Direct Speech
* Commas are essential: Direct speech involves quoting someone's exact words. Commas are used to separate the quoted words from the rest of the sentence.
* Example: "I'm going to the store," she said.
* Explanation: The comma separates "I'm going to the store" (the direct quote) from "she said" (the reporting clause).
* Placement of commas: The comma goes *inside* the quotation marks if the quoted sentence ends with a comma, question mark, or exclamation point.
* Example: "Are you coming with me?" she asked.
* Explanation: The comma is inside the quotation marks because the direct speech ends with a question mark.
Indirect Speech
* No need for commas: Indirect speech reports what someone said without using the exact words. No comma is needed between the reporting clause and the reported speech.
* Example: She said that she was going to the store.
* Explanation: The words "she said that" introduce the reported speech, but there's no comma needed.
Key Points:
* Direct speech always requires commas: It's crucial to distinguish between the speaker's words and the reporting clause.
* Indirect speech doesn't require commas: It focuses on conveying the meaning of what was said, not the exact wording.
Example:
* Direct Speech: "I love pizza," he exclaimed.
* Indirect Speech: He exclaimed that he loved pizza.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!