Reported Speech Questions Medium
The key differences between direct and indirect speech lie in the way information is reported and the changes in verb tense, pronouns, and adverbs.
In direct speech, the exact words spoken by someone are reported within quotation marks. The verb tense, pronouns, and adverbs remain unchanged. For example, if someone says, "I am going to the store," in direct speech, it would be reported as, "I am going to the store."
On the other hand, in indirect speech, the speaker's words are reported indirectly without using quotation marks. The verb tense, pronouns, and adverbs are often changed to reflect the shift from the original speaker to the reporting speaker. For example, if someone says, "I am going to the store," in indirect speech, it would be reported as, "He/she said that he/she was going to the store."
Additionally, in indirect speech, there are other changes that may occur depending on the context, such as changes in time expressions, demonstratives, and possessive pronouns.
Overall, the key differences between direct and indirect speech involve the reporting of exact words versus indirect reporting, as well as the necessary changes in verb tense, pronouns, and adverbs.