Direct and Indirect Speech- Differences, Rules and Examples

Direct and Indirect Speech:

Direct and indirect speech both are important aspects of language and communication, and they are used frequently in our daily lives.

Direct and Indirect Speech




In our daily lives, we use direct and indirect speech in a variety of contexts, such as in conversations with friends and family, in professional settings such as meetings and presentations, and in written communication such as emails and reports. Effective use of direct and indirect speech can help us to communicate more clearly, accurately, and diplomatically, and can help to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications

Direct Speech:

Direct speech refers to the words spoken by a person, presented exactly as they were spoken and enclosed in quotation marks.
In other words,direct speech is a powerful tool in language and communication that allows us to quote someone's exact words.
It is a way to add authenticity and immediacy to what we are saying. 
In direct speech, the speaker's words are enclosed in quotation marks and attributed to them, such as "I love pizza," said John.

Direct speech is commonly used in storytelling, journalism, and everyday conversations. It allows us to convey the speaker's tone, emotion, and intention, which can help to accurately represent what someone else has said.
Direct speech is particularly effective when we want to emphasize the speaker's words or add a personal touch to our communication.

In professional settings, direct speech can be used to add credibility and authority to presentations, speeches, and reports.
 It can help to engage the audience and make the message more memorable. Additionally, direct speech is frequently used in legal proceedings and in the media to report on statements made by individuals.

Briefly we can say, direct speech is an important aspect of language and communication that can add depth and clarity to our messages.
By using direct speech effectively, we can improve our communication skills and better convey our ideas and intentions.

Examples:

• "I am tired," said John.
• "Can you pass me the salt, please?" asked       Jane.
• "I'm sorry, I can't make it," replied Peter.
• "It's a beautiful day outside," observed Sarah.
• "I can't believe I won the lottery!" exclaimed Jack.

• Indirect Speech:

When the speech is reported by someone else indirectly in his own words without any quotation,it is called indirect speech or reported speech.

Unlike direct speech,the speaker's words are not enclosed in any quotation marks.Instead some major change are made to report the speaker's words to some other person.

It is commonly used in writing, especially in journalistic, academic, and professional contexts. In indirect speech, the words of the original speaker are reported by another person without using the exact words or expressions. This technique helps to add credibility and objectivity to the text, and allows the writer to convey complex ideas more effectively.

Indirect speech is used in a variety of contexts, from news reporting and feature writing to academic papers and business communication. It is an effective tool for conveying information, opinions, and ideas, and helps the writer to present the information in a more objective and professional manner. To use indirect speech correctly, it is essential to understand the difference between direct and indirect speech, and to use the appropriate reporting verbs and structures.

• Examples:

Here are some ideal examples of indirect speech as given below.👇

• Ali told me that he cannot come tomorrow because he is ill.

•He asked me the reason behind my success.

• The teacher advised him to study hard.

• I asked him if he did not know the way to home

• The poor man asked that if none of them would give him the food.

• The prince inquired that he if he really comes here from China.

• I prayed for him that he might live long.


Understanding Reporting Speech and Reported Speech:


Reporting and Reported Speech


Reporting speech and reported speech are two different concepts related to how we convey information from one person to another.

• Reported Speech:

Reported speech refers to when we report or retell what someone else has said in the past. In reported speech, the original speaker's words are usually quoted indirectly, and the tense is often changed to reflect that it is being reported in the past. 

• Reported Verb:

It refers to a verb use in reported speech of  someone else who said something.
Reporting verbs should not be confused with reporting speech because they paraphrase what someone has said.

• Reporting Speech:


Reporting speech,on another hand, refers to the act of presenting information or data in a structured or organized manner.
In general, it is considered as a portion of a speech used before or after of reported speech.
Reporting can take many forms, such as written reports, oral presentations, or visual displays of data.
The purpose of reporting is often to communicate information to others in a clear and concise manner.

For example, if someone said "I am going to the store," in reported speech, it would become "He said he was going to the store."

•Reporting Verb:

It refers to the verbs used to reporting speech like say, tell, ask etc.
These verbs are concerned to clarify the meaning of any speech.

• Briefly we can say, reported speech is the act of reporting what someone else has said in the past, while reporting speech is the act of presenting information or data in a structured or organized manner.

Direct and Indirect Speech-Rules:

Rules of Direct and Indirect Speech


There are several in English grammar that are followed to use direct and Indirect Speeches in our daily lives.
Some of them are given below.

Direct Speech: Rules

Here are some some of the important rules of direct speech with examples:

• Rule No.1


The quotation marks to indicate the exact words spoken by the person.
Example: "I am going to the park," said Sarah.

• Rule No.2


Use a comma before the quotation marks when introducing the speaker.
Example: Sarah said, "I am going to the park."

• Rule No.3


Use a reporting verb (such as said, replied, asked, etc.) to indicate who is speaking.
Example: "Can you pass me the salt?" asked John.

• Rule No.4


Use a question mark or exclamation mark within the quotation marks to indicate a question or exclamation.
Example: "What a beautiful day!" exclaimed Mary.

• Rule No.5


Use a capital letter for the first word of the quotation.
Example: Tom said, "I love to read."

• Rule No.6


Use punctuation within the quotation marks for the end of a sentence or clause.
Example: "I am going to the store," said Jane.

Overall direct speech is a great way to add authenticity to dialogue and bring characters to life. By following these simple rules, you can ensure that your direct speech is clear and effective.

Indirect Speech: Rules


Here are some of the important rules for Indirect Speech with examples as given below.

•  RuleNo.1


Use a reporting verb (such as said, told, asked, etc.) to indicate who is speaking.
Example: Tom said that he loved to read.

• Rule No.2


Change the tense of the reported speech to reflect the past tense.
Example: "I am going to the park," said Sarah. → Sarah said that she was going to the park.

• Rule No.3


Change the pronouns and possessive adjectives to reflect the new subject and object.
Example: "I love this book," said Mary. → Mary said that she loved that book.

• Rule No.4


Change the adverbial expressions of time and place to reflect the new context.
Example: "I will see you tomorrow," said John. → John said that he would see me the next day.

• Rule No.5


Use conjunctions like "that" or "if" to introduce the reported speech.
Example: "Did you finish your homework?" asked the teacher. → The teacher asked if I had finished my homework.

• Rule No.6


Use the same word order as in a declarative sentence (subject-verb-object) instead of a question (verb-subject-object).
Example: "Where are you going?" asked Sarah. → Sarah asked where I was going.

Inshort, indirect speech is a great way to summarize what someone said in a more concise way. By following these simple rules, you can ensure that your indirect speech is clear and effective.


Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs

1. What is direct speech?

Direct speech is a form of speech in which the actual words spoken by a person are quoted directly, without any modification or interpretation. It is also known as quoted speech or direct discourse. In writing, direct speech is often enclosed in quotation marks and attributed to the speaker. For example:
John said, "I am going to the store."


2. What is main difference between reporting and reported speech?

The main difference between them is that the reporting speech inlcudes some verbs like say, tell, do, go usually in past simple tense, whereas reported speech,on another hand, includes what original speaker said in past.


3. What are the three most common reporting verbs?

In general,the verbs like say,tell and ask are considered as the most commonly used verbs in reporting speech.

Note:

All credits go to Taha who wrote this article after a significant research 🧐

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