What are the differences between direct and indirect speech?

Direct speech refers to the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech is a way of reporting what someone said without using their exact words. The main differences between direct and indirect speech are as follows:

1. Punctuation: In direct speech, the exact words are enclosed in quotation marks, while in indirect speech, quotation marks are not used.

2. Verb tense and pronoun changes: In direct speech, the verb tense and pronouns are used as per the original speaker's words. In indirect speech, the verb tense and pronouns are often changed to reflect the perspective of the reporting speaker.

3. Reporting verbs: In direct speech, the reporting verb is often "said" or "asked," while in indirect speech, various reporting verbs such as "told," "informed," or "explained" are used to introduce the reported speech.

4. Word order: In direct speech, the word order remains the same as the original speaker's words. In indirect speech, the word order may change to fit the structure of the reporting sentence.

5. Time and place references: In direct speech, time and place references are reported as they were spoken. In indirect speech, time and place references may change to reflect the perspective of the reporting speaker.

Overall, direct speech provides a more immediate and accurate representation of what was said, while indirect speech allows for the reporting of someone's words in a more flexible and summarized manner.