What are the key differences between direct and indirect speech?

Direct speech refers to the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech is a paraphrased or reported version of what someone said. The key differences between direct and indirect speech can be summarized as follows:

1. Punctuation: In direct speech, the exact words are enclosed within quotation marks, while in indirect speech, quotation marks are not used. Instead, reported speech is introduced by reporting verbs such as said, told, asked, etc.

Example:
Direct speech: She said, "I am going to the store."
Indirect speech: She said that she was going to the store.

2. Verb tense and pronoun changes: In indirect speech, verb tenses and pronouns often change to reflect the shift from the speaker's perspective to the reporter's perspective. The tense and pronoun changes depend on the reporting verb, the time of the reported speech, and the relationship between the speaker and the reporter.

Example:
Direct speech: He said, "I will come tomorrow."
Indirect speech: He said that he would come the next day.

3. Adverbial expressions: Adverbial expressions indicating time, place, manner, etc., may need to be adjusted when converting from direct to indirect speech. The changes depend on the context and the reporting verb used.

Example:
Direct speech: She said, "I will meet you here at 5 o'clock."
Indirect speech: She said that she would meet me there at 5 o'clock.

4. Reporting verbs: Different reporting verbs can be used to introduce indirect speech, depending on the intention of the speaker and the context. Common reporting verbs include said, told, asked, replied, etc.

Example:
Direct speech: He said, "Can you help me with this?"
Indirect speech: He asked if I could help him with that.

5. Word order: In indirect speech, the word order may change from the original direct speech to fit the structure of a reported sentence. This is particularly true when reporting questions or commands.

Example:
Direct speech: She said, "Why did you do that?"
Indirect speech: She asked why I had done that.

Overall, the key differences between direct and indirect speech lie in the use of quotation marks, verb tense and pronoun changes, adverbial expression adjustments, reporting verbs, and word order. Indirect speech allows us to report what someone said without using their exact words, while still conveying the intended meaning.