What are the key differences between direct speech and indirect speech?

Direct speech and indirect speech are two different ways of reporting someone's words or statements. The key differences between direct speech and indirect speech are as follows:

1. Presentation of the speaker's words: In direct speech, the exact words spoken by the speaker are reported within quotation marks. For example, "I am going to the park," said John. In indirect speech, the speaker's words are reported indirectly without using quotation marks. For example, John said that he was going to the park.

2. Verb tense changes: In direct speech, the verb tenses used in the reported speech remain the same as the original speech. In indirect speech, however, the verb tenses are usually shifted back in time. For example, if the original speech was in the present tense, it would be changed to the past tense in indirect speech.

3. Pronoun changes: In direct speech, the pronouns used by the speaker are reported as they are. In indirect speech, the pronouns are often changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example, "I love this book," said Mary would be reported as Mary said that she loved that book.

4. Reporting verbs: In direct speech, reporting verbs such as "say," "tell," or "ask" are used to introduce the speaker's words. In indirect speech, these reporting verbs are used to introduce the reported speech and are often followed by the conjunction "that." For example, "I will come tomorrow," said Tom would be reported as Tom said that he would come tomorrow.

5. Punctuation changes: In direct speech, quotation marks are used to enclose the speaker's words. In indirect speech, quotation marks are not used, and the reported speech is usually separated from the reporting verb by a comma. For example, "I have finished my work," said Sarah would be reported as Sarah said that she had finished her work.

Overall, the key differences between direct speech and indirect speech lie in the presentation of the speaker's words, verb tense changes, pronoun changes, reporting verbs, and punctuation. Indirect speech is commonly used in writing, reporting conversations, or summarizing someone's words, while direct speech is used to directly quote someone's exact words.