not a direct quotation from a specific source. They are used to signal that a term is being used in an unusual or ironic way, that it is borrowed from someone else, or that the writer is skeptical about the term.
While scare quotes have their uses in academic writing (e.g., when referring to controversial terms), they should only be used with good reason. Inappropriate use of scare quotes creates ambiguity.
In these examples, the words within scare quotes are widely accepted terms with clear meanings that can’t be attributed to a specific person or source. Using quotation marks implies skepticism about the concepts in question.
The use of single and double quotation marks when quoting differs between US and UK English . In US English, you must use double quotation marks. Single quotation marks are used for quotes within quotes.
In UK English, it’s most common to use single quotation marks, with double quotation marks for quotes within quotes, although the other way around is acceptable too.
A quote is an exact copy of someone else’s words, usually enclosed in quotation marks and credited to the original author or speaker.
If you’re quoting from a text that paraphrases or summarizes other sources and cites them in parentheses , APA and Chicago both recommend retaining the citations as part of the quote. However, MLA recommends omitting citations within a quote:
Footnote or endnote numbers that appear within quoted text should be omitted in all styles.
If you want to cite an indirect source (one you’ve only seen quoted in another source), either locate the original source or use the phrase “as cited in” in your citation.
Quotes within quotes are punctuated differently to distinguish them from the surrounding quote .
Make sure to close both sets of quotes!
Indirect quotation means reporting what someone said (or wrote) but not using their exact words. It’s similar to paraphrasing , but it only involves changing enough words to fit the statement into your sentence grammatically (e.g., changing the tense or the pronouns ).
Since some of the words have changed, indirect quotations are not enclosed in quotation marks .
We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.
McCombes, S. (2022, November 29). When to Use Quotation Marks ("") | Rules & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/language-rules/quotation-marks/
Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Garner, B. A. (2016). Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Other students also liked, how to quote | citing quotes in apa, mla & chicago, how to block quote | length, format and examples, get unlimited documents corrected.
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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. Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech. Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech. Direct Speech Examples. Indirect Speech Examples. Frequently Asked Questions.
ThoughtCo / Vin Ganapathy. By. Richard Nordquist. Updated on September 02, 2021. 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.
Avoid verbs that aren't speech verbs in your speech declarations. Add actions or thoughts into direct speech, using the 'before' or 'after' approach. 1. New speaker = new paragraph. This is the first rule, and it's a very straightforward one. When a new person speaks, you should start a new paragraph.
Direct Speech Direct speech shows a person's exact words. Quotation marks ("....") are a sign that the words are the exact words that a person used. Reported Speech Reported speech puts the speaker's words or ideas into a sentence without quotation marks. Noun clauses are usually used. In reported speech, the reader does not assume that the words are the speaker's exact words; often, they are ...
Grammar rules - If the reporting clause is before the direct speech: We write a comma (,) before the direct speech. We write the exact words inside the inverted commas. The first letter is a capital letter. We write a full stop (.) before the closing inverted commas.
The 4 Rs of paraphrasing. According to the Virtual Library, here are four steps to paraphrase: Reword the text by using synonyms or different parts of speech; change verb tense or change active verbs to passive and vice versa. Rearrange by moving words to make new sentences or reorganize the sentences in a passage.
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 ...
Here are some examples: Example 1: Everyday conversation Direct speech: "Hey, how are you doing?" asked John. In this example, John's exact words are being reported using direct speech. Example 2: News article Direct speech: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved friend and colleague," said the company's CEO in a ...
A direct speech can be transformed into an indirect speech and vice versa using a suitable reporting verb and a linker depending on the sentence. Let's have an example first. Tina said to me, "Are you busy now?" [direct speech] Tina asked me whether I was busy then. [indirect speech] Direct Speech. Speaker. Reporting verb. Direct speech ...
Direct speech. Direct speech is when we report the exact words that somebody says. In this lesson you will learn: The rules for writing direct speech. The correct punctuation. Vocabulary to report direct speech. And finally, at the end of the lesson there are some exercises for practice. Reporting clause before the direct speech.
As direct and indirect speech has already been taught prepare flash cards with a sentence in direct speech on one side and the same sentence in indirect speech on the other side. Example : 1) Baiju said, " I am going home.". 2) Baiju said that he was going out. Divide the class into pairs and provide 2 flash cards to each group.
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 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.
Now consider the different grammatical aspects of both. Reporting Speech: The first part of the direct speech is called reporting speech (she says). Reported Speech: The second part of the sentence, which is enclosed in inverted commas or quotation marks, is called reported speech (I am a little bit nervous). Reporting Verb: The verb of the reporting speech is called the reporting verb (says).
When writing dialogue in a story or essay, it is important to use direct speech. This can be accomplished by using quotation marks and following the rules of punctuation. It is also important to make sure that the speaker's words are consistent with their character traits. By taking these steps, writers can create realistic and interesting ...
Tanner stresses the need for clarity in speech as an indirect conversation often lacks distinctiveness and purpose of meaning. Personal Opinion. There is certainly a need to be mindful in the use of direct and indirect speech. Parents have been lying and using this tactic to the children for a long time. For example a girl complains to her ...
Direct speech: "I'm seeing my brother tomorrow.". Indirect speech: She said she was seeing her brother the following day. Here are some other examples: Direct speech: "I had a headache yesterday.". Indirect speech: You said you'd had a headache the day before yesterday. Direct speech: "It's been raining since this afternoon.".
Direct and Indirect Narration Rules. Following are the steps to convert the Direct/Indirect Speech and also let's discuss Direct and Indirect Speech tenses rules in detail. Step 1: Write down the reporting verb that is used to determine the Indirect Speech's tense. Step 2: Change the position and time to reflect the speaker's actual location ...
Direct speech: "I am bored of school activities," John screamed. Here, the exact words used by John are conveyed. There is no change or replacement of words. Indirect speech: Sam said that he wanted to go to the movies. Here, the words used might not match exactly with the words used by Sam in the original context.
Direct Speech Imperative sentence Examples: We use imperative sentence to give order, advice, to instruct or to request something. Mother told me, "Do your homework.". Father said, "Study more for your exam.". Ranju said, "Please, come with me.". The dwarf said to snow white, "Do not eat the apple.". The commander said to the ...
Mathilda told me she had to go out. (Indirect Speech) Mathilda said: "I have to go out.". (Direct Speech) Julie asked if the train had left when she arrived at the ticket office. (Indirect Speech) Julie asked: "Did the train leave?" (Direct Speech) It is too late. I said it was too late.
Revised on November 29, 2022 by Jack Caulfield. Quotation marks (also known as quotes or inverted commas) are used to indicate direct speech and quotations. In academic writing, you need to use quotation marks when you quote a source. This includes quotes from published works and primary data such as interviews.
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