Reported Speech Questions Long
Direct speech refers to the exact words spoken by someone, while indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is when we report what someone said without using their exact words. In reported speech, we usually change the tense, pronouns, and other words to fit the context of the reporting sentence.
When using direct speech, we enclose the speaker's words within quotation marks and use a reporting verb such as "said," "told," or "asked" to introduce the speech. For example, if someone says, "I am going to the store," in direct speech, we would write: She said, "I am going to the store."
On the other hand, indirect speech is used when we want to report what someone said without using their exact words. In indirect speech, we usually change the tense of the verb to reflect the time of reporting. For example, if someone says, "I am going to the store," in indirect speech, we would write: She said that she was going to the store.
In addition to changing the tense, we also make other changes when using indirect speech. Pronouns often change to reflect the perspective of the reporting sentence. For example, if the speaker says, "I am happy," in indirect speech, we would write: He said that he was happy.
Furthermore, other words such as time expressions, adverbs, and demonstratives may also need to be adjusted to fit the reporting sentence. For instance, if someone says, "I will come tomorrow," in indirect speech, we would write: She said that she would come the next day.
It is important to note that when using indirect speech, we do not use quotation marks. Instead, we use reporting verbs and appropriate changes to accurately convey the original speaker's words.
In summary, direct speech involves using the exact words spoken by someone, while indirect speech, or reported speech, involves reporting what someone said without using their exact words. Indirect speech requires changes in tense, pronouns, and other words to fit the context of the reporting sentence.